Just bought an Explorer looking for mods.

[FrankieG]

I just bought an Explorer XLT from a friend in perfect condition, for the most part. It only has like 100k miles on it and I purchased it for 3500.
Anyways, I think it is slow as hell. Doesn't have much muscle to it. My friends Chevy blazer can out run me
Never owned a ford before...always been a dodge guy. But I was just wondering if anyone has some tips for modifications? I would love to get it to the point where I could take it out off roading with my buddies. I just hate getting ragged on because my car is slow. Don't get me wrong it performs quite nicely for a street vehicle. I love it. Everything is stock.
I will see if I can get some pics up.
But information on what I can do to increase the performance of my vehicle would be nice =) not to pricey. Just stuff like intake and perhaps exhaust and what not. Or if there is any tweaking that one can do to the vehicle.
Thanks

 

[kert0307]

what engine? 4.0 OHV, 4.0 SOCH, or V8?

 

[Ranger379]

ya engine does make a big difference, dont expect a whole lot from the OHV, even tho the motor is virtually indestruictable lol. i would do intake and exhaust, since u just got it first think i do is change every fluid, then do the modding, just me tho. maybe computer chip if they have them. kert, was the soch availeble in 96? i thought that the ohv was in all the 95-96's?

 

[FrankieG]

its a 4.0 OHV

 

[kert0307]

Like you're thinking, intake, exhast, maybe gears since you are thinking about larger tires later? I'm pretty sure there are some performance cams for the ohv. A lager MAS sensor might help too. But the OHV does have the least amount of power out of the 3 I listed before, however it is known to be reliable.

 

[Ranger379]

i happen to really like the OHV, not alot of power, i think its like 155-160 HP but like i said one tough motor. personally i would do the basic tune up first with all fluids, plugs wires etc. then intake and catback exhaust. with intake you could do a bigger MAF, Bigger throttle body with a spacer, then get a decent catback exhuast. if u have alot of money go for headers too. i think they run aout 600 last time i seen some. you could change gears, but if your thinking about lifting for offroad youll need lower geras, which will make you slower. one think i have been considering, in the future is this site, has kits as well as crate motors for the OHV 285HP+ with kits alone http://www.moranav6racing.com/category.html?CategoryID=32 good luck

 

[kert0307]

.... Bigger throttle body with a spacer...... you could change gears, but if your thinking about lifting for offroad youll need lower geras, which will make you slower. one think i have been considering, in the future is this site, has kits as well as crate motors for the OHV 285HP+ with kits alone http://www.moranav6racing.com/category.html?CategoryID=32 good luck

Throttle body spacer has been dyno proven on this site to be usless.

Lower gears will give better acceleration like he's looking for, who needs to go 110mph in an explorer anyway? If he gets larger tires he will need to regear unless he has factory 4.10's and he's only go'n to 33's

If you're gunna spend that much on a motor, why not just swap to a built 5.0? cheaper and more power/torque.

 

[Ranger379]

ya figured that spacer was another waste just thought id throw that out lol, ya explorers arent made to go really fast, if your looking for alot of power a 5.0 is a better route, if your looking for just a little bit then go with basic tuneup and intake and exhaust

 

[FrankieG]

Couple questions.
what is "catback" exhaust?
I am looking for more accel as opposed to top speed.
How much will the cold air intake actually improve my performance i.e. HP?
And which kind of intake should I go for?

 

[FrankieG]

As much as I wish it was the V8, its not =/ Just trying to see what I can do with what I got. Really would love to go off roading with it.

 

[kert0307]

I'd suggest looking for the KKM intake, If I had known about them before I got my K&N intake for my SOHC I would have gotten it. (KKM and MAC intakes seem to work just as good as K&N, and cost about half the price.)


I know with the 4.0 SOHC engines an intake will add 8hp(according to dyno tests by manufacturer), not sure with OHV's but it's pry close to that.

 

[FrankieG]

Sounds good. I will look into the KKM intake.
So besides the Intake, and exhaust...are there any relatively in-expensive tweaks I can do?
Still wondering about that Catback Exhaust.

 

[kert0307]

catback just means that it's all new tubing from the Catalitic (sp?) converters to the muffler, and out the back of the truck. Companies make the whole setup with pre bent tubing.

I would do a search on here to see what others have done with their exhaust systems. Lots of differerent things, depending on if you want high end, low end or a good in between.

 

[FrankieG]

Ah ok. I get it now =) just was not familiar with the term "Catback", one word.

 

[FrankieG]

Thanks a lot for your guys' input =) it is greatly appreciated.
List of things to do:
1. Tune-up
2. Intake
3. Exhaust
4. Post my results =)

 

[kert0307]

I forgot to mention, as far as a cheap improvement to the stock air box, if you don't want to get a whole new intake, you can get a K&N drop in filter for the stock air box and drill some holes in the lower portion of the box to allow for more air flow. I think its usually refered to as a swiss cheese air box if you search for how to do it.

taking some slack out of the throttle cable might help the throttle response a little too.

There's lots of info on this site for h/p mods and off-road mods, just do some searching and learn from other peoples mistakes/improvements.

Welcome to the site

 

[FrankieG]

Kert-
Hey I was looking at the pricing for the KKM and K&N kits.
The K&N is like $320.00 and the KKM is only like $100.00...is the performance the that far different from eachother?

 

[aldive]

Look at the Mac.

 

[FrankieG]

You think the MAC is better?

 

[aldive]

Better is a relative term, often influenced by opinions, not facts.

I like the Mac and use it on my truck. If I thought ( based on fact ) that there was something "better" I would be using it.