Saying Good Bye to the Explorer

[Tedybear]

Sadly we have decided to put the Explorer up for sale as a "Mechanics Special".

We just couldn't see putting in more time and money into transmission repairs. So we are hopeful that the next owner can get this one cheap enough from us-to invest into getting a used one installed.

Now where does that leave us in the Ford Department?.... Well....

It's a Craigslist find. I was going to do either a full sized Bronco or a Ram Charger. I was contacted by someone near with this one "considering selling it". So far it's a basket case (as we expect with every Craigslist find...)

I'll still be here asking advice and such. But we can't really take the Explorer any further....

Have a good day all!

S-

 

[adsm08]

Oh you rotten bass turd. I am looking for one of those, and everything I look at needs a floor pan.

Must be 5R55BOOM week though. We are going to look at an Expeditious later today because the trans in our Explorer is acting up too and I can get this Expedition and fix the things they said are wrong cheaper than I can get a tranny for the Explorer.

 

[Tedybear]

Oh you rotten bass turd. I am looking for one of those, and everything I look at needs a floor pan.

Must be 5R55BOOM week though. We are going to look at an Expeditious later today because the trans in our Explorer is acting up too and I can get this Expedition and fix the things they said are wrong cheaper than I can get a tranny for the Explorer.

Most of Craigslist have Expeditions. Sadly most have frame issues. "Needs a frame.... Needs frame welded...."

What in the He&& is Ford using for metal?!?!?

Seriously, the frames on most of these things are horrible. We got lucky with our 95' explorer. The frame is in excellent condition for the mileage. As much as I love tooling around in it. The M5OD-R1 loves to sing a song in 3rd gear (slightly) and 5th gear? Sounds like a heavy metal opera! I'm still driving it that way too! (Just don't use 5th gear......) All that $$ and time spent getting the clutch 100%-And the transmission goes "Blech...."

Looked at a 2001 F-150 with a plow. $1100 with a rebuilt trans. Engine purred like a kitty for not being run in a year. (Yeah...the owner didn't mention that when we fired 'er up.) Frame inspection? Axel back to the bumper was about paper thin. I flicked off (and I'm not kidding) about a 3"x4" section 1/16" thick of frame. Stuff rots off like cardboard that's been sandwiched together. Now if I pull 1/16" off one side....the other side was just as bad. How thick is that frame again???....

There's another one up near the finger lakes the guy wants 2k for it. Rear gate is "New" (looking) LOL. And it runs and drives okay. But it might need a rear main seal, or an oil pan gasket.


Here's few in our area:

https://binghamton.craigslist.org/cto/6030393554.html

https://utica.craigslist.org/cto/6034384799.html

You'll want to dump the Hot Air Intake that kid installed, and not sure about the DIY air snorkel........

I'm not sure if the guy ever posted his on Craigslist with the engine issues. But it was the cheapest one of the lot.


S-

(Seriously... Why do people go for the placebo effect on their air intake systems? Now run some hose and dump that under a bumper for Ram Air Injection......)

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, that's my other problem. $$$. A lot of people want a lot more than I want/have to spend on it.

Right now I am still saving and waiting for a guy to get back to me about a pair of them he left at his father in law's place when he moved to TN for work. An 88 with a bad starter and an Ikea-style 86 for $1400.

 

[AllanD]

THIS is the downside to "Fully boxed Frames" that I warned everyone about YEARS AGO...

Water gets inside the box and cannot escape, so the frame rots out...

AD

 

[Tedybear]

THIS is the downside to "Fully boxed Frames" that I warned everyone about YEARS AGO...

Water gets inside the box and cannot escape, so the frame rots out...

AD

In this area the water isn't the huge problem. Syracuse isn't known as the "Salt City" for nothing.

From the rotted out frames on quite a few Jeep products. To these newer ones. Had one of the local yoyo's on the "Car repair clinic" on the radio state something obvious. "It's recommended about once every few weeks in the winter time to take your car/truck and have an under carriage blast done to it. And after the season, shove a pressure washer into the frame area to blast out all the salt and *&t that is built up.

Where as a normally open frame needs to be kept clean. Sealing up/boxing it? Really bad idea in about 80% of the country.

On the lighter side:

Side note: Dorman hangers are not really made for full sized Bronco's. We just replaced this rotted out one. Thankfully the frame isn't as bad as it looks. I had to notch out the hanger at the top due to it bumping into the body.

Speaking of the frame. We nailed this area with a flap disc and noted while the frame is in decent shape? It's got one hell of a low spot behind where the front mount is. We treated the area with rust converter and then gave it a few coatings with spray on enamel. We'll have to treat the whole frame at some point just to be safe. The other hangers are "thin"ish. But still have plenty of decent metal. That one we replaced? Amazing...

S-