1991 XLT Restoration

[FirstExplorer]

I have been working on my '91 Explorer all summer, and finished the exterior restoration today. I am the original owner, so we have been taking care of each other for 19 years. My Ford has had meticulous care and runs like new.

Repainted hood and front fenders
Restriped
Repainted roof 2004
New windshield
New headlights, turn signals, and side reflectors
Repainted wheel wells
Then I did a 3 step finish restoration with Porter Cable 7424XP and Pinnacle products (www.autogeek.com)
Final wax coat was 2 coats AutoGlym

Here she is:

 

[Willard]

Beautiful. I only wish mine could look like that. Paint is too far gone though, and it's passed being worth it.

 

[sport97]

That is one clean looking explorer, especially for 19 years! How many miles are on it?

 

[FirstExplorer]

121,000....never broken down on me. All original except the usual stuff, new radiator, alternator, rebuilt master cylinder, rebuilt power steering, new brakes, a/c reservoir and lines, and the usual nit-noid stuff on one of these. Runs real smooth.

Next is to get the leaf springs re-arched and add a leaf to each side, then I am going to install Bilstein shocks.

 

[explorerguy89]

she looks amazinggg =o''

 

[Willard]

Damn that's low miles. If you take this good care of it, you could probably get another 200k out of it. Chances are if anything breaks it will be the transmission. But to be honest, even an A4LD can be fine if not worked hard, and kept cool all the time.

 

[burgundy1994xlt]

Sweet lookin' ride. Keep up the good work

 

[FirstExplorer]

Damn that's low miles. If you take this good care of it, you could probably get another 200k out of it. Chances are if anything breaks it will be the transmission. But to be honest, even an A4LD can be fine if not worked hard, and kept cool all the time.

Thanks and this forum has been a great resource for tips and understanding the systems of the Explorer. The transmission has always been the weak link on the vehicle, but I have kept the fluids fresh every 30,000....just had it done. In "A4LD", the LD stands for light duty. The transmission on my Ford shifts as solid and smooth as day 1. I may be crazy, but I am hoping to get 240,000 on this drive train and engine.

 

[watt9386]

:notworthy looks great. i only wish mine could look something like that

 

[Willard]

Thanks and this forum has been a great resource for tips and understanding the systems of the Explorer. The transmission has always been the weak link on the vehicle, but I have kept the fluids fresh every 30,000....just had it done. In "A4LD", the LD stands for light duty. The transmission on my Ford shifts as solid and smooth as day 1. I may be crazy, but I am hoping to get 240,000 on this drive train and engine.

These engines when taken care of can go 350k+ pretty easily. So at least there isn't much to worry about there. Personally my transmission has almost 240k on it and I only did a rather light rebuild when one of the bands snapped. Otherwise, it's going strong and actually has taken a fair amount of abuse over it's lifetime.

It's also worth noting I drove the thing probably 30 or 40k with a broken band. It just didn't shift on command like it should have, but the thing definitely drove. Sometimes I feel the A4LD is a little understated.

 

[nugs]

WOW, what a great example of how nice the 1st gens r! I personally believe they r the nicest looking of all generations of explorers.

 

[watt9386]

i respect what you have done. one of these is now my wallpaper

 

[MrQ]

WOW. Awesome job!

I need to come up to Flower Mound just so you can detail my Explorer. : I never was much for all that cleaning. I figure a truck looks best dirty.

As a matter of fact that reminds me of the Order of the Arrow tradition of never washing their white sash, so it shows the dirt of hard work.

WOW, what a great example of how nice the 1st gens r! I personally believe they r the nicest looking of all generations of explorers.

Its the truth.

 

[wood1]

Wow, it looks great. Nice work.

You could still either rebuild your valve body with all the improvements or replace it with one already prepared and add a large trans cooler. That will extend the life of your transmission for sure. Most of the improvements will prevent problems from starting in the first place.

 

[FirstExplorer]

WOW. Awesome job!

I need to come up to Flower Mound just so you can detail my Explorer. : I never was much for all that cleaning. I figure a truck looks best dirty.

As a matter of fact that reminds me of the Order of the Arrow tradition of never washing their white sash, so it shows the dirt of hard work.



Its the truth.

How true! We have our share of "pretty boy" trucks in Texas. I say that with no disrespect because I always like to see a handsome truck. The GMCs are the best looking I think.

I was off-roading with my Explorer (the one in the pics) just a month after purchase. That forest green Explorer was all the schizzle back in 1991 if you recall. I got on a narrow dam at one end of an old stock pond after we had about 8" of rain the day before. The left rear wheel got on the pondside of the incline and the truck started a slow slide towards the pond
in that red, slick North Texas clay. I was in 2WD at the time and all I was doing was spinning wheels trying to get out of the slide. While sliding into the pond, I put it in neutral, hit 4WD Low, crammed it into drive, and climbed out like a mountain goat just before hitting the water. I was slinging red mud all over the truck...even on the roof. There was so much mud on it you could barely make out the paint color.

Point is, I drove it around for a couple weeks like that and heard my share of disbelieving gasps at the "abuse" of such a pretty truck. I was making the same point...."a good truck looks best dirty". Love it!!

Difference is now, I baby it cause it has taken care of me and my family for 20 years. I am now more into preservation of what I consider a Landmark SUV, the 1991 Ford Explorer. It changed the auto industry, and this truck and I are bonded.

 

[tribestros]

Mine looked like yours until a duelie met the front end. Still runs like a champ though!

 

[Glen4X4]

This is a good looking 1st year 1st gen, I love it! and you wanting to get those miles out of it is realistic, I'd like to do the same with my 96. It's great to see an original owner take such pride in their old truck and make her a beauty like the day she rolled out of the factory. If you were to ever sell her I'm sure it wouldn't take long at all. You should join the Ford Explorer on facebook and post pics to the profile and show what a real explorer looks like

 

[bats]

Damn, and I thought my 94 looked nice. The amount of attention to detail you've paid just goes even beyond my own. It looks like it just rolled off the show room floor! Just because it's an old truck doesn't mean it has to look it's age.