Inherited Clean G1 - Overheated drive home, worth saving?

[Nicky Chrisman]

Hello, long time lurker.
My grandfather has had a 93 Explorer XLT my whole life, he no longer wants it and I of course wanted to scoop it up. Cosmetically, it looks brand new. Immaculately cared for. 120k miles, kept up on maintenance religiously. To take possession I had to fly to california and drive it home to Colorado where I live. His mech who he trusts checked it out and declared it road worthy after him maybe driving it 1000 miles cumulatively over the last 5 years.
It was a 103 degree day in the CA central valley and the thing immediately started to run hot driving over the first incline I encountered. Made it maybe 60 miles. Stopped a couple times to have it cool off before deciding to turn around. Around the third cooling stop, the thing wouldn't kick into gear. Noticed the trans fluid (auto) was low, took 3 quarts and was able to kick it into drive. Thinking there is a serious problem now, only focused on limping it back the 60 miles. Runs fine for 45 mins, overheats again, I stop and let it cool for 20, begin to drive. Last 5 minutes before it overheats again, stop, and same deal, trans won't kick into gear. Add 3 quarts fluid again (all I had), and it kicks into reverse but not drive. Have to tow it the last 15 miles.
Interested in anyones experience what could be wrong, it's at the shop now. More importantly, how much money would you dump into a cosmetically beautiful Gen 1 explorer to save it? Only dailying my 91 BMW E30 and wanted something with more offroad capabilities. Reading these forums I was thinking of a 2 inch body lift and some bigger tires for improved ground clearance. Was looking forward to it as a project car. Have a number of maybe the KBB value in my mind as the limit, and of course, I'll need to fly back to California and attempt the 1200 mile drive to CO again in a few weeks if I decide to save it. What would you do? I'm in love with how it looks and feels but do I save myself heartbreak early her

 

[BKennedy]

My 1994 overhearheated twice while on a trip up to the Sierras. I replaced the water pump, heavy duty fan clutch and thermostat and it's been fine ever since. Only heat issue I've ever had since is the temps will creep up when I use the AC on long grades, so I don't do that. I used all Gates parts.

Full disclosure, my Explorer is modified for off road use. It has the stock 4.0 engine with no modifications, but the rest of the drivetrain is not OEM. I have kept the original engine because it's reliable and eventually gets me where I want to go. I'm planning on eventually swapping a GM 3800 series V6.

 

[BeartoothEx]

"I'm planning on eventually swapping a GM 3800 series V6."

Nooooooooooooooooooo. Well, to each his own, but to me, GM is still the dark side... Anyway, I'll defer to those more experienced than me, but if it were me and I could find a clear external cause for the overheating (bad fan clutch, radiator, gunked up cooling system, thermostat, etc.) and it wasn't pushed too far, I'd fix the cooling issues and see what it does. My Dad's 6.0 has lost the belt and got hot twice in the last few years (compressor bearing, then tensioner most recently), but a new belt and associated parts, and you'd think nothing happened. I know a 4.0 is more likely to crack a head (ditto the 3.0: we had an Aerostar back when), it just seems worth a try. Or you could put a pressure tester on the cooling system and see if it holds.

 

[BKennedy]

My 94 has a GM700R4 transmission and a Atlas II transfer case. The GM V6 will bolt to the 60* transmission, and it should fit without major suspension modifications. I have coil over shock mounts that extend into the engine compartment. Those little GM V6's are reliable, have lots of aftermarket support and plenty of horse power. Some even have integrated exhaust manifolds, making them even easier to swap.

 

[410Fortune]

TTB v8 for the win

So when ford made the 302 fit the gen ii explorer they made it much easier to fit the gen 1 explorer as well… you just have to be a wizard to get it all in there wired and plumbed. Not sure what the holdup is lol

I can tell you a v8 bronco ii with two lockers and 35s is a heck of a lot of fun to pilot and cheap to own and operate it makes it better that it was likely the worst 4wd to ever leave the ford plant!! Underdogs unite!!!