It would, I can test the theory with my dads '99.

The explorer's in question have a 5.0 V8 with the transmission from an F-150. It is NOT front wheel drive based. period.

 

I would have thought the rear driveshaft would be connected directly to the trans output and the viscous clutch would just allow the front drive to slip some as necessary, but it appears both front and rear drive are on the output side of the viscous clutch and a planetary gear set so I guess it is possible that the vehicle would roll if either one of the driveshafts was removed.. assuming I have correctly deciphered how the AWD t-case works.

 

Many on the explorer site remove the AWD transfer case and replace them with manual shift units out of F-150's and Expeditions, they fit surprisingly.

The drive shafts are hooked to the transfer case just as any other 4x4 would. The transmission has the transfer case hooked to it, then the driveshafts hook to that.

In the AWD t-case there is also a chain that drives the front shaft, I had a truck with a stretched chain and it made all kinds of racket but still had power to the front axle.