fox body 8.8 in a body purists stay away lol

The explorers is likely a cheaper overall swap, but if you pluck the rear from a '94 up Mustang, they're all 5 lug BBP...aftermarket axles are readily available...and the stock 28 spline axles aren't that weak...they can support an 11 second powertrain. Also, the housings from 85-98 are all the same length...99-04 are wider to accommodate the newer body style.