Question about swapping in an 8.8 Explorer rear & signal to my speedometer

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I’ll check the wiring diagrams for the 97 Explorer to see what those say, and then verify once I get into it. Fingers crossed it becomes a non-issue but my hopes aren’t high on that one. To your point, crossover years suck.

As for axles, I will not be doing any off roading at all. Im going for a RCLB sleeper via the following plan:

• swap in the 302
• add TM headers
• Swap in XE-264-HR cam
• Port and polish the heads and rebuild with upgraded valve springs, rods, etc.
• Cold air intake
• Custom exhaust
• Convert to 5 speed with custom T5

Whatever power that all adds up to is what I will have and be more than happy with. Not sure if absolutely required but I’m betting an 8.8 from the Explorer is a smart move, or at least a 28 spline 8.8 from another Ranger. Seems silly to not just use the beefy 8.8 I already have on the donor car though.

I don’t have my 97 Explorer here and don’t have time to go look at it (it’s about 45 minutes away in the opposite direction that I need to travel today), but it should be VSS in the rear axle.

I used the Ranger GEM in both of the builds I’ve done so far (I built one for my dad a number of years ago).

I did use a diff cover with a main cap brace on my Green Ranger build. Tubes haven’t been welded yet and I didn’t do any sort of truss yet.

TM headers are worth it.

Mustang rear brakes may be better than the tiny Explorer ones.

Not sure how much a port and polish will get you. I tried to do a little gasket match porting but it really wasn’t necessary, I just did very minor clean-up. My 4.0 actually took some work.

Stock intake is a cold air intake, it draws from behind the passenger headlight.

I had a local exhaust shop do stainless 2.5” duals. Aftermarket high flow cats, Magnaflow crossover muffler (crossover mufflers eliminate the need for an X or H pipe on duals). Dad’s build we used the Explorer cats and custom exhaust after that with a Magnaflow crossover muffler.

I believe the M5OD from an F-150 with the 4.2 is the recommended manual transmission because it puts the shifter in the correct spot. I did automatic with both of my builds. My green Ranger is getting a shift kit (stage 2) plus some other mods. Curious to see where that puts me.

 

[NottaCarGuy]

I don’t have my 97 Explorer here and don’t have time to go look at it (it’s about 45 minutes away in the opposite direction that I need to travel today), but it should be VSS in the rear axle.

I used the Ranger GEM in both of the builds I’ve done so far (I built one for my dad a number of years ago).

I did use a diff cover with a main cap brace on my Green Ranger build. Tubes haven’t been welded yet and I didn’t do any sort of truss yet.

TM headers are worth it.

Mustang rear brakes may be better than the tiny Explorer ones.

Not sure how much a port and polish will get you. I tried to do a little gasket match porting but it really wasn’t necessary, I just did very minor clean-up. My 4.0 actually took some work.

Stock intake is a cold air intake, it draws from behind the passenger headlight.

I had a local exhaust shop do stainless 2.5” duals. Aftermarket high flow cats, Magnaflow crossover muffler (crossover mufflers eliminate the need for an X or H pipe on duals). Dad’s build we used the Explorer cats and custom exhaust after that with a Magnaflow crossover muffler.

I believe the M5OD from an F-150 with the 4.2 is the recommended manual transmission because it puts the shifter in the correct spot. I did automatic with both of my builds. My green Ranger is getting a shift kit (stage 2) plus some other mods. Curious to see where that puts me.

I know there is a lot of posts out there saying the TM headers take forever. I’m taking my chances. Spoke to Bob two days ago and he says he “has inventory now.” I’ll believe it when I see them at my doorstep.

My Dad has said the same about port and polish and it’s seemingly impossible to find someone who does it. At minimum I’ll clean the heads up and change the valve springs.

Just going to swap the OEM cold intake with something nicer looking.

Thanks for info on the exhaust. I’m looking to do something very similar.

M5 is the recommendation, but there are options out there to use a T5. A place called Modern Driveline will modify the set up to place the shifter where a stock shifter would be - that’s what I’m planning on as of now. Automatic would be easier of course but I’d really like to convert it. Let me know how you make out with the shift kit!

 

[bobbywalter]

there is no reason to pay for a port and polish. there are heads available that will make 50 more hp and be cheaper out of the box. add to that a good cam and a good matching intake and its 150 hp.

maxed out with factory induction/injection limitations is 330ish.


there is a kid with a speedmaster setup he says he has about 2 g into on top of a tired explorer engine with a 460 throttle body and claims just over 400 wheel and i believe it. its in a 98 or so sn. was originally a v6 car. has the single plane 4bbl style intake cut for injectors with some rails from them and just an adapter plate for the tb. he just horses on it...only seen it a few times but it is effective. its tuned with the explorer pcm and uses the edis.

he got the car trading parts....had the explorer engine and bought all of the speedmaster stuff new. impressive for the money. how long it lasts otoh...who knows....regardless that is very cost effective for a ford.

something to think about.



this is why i would just start with a 5.3 these days...or a 6.0.

but....that car smoked our 5.3 powered 350Z when the 5.3 was bone stock.

damn impressive.

 

[NottaCarGuy]

That seems to be the consensus re port and polish. I’m kicking the can down the road at this point as I’ve got some time before I need to make these decisions. Might just clean up all the stock components and go that route, or I’ll swap it all out.

That 4 bbl setup sounds pretty sweet and not overly complicated. Holley makes a 4bbl intake like that already set up for EFI. The other possible option is the TFS Streetburner combo that bolts right on. Paired up with a set of TFS heads and a good cam it would be a pretty nice set up.