Hotwheels, now way no how. the 91-94 steering box is DIRECTLY where the 5.0L oil filter mount is.
The Canton 90 degree billet adapter I used clears my steering box by about 3/8", thats IT! It is only 1.25" tall when bolted to the block.
You must remote mount the oil filter, well its the easiest way, and not all block filter adapters (for a remote mount kit) will fit. Alot depends on where you place the engine on the frame (engine mounts)
It is all covered in my conversion thread (signature), my 88 is basically the exact same thing as a first gen Exploder. Here's a quote from page 3:
"Some notes from last night:
The explorer 5.0L block uses a oil filter adapter that will not work with the Canton (or similar) oil filter 90 degree elbow. The piece that the new elbow threads onto is missing from the block. I had to get this piece from another 5.0L block (thanks Brett), then I was able to mount the Canton adapter.
The L&L engine mounts are almost perfect, they lined up when bolted to the engine cradle way better then I ever would have imagined, they also put the engine way down low while still clearing everything very well. However I found it was 100 times easier to bolt the mounts completely to the block, then lower the block in place, its such a tight fit that I couldnt get the pass side bolt through both pieces. Doing it this way made it a snap. the bolts that hold the mounts to the cradle go in last.
The heater box will not fit in place after the block is bolted in.
again learned this the hard way. I guess it depends on where your engine sits and how much of the box you notch, but I had to loosen the engine mounts, raise the block about 4" and swing it forward, then install the box.
There is about 1/4" clearance between the Canton elbow and the power steering box, I have about 1/2" clearance between the Duff drop bracket and oil pan now, both of these will improve when the tran is installed and the back of the engine gets lifted slightly."