How to spend 12Gs on my explorer

[duncanNidaho]

The last time I posted I mentioned deploying to afghanistan. Well I'll be back in 6 months time with all my deployment money, and have decided to spend $12,000 on modifying my truck.

The only thing is Im not sure what to do. I can read threads all day, but it might be better to see what all of you would do to your trucks if you had $12,000 bucks in your hand right now

I have a 99 2wd explorer sport, with TT/Shackles/ and an aussie locker. Ive heard all the talk about 2WD going muddin but please refrain from trash talking my truck. Im serious about the project and your opinions.

Thank ya much :exporange

:SUPPORT THE TROOPS: 4ID HOAH:

 

[techieman33]

Where do you live? What kind of off roading are you going to want to do? Or do you want to go the other direction and build a street/drag truck?

 

[duncanNidaho]

I live in central texas on fort hood, going to west texas next year. Mostly mudding and general off road use. I believe in "Lift or leave it" mostly the lift it part.

 

[corkey]

hmmm 12 k,
i would do
347 motor,
5 speed manual,
atlas t case,
d44 front 4.88 gear Early bronco type, weld on wedges,
leave the 8.8 rear 4.88 gear deaver springs
35x13.5x15 tires,

 

[techieman33]

hmmm 12 k,
i would do
347 motor,
5 speed manual,
atlas t case,
d44 front 4.88 gear Early bronco type, weld on wedges,
leave the 8.8 rear 4.88 gear deaver springs
35x13.5x15 tires,

The motor, transmission and transfer case will eat up his entire budget.

 

[Brandon96]

Remember he's 2WD** (unless you were referring to a conversion)

But, I agree with Corkey, at least do a 347 Stroker ((with some goodies; intake/exhaust/chip)) with a 5-speed swap!!

Then see how much you got left over..

 

[duncanNidaho]

I know for a fact I want to add another 6" to 8" for the lift, threw on some 32's before I deployed but they just aint big enough. Possibly regear. What exactly would the advantages of a manual swap be on and off-road?

 

[duncanNidaho]

I looked around at some engines. I found this 306 for about $4,000. http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=11752

Just not sure about applying it to my little truck.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I looked around at some engines. I found this 306 for about $4,000. http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=11752

Just not sure about applying it to my little truck.

You need an Explorer/Mountaineer engine. That one is basically for Mustangs.

 

[duncanNidaho]

You need an Explorer/Mountaineer engine. That one is basically for Mustangs.

So a drop in 302 engine (like this http://www.proformanceunlimited.com/specs/302_300/302_300efi.html )wouldnt work your saying?

 

[techieman33]

If you want to buy a fresh motor talk to fordstrokers.com, but unless your going to want to compete with explorer I would just find a wrecked v8 explorer with a good drivetrain. Put a cam in it with all of it's supporting mods, get some torque monster headers a good tune from henson performance and call it a day. Then replace the awd transfer case with a manual 4406 from an f-150 (several write ups on the forum). Spend the rest of the money on the off road side.

 

[rhauf]

You need an Explorer/Mountaineer engine. That one is basically for Mustangs.

bs that engine would work fine in his explorer. (im assuming the OP's explorer is already a 302)

explain to me how a mustang 302 differs from an explorer 302? unless you're talking gt40P explorer in which case the exhaust ports are at a different angle. (of course a header swap would fix that issue)

the other engine he posted appears to be set up for a carb. i see no point in converting to carb'd for offroad use.



as for the original question... why don't you just buy my explorer for 12,000? hell i'll sell it to you for only 10,000! it has a sterling 10.25 rear, dana 60 high pinion front. 5.38's, lockers front and rear, 37's. exo-cage. oh, and it's 4x4

ok ill assume you're not interested.... if i were you.. i'd leave you're engine alone... since it's a 4x2 my first modification would be making it 4x4.. now lets forget the obvious cost effective method of doing this (selling it a buying a 4x4 model) since nobody likes to do this.... so get a new trans with a transfer case attached. then buy a pair of half ton or better axles for front and rear and install them.

i suppose the real question is, how much wheelin' do you want to do with it? what kind of offroad use do you have in mind? mud? rocks? trails? high speed/desert racing? jumps? playing/drifting in dirt?

12k seems like a lot to spend on beefing up a 2 wheel drive for 4x4 use.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

If he wants to stick with the factory EFI that engine WON'T work. Explorers have a 28oz balance. Mustangs and everything else use a 50oz balance.

Explorers have a short front dress (water pump, brackets etc.)

Explorers are DIS Mustangs use a distributor.

Using heads other than the GT40 or GT40P heads means he will have to have a custom flange for the headers. Not a big problem as Bob has them on hand.

 

[IZwack]

Get a hovercraft with a winch . Forget about "traction", "gear" ratio"s and so on..

 

[duncanNidaho]

as for the original question... why don't you just buy my explorer for 12,000? hell i'll sell it to you for only 10,000! it has a sterling 10.25 rear, dana 60 high pinion front. 5.38's, lockers front and rear, 37's. exo-cage. oh, and it's 4x4

ok ill assume you're not interested.... if i were you.. i'd leave you're engine alone... since it's a 4x2 my first modification would be making it 4x4.. now lets forget the obvious cost effective method of doing this (selling it a buying a 4x4 model) since nobody likes to do this.... so get a new trans with a transfer case attached. then buy a pair of half ton or better axles for front and rear and install them.

i suppose the real question is, how much wheelin' do you want to do with it? what kind of offroad use do you have in mind? mud? rocks? trails? high speed/desert racing? jumps? playing/drifting in dirt?

12k seems like a lot to spend on beefing up a 2 wheel drive for 4x4 use.

Ok I'll forget about the engine for now and start from the ground up. 4x4 conversion, definite maybe. As for its use, mostly mudding and trail. The question Im asking my self is, what can I do to beef up the truck leaving it 2WD. And what could I do if I wanted to spend the money to go 4x4.

Honestly I was thinking about just doing suspension work to it, bigger tires, maybe somthing else I cant think of. And then spending the rest on a newer truck for day to day use.

 

[corkey]

first thing would be using all manual stuff,
manual transmission and manual transfer case, that way you do not need to do any wiring,,

 

[Maverick265]

I spent about $10G and it got me to this point.

 

[Keeper0311]

Coming from another serviceman, save some of that cash for a rainy day. It may seem that you have tons of cash now, but the day may come where the steady check from Uncle Sam won't be there.

 

[techieman33]

If he wants to stick with the factory EFI that engine WON'T work. Explorers have a 28oz balance. Mustangs and everything else use a 50oz balance.

Explorers have a short front dress (water pump, brackets etc.)

Explorers are DIS Mustangs use a distributor.

Using heads other than the GT40 or GT40P heads means he will have to have a custom flange for the headers. Not a big problem as Bob has them on hand.

Umm your wrong on that one Dan the explorers are 50oz balance, mustangs are 28oz balance.

 

[Slowlyvverot]

SAS, beef up the axles and make some armor for your truck. rebuild your engine/tranny and you'll have a whole new animal ready for wheelin! lift height and tire size is up to you. all of that probably will leave you some cash left over if you shop smart.