1991 Explorer XLT

[Danny Leblanc]

I was clocking speeders on the highway when I saw 2 explorers driving through the woods, mud flinging, tires spining and knew I had to investigate.

They told me to check out the newspaper for an explorer and then check out this fourm and said you guys are great. I am now the proud owner of my first 4x4.... a 1991 Explorer XLT. I picked it up for $600.00 and the only thing wrong with it that I can see is it needs a new windsheild and passenger rear brakes are leaking or it could be an axle seal.

I bought it from an older couple that needed 4 wheel drive since they live in the hills and it has never seen mud. The transmission was rebuilt last year (showed me the receipt) and brakes redone.

Now lets get down to business..... What mods should I look at first? Is there anything I should replace before hitting the trails (don't have mud tires yet so not going to get into anything to deep). I noticed one of the lights for 4x4 was flashing, should I be concerned?

I'm bringing it home in 9 hours and 34 mins.... pics will follow

 

[Positive Vibes]

Welcome to the site!

To figure out what mods to do we need to know what type of wheeling you want to do? Also your budget will determine what you can and can't afford.

Lift, tires and lockers!

 

[Danny Leblanc]

I had a $350 car payment and was paying $210 a month for my Vic. So I
have about $500 a month to spend on it.

There isn't very many hills with rocks around this area so rock climbing will be very very limited (if any). The XLT will be a DD for me so mostly road, fields, dirt roads and alittle mud till I get used to it. I do have plans to buy something else as a DD next year and then modifiy the XLT into a mud beast.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! If you have a flashing 4X4 light, it could be that part in the transfer case that is like a switch for the various 4X4 modes (4H, 4L, etc.). Look at the sticky thread in the transmission section about repairing that piece with some rubber hose. It is just a stop bumper.

 

[ma96782]

IMHO.......get everything working first (in it's stock form)..........then, do mods.

Aloha, Mark

 

[hourang]

I was clocking speeders on the highway when I saw 2 explorers driving through the woods, mud flinging, tires spining and knew I had to investigate.
They told me to check out the newspaper for an explorer and then check out this fourm and said you guys are great. I am now the proud owner of my first 4x4.... a 1991 Explorer XLT. I picked it up for $600.00 and the only thing wrong with it that I can see is it needs a new windsheild and passenger rear brakes are leaking or it could be an axle seal.

I bought it from an older couple that needed 4 wheel drive since they live in the hills and it has never seen mud. The transmission was rebuilt last year (showed me the receipt) and brakes redone.

Now lets get down to business..... What mods should I look at first? Is there anything I should replace before hitting the trails (don't have mud tires yet so not going to get into anything to deep). I noticed one of the lights for 4x4 was flashing, should I be concerned?

I'm bringing it home in 9 hours and 34 mins.... pics will follow

for the windshield, you can call a local glass repair place (yellowpages.com) and if you want to go through insurance you can get it cheap, the place i went with paid half of my deductable so all i had to pay was $50 for a new windshield and they did it in my driveway.

axle seal, its like a $5 part, but you have to pull the axle to replace, so you need new gear oil and diff cover seal. probably needs replacing anyway. a shop charged me like $100 to do this, but can be done yourself.

mods first?? for a $600 car, FULL tuneup! plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, pcv, oil change, top off or change all fluids, etc. then for the actual mods, search is your best friend. start reading. i would suggest manual hubs, some type of lift, bigger tires, some offroad lights help. have fun, i didnt expect anything when i got this exploder from my dad, but i sure was surprised by its capabilities, never was a ford fan but i love this suv!

 

[Danny Leblanc]

for the windshield, you can call a local glass repair place (yellowpages.com) and if you want to go through insurance you can get it cheap, the place i went with paid half of my deductable so all i had to pay was $50 for a new windshield and they did it in my driveway.

axle seal, its like a $5 part, but you have to pull the axle to replace, so you need new gear oil and diff cover seal. probably needs replacing anyway. a shop charged me like $100 to do this, but can be done yourself.

mods first?? for a $600 car, FULL tuneup! plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, pcv, oil change, top off or change all fluids, etc. then for the actual mods, search is your best friend. start reading. i would suggest manual hubs, some type of lift, bigger tires, some offroad lights help. have fun, i didnt expect anything when i got this exploder from my dad, but i sure was surprised by its capabilities, never was a ford fan but i love this suv!

Gotcha.... Going to change all the fluids and buy the stuff you suggest to replace. I have the manual locking hubs allready (the manual ones are the ones you have to turn on the hub right?)

Thanks
Danny

 

[hourang]

Gotcha.... Going to change all the fluids and buy the stuff you suggest to replace. I have the manual locking hubs allready (the manual ones are the ones you have to turn on the hub right?)

Thanks
Danny

yup, sounds good

 

[unclemeat]

You may want to look closly a the rear leak. Make sure that it is not a break wheel cylinder. Also Explorers have a cold air intake, right behind the pass. headlight. It is sure disaster to suck water. You can get a different intake or just unhook the hole from the box when wheeling. Also change the transmission fluid and watch is closely for signs of overheating.

 

[EMG7895]

The leak in the rear could very likely be a rusted out brake line, very easy and cheap to replace.

 

[Danny Leblanc]

You may want to look closly a the rear leak. Make sure that it is not a break wheel cylinder. Also Explorers have a cold air intake, right behind the pass. headlight. It is sure disaster to suck water. You can get a different intake or just unhook the hole from the box when wheeling. Also change the transmission fluid and watch is closely for signs of overheating.

I got it home and it was the break wheel cylinder.

 

[Danny Leblanc]

I changed out the motorcraft battery with a Optima Red Top that I had in my PI... what a pain in the ass to take out but I guess its because its new to me.

 

[Danny Leblanc]

As promised... Pictures

 

[MEANEXPLODER]

Start Patchin Before Its Too Late+

 

[Danny Leblanc]

Start Patchin Before Its Too Late+

Yup... I live in an apartment so I'm going to need to buy a welder and a grinder and take it to my uncles to do the work. Hopefully by mid-end of june it will be done.

I'm going to weld in a new floor from the rear seats all the way to the hatch.

 

[Danny Leblanc]

New Project

I went down to Canadian Tire and bought 3 cans of Bed Liner... does it look better then the different shades of red?

Honest opinions please.

 

[Lt.Jim]

I like the bed liner look.

 

[ma96782]

(Sounding like: Cramer-Mad Money)

ME LIKEeeee.......

Aloha, Mark

PS....do you put it on w/ a paint brush or is it sprayed on??

 

[chris wttnr]

Wow thats sweet, thats what my exploder looked like after years of abuse..

 

[ExporeRanger]

yeah just finish the job n your new flat black should look great..get all that patching on the body done befor you bother painting tho..and then get movin man..so your a cop i suppose..time to break some local laws?