98 - 2000 Explorer Performance Chips/Programmer?

[steelo1]

Was just wondering if there was any that where any good for 4wding, you know low down torque & gear changes. Also does anyone know about transfer case gear reductions or auto box do ups/strengthening (don't know about right terminology there LOL) but remember I am in Australia & a lot of your shops don't send OS.
Thanks :australia

 

[Sedition]

You could always advance your camshafts by 5 degrees, that will increase your low end and it will still Idle smoothly. Although you will lose a little top end. You don't need any special tools, it won't cost you anything except your time and if you don't like it you can always put it back.

Do you do most of your 4x4ing on sand or dirt?

 

[Sedition]

Oh, how big is your extra fuel tank and where did you put it?

 

[steelo1]

I don't own an X at the moment, have a GQ, but am looking at getting one again very soon because I do like them & over the years of owning 2 I've learnt the pro's & con's.
It was a 65L tank that went were the spare was, I had a rear swing out spare that bolted on to the rear bumper (which is still sitting in the shed), also an electric pump to pump from that to main tank.
Does the cam timing work? :australia

p.s. am looking at a 99 Limited that's been chopped to a duel cab tray-back at the moment

 

[Sedition]

When I hydrolocked my Explorer I busted my rear timing chain guide, that camshaft ended up being 12 degrees retarded (late) so as a quick fix I simply retimed the camshaft untill I could pull the motor to rebuild it. While I was mucking about with it I set both camshafts Advanced by 5 degrees to see what would happen. Sure enough it had more low down torque, I could definately tell the difference in the sand but it lagged abit up around 5000 - 6000 RPM which I didn't like because I have a heavy foot on the highway so I set them back to TDC.

You could probably use higher diff ratios if you didn't want to mess with the timing or buy the V8 model.

the powerchips on Ebay are garbage. You can get a custom tune done but the cost of having this done in Aus would be astranomical. One other part that may be of interest to you is a transmission module that plugs into the wiring harness somewhere and what it does is supposably gives you the option of selecting either standard, a stage 1 or a stage 2 shift kit electronically. It's about 100 bucks. Can't remember where I seen it now.

 

[desertsky]

So you need adjustable sprockets to advance the cam timing?

 

[Sedition]

No. The Camshaft and Jackshaft sprockets don't have a keyed position on their shafts. Only a bolt holds the spockets in place so there is unlimited positions to set the timing to.

 

[desertsky]

Wow, that doesn't sound very precise! I haven't been in there yet but I have a lot of experience setting lobe centers on twin cam motorcycle engines. On those, the stock sprockets can only go on the cam in one position and the adjustable ones have slotted bolt holes.

 

[Sedition]

With both the camshaft's held in place and the sprocket bolts loose enough for the sprocket to freewheel, timing can be adjusted by the crankshaft. The Harmonic balancer has degree marks and the crankshaft angle sensor bracket serves as the arrow.

 

[desertsky]

Thanks!

 

[Sedition]

When my new thermostat arrives I think I will Advance my cams again. I had them advanced a couple of degrees when I rebuilt my engine but now after a couple thousand miles they have retarded back to TDC. I really enjoyed the throaty sound from the intake and the wave of torque it was accompanied with, I kind of miss it.

 

[Sedition]

p.s. am looking at a 99 Limited that's been chopped to a duel cab tray-back at the moment

I'd really like to see a picture of that.

 

[FIND]

i'd really like to see a picture of that.

+1

 

[steelo1]

Haven't bought it as yet because of mileage, but still thinking about it at a lesser price.

 

[Sedition]

Wow! That gives me some ideas for a project Explorer I'm thinking of buying. Now being from QLD it's going to have at least 200,000kms on it. How much does he want for that awesome feat of engineering if you don't mind me asking?

It certainly looks better, would go faster and be a more comfortable ride than a 4 door hilux of the same era.

 

[steelo1]

Wow! That gives me some ideas for a project Explorer I'm thinking of buying. Now being from QLD it's going to have at least 200,000kms on it. How much does he want for that awesome feat of engineering if you don't mind me asking?

It certainly looks better, would go faster and be a more comfortable ride than a 4 door hilux of the same era.

$14 990 & it has over 240 000k's on it, also he can't tell me if timing chains have been done or not.
Does look bloody good but

 

[FIND]

You crazy Aussies and your utes. That does look pretty good though. Too bad they only made sport tracs here to look like the third gen and up.

 

[steelo1]

One other part that may be of interest to you is a transmission module that plugs into the wiring harness somewhere and what it does is supposably gives you the option of selecting either standard, a stage 1 or a stage 2 shift kit electronically. It's about 100 bucks. Can't remember where I seen it now.

Anyone know about these, they sound very interesting & probably more what I'm after, thanks :australia

 

[tonkas]

wow steelo that looks awesome. I've seen one turned into a dual cab ute but with the body left as the sides. it didn't quite look right but that as a tray is really nice