Back from the dead.. Gonna just keep adding the updates..
Finally got around to installing the later model cast Explorer manifolds. Initial impressions are less radiant underhood heat, more off idle torque, and a bit better top end.
POS, restrictive 1995-2/1998 tubular manifolds vs 1998-2000 cast manifolds:
Ive seen homemade headers that look better than stock ford stuff.uke:
go figure, every other oem tube headers work better than cast manifolds. figures ford is backwards! hope it dont eat the first and last manifold bolts like ford v8s.:beer:
Getting around to fitting the new rad in, and replacing my cut/crunched/broken core support... The challenge: Fit the larger rad in there.
Unfortunately... what just looked like a little surface rust from the body mount washer was more extensive than it looked when I bought the replacement support a few years ago...
So... I can keep cutting to fit the radiator, and then patch this support and hope it doesn't rot again... or I can cut it up and use it to patch the original support... or I can get another support...
I decided to get another support.
16 June 2009, 17:03:52
The brown santa just showed up... gonna be busy. Got an AGR pump for the explorer, and a cardone saginaw pump for Eddie.
I figured since this motor spends most of it's time idling around the trails that it could benefit from roller rockers since it isn't getting as much oiling when it's at low engine speeds. That and they claim 10-20 HP from them so that would be nice too.
21 June 2009, 17:47:07
03 July 2009, 18:59:17
I was walking though pick a part this week and there was a sploder with a newer rad sitting in the back of it. Since I love it when people do the work for me, I grabbed it and had a spare for $40. I got a hair up my ass last night and decided to swap it for my old one to see if that made a difference over my used and abused sploder rad in Eddie. I also put the new fan and fan controller in. The new controller has a probe that screws into the intake instead of the POS that goes in the radiator fins. I got it done this afternoon and since it was 90 degrees outside I decided to give it the torture test. It never got over 200 degrees, even working it uphill and the freeway and sitting stopped in traffic for 5 minuets at a time. In fact, it dropped to 190-195 once I started moving again. I don't know If I'd want to wheel it on 90 degree days, but it's back to where it should be. That will buy me some time to find a core support and mod it for the new, larger rad.
The old, used and abused rad:
11 July 2009, 21:06:49
Put the cardone saginaw pump in today.