What are your opinions of your sploder? Would you buy one again? Maintainance issues? I have my eye on a first gen sploder and would appreciate the input. I may even jump brands in search of a less troublesome rig.

 

i've had many, and love them!

for all out reliablity, look for a 96-01 V8 if you need 4x4 they came with either 2wd or full time AWD. this will be the most rock solid reliable explorer you could buy. the V6s have tranny issues (ask me how i know). the V8s get pretty much identical MPGs to the V6s.

happy hunting!

 

Thanks for the input. I have my eye on a first gen 4 door that`s been sitting a while. Tags expired in 3-09. The main thing that scares me about the first gen is the A4LD auto tranny.

 

yup, i put a tranny in my 94 once before selling. i'm on my 3rd tranny in my '96. at 132k, i got it at 80k in '03.

i'ved owned a few V8s and my dad has owned two. no problems at all. you can find well atleast here alot of second gen V8s for $1k-2.5k running and driving.

 

Hehe, I have a suggestion for a cheap, troublesome-free rig

 

X2 on the A4LD. We had a 94 with about 150K on it a few years back. We liked it but traded it off when the front seal started leaking on the tranny. I was afraid of a $2000+ tranny repair on a $3000 vehicle. Everything I read indicated that they are tough to make bullet proof.

 

Sure as helsinki ain`t your XJ!

 

I have seen a few manual transmission Explorers do the 4 door explorers come with that option? That would take the A4LD out of the equation, and leave you with a good running vehicle otherwise.

 

as long as you are not towing anything the a4ld is fine. i got one from a junkyard for $250- I heated mine up racing miles UP a moutain trail to retrive a cell phone-- it got so hot it was puking fluid-- put another 25,000 miles on the same tranny after that-- did nothing but change the fluid. Drove it to CO twice and wheeled it after that. I went to a manual when I put in the doubler-- wished I would have stayed with the auto.

I think i have a complete 4" lift for a first gen floating around here somewhere :-).

 

The first gen sploder was last made in 94. That's 17 years ago. Those are just plain old trucks. I have had trouble with both the A4LD and M5OD. And the first gear in the M5OD behind the 4.0 is 3.4 to 1. Not as well suited for off roading as a 4 to 1. Choices would be a c-5 built to c-4 specs. But you need to have a converter builder build you a good converter. The off the shelf parts are junk. And you loose your over drive and mpg will suffer and I had trouble with over heating for a DD. The non lock up converter will put a lot of heat in the system on the road at speed again KS wind. The M5 will need rebuilding but can hold up longer after a rebuild. If you go M5 try to find one from a Bronco II or 2.9 Ranger. Those have a lower first gear. Another option is a TK-5. They have a 4 to 1 first gear. Stay away from the early external slave trans. The later internal still has parts available and will use the larger 4.0 clutch assy.

Course ifin just want it fer takin a few miles ta Tuttle and beatin on it then thats another thing.

I really liked the A4LD when it worked. My old 89 made 20 mpg avarage on trips to CO and UT including wheelin. But they just don't hold up. If I had the $$$ I'd just get 2-3 A4LD's and have one rebuilt every year. Seems they hold up for that 12 month 15,000 mile waranity then die again shortly after that. I'd just swap a new one in every year. Kinda like I do with wheel bearings. Service um every year for another season of wheelin.

 

Again, thanks guys. All input really is appreciated. Maybe I`m just getting older and want a little more cush. I do love my B2. It`s tough and easy to fix and the C-5 causes me no issues at all. It is however, carbed and has no overdrive and it`s been my DD for over a year now with only the vaporlock issue causing me problems. It too is easily fixed, I just have to remove the headers and reinstall my original manifolds (still have em) and buy the Y pipe. One of my goals before we relocate is to wheel Colorado and it`s just not gonna happen in the B2. I`d like to stay with Ford, but the A4LD issue does scare me with the `sploder even though it`s just the right size. I`ve never cared for pick ups. I like sleeping in an SUV, and 4 doors would come in handy. There is a 5 speed sploder in the local salvage yard but that`s more project than what I want..

 

Putting the 5 speed in the sploder isn't all that bad-- its the peddals that got us! and took forever!