2022 Ford Explorer Platinum ST

PlatinumST · Apr 26, 2022

2PAC said:

That's definitely true! But where's the fun in that? Lol I'm not sure how close I'll get, but it'll be fun trying. It'll still be a fun process. Unfortunately, as I've read @TMac say on at least one post, paraphrased, you get to a point where each dollar spent will have a diminishing return on horsepower. Time will tell...

PlatinumST · Apr 26, 2022

2PAC said:

Do you have the Charger Hellcat? It which model do you have? 10.7 is nothing to be ashamed of in my opinion!

PlatinumST · Apr 27, 2022

Just ordered all my parts. Decided against the water/meth injection kit in favor of a ZFG E50&93 tune. Which will arrive first! Parts or Explorer?
Will likely do the slick top conversion and gear swap to match the ST gearing.

2PAC · Apr 27, 2022

PlatinumST said:

Yeah I get it, building a car is absolutely fun.

Though I think there are a lot of limiting reagents in the explorer st.

I think ford had a chance to do something great and did a partial good job, the 2 bolt rear subframe is bad, and then other weak components such as spark plugs, etc etc kind of put me off from going heavy on the mods.

Best bang for buck probably would be something like a tune/whipple ic/downpipes, and then exhaust is kind of up to you, catback, axleback, etc etc.

2PAC · Apr 27, 2022

PlatinumST said:

At the moment I have a 2022 wb hc which on radials/intake will run 10.7-10.9.

I have a charger redeye on order that will run 10.6-10.7 on radials.

Honestly on the street a modded st will give rwd hellcats problems from stoplight to stoplight, once it hooks around 40-50 it will get walked down, the hellcat just pulls different at 70+

The compromise is the durango or trackhawk, way better from a dig but obviously loses some on the top end. The real interesting test will be running a modded st against the trx I have coming in next month, I'm interested to see how well the st keeps up with something that can put massive power down from a dig but isn't necessarily the best for aero at 100 mph.

PlatinumST · May 4, 2022

2PAC said:

Not sure how realistic this is, but I'm shooting for mid 10s. I've seen some heavily moded Hellcats running high 8s. Something tells me this isn't realistic on this platform?

2PAC said:

If you're ever in the Utah area, I'd be interested in going out to the track and participating in that test

TMac · May 4, 2022

Mid 10s will cost you! I admire your ambition, but you better think about a budget first. Forget about stock turbos, or even the upgraded turbos available from CR or Pure. The housings are too small on the bolt-on stockers. So plan on moving to a single turbo platform or a custom twin turbo setup. Of course that will entail a lot of fabrication since you're out of the bolt on stage. You'll also have to upgrade the fuel pump and injectors and run e85 or something similar. You'll also have to go into the engine- at minimum custom valve springs since you're going to have to increase the rev limit. The only reasonable $$ way would be with nitrous, which of course has it's own drawbacks, but will be the least expensive dollar wise- until the inevitable rod bearing or head gasket failure. Not that it can't be done, but how much are you willing to pay to do it?

PlatinumST · May 4, 2022

TMac said:

THAT is the big question, isn't it?

Right now, admittedly, its all ambition (hopes and dreams if you will...). I'll start with bolt ons and tunes and see how far that takes me. After that I'll have to dig into the research to see what can be done and at what price point and will have to make the determination at that point. I'm hoping someone will come out with a bigger turbo, though admittedly I don't even know if their location allows for anything bigger nor if the market is big enough to justify something like that. At the end of the day, I don't know what this engine is capable of while still maintaining some semblance of reliability. My ambitions are often greater than reality and have to be reigned in

Thanks for your feedback and your many writeups throughout this forum!

GearHead_1 · May 4, 2022

I assume this isn't to be your primary vehicle? By the way, which track are you referring to in Utah?

PlatinumST · May 4, 2022

GearHead_1 said:

You know the more we discuss my "ambitious" goals, the more I realize they may not be the most realistic. This would be my daily driver even though I'm talking about it as if it were going to be a track car. Thanks all for helping me see reality

GearHead_1 said:

I'm not sure I follow?

GearHead_1 · May 4, 2022

@PlatinumST I meant which track are you referring to? I'm not aware of a 1/4 mile track in the area since they closed the Larry H. Miller one. Even a mid to high 11's is tough to keep as a driver at our altitude.

2PAC · May 4, 2022

PlatinumST said:

I would keep it simple, there has been talks of an rs version as well, I think the 3.0 is good for bolt ons but once you go after 10s you are going to have to put a lot of money and sacrifice a lot of reliability as well.

PlatinumST · May 4, 2022

GearHead_1 said:

Well poo. My brother was talking about taking our cars out to a track in Erda. Turns out they don't currently have a drag strip, though unsubstantiated rumor has it they're wanting to build one.

Do we have to go out of state for a good drag strip?

GearHead_1 · May 4, 2022

Sadly, I'm not aware of any drag strip in UT. I used to go to Rocky Mountain (Larry Miller) all of the time but not in the past 10 years, I'm thinking it's been closed for 5 or 6 years. They still have the Sports Park road course but no dragstrip.

CareerFiremanGuy · May 5, 2022

2PAC said:

2021 Durango Hellcat base price (not sold in 2022) = $80,995
2022 Durango SRT 392 base price = $68,195
2022 Explorer ST base price = $48,245

That's a huge difference, to say the least.
Sure, Durango 392 requires the least amount of modifications, but it also costs a whopping $20k more.
Get a $600 tune for the ST and it's easily running nose-to-nose with the 392 and you can pocket over $19k.

ZookaRoo · May 5, 2022

CareerFiremanGuy said:

True and start adding your packages to the SRT and you will be close to 80K. Not to mention that MPG in the SRT is a killer (but nothing beats the sound of a hefty V8). The Durango RT is more on par in price with the ST though, but its performance is lack luster.

CareerFiremanGuy · May 5, 2022

ZookaRoo said:

Correct. I did a quick inventory search on Dodge's website for the Durango SRT 392 and every one was ~$80k on dealer's lots.
Maybe a 1/2 sec quicker acceleration time is worth an additional $20k-$30k to some people, but not to me.
Everything about the ST is what I was looking for, and my current combined 19 mpg is not too shabby either!

twin001 · May 5, 2022

mid-10s is going to be $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Hell, breaking into the 10's is expensive AF. I believe there are only 2? Theo and Kevin.....anyone else?

Better put your Platinum (not ST) on a major diet and open your wallet.

"Everyone has a plan until I punch them in the mouth" - Mike Tyson.

PlatinumST · May 5, 2022

twin001 said:

I'm definitely taking some punches to the mouth right now! lol Reality checks, while painful, are good to receive.

Thanks all for your honest feedback!

2PAC · May 6, 2022

CareerFiremanGuy said:

It's like you didn't even read my post or the post I was responding to.

He was able to afford a durango hellcat.

Explorer St's are a dime a dozen. A loaded St is 58-59k and is going to be worth circa 40k after 3 years/30k miles (current market is not a good indicator but the amount of St's I see on a daily basis is staggering.)

Durango hellcats are one year limited production run vehicle, even at 95k the car is still going to be worth low to mid 80s after 3 years 30k miles.

It's quite possible that they even appreciate past 90k because the hellcat motor is gone after 2023, you will never get that out of an explorer St, it's all downhill in terms of value.

The 392 however will not hold its value like the hellcat and will be more in line with a 15-20k loss after 3 years.

Now with that being said the explorer is definitely the best bang for buck, a simple tune will push you to around 500 hp crank which is what the 392 is making stock, that coupled with the fact that the 392 is much heavier makes the St a killer.

The explorer will also handle the twisties better than the durango as well due to the way the suspension is set up, and the track focus aspect.

My dream for the explorer would be an rs version making 600 horsepower and having an even better track built suspension.

The explorer is a much better driving car but the hellcat motor is the pinnacle of american muscle and is almost too good to pass up.

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