Which year 2nd Gen??

[davy crockett]

I'm looking for a 2nd gen with a 5.0 and 4R70w with the plan to rebuild the engine and transmission and do a 4406 swap and small lift. The goal is to build a tough trail truck that will tow a trailer well.

Initially I was looking for the newest gen 2 5.0 I could get but around here there aren't many to start with and most seem to be '97-99. Is there a specific model year that is preferable? Mostly concerned with VSS issues on the t-case swap but are there other factors that I should be concerned about?

 

[FIND]

You won't have to worry about that on any 98+. The tuning gets a little better with later years after the change to the GT40P heads, but I really don't think there is a substantial difference in those years. The 98+ explorers also got a solid rear sway bar which improved road manners substantially.

Good luck with your build.

 

[davy crockett]

Ok, thanks. That helps expand my options a bit.

I have a built up gen 1 now but it seriously lacks in the power department. I like the 5.0 X's because with a t-case swap you basically have half ton running gear. I just have to decide what to do with the front end.

 

[99XLT-Explorer]

idk about half ton the rear is but the front end is a dana 35

 

[davy crockett]

idk about half ton the rear is but the front end is a dana 35

yeah, that's why I said I'm not sure what to do about the front. I'd like to do a SAS but I don't want a bunch of lift.

 

[Adam Black]

yeah, that's why I said I'm not sure what to do about the front. I'd like to do a SAS but I don't want a bunch of lift.

Just do the TT with war shackles. you'll get a solid 2 inches of lift without having to do anything special.

 

[MercuryMullet]

The P-motor will do better, but my 97 mercury was a non-p motor with 3:73s, my exploder is a 97 P-motor with 3:55s. I'd take the 3:73s over the P-motor. The D35 is pretty tuff. TT 31's and rock it IMO. If you found a nice 5.0 3:73s I'd snag it (if you only want 31s) I have 4:56s and 33s and sit barely over stock height int the front and sags in the back(fiberglass). As for your orignal question, having both a newer and older one, I would worry more about condition than year.

 

[shadowless127]

imo 99-01 are the best. 1998's aren't terrible either but I prefer the newer front bumper.