2001 Ford Explorer: DRIVEN "Practice truck". Who would spend more than two days performing a preservation detail on a 2nd generation Ford Explorer - one of the most common "Cash for Clunkers" vehicles with an approximate value of $2 grand?? Ford built 2.5 million of these things, yet clean, roadworthy and rust-free examples in the wild are becoming increasingly rare, so I couldn't pass on a one owner, well maintained Explorer. Can you believe this truck has travelled over 220,000 miles? I always love discovering well-kept rides that have been DRIVEN.

During its first visit to the "spa" a comprehensive inspection resulted in the realization the paint, while original, had seen better days especially on the roof and hood panels. The Explorer had seen routine power washes that had dug into the clearcoat. The frame, however, was rust free and the engine ran like a Swiss watch, so I assessed the Explorer was suitable for a light restoration-focused detail. After a couple days in the spa this truck cleaned up exceptionally well.

I performed a full interior sanitizing wash, exterior acid decontamination wash, brushed out all contaminants lurking in every nook and cranny of the body work, and performed a two-stage paint correction. Etching and water spots on the windshield and rear window was lightened up and the interior was given a through application of CARPRO products to protect and preserve the cloth and vinyl. I performed a headlight restoration to remove the oxidation, bring the lenses back to life. After another light polishing and sanding to clean up a few flat panel areas with failing clear coat, I applied a 1-year sealant to the entire body of the vehicle.

Further inspection of the truck indicated she needed a mild tune up, fresh drivetrain fluids, some new off-road tires, a throttle body cleaning from hell. It was during a road test trip to North Carolina when I quickly found out the water pump was on borrowed time as I noticed growing clouds of steam bellowing out behind the truck on the Interstate. Miraculously I limped the truck to a trusted shop which replaced the water pump, thermostat, some gaskets, and some other relevant bits. Now that the "Exploder" was current on maintenance and had a few fresh parts, I applied a lanolin-based undercoating to the entire undercarriage. I then put the truck through its paces on a 200-mile round trip to the Appalachian Mountains for some light off roading. The Explorer proved to be quite reliable and capable. After a final inspection and express detail, Keith's preservation standards were met for this Explorer, and it was marketed for local sale. A happy new caretaker purchased it within 24 hours. I look forward to seeing this Explorer again soon!