Hi all, new member

[Joe in NY]

Hey guys. Been reading a lot of the great info on here for the past solid week. My first car is waiting for me in Daytona Beach, FL.

Its a 2002 Eddie Bauer V8 4X4 with 63,000 miles.

Now a couple of Q's. I am open to all of your advice.

1.) I plan on doing the e-fan conversion before coming up. That should only take a few hours right?

2.) I would also like to do the Brown Wire MOD to stop the Auto 4X4. Is it that necessary though?

3.) A tuner. Its going to a 1,200 mile trip with me and my cousin and his gf. They have things with them as they plan to visit for a week or so. I would like to get the MOST economy I can. Is a tuner worth it??

 

[ExploreDeep]

Welcome aboard!

I personally wouldn't try to install a tuner before making your return trip home. You don't know what could be wrong with the truck and you don't want to decrease your chances of the truck making it home with you. From what I've heard, tuners don't really do much for gas engines. The best to do is just a routine tune up. Plugs, wires, filters, oil change, rotate and inflate tires etc etc.

The BWM is ok to have but it is not needed. Some people get good results and some don't change at all. It seems to be pretty hit and miss depending on your area how you drive etc. Good luck and keep up posted!

 

[Number4]

The electric fan conversion isn't exactly a simple project. I definitely wouldn't attempt it until at home.

Plan to do all your ideas, just wait until you make it home.

 

[Joe in NY]

Ok.

Well, here is some more info:

Right now its sitting in my uncles shop. He tells me he would eat off the frame its that clean. He has it on the lift to keep his cats and strays from climbing on it over night and the weekends. He said the whole thing is cherry.

Its a 1 owner Explorer. Garage kept. The original owner was an old firefighter who bought it brand new and always parked it in his garage. He just passed away and his brother didn't want it so I got a great deal. Almost passed it up though! My uncle couldn't find one bit of a code history in the computer and he said the owner took great care of it, everything is clean. Has weather mats through the whole truck.

The motor runs like new. Three issues right now though, one is that one of the tires doesn't match the rest, and number two is that the 4x4 worked but was acting a bit strange as when he tested the second time the "4x4 HIGH" didn't light but the light in the dash is good. Lastly, there is a tiny a/c leak somewhere as the passenger side a/c isn't cold. So those issues aside the truck is perfect. No scratches or dents, yes the rear plastic for the trunk window is cracked but thats it.

And from what I could see in the ad pics and from what pics my aunt and uncle sent, it has every option. The 3 way folding bench, fold flat 3rd row (was always kept folded, not the slightest bit of wear on the seats), heated fronts, dual a/c, premium sound, info center, FACTORY Tow Package! The tow package is great because I will be moving around a ski boat a couple times through the summer (roughly 3,000 lbs) and sometimes our bigger open bow "ski boat" which all together 5,000+ lbs. (We have the suburban for towing but this will help to move things around)

Right now its driving me nuts that this thing is sitting there waiting for me and I wont be able to down until July! But I got a great deal on car that will last me many years

 

[cross6]

Personally I don't think the electric fan is worth it. You can get a good quality fan out of a taurus or lincoln MarkVIII, but the aftermarket electronic thermostats are junk and fail left and right.

Maybe add a small electric pusher aux fan if you need extra cooling.

 

[Joe in NY]

That is what I was planning. Grab a fan out of a mark VIII and buy the variable speed fan controller. I just hate clutch fans. Our 07 Suburban has dual electrics and they kick ass. Only run when they need to, move a crap load of air when its demanded, and shut off when driving because its a waste of work from the motor. Our new Optima has a fully variable speed fan, kinda cool, the speed controller sits right on the fan motor and seems to have a wide band of control...

Also, why does EVERYBODY on the internet think that electric use no HP from the motor? The alternator has to supply those fans with power! When you have two 25+ amp fans running full tilt its a decent load on the motor...

 

[Number4]

Don't need a M8 fan, just look for a donor vehicle that had the 4.6l.

 

[Joe in NY]

oh, they all had the same fan for the 4.6l or a fan that fit the bill?

 

[cross6]

oh, they all had the same fan for the 4.6l or a fan that fit the bill?

The Mark VIII fan will probably be the thinnest 4.6 fan.

I had a 95 Thunderbird with a SOHC 4.6 and clutch fan. The Mark VIII is the same chassis but used electric fan and DOHC 4.6. Let me tell you, not much room in the nose of those things, so I'm sure the fan is slim.

 

[Number4]

oh, they all had the same fan for the 4.6l or a fan that fit the bill?

I used a fan out of a 2002 Mustang Gt. Either way, you'll need to modify. On one of my posts, a guy mentioned another fan (damned if I can find it) which replaced the OE shroud with minimal mod and still looked OE. I plan to change over my 05 and 94 using the Volvo fan controller. I'll dig up this other fan for those mods as well. I'm going to test some of the Volvo fans dirt (edit: I have know clue what 'dirt' was supposed to be) though. They bolt on, so you can just make a shroud for them.

The M8 and Taxi/Police fans have way too much inrush current (100 amperes plus.) And aren't necessary. Other fans have less inrush and can be managed easier with fuses. A 30amp fuse handles a 60 amp inrush for example.

I'll find the other fan and post it. I had a new Dorman one to test, but it was defective out of the box. So don't have its specs.

 

[Number4]

Look for ama4ace posts. He used a 2011 Mustang fan. Looks pretty close to stock when in. The thread also has some pretty good banter.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=397073&page=2

 

[Styx]

If one side of the A/C isn't working then it may be a blend door issue not a leak... The one miss match tire may be causing the 4x4 issues if it is a different size than the others or worn more or less... This is something i would look into before the trip back as well...

If it was me I would get the tuner before the trip back but hold off on the e-fan and the BWM until you get back... to many chances of something going wrong on your trip back... Sounds like a good find for sure way to go... I would get a tune up and oil change and possibly tires (4 new matching ones) before the trip back for sure....
Have a safe trip back...

 

[Joe in NY]

Another question if you don't mind.

I just remembered reading all sorts of transmission posts about failures... And that shift kits help the life and over all performance. So because I have a few weeks till I even see the Explorer and it only has 63K on it right now, should I have my uncle get his transmission guy to install a Transgo shift kit? I really don't want to have worry about the tranny...

Also, from the vids I see with the 5R55W, it looks like its a slush box... People call the GM 4L60e a slushy but every vid I see the 5R55W seems to be even more so... Is it just me??

And this is a great vid to watch, Yes its a 5R55S but he knows what he is talking about shows some great tricks to making the tranny last and perform better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgEB1mmNguo