Beginning of a beautiful journey, 2000 Explorer SOHC

[Mbrooks420]

Better make sure they are the same gear ratio first…..

 

[Pekka]

Better to swap the rear axle also while I'm at it, just to be sure

 

[Mbrooks420]

Much easier to just check the door tags. No need to get into any unnecessarily difficult projects for nothing.

 

[Blackout2017]

There weren’t 2nd Gen PIUs.

Well... "In 2019, for the 2020 model year, the second generation FPIU was introduced with a new rear wheel drive platform, based on the sixth-generation Ford Explorer."

So the 1st through 5th Gen Explorers were the 1st Gen FPIU, and the 6th Gen Explorer is the 2nd Gen FPIU. But of course the 2nd Gen Explorer is not the 2nd Gen FPIU.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Well... "In 2019, for the 2020 model year, the second generation FPIU was introduced with a new rear wheel drive platform, based on the sixth-generation Ford Explorer."

So the 1st through 5th Gen Explorers were the 1st Gen FPIU, and the 6th Gen Explorer is the 2nd Gen FPIU. But of course the 2nd Gen Explorer is not the 2nd Gen FPIU.

Obviously my entire point was your last sentence.

Do you think the vehicle this thread about is a PIU?

 

[Blackout2017]

Do you think the vehicle this thread about is a PIU?

(actually I have my doubts that this is an actual police interceptor but instead someone has just slapped a cool sticker on the rear door)

It seems that the issue was not entirely settled.

 

[Mbrooks420]

It’s just a 2nd Gen with a sticker…….

 

[cober]

beautiful and SOHC not comes next

 

[donalds]

My sohc does epic burnouts just sayen

 

[Pekka]

It’s just a 2nd Gen with a sticker…….

Indeed it is.

It's just a XLT with cool sticker and a horribly made lookalike bull bar.

Much easier to just check the door tags. No need to get into any unnecessarily difficult projects for nothing.

Nope, door tags are missing It took a while to figure out the gear ratio.

Soo, axles. My 00 EB has 4.10 and 99 XLT 3.73 so it's both axles swapping time then

I tried to remove the coolant temperature sender from 00 but only managed to destroy the whole thermostat housing. Had better luck with 99 and didn't destroy a thing I didn't want to mess with hoses so I did the less recommended way of removing intake manifold and attacked coolant temperature sender from that direction. Swapped new intake manifold gaskets while I was at it.

The rear leaf spring hanger bushings are so bad that I have to get new ones. I can't swap the old, dangerously rusty and horrible looking hangers to new ones because bolts are stuck absolutely solid inside bushings. I did manage to pull out and destroy one hanger bushing but I can't press new one on the frame. I'll leave that to a professional.

 

[donalds]

I tried to remove the coolant temperature sender from 00 but only managed to destroy the whole thermostat housing.

Time for a all metal housing

 

[Pekka]

Maybe I'll fix the 00 engine with its broken timing chains so I'll have a spare engine if anything happens. Maybe.

 

[Pekka]

I started the car, switched on 4x4, put the car on neutral and back to parking gear, checked that front driveshaft won't spin by hand, put some blocks of wood in lieu of wheel chocks on the front, lifted the rear of the car with two farm jacks and huge 15 ton jackstands, disconnected rear driveshaft from rear axle, removed brake lines etc. As I took off both tires from rear axle, something happened. Car jerked sideways and started to fall on me. Luckily I wasn't crushed under my car.

Car had moved at least a meter backwards when it fell of the jackstands, seems that front axle is completely busted if it can't stay on park gear.

Called neighbour who came with a tractor and we lifted the car back up. This time I took a log and made the car frame sit on it and secured the log with 15 ton jackstands. On the front I put tires in front and back of front tires and secured them all with a ratchet strap so it won't move at all.

Only the rear driveshaft got bent but I have an extra one laying around, gotta swap the CV joints to fresh ones.

I also managed to sell the rear axle immediately for a good price.

Taking pictures wasn't biggest priority here but I'll share something.

 

[C420sailor]

That’s my fear. Glad you’re okay

 

[Mbrooks420]

I’m pretty sure this is user error. The front driveshaft wouldn’t spin because it’s still attached to the differential. In 4wd the driveshaft is only locked to the front axle when there’s slippage.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, the park of the transmission only locks the output shaft. If there is no connection from the output shaft to the rear tires, then the vehicle can roll if it's inclined. The front tires are only connected through the TC internal clutch when it is energized/activated.

 

[Pekka]

Should have asked first, now I learned things the hard way

On my old Hilux the trick would have worked, but this isn't a Hilux.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Probably would have worked if you were in Low and left the key on.

 

[Pekka]

Rear axle swap complete! I centered the rear axle on rear leaf springs and lifted the whole assembly up with ratchet straps and Ford's own little bottle jack Also installed new rear sway bar links, gave a spitshine to brakes and installed new rear shock absorbers.

On to do list for tomorrow:

Rear brake line is leaking, gotta fix that somehow.
Call neighbour to help get the car off jackstands with a tractor so I won't destroy anything else
Swap new rear driveshaft

Oh, also I can't get the hand/emergency brake to work. On drivers side it seems that the brake cable is too long, on passenger side it feels to be too short. There's got to be a proper way of fixing those also. Haven't figured out that yet.

 

[Pekka]

Brake lines done.

If you think man can't be gentle watch him try installing 23 years old brake lines without destroying them.

Hardware store guy sold me new lines but with wrong fittings, I almost made very expensive error while trying to gorilla those wrong size fittings with wrong thread pitch.