Foxracin's 1991 Exploder | Page 27 | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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Foxracin's 1991 Exploder

Real Name: Trevor
Year : 1991
Model: Explorer
State: North Carolina
City: Mount Holly



Just picked up this Exploder last week. Its not in the best of shape but overall its decent. The motor runs great and the body has very few dents and dings.

When I got it the trans was out like every other a4ld. I am a 5 speed guy myself and was planning to convert to 5 speed anyway.

First thing and did is check the fluid in the trans. Nice and red, full, and doesnt smell burnt. Pulled one of the lines at the radiator and fired it up and no fliud. Nothing at all. Pulled the pressure plug in the side of the trans and fired it up to make sure the lines were not stopped up somewhere and still nothing so I knew something wasnt right with the pump.

Got it home and put it on some jack stands and started tearing out the trans.
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Got the trans out and pulled the torque converter out and found some scaring on the snout. Thats not supposed to be like that. lol
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Pulled the bellhousing off then the pump from the bellhousing and theres the problem. One of the pump gears cracked and spread the teeth apart and locked up and spun on the torque converter.
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Oh well time to throw it in the scrap pile. Dont want to spend the money on it again not even know if the rest of the trans is good and for it to just break again. I figured I could swap in a 5 speed for not much more then fixing the a4ld.

Figured I would mess with the inside a little while I try to find a trans.

Put in a Sony headunit. Ran new speaker wires and used the internal amp after 2 stock amps were not right. Soldered all the connections and ran new speaker wire and its good as new.
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Put it in a Midland CB I had laying around.
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Overall shot of the interior.
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Then I figured I would ride over the the Pull-A-Part to see if I could run across anything. Sure enough ran across a 1992 5 speed Exploder. But somebody already robbed the trans and starter. Figured I would go ahead and get what I could off it. Got the computer, Manual trans wiring harness, pedals, and Master cylinder(when they got the trans they cut the line so it wasnt useable). Still had the flywheel, clutch/pressure plate still on it too but I didnt have the money for it right then.

So I came home and started swapping out some stuff.

Manual trans wiring harness.
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Swapped computers and moved it to behind the glove compartment to get it a little higher.
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Swapped the pedals. I left the pedal assembly in and just changed out the brake pedal and put the clutch pedal on. It was aggravating but definitely beats pulling the dash out to change the entire assembly.
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Went back the next day to Pull-A-Part to get the clutch and flywheel and all that good stuff crawled under it and somebody done took the clutch and pressure plate. So I missed out on that. Went ahead and pulled the flywheel off though. It looked fairly new.
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Pile of junk parts I have pulled off so far. lol It keeps getting bigger.
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Thats where I am at so far. Need to scrounge up some money to get me a trans and a few other pieces and I should be set.

For now I will probably just do a body lift and coil spacers and shackles for now with some 33's or 34's after I get it on the road.

Then save up for the d44 SAS down the road.

Ill keep this thread updated as I get some more work done.
 



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It's super nice stuff and works. Plain and simple.

They should be coming out with some parts for yours in the very near future so keep waiting a little longer.
 






























It just keeps getting better. Nice work!
 






Oh yea the front is welded solid so its never coming off unless I cut it off. lol
awww, you didnt tell me i was getting a new frame too! lol :p

am i right to be thinking pictures of half doors will be next on the DIY body mod list?
 


















To be honest I havent even opened the box yet. lol Been to busy. Ill figure something out here soon with it though cause I developed another exhaust leak so Ill just go ahead and swap the headers on. lol
 












I don't think they'd have much range, but should do a pretty good job as floods right around the back. Get them and let me know how they turn out. I don't have any backup lights on the Sami right now.
 






























in that heaven of a j/y you go to are there ever any 2nd gens w/manual transmissions, i need a trans harness and pcm but have never seen a 2nd gen manual anywhere near here
 






nice build.. im doin simular.. but mines a 2 door and im putting a big block in it
 



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in that heaven of a j/y you go to are there ever any 2nd gens w/manual transmissions, i need a trans harness and pcm but have never seen a 2nd gen manual anywhere near here
There was one. I got the trans out of it and got the computer and harness and sold it to another member on here.
 






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