Older thread, but it shows the very purpose of this forum. This community is dedicated to a common love and drive (literally!). We are supporting each other with information, experience, and materials in order to repair, rebuild, enjoy and preserve one of the best vehicles to hit the automotive world.
I don't know for sure, but I feel like the people here are more passionate about their vehicles than on other forums. I don't know why that is. I know I have been looked at with blank stares when someone finds out I collect Explorers and not something "cool" like a Jeep, Mustang, Civic, Camaro, Vette, any full-size pickup, or other socially acceptable collector vehicle. The next thing I hear from them is "why?".
I personally love the first gens. I like their size, relative simplicity, styling, strength and capability, while returning between 17 and 23 mpg. I remember looking at them as demos in the summer of 90 with my dad. We bought an Areostar, but I never lost the desire to own a square body Explorer. When I turned 17, I bought my first, a 92 XL 2-door that I still have today. It was 10 years old at the time, its hard to imagine that was 14 years ago now, but my dad still has his 68 Mustang he bought in 74! I guess I get it honest..
No matter which type you have, I'm just really glad there is a place like this where we can show our dedication to these machines, and not only the Explorer. The whole Ranger, B2, Expo, and Areostar line is built much of the same mold.
These vehicles are a lot like the modern version of the early 60s Falcon, Fairlane, Mustang, Ranchero and very early Econoline vehicles in that Ford built an extremely rugged, compact, economical, and very very popular series of vehicles with mostly the same parts and design layout. The Windsor engine (5.0) came from those vehicles by the way, with the A4LD being merely a C3 with overdrive!!