Need suggestions for faster acceleration

[ilovtoyz]

First, I would like to thank everyone who contributes to this site. It is an immense help and has saved me a good bit of money and has diagnosed several issues with my model and year. That aside, I purchased a 92-xlt 4X4 V6 six months ago. I am looking for a little get up and go (Namely Acceleration). Currently, the explorer accelerates very very slowly. I am sure this is the design of the vehicle but I would like to increase the accelerating capabilities if at all possible. The vehicle has no modifications that I am aware of. Also, I am very much the novice when it comes to modifying ones vehicle. Depending on the level of difficulty, I will have a professional do the install. Can you please recommend some enhancements and provide specific information on parts, brands, where to find, Pros & Cons of making the modifications and a ruff estimate to complete the work. I know it is a lot. I appreciate any help you can provide.

Orris

 

[88vert]

What size are your gears?

 

[ilovtoyz]

I am still running the stock gear.

Orris

 

[88vert]

What is the gear?Check your axel code on the inside of your drivers door

 

[ilovtoyz]

Sorry, The code is 41.

Orris

 

[2001ExpSport]

New ignition coil, ignition computer, plugs, wires, super chip, headers, free flow exhaust and KKM intake.

Many things you can add to your pushrod.....if you have 4 grand you can get a supercharger.

 

[aldive]

Why do you recommend new ignition goodies?

 

[2001ExpSport]

Originally posted by aldive
Why do you recommend new ignition goodies?

Well, he's got a 92 and probably over 100k on the motor. He says there no mods that he is aware of so I suggest he start with the ignition to get a fresh strong spark. Plugs, wires and maybe a Mallory HyFire or MSD ignition system. With a catback exhaust and if he has extra cash for a chip, he could gain some lost hp. Maybe pick up a few extra.

If I had the extra cash laying around I'd do the same and I only have 45k.

 

[EliteConcept]

if your looking for speed, i strongly suggest buying another car.

the 91-94's are really sluggish.

but the things 2001expsport suggested will help you some.

but nothing really will make it faster, cuz its just slow to begin with and probably always will be unless you got 10,000 to dump in the engine and drivetrain

 

[ilovtoyz]

I am not concerned with going fast. I have not driven it over 60 mph. I am just looking for a little “get up and go”.

Orris

 

[Jason_25]

The answer is simple. Regear it to 4.10.

 

[Chad Spalding]

I think your best bet would be a gear change, if all you want is accelleration. Depending on what you have, 4x4 or 4x2, will have to decide on what gears you will need. I'm not real sure on Explorers but if you have a 4x2 chances are you either have 3.27, 3.55, or 3.73 gears, whichever one you have, just upgrade to the next lower (higher numerically) gear, and if you have 4x4 you prpbably have either 3.55, 3.73 or 4.10, and the same thing applies there except you will have to change the gears in both the front and the back, prices should run anywhere from $300-$1000 depending on where you go and who does it. Also a good tune-up will help alot too. And if you want to add a little more performance all around add an aftermarket intake kit, like KKM or others, they will run anywhere from $170-$300.

 

[2001ExpSport]

I believe he said he had 4.10's already. He could goto 4.56's, not sure what is available for the TTB.

Toyz, ther eshould be a tag on your rear end. It will be held on by one of the bolts. The tag will read what you have, gear-open or LS-size(8.8) in that order. If there is a space between the gear # and size you are open. If you have limited slip it will read...

4.10LS8.8

 

[diablo5969]

Originally posted by 2001ExpSport
Toyz, ther eshould be a tag on your rear end.

Hey, we barely met the guy, we don't need to know about his rear end!

Anyway, I have a '94 XLT 4x4 V6. Very similar to yours. At this point, I would definitely recommend enhancing your intake first. I (along with a couple other people who've said it so far on this thread) recommend a KKM Tru-Rev Sport Induction Kit. The website is Kurtz Kustomz Motorsports. Immediately after I installed my KKM intake, I noticed that the Ex felt a lot more powerful and could accelerate much more quickly. Also, it sounds a lot nicer now. The KKM intake is very easy to install, as well, if that's a consideration. That'd be my first recommendation, and also the only (so far) of these recommendations that I've been able to perform on my own Ex.

Along with the actual KKM air filter, there are many other mods you can do to your intake. You could get a straight intake tube, rather than the knobbed one that our Exs have now. A straight tube would allow the air to flow better. Also, if you had about $300 you were willing to spend, you could get a larger MAF (Mass Air Flow Sensor). By getting a larger MAF, you enlarge your intake pipe and allow more air to get to your engine, giving you more power.

A lot of people agree that an aftermarket exhaust is in order after a new intake. Now that you're getting air in, you also need to be able to get that air out. Unfortunately, I am not that knowledgable (sp?) about exhaust, so I would direct your questions to someone else. I do know that the exhaust is another great "beginning" mod.

Those are the only things I can think of at the moment. If you have any questions I'd be happy to try to answer them.

And also, I know this isn't really my thread to start asking questions on, but 2001ExpSport, what exactly do those "new ignition goodies" do for the Explorer?

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by 2001ExpSport
Well, he's got a 92 and probably over 100k on the motor. He says there no mods that he is aware of so I suggest he start with the ignition to get a fresh strong spark. Plugs, wires and maybe a Mallory HyFire or MSD ignition system.

I will buy thew new plugs and new ( better ) wires recommendation, but am not sold on the other ignition,

I don't know about the early Explorers buy the later models have a great FACTORY ignition system.

 

[Alec]

Guys, you missed a very important post: he said his axle code is 41.

This translates to open 3.27 differentials. If you're not interested in top speed and want acceleration, gears are the best thing you can do. Regearing will cost you approx $400 for parts and usually about the same in labor. But it's the best bang for the buck with acceleration. If you go to 3.73 you'll still have highway ability and decent mileage if you want it, while giving it a lot more pep. Go to 4.10 if you rarely go above 65 and just want acceleration.

If you want to actually make more power, get an intake kit, www.kustomz.com , custom 2.5/2.25" exhaust, and a chip. This will run you about $500-600. For another 200 you can also get a new throttle body. These mods will actually increase power over stock.

Now, if you have high miles then some maintenance may be in order. All fluids, O2 sensors, FPR, clean the MAS are good tricks maybe to free up some lost power. Also new plugs and plug wires.

Good maintenance is a must, besides that it's either gears to change your driveline ratio or power mods. Like I said, if you don't care about high speed, gears are the way to go.

 

[Chad Spalding]

Isn't that what I said??

 

[ilovtoyz]

Thank you all for your valuable input. This is a tremendous help. I will start off by checking/replacing the O2 sensor and FPR. I will also go ahead and pick up the intake kit. Depending on where I am after that I will start to ***** Regearing. I will probably take the suggestion for the 3.73. Again, thank you all for your suggestions.

Orris

 

[DeagleDave]

I have a 92 X myself and this morning i had a cat back dual exhaust put on. The flowmaster 40 series to be exact. This made a big difference and it cost me 318 installed. Good low end acceleration and the sluggish 50-60mph zone got a boost too. I'm really happy with it and the kkm intake is next on the block for me.

 

[Savage Wolf]

insted of regearing the rear you might want to look in to finding a '95+ disk brake rear from a bone yard with 3.73LS in it, I dont think the swap is very hard, someone else can correct me if I'm wrong because I havent swapped my rear out *yet*, if you try a search on it I'm sure there is a write up somewhere in here on how to do the swap