Austin's Explorer build thread and media dump

[LEB Ben]

I can spin my 33s on dry pavement, I am more than happy with mine. I get great gas mileage and have had a lot of fun with stoplight shenanigans. It will still do 90 on the highway without breaking a sweat, or with me feeling like I am going to die at any second.

I was always a truck guy, but after this, I will never be without a V8 Explorer based vehicle.

Yeah...they aren't a bad rig, mpg's are good, and it will get up in speed, although the ones I've been around, you need a sun dial to see how long they get to speed.


Don't get me wrong, I think they can be a relatively nice and impressive rig...but all I'm saying, is the experience I've had with them, I would not swap in a compliant 5.0 stocker, they just don't impress me.

 

[RangerPilot]

I have both, and I will say that the 5.0 vs 4.0 (depending on model) is no contest. The 5.0 spanks the 4.0.

OHV, yes absolutely. SOHC, not so much. An idential Explorer with the SOHC 4.0L will outrun the 5.0L from a standing stop on 0-60 (8.1 v 9.6) and 1/4 mile times (16.1 v 16.8). The SOHC will also net you better mileage in equal applications. People get so hyped up over the V8 they forget the 302 is, while well supported, an ancient platform.

Maintenance wise, having the 5.0L in my Ranger and the 4.0L SOHC in my Explorer, the 5.0L is a sight for sore eyes after any sort of engine work on the 4.0L.

 

[offroadkarter]

OHV, yes absolutely. SOHC, not so much. An idential Explorer with the SOHC 4.0L will outrun the 5.0L from a standing stop on 0-60 (8.1 v 9.6) and 1/4 mile times (16.1 v 16.8). The SOHC will also net you better mileage in equal applications. People get so hyped up over the V8 they forget the 302 is, while well supported, an ancient platform.

Maintenance wise, having the 5.0L in my Ranger and the 4.0L SOHC in my Explorer, the 5.0L is a sight for sore eyes after any sort of engine work on the 4.0L.

yep, this is true... I raced my friends 00 XLT V8 AWD with 3.73's and L/S rear end on stock sized grabber HTS's against my friends 97 SOHC V6 on 31's and a 3.73's rear L/S and whooped his ***. Stock vs stock a SOHC with 3.73's can take a 5.0 with 3.55's....


however, i'd still take the v8 any day, alot more potential, driveline reliability and of course the noise

 

[RangerPilot]

Without a doubt...even with the parts interchangability with V6 Mustangs, the 4.0L is limited. The 5.0L has a massive following and a plethora of cheap, easy to access parts of all varieties.

I have the biggest Flowmaster they make behind my 4.0L, and while it sounds good, you'll never have V8 sound from anything that isn't exactly that.

 

[Austin]

Went to the lake for a photo shoot the other day... On a side note, she got washed for the second time in a month - a new record; I washed the dent weekly!

But before we get on with the lake pics, I polished my rims and broke out the polishing ball to buff out some paint and clean the windows.

 

[5.0Flareside]

looks like time to fix your friggin front bumper... but otherwise looks pretty good...

 

[Austin]

High miles and still kickin!

Next project is to paint the grill...

I WANT IT!!!!

 

[Austin]

looks like time to fix your friggin front bumper... but otherwise looks pretty good...

Never really stood out to me until I took these pics... I'm going to see what needs bending back into shape.

 

[CaFordDude]

ahhhhh...having anything hanging from the rear view mirror is lame and reminiscent of a high school girls car but air freshener tree hanging from the rear view mirror? COME-ON!!!!

 

[73F100Shortbed]

ahhhhh...having anything hanging from the rear view mirror is lame and reminiscent of a high school girls car but air freshener tree hanging from the rear view mirror? COME-ON!!!!

 

[Austin]

ahhhhh...having anything hanging from the rear view mirror is lame and reminiscent of a high school girls car but air freshener tree hanging from the rear view mirror? COME-ON!!!!

But it smells good!!!

 

[john112deere]

Never really stood out to me until I took these pics... I'm going to see what needs bending back into shape.

They mount with slotted holes...might see if you can just tweak it back into place without any bending.

 

[Austin]

Next project is to paint the grill...

I lied!

Done in about 3 hours with minimal planning. Seems that these projects always work out better without a lot of thought behind them. I'm dissapointed in the cut of the wood; it was done at Lowes. Looks like it's off from my measurements by 1/4-1/2 inch.

She's in there pretty good, but I'm still going to tie it down to the anchor points - two on the front of the box and two inside (theft protection).

 

[Austin]

Spot what's missing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you said that stupid trim piece that's all torn up that I kick every time I get in or out... YOU'RE RIGHT!

No rust, just dirty... Not sure what I want to do with the holes yet.

 

[nobodyspecial]

some people have filled it with expanding foam, I taped over them and bedlined it.

 

[Austin]

some people have filled it with expanding foam, I taped over them and bedlined it.

I'll probably eventually bedline most of the bottom half of the suv. I figure I'll hold off until I get more serious about off roading.

 

[nobodyspecial]

You will want to figure something out, because water gets in there and then sits and rusts out the rockers.

 

[Austin]

You will want to figure something out, because water gets in there and then sits and rusts out the rockers.

Good point. I'll look into it this week.

 

[Austin]

Got the oil changed this afternoon... Guess what? - I had a collapsed air filter. As in it looked like it imploded. Never seen that!