1998 Explorer 5.0 “Restoration2021” project

[SuperGordo]

Just wrap the hood!
It took me like 10 years of searching but on my old 96 I had bought wrecked, eventually I found a 96 at a wrecker w same exact paint code so I bought the entire front clip. The nice part was the fenders and hood donor was a rwd, and my 4406 was 4wd not awd, so I lost the awd badges.

View attachment 423572
almost a perfect match
I had green mountaineer fenders for years and then eventually primer before I found good factory body parts

I miss that old 96
gen II's 5.0 are TANKS

Ya know, that really is a good idea. Just wrap the hood!! The sides definitely will buff out nicely. Thanks! Really been so concentrated on mechanical and cleanliness that I wasn't thinking about a the exterior. Great idea. Not too expensive either.

 

[sandsprayer]

Jamie is kinda known for great ideas!

 

[SuperGordo]

This project is plenty of work, but now I already want another gen 2 5.0 for myself...hmmm

 

[SuperGordo]

Jamie is kinda known for great ideas!

Well, I can't argue that at all..

 

[EB4X]

Here's one that just popped up in my parts....it's really a grey / silver though it appears ..... but even considering sun glare still a lighter grey than yours...if I find one here in So Cal we'll persuade some people heading up their/ Vegas to fritter money to bring it with them and meet you ...

Vehicle Inventory

We update our salvage yard daily with the largest selection of used vehicles to pick and pull OEM used auto parts.

www.lkqpickyourpart.com

 

[CDW6212R]

This project is plenty of work, but now I already want another gen 2 5.0 for myself...hmmm

That's the idea, get another one and enjoy them with us. I have four myself, not counting my SOHC 99 truck. They are very solid functionally, you just have to put the effort into maintaining them. At this age you have to be ready for various things which have been let go, as that new truck shows you. If you can handle what you've just done, the next or the rest will be easier.

 

[sandsprayer]

we'll persuade some people heading up their/ Vegas to fritter money to bring it with them and meet you

And this is the reason I spend time here--oh, and the info to get and keep my truck available for duty

 

[sandsprayer]

This project is plenty of work, but now I already want another gen 2 5.0 for myself...hmmm

As time goes on, wishing never traded the 1st gen XLT in,she wasn't much for performance, but made up for it in dependability, and simplicity
Going to keep my eyes open. My brother said he will keep in the barn till I get time to work it over in 8 years

 

[SuperGordo]

Here's one that just popped up in my parts....it's really a grey / silver though it appears ..... but even considering sun glare still a lighter grey than yours...if I find one here in So Cal we'll persuade some people heading up their/ Vegas to fritter money to bring it with them and meet you ...

Vehicle Inventory

We update our salvage yard daily with the largest selection of used vehicles to pick and pull OEM used auto parts.

www.lkqpickyourpart.com

Well S*%t... without the Vegas Sunburn that looks about right.

 

[SuperGordo]

That's the idea, get another one and enjoy them with us. I have four myself, not counting my SOHC 99 truck. They are very solid functionally, you just have to put the effort into maintaining them. At this age you have to be ready for various things which have been let go, as that new truck shows you. If you can handle what you've just done, the next or the rest will be easier.

I'm with you. I'm gonna keep looking for another 5.0 EX. We will see how it goes. I run my own auto repair business. The upkeep is no problem. That's why I haven't gotten shy with this one.

 

[SuperGordo]

So to add to my insanity, i just decided that since I have the motor up in the air to just replace the rack and pinion while it is easy... Did somone say Showroom new??

 

[EB4X]

Well S*%t... without the Vegas Sunburn that looks about right.

Say the word and I'll grab the hood up tomorrow....no reimbursement for time / labor ( I"ll troll for my Explorer / Jeep parts while there)
It's $51.46 plus tx / fees...$60 total tops. Viewing your first photo versus the main one I was looking at it, it does appear to be a match.. and considering diminished gloss. Reimbursed via paypal.... don't leave me hanging with a grey hood. Or as discussed, go with the vinyl wrap.
What's the two-letter paint code on your door sticker?

Los Angeles to Las Vegas | On-Demand Delivery Service - California Courier Services

On-Demand Los Angeles to Las Vegas Courier Delivery Service: 3 hrs 48 min delivery time, 270 miles driving distance, routes taken: I-15 North. Available 24/7/365.

www.californiacourierservices.com

 

[410Fortune]

Thanks for the kind words!!!

There are 5ea 5.0 gen ii explorers, 5ea sport tracks two are already 5.0, 5ea rangers two of which are already 5.0, all outside just waiting for their turn…. This can be quite addicting. I had 19 gen ii explorers at my house at one time back in Colorado
Not to mention the drivetrains parts and our own personal vehicles. Careful what you wish for this can be quite addicting.
If anyone is really serious I just finished up a one owner 101k gold 1997 5.0 refurbish, I will be asking $6000 for this truck, she is cleeeeeeean anything less then $5800 in this market I will just keep it

All these great ideas come from years and years of loving these trucks!!

 

[SuperGordo]

Say the word and I'll grab the hood up tomorrow....no reimbursement for time / labor ( I"ll troll for my Explorer / Jeep parts while there)
It's $51.46 plus tx / fees...$60 total tops. Viewing your first photo versus the main one I was looking at it, it does appear to be a match.. and considering diminished gloss. Reimbursed via paypal.... don't leave me hanging with a grey hood. Or as discussed, go with the vinyl wrap.
What's the two-letter paint code on your door sticker?

Los Angeles to Las Vegas | On-Demand Delivery Service - California Courier Services

On-Demand Los Angeles to Las Vegas Courier Delivery Service: 3 hrs 48 min delivery time, 270 miles driving distance, routes taken: I-15 North. Available 24/7/365.

www.californiacourierservices.com

I’ll check the code and get back to you in a bit.

 

[Turdle]

forgive me for blowing up here, but something is ringing in my head about saving a valve from your old rack unit to install into the new one.

Doesn't hurt to check I guess.

 

[sandsprayer]

If anyone is really serious I just finished up a one owner 101k gold 1997 5.0 refurbish, I will be asking $6000 for this truck, she is cleeeeeeean

can you post some pics--new thread?
cause you know I got a stack of cash wink wink nod nod

 

[SuperGordo]

forgive me for blowing up here, but something is ringing in my head about saving a valve from your old rack unit to install into the new one.

Doesn't hurt to check I guess.

Yeah thanks, I've seen those on Fords before.

 

[SuperGordo]

Got the Oil pump, oil pan and gasket, Timing set, timing cover, water pump, rack and pinion and left upper control arm installed today.

 

[CDW6212R]

Hunt for the models that you prefer the best. The 98-01's have a slightly better torsion bar design(frame is different with a pocket for a replaceable isolation pad for the bar). The 99-01's with flares have wider style than the older 95-98 fender flares. Mountaineers often look more upscale than Explorers, and have more options usually. The Limited's and Mercury's have more soft springs than other models, and 4WD's should have the stiffest spring rates. Choose a truck that has a great condition interior, trim, the obsolete parts. The drivetrain is the easiest part to fix up, the rest is much harder(parts and prices).

 

[SuperGordo]

Now I'm trying to figure out the order of operations for all the little stuff. Thinking of all the things that are easier while the engine is up. Upper control arms? Spark plugs and wires. I bought motor mounts but the ones on there don't look bad. But I'll probably take them off for a close up look. Once the motor is back on the frame I can do the belt drive stuff, the AC and the plenum. Then its a runner again.