The Ugly Swede

[noze8tr]

Hello. James here from South Texas. First I need to tell you all I don't have an Explorer. I do however have an autocross car that is powered by a 2000 Explorer 5.0. I'm hoping to do a few performance upgrades later this year and figured this was a good place to pick brains. I've got no particular questions at this time, figured I'd poke around, search and read and try to avoid all the "do a search you noob" comments. lol

My car is a 1983 Volvo 242 with the following mods:
2000 Explorer 5.0
Cold Air intake (homemade not pictured)
SCT Flashed for 93 octane
AC delete
Keyser Dual pass alum radiator
Electric fan with DCcontroller
Ford Motorsport flywheel
Stage 2 Clutch
WC T5z w/ 2.95 1st, .80 5th, cluster support and pro 5.0 shifter
full coilovers with 550# front and 300# rear spring
camber plates
steering geometry correction with 35% quick ratio
Ipd 28mm sway bar
Koni race inserts
Nitto Nt01 R compound tires

I'm still sorting out the suspension and learning to drive it. My previous autocross car was a turbo with automatic. Quite a learning curve with this torque and a manual. Anyway, glad to be here and looking forward to learning about squeezing a few extra ponies out of this 5.0.

Here's the beast.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nRf4pPN4dhY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I know 2 people who had a very similar car. I replaced the alternator in one of them. The fuses were open compared to sealed fuses.

 

[colintrax]

That's a cool car, what made you go with a ford powered volvo?

You said you're still struggling with the manual, can you elaborate? Might be able to help out there. The stage 3 clutch probably isn't helping you. And IMO a bit overkill for a stock 5.0 pushing a little car.

 

[colintrax]

Also have you put the car on a diet? Can't see the interior well but it looks like you havent.

 

[noze8tr]

Not really a struggle. But it's been 10 years since I've raced a manual. Still learning the whole car. Turn-in is much quicker than my previous car. Stage 3 was a typo. Actually a Clutchnet stage 2. Still overkill but I hope to bump power up this year with some heads and cam. Plus with the r compound tires it sticks pretty good.

That's a cool car, what made you go with a ford powered volvo?

You said you're still struggling with the manual, can you elaborate? Might be able to help out there. The stage 3 clutch probably isn't helping you. And IMO a bit overkill for a stock 5.0 pushing a little car.

 

[noze8tr]

Back seat removed, front drivers seat replaced with lightweight racing seat. All Ac components removed. It sits just under 3,000lbs (2,940) without my fat butt in it. Still can drop more, but I'm also keeping it street legal.

Also have you put the car on a diet? Can't see the interior well but it looks like you havent.

 

[noze8tr]

Yep, they use ceramic fuses. Old school for sure.

Welcome to this forum! I know 2 people who had a very similar car. I replaced the alternator in one of them. The fuses were open compared to sealed fuses.

 

[Antho]

Nice setup looks like heaps of fun!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Did you upgrade the fuse panel? How did you make the inner frame support on the front shock towers?