74 Explorer (swap) - The "Great Pumpkin" Build

[1buckeyefan1]

Thankfully I had a bracket that I bought here a few years ago from Jsmall to utilize the Explorer throttle cable. Borrowed another idea for the connector utilizing the original Bronco gas pedal

 

[1buckeyefan1]

Thanks for the recommendations for Silicone Intakes.. I was able to DIY my own intake kit for ~$100.

 

[1buckeyefan1]

Decided to paint my dash now vs. later when I did the body. Borrowed the Marschariot mod for the voltmeter. Had to marry up my Painless harness w/ the EFIguy harness.. which is still a work in progress. I'm not getting any power to my dash lights yet, more to work on this week

 

[1buckeyefan1]

Finally got brave last night and decided to try and fire it up. Charged battery up and dumped a few gallons of gas in. Got solenoids clicking, but no start. Added a few more gallons of gas and found leaks at every fitting in my fuel lines. Torqued them down even further, using my feet on the frame rail to get max leverage.

It fired right up! Found another leak on my power steering fittings, torqued them down.

Now I'm getting oil in my passenger side header and it's smoking a ton from that side. I posted another thread asking for advice and consensus so far is to haul it outside and let it run up to operating temps. I'll keep everyone posted.

Finally.. sorry for the mass update.. I've been at it for 5yrs now and have gained a ton of ideas. I especially enjoyed the threads with pictures so I could borrow their ideas. I'm trying to make this thread an aggregate of the ideas i've used. I hope it can help others as much as y'all have helped me.

 

[svastano]

Nice Progress!

 

[stupidboy]

Looks smoky in there

 

[fordfan]

Looks smoky in there

Where there's smoke, there's a fire!!!
That's great that it's alive !

 

[1buckeyefan1]

Where there's smoke, there's a fire!!!
That's great that it's alive !

Yep, it's a step in the right direction! Just waiting for a dry day now to haul it outside and see if the oil burns off.

I'm also now trying to diagnose a transmission leak somewhere around the AA ZF clocking ring. It seems to me originated fr the center of the 1" thick aluminum clocking ring, which I know is impossible. It has to be coming from the trans facing seal and then centering itself before dripping downward.

I ensured I added in the timkin seal before installing it. I even torqued down the bolts further. Any tips before I pull it? Any advice on a better gasket than what shipped with the AA kit?

 

[904Bronco]

Nice work there

 

[Tjmiller]

Started mocking up the 4R70W transmission cooler. Based on Doug/904's mounting design. Since I wasn't using the internal radiator cooler, I wanted a large external cooler, so I went with a B&M 70266. I realize that rotating it 90 degrees is best to avoid air pockets, but based on Doug and other's experience, this produced the cleanest/tightest install w/ limited room. I borrowed the idea from another thread to run the braided flex lines through the frame rail.

That looks awesome! I think I will run my lines inside the frame too. Do you know what size the 4r70w cooling line connections are?
TM

 

[bax]

I would dry that leak up real good and wait and see if it still leaks. From the oil on the ring it looks more like the fluid was dripped onto the ring and not coming from around the gasket.

 

[Tiko433]

Yep, it's a step in the right direction! Just waiting for a dry day now to haul it outside and see if the oil burns off.

I'm also now trying to diagnose a transmission leak somewhere around the AA ZF clocking ring. It seems to me originated fr the center of the 1" thick aluminum clocking ring, which I know is impossible. It has to be coming from the trans facing seal and then centering itself before dripping downward.

I ensured I added in the timkin seal before installing it. I even torqued down the bolts further. Any tips before I pull it? Any advice on a better gasket than what shipped with the AA kit? View attachment 892486

Is that a top loader transmission? Does the shifter bolt in up top ? I ask because I had the same little drip for my AX15. Over the course of 2 years I pulled the transfer case clean it reseal it only to have come back , annoying as hell! Last time after the transfer case was out I took a good look and found it was actually leaking for where the shifter bolts to the top of the transmission. It’s worth a peek.

 

[1buckeyefan1]

It's a big day. Driving under its own power in 5+ years!

 

[gnsteam]

Looks like fun, congrats.

 

[papy]

looking good bud!

 

[1buckeyefan1]

That looks awesome! I think I will run my lines inside the frame too. Do you know what size the 4r70w cooling line connections are?
TM

I used these Fragola adapters based on another thread recommendation:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fra-481670-bl