410Fortune - 96 5.0L XLT refurbish (making 1 great Ex from 2)

[Nick26]

My BII is just squeaky, the body mounts and shocks, etc.
Thats okay all that is the next project (cage tied into cab, interior stripped down, body mounts all replaced w/urethane and a fine tuned suspension.
Dont get me wrong the BII takes bumps in the road better then a stock Explorer, it's plush, but driving around in my 96 (pre rollover) or room mates Sport Trac or in my parents cars I am like, hmmmmmm nice and quiet, no big tires, gas gage doesn't move every time you go to get the mail, etc...hahaha

I know exactly what you mean here, thats why i got my mustang to drive 6-7 months out of the year. it was pretty funny when i got a new job this summer, started carpooling, then winter came around and my co-worker had to ride in my beast instead of my stang which still deosn't really compare to his TSX... anyway i went on a quieting mission, replacing hubs, weather stripping, tightening interior panels etc. and this was only on a 99'

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

Lift the explorer 3 inches 31's or 32's and put some of that noise reduction material down to get rid of the wind noise. or some of it. it also just happens with age. Any more updates?

 

[410Fortune]

If the Explorer gets lifted it will be a long travel A arm kit from either Dixon, Camburg, or custom.
Typically these SUSPENSION lifts are 4-5".
I will not retain torsion bars, I will not do a body lift.
No 31's or 32's for me either, 33" or larger with glass if needed.

Not trying to be a snob, just know not to waste time anymore with temp setups, go right for the gold....

 

[r37ribution]

You got me thinkin about new A arms already and I don't even have my lift installed...

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Keystone Light? C'mon, you're better than that!

 

[410Fortune]

Pfffft it's the specially lined can. I friggin love KL.

New evidence to paroooze:

Compare to:

From where I sit the inner fender and the radiator support SURE do look familiar.
My search for a ST front end continues.....

Further research concludes that I can purchase all aftermarket parts needed for about $1000 if I want to convert to the ST style front clip. I am not impressed with that price or the cheapo aftermarket metal.. the Mcneil gen I to ST converison is under that price as well so it might be worth it to go that route. I was hoping to avoid the 3" bulged fenders and extra work to make thie clip fit.

I am still looking for all (or most at least) parts from one truck, OEM for my project. But these pictures of wrecked ST's = I dont have to pull one apart to confirm the Gen II and ST are similar underneath.

From what I can see here it looks to be a bolt up conversion.

 

[410Fortune]

Here's another Exploder with the Fiberwerx F-150 3 piece clip.

NICE

Needs some finishing work/bimper, bigger tires, hide the framerails but this kit looks pretty wicked on a built Expo, yet another option to consider

 

[Nick26]

wow is that a second gen with a TTB? i'd like to see more pics of that suspension...
they must have to narrow the hood or something to make it fit an explorer?

 

[410Fortune]

no its a gen II with 2wd equal length beams

the whole front end is a Fiberwerx fiberglass clip made to fit the Explorer but look like an F-150 with a cowl hood and louvers

 

[r37ribution]

damn they definately got some serious travel on that sucker!

 

[410Fortune]

FOUND!!

I located a complete Sport Trac from clip in Sacramento CA

I am working with the guy right now on a price, and it looks like I will be driving out there to get it
Could this be the first gen II Explorer with a Sport Trac front clip???

Hell yes!

 

[r37ribution]

FOUND!!

I located a complete Sport Trac from clip in Sacramento CA

I am working with the guy right now on a price, and it looks like I will be driving out there to get it
Could this be the first gen II Explorer with a Sport Trac front clip???

Hell yes!

This is gonna look awesome dude, when are ya makin the trip?

Sart: Littleton, Colorado, United States
End: Sacramento, California, United States
Total Distance: 1188.4 Miles
Estimated Total Time: 17 hours, 8 minutes

Looks like you got quite the ride ahead of you! Thats even farther than I went to pick up my lift...

Start: Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States
End: Salem, New London, Connecticut, United States
Total Distance: 729.9 Miles
Estimated Total Time: 10 hours, 57 minutes

Ah what people do for their cars!

If your anything like I am you will end up staying a few days and blowing around $800 havin fun.

 

[Glacier991]

If ya need a place to lay your head in Sacramento let me know. We ought to chat about doing a 4R70W for you to pick up at the same time. I will be out of CA next weekend though.....

 

[410Fortune]

I can do it in 16! hahaha the road from CO to CA is familiar territory for me. My family has been back and forth my whole life, I think the BII alone has made the trip 6 times (4 with my brother)

this time it will likely be with a F-250......

 

[RangerX]

Oh sure! You'll drive that far for parts, but not to wheel with us! :thumbdwn:

Why don't you have it shipped, you nut!

 

[section525]

You can sleep in my garage.

 

[410Fortune]

Bill,

Its all about the timing man! I was not ready for T haven, the BII needs some work before it goes that far still. Now I found a 98 Mounty front clip here in town on Craiglist for 1/3 the cost of the ST clip, in PERFECT shape.
Figures.

I am going to end up with like 4 gen II explorer front ends, I already have a sport front end and doors, and whats left of my two 96's.
Who needs some sheetmetal?

If I sleep in your garage is it next to your truck? That thing has some good parts on it I hear
MUWAHAHAHAA

I am still waiting to hear back on the price on the ST stuff.
Shipping the front end would ruin the road trip part of the trip you see?
If I can take a 5-7 day road trip for the same cost of shipping....well you know me.

 

[r37ribution]

...I am going to end up with like 4 gen II explorer front ends, I already have a sport front end and doors, and whats left of my two 96's.
Who needs some sheetmetal?...

I actually think I might need the wiring harness off a driverside door...My door lock button doesn't work. I tore it apart one day thinking it was the switch only to find out there wasn't 12V getting to it. Passenger side works fine. Haven't looked into it much since, it's more annoying than anything else. I still need to check for power on the trucks harness...

Good luck on the front clip purchase!

 

[410Fortune]

Scratch that. No more Sport Trac clip for me.
I just got home with a complete 97 mercury Mountaineer front clip, everything in PERFECT shape. I got a deal I could not pass up so the ST front end will have to wait for another day.

plan is to run the later model headlights (Mercury not Explorer) and a limited bumper cover. I also got the AC condensor, radiator and the running boards in the deal
Airbags are coming next, from the same donor truck.

Excellent! My project just got a HUGE boost.
I plan to install a cam this weekend, then all I have to do is get a fan and weld on a new core support and she'll be back on the road ready for more modifications....

Once I sort through all the parts it looks like I will have a surplus of parts including two complete 97 Sport doors, two sport fenders with trim, a 97 sport hood with a small dent, grills, lights and some other Exploder stuff.

the guy I bought this all from also has a complete 97.5 GT-40p 5.0L/ 4R70W drivetrain (minus AWD t case) with 73K miles on it for sale...

 

[r37ribution]

...the guy I bought this all from also has a complete 97.5 GT-40p 5.0L/ 4R70W drivetrain (minus AWD t case) with 73K miles on it for sale...

hmm TheRookie might be interrested in that drivetrain...