What fits and what doesnt?

[Remi]

I have a 1996 Explorer and would like to change out a few exterior things, can I? Looking to go with the look of a 1998-2001 model.
- Rear hatch
- Fender flares
- front grille
- front bumper cover and round fog lights
- rear bumper

Is everything between a '95-'01 the same and interchangable???????????

Also, I have more buttons and electronics inside this thing then I know what to do with yet! Came with a 6 disc CD changer in the front center console and a tape deck in the stock radio. How easy/hard is it to move the changer to free up some space in the console? What does the set up for an after market CD player look? Is the kit a blank face plate, pocket, etc???

 

[Blee1099]

rear hatch is not the same, fender flares, grille, bumper covers will work..

 

[Remi]

That sucks. The hatch is the one I wanted the most. Just like the look of the other hatch with the hidden handle.

 

[Texas97x]

You can change the hatch but also have to change the tail lights. There will be some differences in the wiring between the two hatches. I believe the 98 has an extra wire. There are threads on here about making this change over, it has been done by several members.

 

[Jstcruz]

I just put a bumper from a 99 on my 97. Its not just a cover tho, you have to change over the whole bumper but its easy to do.

 

[Blee1099]

Depending on the color, the hatch may not match your current color. There were slight changes in the color tint on most of the colors Ford offered. A friend tried to change out a wedgewood blue fender from a early 2nd gen to a late model and you could see a shade difference. Only way to match it was to repaint the fender to match.

 

[Joe Dirt]

The rear window tint will also not match your 96. You'd have to change the rear quarter glass and rear door glass also.

 

[Remi]

Well....depending on the post I read it is either easy or too hard to attempt! I'll try to find on in a junk yard to find the differences in the way they mount. Not too worried about the colors matching, mines black.

 

[Jstcruz]

The rear window tint will also not match your 96. You'd have to change the rear quarter glass and rear door glass also.

This is definatly something to pay attention to. They had that goldish tint up to 97 -98, then they had the black tint afterward. There are others but I know there was a difference. Mines a 97 with black tint - apperantly thats different from what alot of ppl have seen?

 

[Joe Dirt]

Mid-97 was when they made the switch from bronze to dark smoke

 

[Remi]

Joe - you find much for Explorers at "you wrench it"? Heard it is a pretty good place to find parts.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Depends. They always have a nice group of Gen 1's, but the gen II's can have anywhere from 3-4 to 10.

The LKQ in Dorr seems to have more of them than Holland does. I haven't been to Kalamazoo in a while, but they always seem to have more than 5 Gen II's.