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Need Help with Build Letters

UnloadedDrip

UnloadedDrip

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Hey everyone, just joined in as I am looking to move from my fusion sport into an Explorer ST. I found a white one and it's a 2020 with 17k miles for just under $50k. I've been seeing nothing but bad posts about this year and 21's, and some good ones (that do post) sprinkled in. There is a lot of info about build letters, but it jumps around from 11th, to 10th, to 12th spot in the VIN.

The VIN I am looking at has a G in the 12th spot of the VIN. So that's a G build?? Before that is an L, and after the G is an A, so it's LGA12345 for example. So is this a G, or A build? And is this something I should stay away from? I will be definately modding this, with at least a tune (93/E85 mix of some sort), and eventually a FMIC is my plan.

I don't want to buy it and have it spend more time in the shop especially with my first baby on the way next year with a 3 bolt diff mount snapping, or the engine/turbo/trans blowing, etc.. It's been a PITA trying to find one at a decent price that's not marked up or have bullshit things added on like ceramic coating + lowjak for $2k extra.


Thanks everyone for the clarification!
 

Chamorro85

Chamorro85

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I like the FMIC pic lol. I loved my Fusion Sport and have loved the step up to the ST. Like with any vehicles its easy to focus on the bad things when you have a forum dedicated to talking about gripes with a daily driven vehicle that we're all incredibly tuned in to noticing things.

The 3 bolt is such a small fraction of a percent of people that could potentially be a problem for. There are some great diff mounts available if you plan on putting some serious power down with modifications.

Good luck with the hunt, used market was crazy earlier this year.
 

OP
UnloadedDrip

UnloadedDrip

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Chamorro85 said:
I like the FMIC pic lol.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Lol it was a pretty cool shot. I love my FuSpo too, just want something faster and the transmission sucks ass on it. The 2-3 shift is garbage.

However, I want to get back into an ST. I did come from a Focus ST and loved it.

Im not sure if we’ll go see that one tomorrow, but I’ve been looking and the market is stupid with markups and greed.
 

jwuonog

jwuonog

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UnloadedDrip said:
Thanks! Lol it was a pretty cool shot. I love my FuSpo too, just want something faster and the transmission sucks ass on it. The 2-3 shift is garbage.

However, I want to get back into an ST. I did come from a Focus ST and loved it.

Im not sure if we’ll go see that one tomorrow, but I’ve been looking and the market is stupid with markups and greed.
Click to expand...
I'm in the same boat. Currently have a big turbo focus st (which I'll be keeping), have a few 2020s in mind.

I heard that the early built ones had some issues, and then some changes were made in late 21.
 

D

dolsen

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UnloadedDrip said:
Thanks! Lol it was a pretty cool shot. I love my FuSpo too, just want something faster and the transmission sucks ass on it. The 2-3 shift is garbage.

However, I want to get back into an ST. I did come from a Focus ST and loved it.

Im not sure if we’ll go see that one tomorrow, but I’ve been looking and the market is stupid with markups and greed.
Click to expand...
So it wasn't just mine, that's good to know

As for the VIN characters, the "L" is the model year (2020), M is 2021, N is 2022, P is 2023, etc. The "A" is a prefix for the last 5 characters, which are all numbers. Once A00000 through A99999 are built, it rolls over to B00000 through B99999 and so on. I believe G is the plant code, AKA Chicago Assembly Plant. There is nothing significant about those characters as far as something to stay away from, at least not that I know of.
 

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UnloadedDrip

UnloadedDrip

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Thread Starter #6
Chamorro85 said:
I like the FMIC pic lol. I loved my Fusion Sport and have loved the step up to the ST. Like with any vehicles its easy to focus on the bad things when you have a forum dedicated to talking about gripes with a daily driven vehicle that we're all incredibly tuned in to noticing things.

The 3 bolt is such a small fraction of a percent of people that could potentially be a problem for. There are some great diff mounts available if you plan on putting some serious power down with modifications.

Good luck with the hunt, used market was crazy earlier this year.
Click to expand...
Would you happen to know of anyone that is tuned with the 3 bolt instead of the 4? Every ST I look at is a 3 bolt, and I feel anything so much as an intake filter will snap it like a dorito. I'd rather not snap it after I get the ST on stock tune only for it to sit on the like for 6mo-1r waiting on probably backordered parts. I'd also hate to tune it with ZFG 93, snap the bolt, and then Ford denies a warranty claim - then I'm out probably 10 grand and a vehicle.

Not sure if a brace really makes a difference, but the ID Speed one looks super beefy
ID Speed - 2020+ Explorer Rear Differential Brace (idspeedshop.com)
 

Cajun Heat

Cajun Heat

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UnloadedDrip said:
Would you happen to know of anyone that is tuned with the 3 bolt instead of the 4? Every ST I look at is a 3 bolt, and I feel anything so much as an intake filter will snap it like a dorito. I'd rather not snap it after I get the ST on stock tune only for it to sit on the like for 6mo-1r waiting on probably backordered parts. I'd also hate to tune it with ZFG 93, snap the bolt, and then Ford denies a warranty claim - then I'm out probably 10 grand and a vehicle.

Not sure if a brace really makes a difference, but the ID Speed one looks super beefy
ID Speed - 2020+ Explorer Rear Differential Brace (idspeedshop.com)
Click to expand...
I have a ZFG93 tune with an AWR diff brace, 3 bolt. Not going to take it to the track for repeated hard launches, so not expecting to have any issues. But who knows.
 

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UnloadedDrip

UnloadedDrip

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Cajun Heat said:
I have a ZFG93 tune with an AWR diff brace, 3 bolt. Not going to take it to the track for repeated hard launches, so not expecting to have any issues. But who knows.
Click to expand...
Yeah I don't plan on doing hard launches or taking it to the track, but gunning it from a stop light or getting some decent dragy times would be great
 

Cajun Heat

Cajun Heat

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UnloadedDrip said:
Yeah I don't plan on doing hard launches or taking it to the track, but gunning it from a stop light or getting some decent dragy times would be great
Click to expand...
I have done that a few times also, so far so good.
 

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