Hi,
Couple times a year, LKQ sells overstock engines on eBay, I scored one out of 98 Exploder, complete 56k miles for $397.00 picked it up from their crystal river location. They are the best bang for buck 5.0 engines out there, you have to swap all the mustang dress over to the explorer engine, balancer, timing cover, dist, all that stuff. If it's a 96 or real early 97, it will have GT40's
on it, I like them a little better, gone faster with them, standard headers work. Also the explorer 5.0 has better rods, the rodcaps are bridged like 69 & 70 Boss 302 and early 302 truck rods, definitely stronger rod, 92 and 93 5.0 mustang engines have these rods too, never seen them in 85 to 91 rollers, GT40P's have 58cc combustion chamber GT40's are 63.6cc. 3bars on front of head=GT40's 4bars=GT40P's Shop the junkyards, try the orlando area too, I bet you can score one for $450.00 try J&B used auto parts orlando (407) 568-2131
last time i called on one, they quoted me $450.00 haggle with them it works sometimes