Update...I picked up a 97 Explorer 5.0 last week (my wife loves the addition in our yard!) Started to pull stuff off. Let me know if you guys have questions about components. Depending on how long my wife allows the lawn ornament dictates how many components I can pull...I have the axle and ebrake, seats and now working on the engine and master cylinder.

Does anyone know if I can use the tranny w/o the transfer case? I guess the answer is no, but it looks nice

 

Good move getting the donor Explorer. I have not found one as of yet myself. I'm still looking at getting the whole vehicle in order to use as many parts as possible and reduce donor part costs as well. Same deal with the yard addition. If I add more more large part or an entire vehicle to my collection, I think it will need to come with a bed to sleep in too. As far as the tranny/transfer case, I tried that train of thought some time back on another build while looking at an older Bronco donor tranny. It wasn't feasable at all. Maybe you can sell what you don't need or use, thus, more available cash means more useable parts from elsewhere. Keep us posted on the parts and systems from the Explorer that work out. I still keep thinking things like AC, master Cylinder, PW, PS pump, seats, etc. would be good used in some fashion without too much modification.

 

Well, took the Explorer for scrap yesterday. Ended up taking of rear axle, ebrake equipment, pedals, front seats, master cylinder, and front end accessories. I did not bother with AC for 3 reasons 1) I don't absolutely need AC in Western NY 2) the heater/AC box on the firewall was huge 3) the compressor was unique to the bracket...if I was going 302, could use the bracket, but I don't think it would work on the 351.

I also took the heads. May use them on the 351, but will probably sell them to a Mustang guy who wants a little performance.

I thought about the pw and other features, but it looked like a lot of work.for little return when you can buy pw conversion from LMC pretty reasonable.

All said, I would recommend buying a scrap explorer. By stripping it down, I got my money back and all the components..and still have the heads and intake that I will post on CL..so I can't complain!

BTW. The transmission went to the scrapyard. It would've required the ECM...and is not worth messing with the OBDII ECM..I'll either stick w c4 or go t5.