I'm hoping it makes more sense to ask this here than open a new thread, it is very much on topic:
'94 Explorer 2 Door, Premium, not audiophile. I am installing a Pioneer radio in a week or so.
I have ordered both the regular harness kit, and one that bypasses the amplifier ( Scosche FDK2B High Power Head Unit Replacement Kit to bypass factory Ford JBL/Premium Sound Amplifier ).
So, I will ultimately have to get to the amplifier. On the 2 door explorer, the passenger side interior panel is one rather massive piece from the back of the passenger door to the tailgate, floor to ceiling. There is a speaker mounted in it, and it feels like I could get the speaker grill off if I pulled hard enough. There is a pocket near the tailgate that currently holds my cargo net. It looks like that could be removed, but I didn't see any screws for it, so maybe not.
I am hoping REALLY hard that the amp is not behind this panel because so much is involved to get this panel off. There is a seatbelt mount, window mount, trim, and a fair number of screws with plastic covers I am sure to destroy trying to remove them. If I did all this and the amp were somewhere else because it is a 2 door, it would be a sad moment. Can someone confirm this for the '94 explorer 2 door?
Edit: I found pictures of it behind the plastic panel over the top of the right rear wheel well. I may be able to get away with taking out a hand full of screws and peel the panel back far enough to install the amp jumper. We shall see in a few weeks.
Edit: Two weeks later, to get to the amp, you will need to remove a handful of push-pin fasteners. They are like plastic buttons with a ribbed pin, and I did not find a good way to get them out without at least partially destroying them in some way. They are no longer available from Ford, and were not obviously available from aftermarket sources. So be super careful, and maybe you will do better than I. It may be easier in warmer weather, it was 25F today. At least on the 2-door, there are a handful of philips head screws, two torx that hold the window latch, and one big torx for the seatbelt shoulder anchor. Basically keep taking out fasteners and peel back the plastic panel until you can reach the amp. The top connector is a breeze. The bottom one, not so much. I had to take out the two top bolts holding the amp to turn it so I could see the connection. It was hard to get loose, hope yours is easier.