my 1993 explorer

JTHale13 · December 30, 2011

I got a question for everyone I got a 1993 explorer and I've got it all torn apart cause its got a cracked head and I have no clue how many miles are really on it since it doesn't have the hundred thousand digit I would say its atleast 200k if not 300k miles since I've got it all torn down I'm tryin to decide if I should just get another head and put it back together cause before it started getting hot it was running great and had plenty of power or if I should look into doing a full rebuild or I've even thought about getting a reman motor. What does everyone think? I need it to be reliable and don't want to have to worrie about it breaking down on me which is why I've considered the reman motor.

mr cribb · December 30, 2011

JD has a link for a person that has heads that he recommends. I'm just drawing a blank right now... maybe he will help out.

I'd just go with tossing new heads on it and drive on.

JTHale13 · December 30, 2011

Thanks for your input my main concern is weather or not it will be reliable if I just put on a new head and start driving it again. Does anyone have any suggestions of other stuff I can check out while I have it apart to make sure a month after puttin it back together I don't have to tear into it again. I don't mind working on stuff but I'd much rather do it cause its stuff I want to do like a lift kit or something and not cause its stuff I have to do to get it back on the road. Has anyone ever swapped in a reman motor? One thing that my wife likes about the idea of a reman motor is the warranty.

Xeek · December 30, 2011

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/classifieds/showentry.php?e=1987&catid=7

or

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-EXPLOR...Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item20ad93e8df

Xeek said:
i can vouch for this seller. mine came from him and were perfect out of the boxes

Maniak · December 30, 2011

Just remember that the above ebay seller is selling bare heads. If your just doing a stock rebuild, grab a set of assembled heads to toss them on..

The lower end of the 4.0 ohv is pretty bullet proof. I'd just throw on new heads with new gaskets and call it a day.

~Mark

JTHale13 · December 30, 2011

Okay with new heads something I've been wondering what is the difference between the different heads I've heard about? I've heard of 90, 93, 95, and 98tm heads.

JTHale13 · December 30, 2011

I should probably post info about my explorer too. It's a stock 93xl with manual transmission, manual transfer case, manual hubs it's pretty basic but that's why I bought it.

mr cribb · December 31, 2011

JTHale13 said:
I should probably post info about my explorer too. It's a stock 93xl with manual transmission, manual transfer case, manual hubs it's pretty basic but that's why I bought it.

geez.... SCORE!!! Ya better keep that one.... FOREVER!!

back to the head question... the numbers imply the year.
90tm the worst for cracking, from what I hear

93tm is what your truck MIGHT have, this is what you want for a stock rebuild

95tm I don't know much other than you put this head on a 1gen block and can get a 10:1 compression ratio.... JD(aka jd4242) told me this.

98tm from what I understand is like a gm fastburn head.

THINGS YOU COULD DO WITH HEADS OFF:
install aftermarket cam your options are 410 and a 422 cam search for it on here.

port intake manifold (assuming you'd install a hotter cam, and better flowing head)

paint the motor and/or other parts for the purty factor

it depends what your allowed budget is..... my wife lets me replace stuff as it breaks

.

if you're after stock or stockish performance, 93tm heads, 410 cam (new lifters and pushrods), headers and a better flowing exhaust, toss on a set of motorcraft plugs and wires, new hoses and thermostat(unless the last 2 I mentioned are new).

MY PLAN for mine (92 2wd 5speed) is 95tm heads, 422 cam w/ new valvetrain components, headers, ported intake manifold. (I already have the exhaust) the downside to running 95tm heads on a gen 1 block is having to use premium fuel.

JTHale13 · December 31, 2011

Mr. Cribb I just saw your former fords list my first car was an 88 escort gt five speed back in 1997. Now as far as my budget goes it depends on if I can sell my 06 Dakota quad cab or not. I wanna sell it cause it's not four wheel drive and I could pay off my 04 expedition I just bought and then I would be back to no vehicle payments. I had considered a v8 swap in my explorer but I have the expedition and it has the 5.4l and I also want to be able to afford to drive my explorer daily.

JTHale13 · December 31, 2011

mr cribb said:
geez.... SCORE!!! Ya better keep that one.... FOREVER!!

I plan on it and that's why I had considered spending the money for a reman motor. I've got just over a grand into it so far and that includes the 500 I paid for the explorer. I got it from a coworker and it had been sitting for about three years before I bought it. I barrowed my in laws super duty and a trailer from a buddy and brought it home because it wouldn't start. After a new battery, starter, and computer I had it running.

mr cribb · December 31, 2011

JTHale13 said:
Mr. Cribb I just saw your former fords list my first car was an 88 escort gt five speed back in 1997.

I'm looking for another Escort GT to run my 2nd job (pizza delivery), so I can keep the miles off the Explorer.

My 89 I owned in 98-99, drove the bejeezus out of it, broke it and sold it. If you know of any up for grabs send me a message.

JTHale13 · December 31, 2011

I haven't seen one in years.

JTHale13 · January 2, 2012

Here is a pic of the spark plugs I took out.

JTHale13 · January 21, 2012

Okay so I'm not going to have the money to do what I want so I'm going to just get another head from the local machine shop. They have already checked the one that isn't cracked and said it's good. Can someone help me with a list of everything I'll need to put it back together? Brand recommendations would be helpful too.

jd4242 · January 21, 2012

JTHale13 said:
Okay so I'm not going to have the money to do what I want so I'm going to just get another head from the local machine shop. They have already checked the one that isn't cracked and said it's good. Can someone help me with a list of everything I'll need to put it back together? Brand recommendations would be helpful too.

i would never reuse a stock head even if it has been checked and you need to replace both of them or your be right back in the same boat.i would replace them with the 95tm or 93tm if you dont wanna pay for gas.you would be wasting a couple hundred dollars in bolts and gaskets,not including what you pay for that single head.what all did you pull off?you need at least new head gaskets,head bolts,exhaust manifold gaskets,lowing intake gasket and valve cover gaskets.

JTHale13 · January 21, 2012

Okay I was also wondering if my block is going to be okay because it's gotten a little surface rust on the cylinder walls since its been sitting with the heads off for probably three months. Jd could you give me some links for new heads?

jd4242 · January 21, 2012

Put a little oil round the rings and take a rag with oil on it and wipe the walls real good,should take the surface rust off, then turn it by hand to the pistons go up and down and lube the walls with oil.i do this as soon or before i pull the heads off.you looking for just complete ready to swap in heads?looking to gain anything?or just fix to a stock running order?

JTHale13 · January 22, 2012

I just need it to run again.

JTHale13 · January 22, 2012

And I don't know hot to put the valves and springs in and such so probably something ready to throw on and go.

JTHale13 · January 22, 2012

Probably a stupid question but does it matter which direction I turn the motor?

my 1993 explorer

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