PEAK PUTTERS

My father in law has a 1997 Ford Explorer Sport 2 Door 4x4 sitting up in Spokane. Not anything cool but hey its only costing me fuel. It's mine if I go get it. My wife has a crappy ride and wants an SUV. So I may try to get it in working order for her. Or if she doesn't like two doors maybe I can put a solid axle up front and keep it as a long term project?

Anyway I'm picking it up Wednesday. I've been up there to see it before, seems in decent shape except for I've been told it pulls to the right when braking. As far as I know, nothing else is wrong with it. It's the 4.0L SOHC from what I'm told. It has sat about 8 months though so I'm bringing a battery, charger, air tank, starting fluid, and my trailer. If I have to, I know it rolls so I can roll it on there.

Anything else I should bring? Anything I need to know when starting something that's been sitting?

It hasn't been sitting long enough to worry about anything. If you use starting fluid on it I hope it burns a piston to teach you a lesson in mechanics. Carburetor cleaner ONLY!


Personally I'd pedal it if I don't have a direct use for it. That's an easy $3000 in your pocket within a couple hours on craigslist...

Ok. Point taken on the starting fluid. I have it for putting the bead on a tire. Never used it for starting a vehicle anyway. I'll go with Carb cleaner. It does need a battery as my brother in law up in Spokane says it doesn't even click when turning the key. He said it ran fine but before parked. I just want to get it on the trailer.

My wife wants an SUV, so I figured it might give it to her in the meantime. Gonna need brakes up front or a least a caliper due to the pulling. I will probably sell it if she doesn't want it and go get her a Cherokee which is what she wants anyway.

Rebuilt calipers and a tune up wouldn't be a bad idea if you plan to keep it. I'd take a battery and drive it back personally but trailering it back would probably be a smarter idea anyway.

I thought about getting a lift up there and driving it, but you never know what you're gonna get with a "free" vehicle.

Well I know for a fact it runs. My brother in law put a charger on it and got it going last night. I pick it up tomorrow.

the last 2 rigs that i got running from sitting were a 68 ford 10 years of sitting supposedly, ran off the tank, and then a 68 gmc also ran off the tank been sitting from 2006 to this year put a new fuel pump on it and a wheel cyl. and its a daily driver now, so i would not be scared of a rig that has only sat that long at all (i was supprised both times these trucks kept running after the fuel from the carb was gone)

Picked it up today.


Started right up. I figured out what the binding and lurching was. Not the brakes that's for sure. After I got the Explorer down the driveway I noticed something goofy. Rear tires were very worn 255x70R16's. Front tires still had the knobs on them and were 235x75R15's. With a modern turn knob 2wd (auto), 4wd high, 4 low T-case anyone see what's wrong?? LOL

So I look in the back of the rig, sure enough there were 2 almost new Wrangler RTS 235x75R15's on matching Explorer rims. So I replaced the rear tires to match the front and wouldn't you know it....drives freaking great! Makes we wonder how long it was driven with mismatched tire sizes. Hopefully the T case, drive lines, ect, will hold up....

It's pretty nice and has the limited slip (long gone I'm sure) with 4.10's, 5 speed auto and the SOHC 4.0L. And a half tank of gas. The fluids all look good but I haven't checked the rear diff yet. A/C needs recharged too. No leaks so far. I'm taking the rusted out steps off it and maybe I'll find some hub caps at the junkyard.