blue_goose
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- November 18, 2006
- Messages
- 178
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- WY
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '02 4x4 4.0 200K
Hey guys-
First of all, this website is awesome and I have learned lots already from poking around here. I have searched and came up with tons of info already but have a few questions that I would like your opinion on. First this would be my second Explorer, I had a 1991 5 speed XLT conversion that was good but due to busted 4x4 (not by me), uncontrollable rust and gas mileage I sold it and went for a Contour. Well, the I rolled the Contour (slid sideways into a ditch) and want to go back to an Explorer cause I really liked the utility, room, need 4x4 and I've liked these things since i was a kid. I know about the obvious like its a truck and i have to drive it like one not like a car and all that.
So here's what Ive found- have a guaranteed shot at a 1999 SOHC loaded XLT 4x4. heres the thing-it is totalled. The guy that owns the junkyard my Contour rests at told me aobut it and he said that he picked it up from southern MN (I'm in I Falls, MN) and it drove up no problem. I looked at it and it was t-boned. It needs 2 new doors and the rocker panel pulled out and its good to go. I looked it over carefully as did my dad and the frame and everything else is fine. Took it for a slight test drive to see if i was intrested enough in it and like it. so heres the deal-he is getting it fixed this week at a reputable body shop, they do very good work. Once I get it back it will have a salvage title so I can get it for cheap which is good cause I'm a college kid. It has 88,000 miles on it and has been maintained very well. He is thinking $4500 for it but not for sure until he sees how much it costs to fix it.
So heres where my questions begin-
This price seems decent- is it too high or about on?
I have looked at common problems with the SOHC and it seems to check out ok but someone told me the SOCH motors have chain guide tensioner issues which cost tons of money to fix. Is this true and how do I look for this problem if it is?
A reason for getting rid of the 91 was gas mileage- I have read and seen all threads on this and it looks like expecting 21-22 at 60-65 (my typical commute home speeds that this will see about 80% of its life) is not too far out there if it has been well maintianed. I have a K&N for it, throttle body spacer and will do a full tune up upon buying it. From what I have seen gas mileage is hit and miss depending on how the engine is running. If i get this kind of mileage then I will be happy, is that too much to expect?
those arn't too important but these next to could make or break the decision to buy-I want to slightly mod this for off road. Probally put on 31 or 33's at 255 wide, grille guard, exhaust, and a few other things. I talked to a friend that has a 98 EB SOHC 4x4 and told him about this and he said you can't touch the tires. He claims that it is always in AWD at a 80-20 split or something and yo jsut select full time 4x4 high and low. He also said that what he learned is that if you touch the tire width, height or anything taht you will torque the drive train and say good bye to 4x4. This seems wrong to me, so I figured I would ask you guys to see what you thought- can you go with bigger tires on it? It has push button 4x4 if it matters and he has the knob.
Thats about all the big issues that havn't been answered yet. both me and my dad who will be looking at it with me are mechaincally inclined so know the basics but anything else vehicle-specific besides the obvious I should look for with this? It runs excellent form what I have seen so far.
Last question- is there anything that would make you weary (besides the body damage) about buying this?
I will try to get a pic of it if I can soon but Im 220 miles from home where its at now so it may take a couple days as I can ask the parents to if taht would be more helpful. Sorry this is so long, this truck is gonna last me for the next 4 years or so and don't want to go wrong with my next purchase. thanks!
First of all, this website is awesome and I have learned lots already from poking around here. I have searched and came up with tons of info already but have a few questions that I would like your opinion on. First this would be my second Explorer, I had a 1991 5 speed XLT conversion that was good but due to busted 4x4 (not by me), uncontrollable rust and gas mileage I sold it and went for a Contour. Well, the I rolled the Contour (slid sideways into a ditch) and want to go back to an Explorer cause I really liked the utility, room, need 4x4 and I've liked these things since i was a kid. I know about the obvious like its a truck and i have to drive it like one not like a car and all that.
So here's what Ive found- have a guaranteed shot at a 1999 SOHC loaded XLT 4x4. heres the thing-it is totalled. The guy that owns the junkyard my Contour rests at told me aobut it and he said that he picked it up from southern MN (I'm in I Falls, MN) and it drove up no problem. I looked at it and it was t-boned. It needs 2 new doors and the rocker panel pulled out and its good to go. I looked it over carefully as did my dad and the frame and everything else is fine. Took it for a slight test drive to see if i was intrested enough in it and like it. so heres the deal-he is getting it fixed this week at a reputable body shop, they do very good work. Once I get it back it will have a salvage title so I can get it for cheap which is good cause I'm a college kid. It has 88,000 miles on it and has been maintained very well. He is thinking $4500 for it but not for sure until he sees how much it costs to fix it.
So heres where my questions begin-
This price seems decent- is it too high or about on?
I have looked at common problems with the SOHC and it seems to check out ok but someone told me the SOCH motors have chain guide tensioner issues which cost tons of money to fix. Is this true and how do I look for this problem if it is?
A reason for getting rid of the 91 was gas mileage- I have read and seen all threads on this and it looks like expecting 21-22 at 60-65 (my typical commute home speeds that this will see about 80% of its life) is not too far out there if it has been well maintianed. I have a K&N for it, throttle body spacer and will do a full tune up upon buying it. From what I have seen gas mileage is hit and miss depending on how the engine is running. If i get this kind of mileage then I will be happy, is that too much to expect?
those arn't too important but these next to could make or break the decision to buy-I want to slightly mod this for off road. Probally put on 31 or 33's at 255 wide, grille guard, exhaust, and a few other things. I talked to a friend that has a 98 EB SOHC 4x4 and told him about this and he said you can't touch the tires. He claims that it is always in AWD at a 80-20 split or something and yo jsut select full time 4x4 high and low. He also said that what he learned is that if you touch the tire width, height or anything taht you will torque the drive train and say good bye to 4x4. This seems wrong to me, so I figured I would ask you guys to see what you thought- can you go with bigger tires on it? It has push button 4x4 if it matters and he has the knob.
Thats about all the big issues that havn't been answered yet. both me and my dad who will be looking at it with me are mechaincally inclined so know the basics but anything else vehicle-specific besides the obvious I should look for with this? It runs excellent form what I have seen so far.
Last question- is there anything that would make you weary (besides the body damage) about buying this?
I will try to get a pic of it if I can soon but Im 220 miles from home where its at now so it may take a couple days as I can ask the parents to if taht would be more helpful. Sorry this is so long, this truck is gonna last me for the next 4 years or so and don't want to go wrong with my next purchase. thanks!
