The Black Hole

**Maniak** · 10-17-2010, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmanpaint

Tires are bead balanced with tiny blue static granules.

Airsoft Pellets? How many did you put in? I mean in weight, not "how many"

~Mark

*gmanpaint* · 10-17-2010, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maniak

Airsoft Pellets? How many did you put in? I mean in weight, not "how many"

~Mark

Not airsoft. These are made for tire balancing. The tire shop had them. They only used 6.5 oz per tire. The lighter and smaller the bead, the better it works. Also learned that nitrogen must be used for powder balancing or the powder will ball up.

*Glen4X4* · 10-18-2010, 06:48 PM

Looks great Gregg.

*gmanpaint* · 10-18-2010, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRNMACHINE

Looking Great!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclemike

Looking good Gregg!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen4X4

Looks great Gregg.

Thanks a bunch gentlemen.

Lots of cuts, scrapes, bruises, lost blood, and the farm sucked into the Black Hole to get it where it sits now.

*gmanpaint* · 10-24-2010, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corkey

did you cut at the back too, ??

The front of the rear wheel wells looks fine, it's close but as long as there is no forward movement in the axle, everything should clear at full stuff.

The rear of the wheel well was a different story. At full stuff, the tire would definitely rub the fender. For street use, its fine.

I did remove some sheet metal to eliminate rub at full stuff. The chrome piece removed and all the fender metal was cut off below the trim line. Nothing new, as lots of people do this. The new bumper will wrap around some for protection. I do believe the exhaust tailpipe and tip has to be moved now.

As usual, do one thing, you end up having to do multiple things.....For every action, there is a reaction, ie...

******!!

inh · 10-24-2010, 11:26 AM

Looks like I got some catchin' up to do! Truck is looking great man!

*gmanpaint* · 10-24-2010, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Looks like I got some catchin' up to do! Truck is looking great man!

Thanks Chris!

Took advantage of the nice weather today and messed with the rig a bit. Too bad the chores around the house got neglected haha! This crazy thing just keeps me so preoccupied, I need to attend some 4x4 anonymous meetings to balance my life back to normal. Step 1....I admit I am powerless to wheeling......

Will get some pics up tomorrow of the progress, if I make it back home before the sun goes down.

*gmanpaint* · 10-26-2010, 05:43 PM

Been busy, but managed to get home before the sun went all the way down today

Slider caps welded back on. Not painted yet, but soon.

Fender chop.

*gmanpaint* · 10-26-2010, 05:50 PM

Cable brush protection for jungle wheeling (Midwest US).

Once the bumper is installed, it will have separate posts to connect the cables to. They are connected to the brush guard and the roof basket for now. They are completely removable in seconds. Stainless turnbuckles to tighten and loosen for install & removing.

Used a set of marine clevis tie downs for cable guides. These are held on with epoxy to the windshield weather seal. Their only purpose is to stop the cable from carving a groove in the roof.

*gmanpaint* · 10-26-2010, 05:51 PM

A picture for the heck of it, cause I like it

*Keeper0311* · 10-26-2010, 06:00 PM

Reminds me of the set up we used in Iraq for low hanging wires. Your Ex is truly awesome.

**Turdle** · 10-26-2010, 06:34 PM

So will those cables keep people from being smacked by branches?

Looks like a good idea.

*corkey* · 10-26-2010, 06:35 PM

keep them off the windshield,

yellowford · 10-26-2010, 06:55 PM

Looks good, pretty soon your going to be in my territory about cutting of sheet metal lol.

Might be stealing the cable idea pretty soon, always saw the land rover guys with them and thought they were just goofy since I didn't know the reason for them before.

*bronco2guy* · 10-26-2010, 06:57 PM

Yeaaaa!!!!! -Good time

inh · 10-26-2010, 07:39 PM

Diggin' the cables Gregg! Always thought about doing it 'eventually,' now I can see how they look on an X

*gmanpaint* · 10-26-2010, 09:42 PM

Yes, those cables will provide some protection for the windshield and help with a good field of view when going through the thick. They will hopefully divert branches away from the glass, & hood.

They are so simple to remove, and hook up, it will be a snap to slap them on before heading out on the trails.

*gmanpaint* · 10-31-2010, 12:09 PM

Took the rig in for an alignment. Had a dr side tire wobble. Thought it was the outer tie rod end. I brought a pair of them with me to have them installed before the alignment was done as to not have to worry about setting the toe and driving it to the shop. Simple, all good right?.......NOT!

Once on the lift, we discovered some bad news bears parts. Both new (couple of months) upper BJ's were toast. The weak stock inner tie rods were junk. Dr side was barely on at the joint. Thus the bad wobble. The outer tie rod ends were fine, so they were returned.

I ordered the Mcquay/Norris extreme inner tie rods, and a M-N pass side upper UCA/BJ as that is all I could find being sold anywhere. I ordered a new HD M-N version sold at Napa for the Dr side.

The alignment shop thinks the steering rack gear is shot, the shop that installed it (2yrs ago) says its fine. We shall see who is right and who is wrong after the parts are installed and the alignment done.

*CDW6212R* · 10-31-2010, 01:55 PM

Ah so, you are exploring the limits of the vehicle suspension parts in heavy duty usage. Hopefully you will have it sorted out this time with the better parts. I'm sure others will appreciate learning this from you, well done.

**IZwack** · 10-31-2010, 02:09 PM

In! thx for the chance!
Posted via Mobile Device

10-18-2010, 06:48 PM	#663
Glen4X4 Elite Explorer McClure, Pa. 96,97 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 6,438 Vehicle Specs	Looks great Gregg. __________________ 96 Explorer XLT TT/Shackles 33's 4.88's 03 Silverado 1500 LS 4X4

10-24-2010, 11:26 AM	#666
inh Wannabe Elite Explorer Springfield(ish), MO '00 XLS Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,342 Vehicle Specs	Looks like I got some catchin' up to do! Truck is looking great man! __________________ cashtexts - Earn money for receiving text messaged offers cashtexts review not a scam

10-26-2010, 05:43 PM	#668
gmanpaint Torsion Bar Free since 2010 94 XLT-95 FX4 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 6,926 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Been busy, but managed to get home before the sun went all the way down today Slider caps welded back on. Not painted yet, but soon. Fender chop. __________________ The Black Hole Pugly

10-26-2010, 05:50 PM	#669
gmanpaint Torsion Bar Free since 2010 94 XLT-95 FX4 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 6,926 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Cable brush protection for jungle wheeling (Midwest US). Once the bumper is installed, it will have separate posts to connect the cables to. They are connected to the brush guard and the roof basket for now. They are completely removable in seconds. Stainless turnbuckles to tighten and loosen for install & removing. Used a set of marine clevis tie downs for cable guides. These are held on with epoxy to the windshield weather seal. Their only purpose is to stop the cable from carving a groove in the roof. __________________ The Black Hole Pugly Last edited by gmanpaint; 11-10-2010 at 06:42 PM.

10-26-2010, 05:51 PM	#670
gmanpaint Torsion Bar Free since 2010 94 XLT-95 FX4 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 6,926 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	A picture for the heck of it, cause I like it __________________ The Black Hole Pugly

10-26-2010, 06:00 PM	#671
Keeper0311 Dude, where's my VBIED? Riverside, CA 2000 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,590 Vehicle Specs	Reminds me of the set up we used in Iraq for low hanging wires. Your Ex is truly awesome. __________________ 2000 XLT 4x4 2000 Explorer Sport:Sold

10-26-2010, 06:34 PM	#672
Turdle Old and in the way Humboldt, Kansas 2000 Mounty Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 23,742 Vehicle Specs	So will those cables keep people from being smacked by branches? Looks like a good idea. __________________ Jon 2000 Mountaineer Turdle-gone Vitamin D Wagon Sold also

10-26-2010, 06:35 PM	#673
corkey Elite Canuck, Eh ?? In the Great White North where winter never seems to end ,Ontario,, still ice fishing,, 96xl,99xls,old Rangers Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5,448 Vehicle Specs	keep them off the windshield, __________________ Log Roller,, Fox Coilovers 35's and others, , Truck of the month Ranger Of Danger,,,project truck, also look for Blues Traveller Elite registry, ,

10-26-2010, 06:55 PM	#674
yellowford Wannabe Elite Explorer Gardner ks 97 xj Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 915 Vehicle Specs	Looks good, pretty soon your going to be in my territory about cutting of sheet metal lol. Might be stealing the cable idea pretty soon, always saw the land rover guys with them and thought they were just goofy since I didn't know the reason for them before. __________________ 97 Heep Cherokee 01 explorer sport 2wd

10-26-2010, 06:57 PM	#675
bronco2guy Built not bought. Columbia, MO 91 Ford Explorer Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,345 Vehicle Specs	Yeaaaa!!!!! -Good time

10-26-2010, 07:39 PM	#676
inh Wannabe Elite Explorer Springfield(ish), MO '00 XLS Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,342 Vehicle Specs	Diggin' the cables Gregg! Always thought about doing it 'eventually,' now I can see how they look on an X __________________ cashtexts - Earn money for receiving text messaged offers cashtexts review not a scam

10-26-2010, 09:42 PM	#677
gmanpaint Torsion Bar Free since 2010 94 XLT-95 FX4 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 6,926 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Yes, those cables will provide some protection for the windshield and help with a good field of view when going through the thick. They will hopefully divert branches away from the glass, & hood. They are so simple to remove, and hook up, it will be a snap to slap them on before heading out on the trails. __________________ The Black Hole Pugly

10-31-2010, 12:09 PM	#678
gmanpaint Torsion Bar Free since 2010 94 XLT-95 FX4 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 6,926 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Took the rig in for an alignment. Had a dr side tire wobble. Thought it was the outer tie rod end. I brought a pair of them with me to have them installed before the alignment was done as to not have to worry about setting the toe and driving it to the shop. Simple, all good right?.......NOT! Once on the lift, we discovered some bad news bears parts. Both new (couple of months) upper BJ's were toast. The weak stock inner tie rods were junk. Dr side was barely on at the joint. Thus the bad wobble. The outer tie rod ends were fine, so they were returned. I ordered the Mcquay/Norris extreme inner tie rods, and a M-N pass side upper UCA/BJ as that is all I could find being sold anywhere. I ordered a new HD M-N version sold at Napa for the Dr side. The alignment shop thinks the steering rack gear is shot, the shop that installed it (2yrs ago) says its fine. We shall see who is right and who is wrong after the parts are installed and the alignment done. __________________ The Black Hole Pugly

10-31-2010, 01:55 PM	#679
CDW6212R Elite Explorer Knoxville, TN 98 Mountaineer A4WD Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 12,941 Vehicle Specs	Ah so, you are exploring the limits of the vehicle suspension parts in heavy duty usage. Hopefully you will have it sorted out this time with the better parts. I'm sure others will appreciate learning this from you, well done. __________________ Don 91 Lincoln LSC/SE, 99/93 Explorer Limited 4WD, 98 AWD Mounty with 255/55/18's, big sway bars, and 12.75" x 1.25" rotors. Soon a BW4406, built trans, stereo and interior. The best thing that could help us all, is the Fair Tax Plan. Be American, Buy American (Manufacturer)

10-31-2010, 02:09 PM	#680
IZwack Germantown, MD Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 22,390 Vehicle Specs	In! thx for the chance! Posted via Mobile Device