How many miles is too many miles for mods and maintenance? | Ford Explorer Forums

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How many miles is too many miles for mods and maintenance?

jnb0111

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Joined
June 9, 2011
Messages
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City, State
Ohio
Year, Model & Trim Level
2003 Explorer XLT sport
As title says. I’ve got an ‘06 Eddie Bauer. I love it. Runs great, no lights, well cared for. But, it’s got 175k miles on it. Everything works (except rear wiper) and I’ve thought if turning it into an off roader, but idk if it’s a good idea at this age and mileage. All I ever see are lifted jerks and trucks, never seen a lifted trail ready explorer. I’d still drive on the street occasionally, so it need to stay legal. I put 370k on a 4.6, but not too familiar with the similarities and difference between 4.6 and a 4.0 like mine.
 






As title says. I’ve got an ‘06 Eddie Bauer. I love it. Runs great, no lights, well cared for. But, it’s got 175k miles on it. Everything works (except rear wiper) and I’ve thought if turning it into an off roader, but idk if it’s a good idea at this age and mileage. All I ever see are lifted jerks and trucks, never seen a lifted trail ready explorer. I’d still drive on the street occasionally, so it need to stay legal. I put 370k on a 4.6, but not too familiar with the similarities and difference between 4.6 and a 4.0 like mine.
@jnb0111
Rare indeed would be the 4.0 SOHC which made it to 370K without mega-maintenance repairs, primarily with the damned chains, I would guess. Still, mine has 165K now, no major engine work done yet. It sits idling so quietly and smoothly, sometimes I have to glance at the tach, thinking it has died. From that perspective, I can't personally knock the 4.0. But had I known when I bought it, what I know now, maybe different story. Bought from second owner with 91K in 2010, it's an '04, for seven grand, to pay off her loan.

I remain impressed with this Ex. The finish is lustrous, maroon, no evidence of clear coat failure anywhere. You can envy your face while looking at the paint (or anything else you might care to envy). It fires instantly, runs as smoothly as any vehicle I've ever owned.

Now, if I could figger out that constant CEL code about Bank 1 Pos. 2 HO2S (O2 Sensor Heater Resistance), I could say nothing bad. I know it's telling me to replace the cats, but it runs too nice to f$ck with it. impo
 






my 07 is at 175k now without any problems but we all know those chains dont give you too much of a heads up when they pop pretty much the same thing for the 5R55 trannys.....and yeah with the limited options with lifting 4th gens you shouldn't be illegal even if you do the ranger body lift hack and max strut spacers with the beefed up control arms and the largest tire with all that delicious rubbing at full lock.... you gotta be ready to love dropping the 4.0 down to 10mpg too!!!!
 






Somethings never too old for maintenance, as long as it still have usable value to you. If you start doing mods that tax things ( like cv angles) they might fail prematurely, but they were probably fairly worn if that put them over the edge.

With big, heavy tires on this generation expect to do wheel bearing much more frequently. They aren’t stout stock, and the extra weight and width will put a hurting on them. I’d start with a coil lift and 31-32s and see how you like it. Oh. And run a second transmission cooler. Biggest you can fit.

Are you a limited slip rear axle?
 






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