Can I do this front clip swap?

[VCOSH28]

I got my '99 EX EB but loved the look my '05 Sport Trac. Has anyone attempted to put the front of a Sport Trac onto an Explorer?

 

[J_C]

Pretty sure the grill itself won't fit, bumpers and quarter panels are too different. Don't have any confidence it would work even if you tried to swap bumpers and quarter panels, but I could be wrong about that.

It seems like the path of least resistance would be pull the grill, rough up the chromed portion to take a coat, and color match the whole thing to the body color. You could do the same to the bumper cover (or in black like the sport) but then it doesn't match the rest of the body molding. You could do the body molding too but the job keeps getting bigger for a 15 yo vehicle.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

it wont be a direct bolt on. you would probably end up doing a lot of cutting and welding to both the stock and donor clip. (on the internet) i have seen people graft mustang front ends to rangers, explorer fronts on rangers, 49 ford fronts onto thunderbirds, ect. im not saying it cant be done, but it would be a lot of work, and wouldnt be for someone that has beginner fab skills either.

 

[VCOSH28]

The Explorer Sport has the same front as a Sport Trac. I would think that would switch over easy enough.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

There's an '03 Sport (same front end as a Sport Trac) in the salvage yard here that has an earlier front clip on it. That swap doesn't look too bad. The wider lower body line (as seen from the side) of the '03 Sport blends into the narrower line of the earlier Ex fenders fairly well. The opposite swap would have the wider line of the Sport/Sport Trac fenders trying to blend with the narrower line of the Ex body, moving front to back, which probably won't look so good. I know that sounds like it should blend just as well one way as the other, but there is a difference.

Bolting it together should be fairly straightforward.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

DUH! yea, disregard my other post. i keep thinking 05 was the newer body style. yes, everything will bolt onto your explorer. the door edges will also match up. you will just have a different looking front flare on the fender vs the rear 1/4 panel