Is this common?

[mcpherson]

So I was taking out the carpet for cleaning and noticed this...

...a plate for a future manual transmission. Is this a common item done in other Explorer's?

 

[techieman33]

Yeah that access hole is always there. It's about the only way to get a couple of the transfer case bolts, and 2 of the o2 sensors.

 

[mcpherson]

Thanks. I'll remember that for the future.

 

[gijoecam]

And some of the earlier 2nd-gen Explorers were offered with a manual transmission behind the OHV motor. Also, the right-hand-drive models have a console shifter that likely went through there too...