Chrome_Rush
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- November 17, 2014
- Messages
- 115
- Reaction score
- 2
- City, State
- Dearborn Heights, MI
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1991 Ford Explorer 2wd 5
Ok I recently bought a 91 explorer 2wd 5 speed I have a few questions on. I figured I would introduce myself (names Aaron) I bought the truck off a friend for 500 bucks to be a winter ride to keep my nice stuff off the road. I have always wanted a first gen explorer though it needed a windshield an exhaust a radio and speakers along with shocks. All is done aside from shocks and everything in the truck works as it should. There are some noises I'm a little concerned about though.
some back story on it may be helpful. It lived in Texas until 03 when the original owner gave it to the guy I bought it from who brought it to michigan where it has been ever since. Before it it was sold it had a complete new rear end from drum to drum installed. Paint is a bit faded and the rockers are a bit rusty but no other rust. It has 240k on it but 100k of that was being hauled behind an rv (it still has the rv tow hitch on the front, it makes a good battering ram so I'm leaving it on lol)
4 years ago it popped a head gasket and he bought brand new heads for it and replaced all the accessories (water pump alternator, ps pump, and a tune up and radiator) then he parked it and just drove it around during the block now and then. It runs like new. And the clutch though still original is strong no slipping at all. It also has the 3.73limited slip diff.
There are a few things I was hoping some of you with experience with these might be able to answer for me. For starters though all tie rods and ball joints seem tight it is clunking over bumps in the front end occasionally ( I'm sure this could be due to the original blown shocks BUT the steering also seems loose, as in I have to turn the wheel quite a bit before the wheels actually start to move. About 1/4 turn before it starts to turn. Maybe that normal for these, hence me asking you guys.
The most concerning thing for me is the transmission seems to be Making a whining sound. No vibration just a whining sound. Sounds a lot like a supercharger whine. Maybe it's normal but it's fairly loud. I'm not sure if it's an issue or these just have an abnormally loud tranny. I ONLY hear it when it's under load. If I let off the gas it goes away. Get back on it and it comes back. I don't hear it in neutral or coasting only with my foot on the gas and in all forward gears.
One other thing which may or may not be related is the speedometer wanders a bit sometimes. Sometimes it's steady, sometimes while running down the road at a steady pace it will wander and swing back and forth 3-5mph.
Any insight on any of these things would be greatly appreciated.
some back story on it may be helpful. It lived in Texas until 03 when the original owner gave it to the guy I bought it from who brought it to michigan where it has been ever since. Before it it was sold it had a complete new rear end from drum to drum installed. Paint is a bit faded and the rockers are a bit rusty but no other rust. It has 240k on it but 100k of that was being hauled behind an rv (it still has the rv tow hitch on the front, it makes a good battering ram so I'm leaving it on lol)
4 years ago it popped a head gasket and he bought brand new heads for it and replaced all the accessories (water pump alternator, ps pump, and a tune up and radiator) then he parked it and just drove it around during the block now and then. It runs like new. And the clutch though still original is strong no slipping at all. It also has the 3.73limited slip diff.
There are a few things I was hoping some of you with experience with these might be able to answer for me. For starters though all tie rods and ball joints seem tight it is clunking over bumps in the front end occasionally ( I'm sure this could be due to the original blown shocks BUT the steering also seems loose, as in I have to turn the wheel quite a bit before the wheels actually start to move. About 1/4 turn before it starts to turn. Maybe that normal for these, hence me asking you guys.
The most concerning thing for me is the transmission seems to be Making a whining sound. No vibration just a whining sound. Sounds a lot like a supercharger whine. Maybe it's normal but it's fairly loud. I'm not sure if it's an issue or these just have an abnormally loud tranny. I ONLY hear it when it's under load. If I let off the gas it goes away. Get back on it and it comes back. I don't hear it in neutral or coasting only with my foot on the gas and in all forward gears.
One other thing which may or may not be related is the speedometer wanders a bit sometimes. Sometimes it's steady, sometimes while running down the road at a steady pace it will wander and swing back and forth 3-5mph.
Any insight on any of these things would be greatly appreciated.