SAS "Betsy" 1-ton | Page 3 | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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SAS "Betsy" 1-ton

Well, im usually not one for teasing, but i figured ill go ahead and do a build thread for "Betsy" i was going to wait till i was done, but i have nothing better to do right now so lets go back a few months.. in late febuary i started a new build on my truck. plan was to get her to SMORR 2012! that recently fell through because i found out i cant get the custom driveshafts in time.. little did i know at that time that right now its completely off the table.. im 23 and work full-time, own a small business, and right now with my pop back in the hospital for months again( heart problems)... betsy is going slow and there is no money to get the brake lines, hydraulic lines, and driveshafts made considering im working almost 100 hours a week and trying to pay for 2 houses and run my business, and my dads business, all while being at the hospital as much as possible...
so here goes. shes very close to completion but at this point i dont know when that is...
the plan: Build a wicked ass Ranger, Duh!
the parts: about 12k worth
labor: i own a metal fab business... its all FREE!

Started with these from a 2007 F-350 (dana 60 & sterling 10.5)
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Then i tore her apart!
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Next i bought about 300 feet of metal and started the body mods
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Threw on some Projector Halo 4300K H.I.D headlights with black housings
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Modified and built a gauge pod for an oil pressure and water temp gauge set
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Then i trussed the rear axle and started building a double triangulated 4 link
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so i decided to experiment with some 79' f150 coil springs with an internal shock mount design
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then i modified a 22 gallon fuel cell with a piece of 2" delran milled down to fit the factory fuel sending unit
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and for the teaser!!!!
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so thats where im at, still need to do front suspension, stuff the axles, finish out the flatbed with diamond plate, add all the accessories and batteries, and get the little things made...
dont know how long it will be but ill try to keep updating progress.
for unseen details, ill be runing: 5:38 gears, front locker, rear detroit locker, 40x13.5x17 rubbers(the damn 44" was backordered) with fuel hostage wheels, 3 batteries, air system, shovel,axe, fire extinguishers, 30 off road lights, land anchor, dual winches, cb, and way to much otheres to list...
hope yall like.
max
 



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I will take your trade offer for..my ex for your ranger :) lmao jk. Keep it up..diggin the fuel filler neck through the tool box..not a usual sight! You said that was water sealed?
 



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yea.. The tool box is fully sealed with a large vent hose once everything is in place and routed.. that way the back batteries and air system are free from water and mud.. The motor has been gone over and mainly "water-proofed", the snorkel is higher than anything ill ever want to be in.. and all vent hoses(axles, air system, fuel cell, toolbox, ect..) are run to the top of the cage and filtered.
The exhaust is actually going to be at the height of the fuel filler neck on the passenger side in "stack" form..
 






Are you going to have the exhaust still go to the very rear then up, or bring it closer to the cab? Yea with the height of your rig, if water gets up that high i am pretty sure you are in a lake and not a creek :)
 






yea, the exhaust will exit right behind the cab through the tube fender.
 






installed the new rear lower 4 link truss i made last night and welded it up..
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And i finally started working on the other bedside...
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Nice progress man!!!

Its coming along!
 






thanks.. im shooting to have it at the driveshaft shop on march 1st.. ive been working on it about 6 hours a day after work..

I decided to see what the ride hieght was gonna be with the tires so i put on the rear tires and raised the front to match...OMG!!!!! Its freaking huge!!!(she said comments here) im gonna run it for a bit but im thinking shorter springs before Moab..
 






I'm getting more and more jealous as this goes on lol. My SAS is on the wheels again but has no steering yet:(
 






quick update.. i put the truck on all 4 tires last night and pulled it out of the shop... first time in 2 years she has seen the night light!!!
fired up the motor to steer, the superduty steering gear turned those 40's with ease and i dont even have the hydro-assist hooked up!

IM SO HAPPY!!!!!

now to clean the hell out of the shop and roll her back in for brakelines, shocks, plating the bed, hydraulic lines, then its off to the driveshaft shop on a trailer.

WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!:)
 


















Thanks guys.. the lower link mounts have been finished.. that pic was just from getting it in.. the lower tabs have been boxed and gusseted, and the whole crossmember has been braced to the frame in a few spots.

As of now.. i just need to get the front 2 brakelines made and its off to the driveshaft shop..
And im definatly gonna have to drop it about 6 inches, its a lot taller than i thought...

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I have decided to go with dual shocks on all four corners, i picked up 8 Procomp ES9000 Dual bi-pass nitro shocks at 15" travel

ill get some pics of the shock setup later today..

For quirks.. i got the hydro assist all hooked up and i have a concern.. its works perfectly except when i get to full lock.. when i get to full lock, the truck jerks a little because the pump is still feeding pressure to the cylinder althought the pitman arm is maxed out.
 












WooHoooo!!!
Last night i finished the shocks and brake lines..
She is ready for the driveshaft shop!!!!

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I have got to say, i don't think i have seen a rear shock setup similar to yours! It looks bad@$$! You have done an extremely nice build here, one of a kind for sure! Now it will feel like ages until those shafts are completed :)
 






i know!!!
ive got an appointment for tommarro morning at 10am at Stan Hopkins Shafts.. hes a real cool guy that works out of a like a 40x50 steel building on a gravel lot.. hes been in business for 20+ years and only does Full-Custom driveshafts.. and he does cash type deals and you cant beat the price.. and he told me if i bring the truck at 10, i can pick it up by 2PM!!

I cant wait!!!!! She has been in the shop for 2 Years!! I just want her to roll!!
 






I love those types of shops!!! Will you make it home right away after the shafts are in :) ??? Actually i should ask, are you taking the truck there or will you be picking up the shafts and installing them at your shop?
 






After my Hydro-Assist Line fiasco...:scratch:
i Decided i am not going to take a chance and just trailer the truck to him(hes the pro at shafts) and let him do all the building, measuring and installing himself. i will then trailer the truck home and start testing it all out.(its maiden voyage is not going to be 30 miles from home! remember what happened to the TITANIC!!)

Hopefully by the end of the weekend the truck will be good to go.:troops:
And all i have left is to start building the plates for the bed..
 






Well i am very excited for you. You can just about say you have completed the swap, something that is rare and spectacular. Congratulations sir! Glad you continued on :)
 



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Thank you sir!
i wanted something diffrent and radical and thats just what i got...
 






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