1992 explorer gets a solid axle and v8 5 speed

[410Fortune]

Depth check
Not nearly as deep mounting surface as the stockers

Making sure each on is pressed fully

Then you have to go through and seat all the springs
Make sure they are pushed all the way on to the back lip

Like this

The magic pliers are used to seat the springs. I love having the right tool for the job

All 16 on this side done

Time for new springs, spring cups and retainers

I have been asked “how do you install springs with the heads on?” Well Scott… carefully my friend!

With the spring compressor setup perfectly (had to do some bending of the tangs to get the angle just right) the spring and cup will actually collapse around the valve stem… so the valve just floats. All that is required iSight pressure from a screwdriver through the spark plug hole to keep the stem up tall enough so the retainers can be placed with a small magnet

 

[97Sandbox]

Once I got a set of those hose-grip pliers, I never looked back. I use them for all kinds of things!

 

[Turdle]

Valve train time
Mew parts ready to go in

So, it's revealed

The cat does the typing

 

[410Fortune]

Comp cam springs cups and retainers

I cheated, I have large forcepts
As long as the spring is compressed around d the valve stem it has no desire to move
The screwdriver ensures it does not

My lap during all of this.
This is a one man show camera pics included.

In the future I will work on a way to add compressed air to the combustion chamber. That would hold the valves closed better then my screwdriver method lol

 

[410Fortune]

Lifter time, finally!
Oem parts reman in house

One of the lifter dog bones somehow missed the parts washer

This is a good before and after of how e sonic cleaner helps me out

15 minutes later it was as clean as the others

Next up

Basket washed w carb cleaner right out of the sonic box. I’m using water and purple power so good to be rinsed

Then into a clean oil bath
Each part was wiped and blown off w air each pushrod blown out

 

[410Fortune]

Pushrods rocker arms pedestals trays and bolts all installed
Torqued to 24 ft lbs

Lower intake gasket surfaces prepped wiped w alcohol

Permatex in the corners under and in top of gaskets

Enginetech gasket set seems to be a good fit!

Silicon was given time to setup then the LIM dropped on

All sealed up! Starting to look like a proper power plant

 

[jmedina]

Here she is! My next victim

This sweet, well used, and well setup family rig has come to my shop to get some upgrades

The plan is simple
Delete the ttb and install a high pinion Dana 44 solid axle
V8 power plant with m5od-r2 manual, 4406
Manual transfer case

Rebuild and upgrade the 8.8 rear axle

Dual arb lockers
Lots of new along the way

So join me as I dismantle the existing and build up the new

Parts have been coming in for a while
Truck has been in my possession since last October?
Scored a eb d44 from a friend of mine that was slated for another build that never happened

Here we go, tomorrow is day one
Inventory parts, clean and then drain fluids
Start dismantle

View attachment 462858

View attachment 462859

View attachment 462860

Wow! teach me to do it to my 2000 explorer elite! i want to lift it...! i already put rear shackles and adjust the tension bar... just 2 inch...

 

[410Fortune]

Next round of parts
Dressing the engine

Everyone loves to see shiny headers! These are foxbody mustang headers from the e of bay
Perfect fit with these remflex 3028 gaskets

Sonic cleaner has been doing bolts,
Metal bits and now the engine plate

 

[410Fortune]

Cleaning parts never seems to end!
I love putting together explorer pushrods
Next I will be running the oil pump and priming the engine
Then I can bring her to tdc compression cyl 1 and stab the synchro

Lube the synchronizer can drive gear, dipped in unicorn tears
All three o rings get a light coat

Plate came clean! Very nice results

 

[Josh P]

Those headers, I wonder if they would work good flipped over and opposite sides for a low budget turbo manifold?

 

[allmyEXes]

Why is it that the Fox body header will fit the Gen 1 Explorers and not the Gen 2s ?

 

[Turdle]

Ifs and torsion bars

 

[410Fortune]

They fit but with a notch to the frame on pass side

And the ttb frame is completely different

Ttb for the win

 

[dvdswan]

The only thing I hate about TTB front ends... if you put any weight in the rear...

The truck looks like it got kicked in the nuts.

 

[410Fortune]

Looks like she’s handling it just fine! Hahaha when you have 20+” of useable 4wd wheel travel on the cheap… I still see it as a win win

 

[dvdswan]

Looks like she’s handling it just fine! Hahaha when you have 20+” of useable 4wd wheel travel on the cheap… I still see it as a win win

If you read it again, the only thing I hate is the look, nothing about performance.

 

[410Fortune]

Hahaha whoop scissors

Engine parts were wire wheeled and treated for surface rust
I love this stuff

Meanwhile the engine assembly continued with the thermostat housing
Bolts were all cleaned in the sonic box

Thermostat spring towards engine weep hole at 12 o clock
Gasket sandwiched in permatex copper spray mastic

Gasket surfaces cleaned with alchohol

Injectors begin their cleaning process
Stripped of o rings
Wiped and brushed clean using pb blaster and some brake cleaner

Second and third coats of rust converter

Good shot of how well it works. Rust is stopped and turned into black paint essentially

The canton oil adapter had to come off. I needed to thread in a filter, pre filled with oil, it needs to be in place for the priming process

 

[410Fortune]

Injector bodies cleaned
Time to bench test each one
Carb cleaner is used to check the flow and operation of each one. I like to run the injector wide open for 2-3 seconds and really clean them up

Engine plates (eBay 302 into ttb truck) and rust treated parts getting paint

Injector testing apparatus

They all passed

Dipstick cleaned and rust treated

Enginetech kit came with 8 o rings
um hello….. I need 16 total
Lucky I always have them

Vaseline and new rings, fuel rail cleared with shop air and installed

 

[410Fortune]

Pcv grommet has been soaking in oil for days
It was dried off and installed with some permatex

Good shot of rust treatment on fuel rail

Closer

Little bit of sealant here

Water jacket / heater manifold thingamagig on

Dipstick back from paint, only needs a little permatex

Engine plates back from paint

8 new fine wire motorcrafts

Good trick for hard to access plugs

 

[410Fortune]

Finally the longblock is ready to be primed with oil pressure and then installed into the truck
She’s going to travel from one shop to the other

New heater bypass hose is trim to fit

Will get a new flywheel and new luk clutch very soon