18 and got a lot to learn. Help Please!!

[Poorwheelers]

First off i wanna say i have missed this site and am glad to be posting again!

Keep in mind i will be doing all work myself and paying for it myself, I Have rebuilt and restored 2 50's trucks and build a drag car and a few mud trucks. All self taught, not being a ****y #####. I'm just saying i am relatively experienced for my age. But when i cant figure it out on my X you best believe a rip this site apart to figure it out. And i have built a full shop in my back yard so i can do everything here! Big plus. Anyway just please help me out on this. I am really excited and wanting to this so bad and need knowledgeable guys like yall to help me out!

okay so i am finally able to start making my dd explorer into a toy, it has been out of commission due to broken parts and lack of financial funding. Yet, i have recently fixed the driveshaft and rear end along with the brakes. Thus leaving me with time and money to build everything up. Only one problem...

RUST. I am from the south but the truck is from the north and has the worst rust i have ever seen. I can literally out my hand in a body mount because there is a rusted out hole. My plan on this is to cut out the body mounts and shock mounts and other members of the undercarriage out and make new ones and weld them on. That i my first goal!

Now with the motor, i want to build it up. Starting with everything on the top end and a new cam. Possibly bore it or stroke it. Now this leads me to my questions.

Before that i would like to state that i have a 96 E.B. 4.0 ohv

1. I have heard that boring it out would render the walls dangerously thin, a 4.0 is a 2.8 bored 60 over right? either way could you do it and would it give that much of gain?

2. I want to put a cam in it that gives it a low idle and good torque, down here its about mud not rocks . So in this case what cam would you suggest
and also regarding the cam, will i need new push rods?

3. I would also like to put new rockers in it, any suggestions on which ones?

4. Last big question i also want to put on a 4.6 mustang throttle bod. is That
possible? if so what would need to be done?(rolled, half shafted, etc)

Also i will be making my own intake, which would you suggest: snorkel, enclosed cold air, or on-board air.

I will be doing plugs and ignition coil, wires, MAF, all that good stuff. Those are givens.

Later on down the road i will be doing a SAS and believe me i swear i have read every thread on here. So if you have a SASed explorer i salute you.

Sorry for the super long post.. im just wanting to know everything and know it
now!!

 

[FIND]

You are wasting money if you try and build more power in an OHV. They are only good for one thing, incredibly reliable service.

You want more power, you need an engine swap. If it is not a sport or heavily modified, get rid of it and get a different explorer to suit your power needs. If you don't need more power, put your money into maintenance and start saving to buy the fun stuff sooner, like your SAS parts, gears, tires, etc.

You CAN enjoy an OHV. They have plenty of power to do plenty of things. So what if they don't have the power of a modern car, or even a V8 from the era. You've got a buttload of torque available starting at pretty low RPMs and consistently through to the higher RPMs coming from a power plant that will soak up TONS of abuse and still drive you home. Trust me, my OHV took my kids and me home even after it should have been dead during a cold winter storm, even after living a life of abuse driving through fields, creeks, flooded out lots, etc.

 

[Poorwheelers]

thats one thing i was expecting to hear! Needed that answer i appreciate it. Seriously. Needed to know if it was worth it or not.