Saved a '94 from the junkyard...

[pacodiablo]

Been a while since I have posted, but back in December I came across a 1994 Explorer XLT 4x4 at a tow yard auction completely by chance and decided to bid on it. I got it for $250.

Obviously it was really rough, but most of the remaining ones here are rough anyway, and this one is 4WD which is hard to find here. The belt tensioner bearing had fallen apart and the pulley came off, which is what I think was the final straw that led to it being abandoned, but it had a lot of issues going on. All four tires were bald, brakes were trashed all around (both front rotors were cracked), the radiator was leaking bad, and it was making some crazy noises from the front end. Turns out the radius arm brackets were both loose and the radius arms were basically sawing through them. All that has been replaced now and it's driving good. The 4.0L runs strong, the A4LD shifts perfect, and the 4WD works.

The best part though...NO rust at all, anywhere. None. The dog legs, rockers, and all the rest of the metal are perfect throughout. It was originally sold in a suburb of Chicago, but apparently made its way south quickly or was never driven in salt.

Next on the list is a trans filter and gasket since it's leaking a little around the pan, put a radio in, and get all of the power windows working. It needs some other odds and ends too, but I'm very happy with the progress so far. It's probably going to stay stock for now...I think it'll be a good general purpose beater. It's nice having an Explorer again, it has been 10 years since I had to let my rotted out '95 Sport go.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Nice save. No rust is very rare up here.

 

[pacodiablo]

Thanks. Even down here a lot of 4x4s are rusty because they came from somewhere else or mud never got cleaned off. This one has definitely spent most of its life on salt free paved roads. Crazy to think my '95 was a year newer and met its end a decade ago because the body was just falling off of it (came from Pittsburgh).