V8 but not all wheel drive?

[jseabolt]

On my way to the beach I spotted two Gen II Explorers (may have been Mountaineers) with V8 emblems on the fenders but no mention of all wheel drive underneath it. These were in South Carolina.

I was thinking all wheel drive was standard with the V8. Was it my imagination or did some V8s actually come in four wheel or just two wheel drive?

 

[section525]

Tons of 2wd v8s out there.

 

[celly]

My '99 is AWD and there is no mention of it anywhere on the truck. From what I understand, the only visible way to tell is the extra driveshaft.

2WD is VERY common in southern locales.
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[manaen]

yeah just pop your head under the truck and see if it has the front DS and transfer case. On many models there is no way to tell without looking. Also if you drive them you will be able to feel the AWD bind when you turn the wheel hard.

 

[Electrohacker]

Also if you drive them you will be able to feel the AWD bind when you turn the wheel hard.

not if the viscous coupling is working correctly. mine never bound when it still had the 4404

 

[Joe Dirt]

Correct- my buddy's truck has no bind after we replaced the transfer case with a good viscous coupling. Mine has no bind either...

 

[manaen]

maybe bind is too harsh a term. But I have never driven one of the AWD models that I couldn't tell were AWD when I turn hard. There is a definite AWD feel in the steering wheel.

 

[jseabolt]

Tons of 2wd v8s out there.

Under specifications, the owner's manual for my 96 XLT V8 AWD mentions nothing about a V8 2WD model.

If I ever replace my Subaru, I'd like a Ford Fusion AWD but it's not available in the 5 speed. You have to take an automatic to get the AWD option.

 

[jseabolt]

maybe bind is too harsh a term. But I have never driven one of the AWD models that I couldn't tell were AWD when I turn hard. There is a definite AWD feel in the steering wheel.

I can't feel a bind, slip or pull neither on my Explorer or Subaru AWD.

When I had my '94 Jeep Wrangler if the 4WD was engaged, I could feel it binding on packed snow when making a sharp turn.

 

[section525]

Under specifications, the owner's manual for my 96 XLT V8 AWD mentions nothing about a V8 2WD model.

So you don't think there is a 2wd model then? :scratch:

 

[techieman33]

I don't know that I would describe it as a bind, but you can feel the difference in the steering wheel when going around a corner.

 

[SoNic67]

My V8 Explorer doesn't have any indication of AWD on the exterior or interior, it doesn't have the transfer case shifter like the 4x4, but... it is AWD. The only way you can tell is looking under the driver seat.

PS: It doesn't "bind". Binding would eat the tires, make squeaking noises... What you feel is better engagement in the curve (if the middle differential VC is not toasted).

 

[storlied]

It's more like tighter steering with AWD, if I dropped my front DS.. it would feel a lot less restricted.. it's just the differences in rotation on corners with the AWD system.

 

[wwrightsc]

Yep, it's very common down here. In the south we almost never get snow or ice, so the only reason to get all wheel drive would be if you plan on taking it off road.

 

[jseabolt]

So you don't think there is a 2wd model then? :scratch:

It's not that I'm disputing anybody wheather or not a V8 2WD exists, I just never noticed any specs for a V8 2WD listed in my owner's manual.

So I assumed this combination didn't exist until I saw a couple of Gen IIs in South Carolina that just said "V8" on the fenders which made me question why.

 

[jseabolt]

Yep, it's very common down here. In the south we almost never get snow or ice, so the only reason to get all wheel drive would be if you plan on taking it off road.

I live in Eastern Tennessee and we don't get much snow either but every Explorer I've seen in my state are 4 or AWD. There are some Gen Is still knocking around our plant here at work which are 2 wheel drives. But they are very basic models.

On a side note, when I was looking for my Subaru Baja none of the southern models had seat warmers, battery, or some other type of engine heater.

Seat warmers are great because it does average 27F/45F in the middle of winter but I've never had trouble starting any of my vehicles in cold weather even down to 0F.

At what temperature would you even need an engine or battery heater?

 

[11lariat]

Newer 2nd gen V8s have an emblem on the side that simply statees 'V8,' regardless of whether 2wd or AWD - I think this started in '98?

96-97 AWDs have the 'all wheel drive' badging

 

[Joe Dirt]

There is also this badge for the 2WD...

"Since its introduction in 1991, Explorer has been one of America‘s top-selling vehicles. Last year Explorer was the nation‘s best-selling sport-utility vehicle as well as the third-best-selling vehicle overall. In 1996, the Explorer added a much-anticipated 5.0-liter V8 motor teamed with either 2WD or AWD to further strengthen its leadership position. Fans of the V6 can upgrade to a new 4.0-liter V6 that pumps out 205hp—45 more than the base engine and more than any other V6 in the compact sport-utility category."

 

[techieman33]

There is also this badge for the 2WD...

"Since its introduction in 1991, Explorer has been one of America‘s top-selling vehicles. Last year Explorer was the nation‘s best-selling sport-utility vehicle as well as the third-best-selling vehicle overall. In 1996, the Explorer added a much-anticipated 5.0-liter V8 motor teamed with either 2WD or AWD to further strengthen its leadership position. Fans of the V6 can upgrade to a new 4.0-liter V6 that pumps out 205hp—45 more than the base engine and more than any other V6 in the compact sport-utility category."

That's not a 2wd v8 badge, it was used in 96-97, then they switched to the other style of v8 badge.

 

[jseabolt]

There is also this badge for the 2WD...

"Since its introduction in 1991, Explorer has been one of America‘s top-selling vehicles. Last year Explorer was the nation‘s best-selling sport-utility vehicle as well as the third-best-selling vehicle overall. In 1996, the Explorer added a much-anticipated 5.0-liter V8 motor teamed with either 2WD or AWD to further strengthen its leadership position. Fans of the V6 can upgrade to a new 4.0-liter V6 that pumps out 205hp—45 more than the base engine and more than any other V6 in the compact sport-utility category."

That looks like the badge I saw in South Carolina. I was sitting at an Arby's when someone in the drive through passed by and I caught a glimse of it. I couldn't tell if it had the same tail gate as mine with the bumper mounted licence plate or the tailgate mounted licence plate to know if it was newer than mine.