LOL! Yes, cutting the front end off the explorer was the most fun thus far lol. Mainly took off all the parts I'm going to sell and prep it. Going to take the fenders off too and cut all that off so everything is just easy to get to.

Yep about the huge adjustable. The only part that held us up was the fan clutch. Had to go get the tool but came right off after that.

Bud light is smooth, goes down easy, and doesn't fill you up. I live in the Mojave Desert and it's hot as hell... Bud light is just one of those beers you can keep drinking and drinking lol.

Funny you bring that up. The hood struts are shot but the mounts are pretty much the same. I bought new struts off amazon and that's one of things I'm going to swap.

Also the tranny cooler under the front grill... why not have two? Going to keep the ranger one and also mount the explorer one right next to it and run them in series. Dual trans coolers!

 

hmmm, I'd "forgotten" that Anaheim was in the Mojave!

Lived not to far from Lancaster back in the late 80's and early 90's, I hear you about the heat and the need for a beverage that's not "heavy"!

Crazy hot and dry place. Don't think I could be induced to go back.

 

Haha I need to update my location. I'm in Lancaster now, working at edwards afb. Used to be in Anaheim back when I first signed up here years ago. Hot as all hell but offroading right out of my garage is ****.

 

IIRC, only the driver side struts will mount up directly. You can either use 2 driver side struts or modify some things to make the passenger side strut fit. I read about it in a thread awhile back when I was thinking about swapping the struts over.

 

Didn't know that. Thanks for the heads up!

 

Anyone know if I can run my stock 19lbs injectors, or if I need to upgrade to 24lbs injectors and a MAF to support it?

 

I'm running stock injectors right now FWIW. You're also building yours up a little more than I am, so 24lb injectors may be something to consider. I had planned to do some upgrades later down the road, and injectors would be something I'd have on that list.

 

Back to the hood struts... here's where I found that you need 2 driver side struts: Click Here

You can also get some nice ones from Redline Tuning. This is also on my list of future mods. Redline Tuning Struts

 

Yea, dumping the prop rod was high on my list.

Rather than muck around with modding the holes in the cowl and trying to use Expo hinges, I made up my own "kit" with some 30lbs struts from McMaster, a couple home made brackets from some scrap aluminum angle and a couple rivet nuts.

Under $40 total, and just a bit of time taking some measurements:



The first struts lasted about 4 years, just spent a whopping $30 on a fresh pair of struts, again from McMaster.

 

Thanks guys, you are a big help !!!
Nice struts! Guess I'll have to send these back if we can't fab something...

 

What sensor is this? And is there a special tool to get it off? It's located bottom right side of water pump looks like 1 wire going to it.

 

Oil pressure sensor.

Yea, there are special sockets for them but a 6 pointed set of deep sockets has always worked for me.

 

x2

Where'd you get that intake plate, Win?

 

Found a 347 kit already balanced with flexplate and harmonic damper for same price as the unbalanced one from summit. Sweet!

28oz as well just like you suggested win. Did a little research after you brought that up and 50oz def won't work stroked.

 

Found the plate over on TheRangerStation, user ID "MAC"

Only problem with it was unlike the OEM cast ones that have a shallow hollow on the bottom, this one is machined from solid aluminum and is flat on the bottom.

Had minor interference issues with the two upper intake bolts under the plate. Simply ground off the ridges on the heads of those two bolts to resolve.

Yea, it's vanity, but I could not have it say "Explorer", and since it's not an HO, did not want that plate either.

I was looking for as "factory" a look as possible and though that if Ford would put an "Explorer V8" plate on the Expo's, they'd have put a "Ranger V8" one under the hood if they'd built them like they should have.

 

Yeah I understand about you wanting it to match the rest of the truck. I feel the same way. Mine just says 5.0L, but since I have the 347, that's not right anymore lol. I have access to a CNC mill and have been thinking about designing my own. Just have some other things to take care of first before I get to the cosmetics. Thanks for the tip about the clearance issue.

 

Speaking of intakes, mine came in today

 

Looking REAL good

 

Nice!

 

Here she comes!

 

She's out!

 

Hell yeah!

 

Little tranny fluid mess but all good lol.

 

Almost ready for the machine shop!

 

Just dropped the block off at the shop!