Something w/ rabbits. 72.5 pages of BS | Page 61 | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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Something w/ rabbits. 72.5 pages of BS

So seeing as spring is just around the corner, I thought I'd start a thread on the future undertaking of swapping in the Dana 60.

The axle is from a 1986 "Fawwd" F-threee "fitty", sporting some kingpins and a whole lot of rust. I took this axle apart a few months ago (except stupid me didnt remove the pinion nut before breakdown :rolleyes:) and had it hot tanked. I wanted it sandblasted, but the machine shop owner smirked and said "naaah yo, that junx is too big for my blasting cabinet" .. okay except he didn't really say that cauz he's old and a really cool guy. ANyways *twirls blonde hair*, this is my plaannn:

- WMS-WMS this axle is just a bit over 69" wide so I'm going to cut the passenger's side down a few inches to match 'ye ol General Motors 14-bolt axle. So this is going to require custom axle shafts and I think I'm going to go Chromos and 35-spline outers off the bat from the most awesome guys at Complete Off Road.

- Drive flange or lockouts? They are about the same in price and its a dedicated trail rig so I'm leaning towards the drive flanges. Right now, the cheapest flanges I found are the Teraflexes at $180 for a pair. If anyone knows of a better deal, please let me know :D !!

- High-steer arms and a double-ended hydroponics goodness ("cylinder").

- Opposite-ended panhard bar! The idea is to mount the chassis end of the panhard on the passenger's side frame rail and the axle end on the driver's side. Doing so should allow a more simple and cleaner design since the axle-mount can be mounted on top of or near the differential housing, instead of a tower on the passenger's side (like in my current D44 setup). I also plan to boost the panhard as far up as possible to increase the roll center of the front suspension. Yeah the concept is a little strange but I'm hoping it'll work and won't have any issues (no drag-link to factor into the design). But if anyone knows of any problem running this config, please chime in!

*EDIT*
- Detoit Locker for the carrier. I'm please with how the Detroit in the 14-bolt has performed so I figured I'd run the same in the front. Of course 5.13s to match the 14-bolt.


So here's the little guy, he's been in this position for the past few months just collecting dust:

DSC000871.jpg
 



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Thanks! But I wish there were two of me - maybe this thing would be done by now ;).
I started a little late this morning (11 am) cauz my body ached a bit from yesterday's bike ride so welding the top of that thing will have to wait till after work tomorrow.
 



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Fitted the top and sliced it up:
centerplate5.jpg


Added some reinforcement:
centerplate4.jpg


Running super low on gas so I didnt get to weld in the bottom reinforcement.
nogas.jpg
 






Replenished ye shielding gas, fnished up the whatever that thing is, and started on the jungle gym of a floor.

whatsthat2.jpg


whatsthat11.jpg
 






Looks... interesting to say the least.

I guess no one can give you slack for underbuilding it.
 






Thanks - that center section is an exercise towards building a desert truck later on. Like so (the arm is for a different truck: one of the Herbst's Baja TT):
 

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Okay, now its all starting to make sense. Now I see what inspired you to make the monster truck, heavy duty fabriction.:p:
 






Okay, now its all starting to make sense. Now I see what inspired you to make the monster truck, heavy duty fabriction.:p:
LOL "monster truck" <- I hate that phrase.

But also if/when I move to the west, I wont have a garage to work in for a while so this thing has to last for a while.
 






LOL "monster truck" <- I hate that phrase.

But also if/when I move to the west, I wont have a garage to work in for a while so this thing has to last for a while.

Oh, I am sure it will last at least as long as the build time. :rolleyes:
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Some tooobs for torsional rigidity (since all we seem to do is hang out with our flex out):
torsional.jpg


Plenty of room for the radiator:
radiator1.jpg


The driver's side tube had to be bent down a little to ensure the rear passenger has roof clearance.
 






So, how come you are mounting your rad there instead of facing rearward in the back? (Like the Baja trucks)
 






So, how come you are mounting your rad there instead of facing rearward in the back? (Like the Baja trucks)
Cauz we dont go fast enough to have enough natural ambient air at high velocity passing through the radiator - so it doesnt really matter which way its mounted. Baja trucks are going at least highway speed so they can take advantage of the ambient air like a normal car (some even have air scoops). And it will be mounted kinda low so I can see whatever obstacle is at the opposite corner (as long as the fill neck is the highest point of the coolant system).
 






How about its proximity to the right arm of your rear passenger?
 






Oh there's plenty of room for the rear passenger. In fact the fuel cell (and probably the computer stuff) will go somewhere in that area too. And there will be some sort of a half wall (either fiberglass or aluminum) to separate the passengers from this area - which should also help minimize the noise coming from the radiator's electric fan.

EDIT -- I guess I should make it clear just in case, there is only one rear passenger ;) - this is a 3 seater with the rear seat right behind the driver.
 






Yea, I had guessed that you would only have one pass. I couldn't tell how far over the rad was. The half wall is a good idea too.
 






Yeah sorry the camera flash just ruins depth perception.
 






You worried about the radiator inside during a roll or something? If you bust that thing in there your gonna be taking a 210 degree bublle bath. ;)
 






JTX - you're a small 2 year old child, premature at birth. Let me pet your forehead, it glistens.

The radiator and gas tank will be separated from the cabin. And I think the chances of it busting open is pretty small.
 






I'll remember my bb gun on the next trip.. Just to prove im right lol.
 









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