1998 5.0 Explorer Restoration

[King$nake]

Hello,

I don't know why I think about this stuff, lol. But I was wondering what kind of price range would I be looking at for a complete frame-off rotisserie restoration of my 98 Explorer Eddie Bauer 5.0. Could it be had for under $20k?

I'm not saying I'm going to do this, but I have an incredible amount of sentimental value in my Explorer, and I've always wondered the extent of the cost.

What I imagine in my head is stripping the interior completely - removing all interior panels, dash, console, carpet, seats, glass (windshield too). Removal of all speakers, sub, etc. Remove everything until you have nothing but metal & wiring.

Then removing body from frame, pulling the 5.0 motor, trans, driveshaft, rear end, leaf springs, front suspension removal. Pull the headlights, grille, tail lights, bumpers, trim, molding, fuel system, fuel tank, door handles - even the windsheild cowl, wipers, etc, etc. You get the idea, lol.

Once we got everything stripped down to nothing - then repaint the truck with the same factory colors (in my case, white w/ beige trim).

Then replace all pulled parts with new OEM (unless their is a newer version of the part. ie; HID headlights, LED tail lights, etc)

The next step will be to cover the interior with dynamat. Then reinstall the parts. New carpet, new seats (again, all OEM). New Gauge Clusters, interior LEDs, etc. New windshield, new tint, new glass all the way around. New soundsystem, HD Double Din head unit, subs built into rear panels, hidden amp (so I can lay the back seats down and sleep if I have to, lol)

The fun part comes with the drivetrain. I envision a new CHP 347 stroker with a 'modest' 450+ HP N/A. C4 Trans, Ford 9" rear end. New cooling system, etc. Virtually everything underhood will be replaced.

I'm still on the fence on the suspension I would go with. Probably at least coilovers all around, maybe a 4-link rear? :. It will all be new regardless.

So, it will basically be a brand new truck. It's definitely fun to think about in my head, not sure how much fun it will be once the process starts, lol.

Thoughts? Anyone else get crazy ideas like this?

 

[Steeda90GT]

That's crazy, I don't see why anyone would do this to an Explorer.

Taking a quick guess though, you would be well over 20k.

CHP 347 (everything new) is going to cost you well over $5000 with all the supporting mods.

Built C4 w/9 inch rear over $3000

Suspension, custom system, $3000 paint job, etc. Once you break it all down you can see why it would easily go over $20k.

 

[volver]

I think what your asking is, does anyone think that the explorer will become a clasic car. If you had 20,000 to spend on a 1968 mustang, to restore it to new condition body and interior then drop a big block in it that makes 500hp, its worth the cost. but you dont want to spend 20,000 just to have a restored explorer if its never going to be worth more than 3,000.

i love my explorer. resently i am on a mission to find all the rust and fix it. i probebly have put 2500 in to repairs and mods in the last 6 months. I am even thinking about parking it and getting a crapy front wheel drive car for the winter. LOL

or you could look at it like this. what if you just bought a new car for 20,000? would it be as good as a new 1998 explorer with 450HP. probebly not. whats a new explorer cost? like 35,000 for the not so good model.

i would put the 20,000 in to the explorer but do it right as if you were working on a classic.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Do it!

 

[Dan Whitaker]

A CHP 347 is made for anything but an Explorer. Explorers use a 50oz balance and DIS. All 347 stroker cranks use a 28oz balance.

You would have to have the stroker special balanced to work. Then there is tuning it.

Read this thread.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193059

Then see if you really want to hassle with a stroker engine for your Explorer.

 

[King$nake]

A CHP 347 is made for anything but an Explorer. Explorers use a 50oz balance and DIS. All 347 stroker cranks use a 28oz balance.

You would have to have the stroker special balanced to work. Then there is tuning it.

Read this thread.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193059

Then see if you really want to hassle with a stroker engine for your Explorer.

Well, the 347 isn't the focus of the restoration. I would be just as happy with a modded 5.0 (AFR 165's, Holley Upper/Lower, etc). I just want a solid, powerful, drivetrain that's going to be dependable as well.

The real point of all of this is to have a like-new truck again, and to have a fun project to do. The stroker 347 isn't a must

 

[ericautopart]

It's been done by a member already. It was a 96 XLT IIRC and he was from the Ukraine. I'll tell ya..my 98 is in pretty damn good shape and I wouldn't cry if it exploded tomorrow. Why the sent. value? I've been wanting to restore a 96ish EB fullsize bronco though..THAT would be worth it.

 

[99SportX]

Eventually I am going to strip my explorer down to a bare body to fix all the rust and repaint, but I will not be replacing every part I can. That would cost a ton. The only stuff I could see replacing would be weather stripping and some other wear parts like handles and latches. I guess it could be called a resto-mod project since I want to do engine suspension work.

The 2nd gen is a great vehicle and looks great in street truck form as well as off road form.

I saw go for it, but $20k is a lot of money unless you end up with something far from stock.

 

[King$nake]

Eventually I am going to strip my explorer down to a bare body to fix all the rust and repaint, but I will not be replacing every part I can. That would cost a ton. The only stuff I could see replacing would be weather stripping and some other wear parts like handles and latches. I guess it could be called a resto-mod project since I want to do engine suspension work.

The 2nd gen is a great vehicle and looks great in street truck form as well as off road form.

I saw go for it, but $20k is a lot of money unless you end up with something far from stock.

I may go for it. Im not sure it will cost $20k. I was more or less trying to get an idea of how much it may cost

 

[techieman33]

Not that I support the idea, but if you want to do it now is the time, it won't be long and OEM parts will be all but gone.

 

[geosnooker2000]

I am going to do this to my '99. I absolutely LOVE my truck, and I don't want all of that black-box NSA tracking bullshite involved in buying a post 2nd gen Explorer, so restoration is the way to go. The only mods I would want is the brown wire conversion from AWD to 4WD, and some better suspension solution to the 2" lift I already put on it. I don't like the torsion bars being cranked up like this.
I will def. do a write-up thread on it, but it will probably be summer of 2018. I gotta build a garage first. That's THIS summer's project.

 

[Explodr94]

That's called "Car Crazy"! That is acceptable behavior for an Explorer nut. I say do it!

 

[CDW6212R]

Virtually every part you might want/need is obsolete by now. Consider saving versions which don't need major items like seats and all trim. Skip rusted vehicles, find one without it.

I've got new glass and most rubber parts for my project, but I've been collecting them for many years.

 

[koda2000]

I can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would do this, but I've done a few frame-off rotisserie restorations on classic cars. $20k would barely pay for a good paint job, including body work. The last one I paid a shop to do ran me over $60,000 and that was almost 20 years ago.

If you're crazy enough to do this, my advice is the same as it would be before restoring a classic vehicle... start with the best vehicle you can find and know that when you're done you will never re cope anywhere near what you'll put into it. While I like Gen II Explorers, I doubt they'll ever reach anywhere near 70's Bronco values.

 

[geosnooker2000]

I can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would do this, but I've done a few frame-off rotisserie restorations on classic cars. $20k would barely pay for a good paint job, including body work. The last one I paid a shop to do ran me over $60,000 and that was almost 20 years ago.

If you're crazy enough to do this, my advice is the same as it would be before restoring a classic vehicle... start with the best vehicle you can find and know that when you're done you will never re cope anywhere near what you'll put into it. While I like Gen II Explorers, I doubt they'll ever reach anywhere near 70's Bronco values.

You've got the wrong idea if you think I would ever paid $20,000 for a paint job. Lol

This would not be to recoup my investment in money. This would be to have what this truck was in Perfection to drive for the rest of my life.

 

[koda2000]

You've got the wrong idea if you think I would ever paid $20,000 for a paint job. Lol

This would not be to recoup my investment in money. This would be to have what this truck was in Perfection to drive for the rest of my life.

Take if from me, with what aftermarket parts are available to restore your Explorer to like-new condition, perfection will never be achievable. It's your dime. Do whatever floats your boat.

 

[98 MERC]

I just realized this thread was brought back from 2009 like a day ago HA HA HA.

 

[koda2000]

It was a bad idea then and it's a bad idea now... LOL

 

[98 MERC]

It was a bad idea then and it's a bad idea now... LOL

I wonder if he even has it anymore or what the outcome was ? I would love to hear an update i guess.Maybe he will find this thread.

EDIT.. i just looked at his profile and he was last seen like the end of 2015.So its probably sold by now.

 

[5.0Kevin]

$20k and all that other stuff, no thanks.

However, I remember reading thread from a guy who more or less rebuilt his late 90s Ranger. He didn't go crazy, but it looked great afterwards. I would definitely consider spending a few thousand to bring my Ex back to new-ish.