Blizzard Our 94 Explorer 4x4 build

[redneckfordf2502002]

Ok so I haven't done much just yet but I seem to never leave my vehicles stock (11 vehicles on the lot and each one gets modified differently) LOL.

So I just picked up a 94 Ford Explorer 4x4 4 door XLT auto transmission 4.0L V6 manual hubs power windows mirrors and door locks with 3.73 Limited slip gears. I love the explorers of the first gen and this one I like a lot for two reasons: it is in immaculant condition only body problems is the bumper in the front is sagging a bit and drivers side rear door doesn't open from out side, and the common faded pillars on the back hatch and only interior problems is the passanger side door doesn't open from inside and the sun visors have the common Arizona fading which made them fall apart.
The truck does have 240K miles but that is fine by me as long as it lasts longer.
So first will list the other problems not listed above:
engine is seized
drive shaft is disconnected as it was flat towed
wheels are incorrect and not staying plus tires are bald
the grille has a few small cracks in it
the rear hatch doesn't lock
the spare tire carrier underneath needs modifying to be working again
the tonna like thing in the far back sticks and is hard to roll up and out.
this is all I know of right now

now the explorer came with a parts truck also that runs and drives.

Now my plans are split into 2 phases since Phase 1 are my needs and phase 2 are my wants.

so Phase 1 plans:
get the parts truck engine into the explorer and running
fix the small things to get it in perfect shape for me to DD
the Jeep wheels I have see if they fit and if they do throw a nice set of tires on it
remove the stupid fiberglass things on the rockers
Put the chrome fender trim from the parts truck on the Explorer
Daily drive it until my 88 F150 is running again.

Phase 2 plans (after my F150 is running and driving again):
small lift
a front hitch for a portable winch
a rear hitch
a brush guard for some lights
put some lights in the bumper cut outs
add a bug deflector
clear side marker lights and turns
Crystal clear headlights
put some lights on rear bumper for back up (some of the lighting may be done in phase 1)
louder exhaust probably straight out the back
cold air intake
clear tail lights (undecided on this)
full LED lighting
if possible clear third brake light
and probably more


Just like my build thread for our 84 Bronco 2 this will be slow (I do have 11 vehicles plus a house and garage plus school work I have to do) but it will get done.


All this explorer will be doing is light off roading (backroads everyday but will travel the best ones), easy trails, light mudding, daily driving (anywhere from 18-30 miles), and long distance runs when I don't need a big hauling or something like that.

As soon as I get the chance I will start updating and posting pics.

The only thing I have done just yet is clean the truck up really well. (I did just get the truck over here the other night).
Trav

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

Well yesterday we fixed the spare tire carrier underneath and put the spare tire up their. Also checked to see if my Jeep wheels look good and fit luckly they do. Going to take the tires from the parts truck and mount them on the Jeep wheels for now.
Got a couple of the bumper stickers off going to get the last one today.

Got most of the parts truck torn apart in 2 hrs. Still got more to do a little later.
Trav

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

Here are a couple pics I will get more up soon.
Trav

Next to our 84 Bronco 2 (ignore my brother)

with the wheels I will be putting on:

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

Well got the engine from the parts truck into the explorer. Unfortunetly the wiring is a bit different so I have to pull the harness off the old engine and put it on the current engine.
Trav

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

So got the wiring and everything sorted out. Went to start it yesterday and doesn't start. It cranks and will start if you pour gas into the intake but dies off. So I know it is a fuel issue. Will be finding out soon what it is. Hoping it is something cheap but who knows.
Trav

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

Ok I guess I got some updating to do on this one.
Also how in the heck did both my explorer and Bronco 2 end up in the Bronco 2 builds??? Is bronco II corral still working out quirks?


Anyways we replaced the fuel intertia switch and relay with no luck so I dropped the tank to test the fuel pump and sure enough it was bad. The 92 pump itself was the same so I pulled it off (it is newer) and put it on and she fired up and ran great.

So drove her a bit and she does great.

So I top off all the fluids and start driving her. The next few days I changed the oil and filter, changed the trans filter and flushed the system, new plugs, new air filter, new wipers and washed her and waxed her.

She ran great but had a CEL. I pulled the codes and everything pointed to the DPFE. I went to the local junkyard and got one for $5 working and that got rid of the CEL.

Now I was driving and I kept feeling a bad vibration so we pulled over turns out one of the drive shaft bolts backed out and the other 3 were hand tight! So I got some temporary bolts in their to get me home.

After all that was sorted out I started driving her again and noticed a rad leak. Turns out one of the lines weren't tightened so I tightened it and topped it off.

Somewhere in between their I painted the hatch part that was faded gloss black.

I haven't driven her still but she does have a lot of power.
We also fixed the drivers door window.
I picked up visors from a ranger which are a bit different that I will be modifying to fit and an overhead console from a 2nd gen explorer. Also installed front and rear floor mats that I had that are rubber and got a steering wheel cover that I need to install.

Problems still with her:
doors still don't work (passenger from inside drivers from outside in the rear)
powersteering leaks like a sive.
hatch doesn't unlock by the key up
tires throw up a lot of dirt and such so I need better wheels and tires.
need to install the new parts I got.
Trav


here are pics through the engine swap and cleaning her up:

some pics are when it was dirty

One day I will end up painting these black:

new engine:

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

pics continued:

92 exhaust manifold:

94 exhaust manifold:

better to be together

cleaned up:

paint checkering:

small rust on roof which I touched up:

replacing fuel pump:

With my 02 F250, my dad's 89 F250

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

Took the wheels off the Bronco 2 and put them on the Explorer and vise a versa.
They fit great and I like the look.
Trav