Ryan's F250/Explorer hybrid

[ChicoFlea]

good luck with your surgery. I've been there, done that. One piece of advice for you on your rehab, get your rang of motion back asap, it will be a lot less painfull. your project has been looking great, good luck.

andrew

[arsoul]

WARNING
The following picture is of a very tall Explorer.

www.geocities.com/arsoul2/tootall.html

Yes, thats right, she's found her new home. In the picture, it looks like the hoist is being used...its not! The body is on the frame. At the moment, she stands at 8foot6inches. The bottem of the drivers window is at my shoulders. TOO TALL!! And those are 29 inch tires!

We are trying to shrink her. The problem is, the intake manifold on the I6 is hitting the firewall, and we've already pushed the firewall back as far as we can. So, I'm trying to find an intake manifold that has a lower profile.
The body mounts are going to be between 2-4 inches tall. Except, the front ones, at the moment, are 9 inches tall. I need to bring the body down closer to the frame. It looks funny with 9 inch tall body mounts.
Yes, I know, that means the body will lean forward. The truck has 8 inch lift blocks in the rear, and 2 inch blocks in the front. We will level the X out in the suspension when we lower the suspension. Its just TOO TALL!!! I figure if we can bring the body 1inch closer to the frame, and loose 3-4 inches in the suspension, things will be ok with 37 inch tires.

Other minor things that have been discovered are:
The tranny shifter will fit in the stock hole, but the hole will need to be lengthened in order to shift the tcase. Also, the stock fan has been removed. This was done in order to fit the radiator (I dont want to do body work). We will use an electric fan to cool things off.

[arsoul]

We solved the intake/firewall problem. One big hammer!
I have to build a shrowed in order to keep heat. No big deal.
Due to the shape of the f250's frame, the body mounts up front under the grill will be 8.5 inches tall. The frame just doesnt come up high enough like the explorer's does. Other than that, things are rolling. Before we called it a night, I tack welded the new body mounts right behind the firewall and the ones under the rear hatch. The body sits level on the frame, so I'll take the 2inch blocks out of the front, and possiably a leaf or 2. Then I'll cut down the rear 8 inch blocks to level it out.
Also, we will be able to reuse the X's radiator, but new mounting points will have to be fabbed.

[arsoul]

quick update. body mounts are finished. i'm using a master and slave from a 83 bronco2, and a Wilwood racing clutch petal.
buying my tires and wheels today from 4wheel wholesale.
i decided to go with the bfg mt km, in a 37x12.5r17. i'm using 17x8 eagle 589 rims. i got 5 of each for $2019.09 bucks shipped.

[CBoug76]

83 Bronco II? I thought that 84 was the first year for the Bronco II's?

[arsoul]

Thanks for catching the mistake. You are right, its an 84 (production date of 11/93 though, got my years mixed).

[CBoug76]

the 84 Bronco Ii was my first 4X4, knowing what I know now, I should have kept it and made that my 4x4 machine and not the 97 Explorer, but im happy with my 97!

[arsoul]

Now I need to decide, 4.89s or 5.13s with the 37s. Hmmm.

[Clint]

damn ryan i have been away for awhile............what a project ..........my x is still at home waiting for me ........i have money now to put into it ..........

[arsoul]

Hows the AirForce been treating you Clint?

[Rick]

5.13s

[Clint]

airforce ? thats for pussies ......................USN

[mahieber]

You can post pictures of that F250 frame under your body all you want... I AIN'T STARTING OVER!!!!




yet.

[arsoul]

the next pics i post will be of the X on its new 37 inch tires.

[texplor93]

USN? that is for wimps, wanna be a man be a marine

(edited, This is a Family Board!)

[Yomie]

Originally posted by texplor93
USN? that is for wimps, wanna be a man be a marine

ahh, they are the same thing, gotta be a Soldier! USA

[Diff Whack Daddy]

I need pics. I am 1500 miles away and am having a offroad fit. I think the 4.89's or even 4.56's with that torque monster under the hood and upgrade your t-case crawl ratio with a doubler. If your not worried aboud highway speeds, go as low as you can.

Marine's are nothing but the Navy's ground troops. We drop you off and leave to go get more of you. NAVY RULES

[arsoul]

The clutch petal arrived today. Finally we can finish this beast!!!
Over the weekend we fabbed the bracket for the slave cylinder, and now with the Wilwood racing clutch petal, the master can go in. The alternator, belts, ect....all the engine work is finished (except for the airfilter).
The tires still havent arrived. No big deal, there is a ton of wiring to do. Once the wiring is done, and its running, I can put the 37s on and lower the suspension to fit the tires. After that, I have the drive shaft made and I re-gear and lock the diffs.
The project has moved along a lot faster than I had origonally thought. I should have the Ex-250 (thanks for the name Rick) running by the end of April.
As for the diffs, I decided on 4.89s because it will be my daily driver (when its not broken). As for lockers, I decided on a detroil for the rear. I still havent decided between the ARB and the Oxlocker for the front. The ARB will end up being cheaper, but the Oxlocker is pretty cool.

[arsoul]

Damn. There are a lot of wires.

My Rockstomper hinge arrived today. I am throughly impressed! Definitly worth $40, considering how much time it would take to make it myself, and the gas it would take to drive all over town finding the parts.

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Hey, I want to see and possibly copy your design for that tire carrier. I made need your help too.