In prevoius posts I have mentioned and discussed my intent to put the '91 Explorer rolling chassis under my '53. Yesterday I talked to a guy that has a 2000 Explorer that he bought for parts. He needed a back window. He is thinking of pulling the engine and tranny for spares for his Explorer. I am considering buying what's left for my rolling chassis as I have grown fond of having the old '91 around as a yard mule. The one he has is being parted out or sold whole , but either way, it has a title.

Here's the questions: I have a '95 that is different than my '91 in that the front has IFS wth tortion bars and a fixed front differential. Are there manual hubs available for this model. I believe the 2000 is essentially the same in this regard. I wanted disc brakes all around and I would have that with the 2000 chassis, plus the proportioming vale set up. My '95 has 4W the ABS with the electric hydraulic pump. I don't know if the 2000 has that or not, but if it does, is that a problem? This one has been damaged in the right front but it has no damage to the chassis, suspension or wheels. My plans are to use a SBF and a manual tranny and transfer case from another ford half ton, so I don't need the engine and tranny with the 2000. I am also interested in the interior if it's as good as he said it was. I would like some knowledge and opinions regarding the comparrison of the 2000 chassis to the '91 I have as it applies to using it under my '53. I don't plan on hauling or towing big loads with the '53 so I think it should be tough enough.

Later...

 

should be tough enough, yes. The 2000 frame I am not familiar with. The 91-94 frame I am a bit, as it is similar to the earlier Bronco II's and rangers. To fit a 302 in, you'll need an inverted fuel pump, remote oil filter set-up, and special headers offered by Advance Adapters, James Duff, LandL products, etc..., as well as one of these company's motor mounts. That said, they fit pretty decent...that is for a stock body on the frame. I would guess that the newer 2000 frame has a different mount adn maybe one of the companyies mentioned sells mounts for the newer vehicle. My guess is the '53 body will clear a bit easier than the original body would, and you can buy/fabricate a recessed firewall for a '53. Alot of sheetmetal work, yes, alot of frame work, maybe. A look at the fella who did the outstanding work grafting the Effie body onto his Explorer, would be a great reference. Now, the newer Explorers were offered with 302's, so finding one of these in the jy would net you the mounts and other items needed to make your fit in a 2000 chassis. If his was a 302 equipped Explorer, then half the battle is already won. A link here may provide more info: The Ranger Station - Your Ultimate Ranger Resource IMO, as long as you don't stomp on it too much, the stock driveline will hold up. Even then, swapping in a 8.8 from another Explorer wouldn't be too hard. Off the top of my head, this is what I know. Guys have used seats from earlier Rangers and BII's, so if the newer Explorer seats are the same width, then they should work. Manual hubs may be offered by Warn Industries.

 

Thanks Scott,
I appreciate the link. I'm not too worried about the mounts because I have a machine shop and ample welding equipment along with similar experience along those lines. The engine I intend to use is a 351W, which if I recall correctly, should mount like the 302. I would imagine those headers you mentioned would still fit to although the 351w will raise them up just a bit and out around 1/4" I think. The big attraction for me over the '91 I have is that it's newer, maybe a little tougher and the all around disc brakes. I think I can get a good deal on it because the guy that has it wants to keep the drive train for a spare and I don't want it. I think I can get all that is left for two to three-hundred plus the title. My big concern here was the availibility of manual hubs and the tortion bar front suspension. I'm wondering if that would need beefed up somehow with the heavier 351.

I have been in contact with the fellow that built the truck you mentioned and he did give me a lot of tips. He grafted the floor pan and firewall into the cab which all but eliminated a lot of the problems fitting stuff in from the Explorer. It was a 2WD so there may be some issues there. I may have to go with a different oil pan on the 351 but if worst comes to worst I can fab that. It could be an oil pan from a 302 Explorer will fit.

Later Man...

 

Any full size truck 4x4 with a 5.8 originally should have the oil pan you are looking for, along with the oil pump and pickup tube (you want a rear sump). The headers, though physically will mount to the 302, will be a really tight fit due to the steering linkage, master cyl. and the airbox on the pass. side firewall. I tried to install my 351W in my '87 BII and it wouldn't fit, though I didn't try "real" hard. Fabbing the headers would have been necessary. Not sure about the 2000 model front suspension, but using stiffer springs would do the trick for using the 351W. If the Explorers equipped with the 302 had stiffer springs, I'd say those are the ones you want. All in all, for $300, it would be worth the try.

 

If the 2000 is the sams as our '95, it has tortion bars instead of coil springs. That may be a problem beefing up. The 351 is from a 4WD F-150.

Later Man...