New Explorer guy from AZ

[Redneckfordf250]

Well I am part of many forums and have been looking around this one for a while but never really had a reason to join. Well last night I got my reason. Drug home a 94 Explorer 4x4 4.0L V6 with perfect interior and exterior. It has a few quirks but not bad.

I also have an 84 Bronco 2 4x4 2.8L V6 stick shift. Should be tons of fun on here.

I will tell you right now I am more of a F150 or bigger guy but these 2 trucks have impressed my family greatly so far.
Trav

 

[Rick]

Welcome to the forum Trav. I'm also an Arizonan. I live in Wittmann.

The Explorers can be very capable rigs, and they definitely last a long time with a little help along the way

 

[Redneckfordf250]

Thanks Rick. I am not sure where Wittman is but I have heard of it.
Personally I am in snowflake (white mountains).


I hope they are capable and last because I need it to drive me at least till I get my F150 going.
All this Explorer will be doing is some light off roading, mudding, being daily driven, and once in a while tow my bike but probably very rarely as I have my F150 for that.

So far I have cleaned the Explorer up but unfortunetly I didn't notice the sun visors being bad.


My current list of needs that I can tell so far is:
the engine swaped
front bumper needs a little bit of fixing (it is the only part of the truck that is a little messed up)
needs wipers (all of them)
needs ranger wheels put on and some tires. My plan is to paint the wheels black and put chrome caps on them since I believe the truck needs some chrome and black to it.
wouldn't hurt to wash it
rehook up the drive shaft. (found out it was disconnected a few mins ago)
and make sure everything works well 4x4, radio, transmission and such

My current list of wants are:
a better grille (may use ranger grille) or get a billet
clear lights
clear headlights
my sony 1100 watt dual subs put in far back seat
louder exhaust
cold air intake
small lift
a brush guard
some lights in the front bumper (has the cut out holes)
probably more still thinking.
Trav

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Post pictures of your progress, and point out the threads that you have found the most helpful.

 

[Redneckfordf250]

Will do.
I am hoping to have the ranger stripped down and explorer running by the end of this month. I have a set of Jeep wheels that didn't fit on the B2 but might fit on the Explorer according to my brother. They are 5 on 4.5 but the spacing made the lug nuts not fit on the B2. We shall see once I get out there.

I am hoping to take the stupid fiberglass rockers off they will probably end up broken anyways so would like them off before they do get broken.
Trav

 

[1Aauto]

Welcome to the site.

Tony:wavey:

 

[Rick]

I am hoping to take the stupid fiberglass rockers off they will probably end up broken anyways so would like them off before they do get broken.
Trav

We call that "Tupperware" and yes it's either the first thing to be taken off, or ripped off

I used little plastic plugs to fill the holes that were left behind. Picked them up at ACE.

It's been a long time since I've been to the White Mountains. We're in the far West Valley between Wickenburg and Surprise, so there's all of Phoenix and it's suburbs in the way. It's an easy ride from here to Prescott and Flag, so that's where we go when we need to beat the heat.

 

[Redneckfordf250]

We will be pulling those after we do a little bit more work to get it running.

Yesterday we put the spare tire where it belongs and checked to see if the jeep wheels fit. Luckly they do and they look awesome!! For now I am going to take the parts truck tires and mount them on the jeep wheels till I can find a decent set of tires. We did find one little ding yesterday in the back hatch but you can't see it till you really look hard.
The hood has a little bit of checkering (it has been an Arizona truck all its life).
Trav

 

[Redneckfordf250]

Here is a couple of pics all I have gotten so far.
Pic with the 84 Bronco 2

The wheels I will be putting on once the I locate some tires:

 

[Rick]

The Explorer looks like it's in great shape.

 

[Redneckfordf250]

Thanks Rick it is in pretty good shape I was surprised.
Well in the past 2 days I did get something done:
got the parts truck stripped to the frame and drivetrain (Saturday) then pulled the engine from the explorer and the parts truck the same day. Ended up getting to late to drop the engine in so called it a night.
Sunday we grabed our tripod and the Bronco 2 drug the explorer under the engine with it. Got the engine in after about 3 tries trying to get the engine in I had to pull back the transmission to get it in. get it back together (took 4 tries to stab transmission into the engine (first auto trans I have done) but did get it) then got everything seated. I got 5 of the 8 bell housing bolts in and started getting the belt on.
I was having problems following the belt routing instructions because of the fact that the damn thing was different from the parts truck. So I followed the parts truck belt routing and finally got it in. Then went to start hooking up wires and found that the main harness has two hook ups. Both are square on a 94 Explorer. On the donor engine one is round and one is square. Then noticed that the donor engine has only 1 02 sensor hook up where as the explorer has 2 02 sensors. So I have to take the wiring harness of the old explorer engine and plug it into the new engine which should work I already traced down the wires to get everything their. After finding that out it began to get dark so we wrapped it up. ASAP I am going to swap the wiring get the rest of the bolts in and tighten what is left.

Also decided I am going to keep the plasic/fiberglass rockers and paint them black to match my black and white scheme that I like.
So on my to do list ASAP:
switch wiring
get the last few bell housing bolts in
tighten cross member bolts
then fill up all the fluids.

Good news is it turns out the parts truck had a newer B&W torque convertor from 09 that I ended up leaving on since they were the same. I am glad about that.
Will get pics asap.
Trav

 

[5spdman]

That is one very clean Ex...AZ bought? I myself picked one up only 5 months ago here in AZ (I currently live and work on the Hopi rez 1.5hrs northeast of Flag) but due to the sands and sun, it has a lot of UV damage (an almost non-existant clearcoat.)

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Redneckfordf250]

Well according to what I see the Explorer was bought in Gilbert Arizona (sounds like an older couple) whom all the way up to 140K miles had it's service recorded at the same dealership. Then it was sold to some guy whom probably is the one that made the engine let go when it did it went to my buddie's brother whom within a few weeks gave it to my buddy then I got it. They didn't want to deal with the engine swap besides they have way to many vehicles (more then the 11 I have).
I didn't see any UV damage other then to the stupid window visors which when I get the chance I will run to the local junkyard and get some of the same color. But I am not to worried about that just yet I am more worried about getting it on the road since I do need a daily driver instead of driving my mom's 97 Expedition. Once I figure out my wiring problem I should be good to go.



If anybody is wondering here is the list of our other 11 vehicles (I am 18 and live with my family currently also I am the oldest of kids):
1988 Ford F150 4x4 302 V8 C6 auto transmission with a few mods done currently down needing a new engine (still deciding on going 351 or 302) it does have a black and white and chrome scheme. This one is mine.

2002 Ford F250 4x4 Crew cab V10 4R100 auto with banks exhaust, airaid intake, bully dog chip, stainless steel fuel rail, custom audio system, custom white and black paint, and a chrome truck box. This one is mine and my dad's.

1997 Ford Expedition 4x4 4.6L 4R70W auto trans with no mods just yet. This one is my mom's.

1989 Ford F250 4x4 351W reg cab flatbed Zf5 stick shift all original minus bed and brush guard. This one is my dad's.

1989 Ford F350 2wd 460 crew cab flatbed Zf5 stick shift all original minus bed currently needs a lot of parts to get back on road may become parts truck for next truck. This one is the hauler truck.

1991 Ford F250 4x4 460 extended cab E4OD auto 2inch lift warn winch bumper some small mods here and their. Engine is torn apart currently (not by me). My brother's truck.

1984 Ford Bronco 2 4x4 2.8L TK5 stick shift small mods done but not much just yet. My other brother's truck.

1985 Chevy G20 Sportvan 305 with more mods then any of them. Have had it since I was 5.

2007 Harley Davidson FLSTC heritage softail with stage II kit, screaming eagle race tuner, rebuilt transmission, Piaa lights and more. This one is my dad's.

1973 Harley Davidson XLCH sportster. Has more mods then even the Chevy. Springer front end, bobtail fender, bagger tank, racing cam, upgraded just about everything. This one is mine and the only thing I spend my time on more then my trucks.
Trav