juju from Denver

[jujuCO]

hey what going on?

i'm from Denver..lots of snow here in the past couple weeks...anyways i need a daily driver...i was thinking about a 91-93 explorer...

how reliable are they?
i found a 91 with 120 000 miles suppose to run great and little rust...
anything i should know about the tranny?motor?drivetrain?

any advice would deffenatly help...

i need a daily driver that runs and starts every morning...i cant take my turboed civic out anymore...

thanks!

 

[410Fortune]

Hello and welcome.
The 91 model year is a tank, the weak link would be the auto transmission. 120K miles is about 3/4 of the life the auto trans will make in a truck that old.

If it has rust it is likely the rocker panels.
If it was well maintained it would make an excellent daily driver, and they will go through the snow very very well (heavy, lots of traction, good solid 4x4 system)


the 4.0L engine is VERY reliable
91 and 92 are good years, but 93 and 94 are better.

The 93-94 models have updates heads on the engine and a stronger auto transmission, something to keep in mind.
There are LOTS of these explorers for sale in CO so it does not hurt to look around.

 

[jujuCO]

thanks a lot....!
so should i be looking at a manual transmision preferably?

 

[410Fortune]

YES

its up to you, but the 5 speed is considered more reliable and longer lasting, even though they too have issues later in life.

Mine would be a 93-94 model with 5 speed transmission and manual transfer case. A bonus is manual hubs, but you can upgrade those later...

 

[jujuCO]

well knowing i already have a car sitting in the garage that useless unless it got slick and really sunny...i need a good daily driver...

i had a bronco...91 2 years ago...i loved that thing it was a 5 speed with V6 but didn't had the 4 wheel drive.... i sold that thing for 1000 bucks....and its still running... i should had kept it...

i'm actually right going to check out a 89 bronco v6 with 4 wheel drive 5 speed... with 43000 miles (dunno about that that why i'm going to check it out)

unforntunatly i told my wife i would not mod it...but...i think i'm gonna have to putt wheels...big tires....maybe lift...

anyways... thanks!

 

[Tilt168]

just what 410 said, the auto trans is really bad in the first gens, thats why im goin for a mid model ranger or late model bronco.
welcome to the site

 

[jujuCO]

what about 89? its 89 5 speed....any problem?

 

[410Fortune]

first year of the explorer was 1991

 

[jujuCO]

first year of the explorer was 1991

i was talking about the bronco..but its all good my fault...

i found an 94 explorer auto 140 000 miles for 1700 bucks today....

what should i look at?how should i try it?

how expensive are tranny in case its blown?

 

[410Fortune]

94 with 140K miles if its an auto I wouldnt pay more then $1000-1200

transmission rebuild it $1200+labor

in 1989 Ford made the Bronco II and the full size bronco, two compltely diff trucks

 

[Noved87]

i had my manual rebuilt about 2-3months ago it ran $750 but all the gears where fine. just the sincros bearings and seals

 

[jujuCO]

damn... looks like i need to get a 5 speed manual...

i'll go try it tonight or tomorrow... see how it feels

 

[jujuCO]

look what i found...


http://denver.craigslist.org/car/249267596.html

 

[410Fortune]

looks like a clean explorer, I think I see a 5.0L badge on the rear hatch, not sure what that is about

 

[jujuCO]

looks like a clean explorer, I think I see a 5.0L badge on the rear hatch, not sure what that is about

in the import seen we call this...."ricer"

anyways really clean explorer..unfortunatly he already sold it... i'm pretty pissed

tomorrow going to check another one....

140000 miles decent shape...92-93 ish auto....what should i feel if the tranny is blow?

any advice..?

 

[FROADER]

Slipping and not normal shifting. Make sure all of the shifter positions do something.

 

[jujuCO]

Slipping and not normal shifting. Make sure all of the shifter positions do something.

alright...

anything else i should look for?

 

[410Fortune]

try a search on this forum, for buying explorer, what to look for, etc
you are not the first to ask these questions

good luck!