SAS options for a 1996 AWD 5.0 Explorer?

[68Mercury250Ranger]

Bought a 1996 5.0 AWD Explorer and it runs mint, but has front end problems. ball joints, tierod end and a front wheel bearingor hub?

Body is rough, almost gone rockers, but otherwise looks pretty good. I would like to build a decent off roader and have access to lots of different axles, fullsize and 66-77 Bronco. several different Tcases in my stock of parts too.

considering keeping it street legal for insurance reasons, and I hate trailer queens

I don't mind putting on cutouts and would like to stay with aprox 35-36" tires.

I have the ability to make my own front crossmember, and it in

Ideas and suggestions welcome good or bad

 

[dangerranger83]

I would use a HP D44 since it is a 5.0. Wether you use full with or narrow width axles is up to you or what the vehicle has to have. I would try to run coils but that all depends on how hard you want to beat the truck and what your going to be using it for.

 

[68Mercury250Ranger]

I have a 1979 Bronco rolling chassis with 4" lift , but they only have 3.50s in them

I saved my dana 60 and 70 axles with detroit lockers from my 78 supercab, they have 4.10s in them. but they are awfull heavy for an explorer

I would like to stick with the original eng/trans. but am saving an M5OD from an 88 F150 4x4 just in case.

I would like to plate it, but if it is a little too extreme I can live withthat
I only have a 15min drive to work so I can drive anything that far

 

[dangerranger83]

People put D60 on rangers all the time. Saw one guy with a 2.9 liter with D60 but he had a dubbler t-case on his but the 2.9 could still turn the monster tires he was using.

 

[68Mercury250Ranger]

People put D60 on rangers all the time. Saw one guy with a 2.9 liter with D60 but he had a dubbler t-case on his but the 2.9 could still turn the monster tires he was using.

just got off the phone with an old 4 wheeling buddy and he has a Dana 70 powerlock carrier with 5:13 gears(will trade for parts I have), and says he can get me 5.13 dana 60 7F gears to fit my detroit locker for around $200 new.

this might actually work. maybe offroad specific but......

 

[dangerranger83]

Thats a steal!!!!!!!! New gears for my D30 i putting under my truck start at $187 but I'm trading a Jeep Dana 35 detroit locker and 4.56 gears for Dana 30 3.73 gears (it currently has 4.56 which will be gone very soon)!!!

 

[68Mercury250Ranger]

I'm not liking this rack and pinion steering for offroading.
and my dad is bugging me for the GT40&trans for his 72 Bronco, I think it is going to get parted out.
might keep the 8.8 disc rear for a project vehicle too. lots of good parts on it.

I honestly did not know they went away from the steering box and into a rack/pinion with the explorer changeup in 95.

 

[Toreadorranger]

I'm not liking this rack and pinion steering for offroading.
and my dad is bugging me for the GT40&trans for his 72 Bronco, I think it is going to get parted out.
might keep the 8.8 disc rear for a project vehicle too. lots of good parts on it.

I honestly did not know they went away from the steering box and into a rack/pinion with the explorer changeup in 95.

Doesnt matter you wouldnt keep the R&P steering anyways. Depending on how far forward you push the axle you can use either a 86-95 Toyota IFS steering box or a FJ60 Steering box. The IFS box is a rearward swing box (pitman arm faces back towards the cab) and the FJ60 is a forward swing box (pitman arm faces front) And as far as replacing the AWD with 4x4, I think your looking for a BW4406 Tcase to work with your stock trans.

IFS Toyota Boxes: Left is a 86-89 depending on if its a Truck or 4runner and the right is a 89-91 depending on if its a Truck or 4runner

FJ60 Steering Box:

 

[USMC0708]

How did this swap go? I'm looking to do this to my explorer but I have no clue where to start. The previous owner took the front axle out and put 2 wheel drive spindles on it. I still have the t case but no front awd parts.

 

[dangerranger83]

Holly old thread batman.

You know as much as we do, the last post he posted was it.