(I've been watching a lot of British Top Gear...my apologies if this gets wordy)
Well, I did it again. I had a budget set, a goal to attain...and I managed to get snagged on another RBV. Ya see, I'm supposed to be pinching pennies and shaking out jeans in an effort to get my head above the recent household purchases.
Then a friend, the same friend that turned my relatively stock 1997 ranger into a capable off-road vehicle, told me about a deal he had going on a 5 liter explorer. Now ever since I started learning about the Ranger based vehicle experience, I've loved the idea of having a small block in the front of one. I knew I liked the disc braked 31 spline 8.8 in the back of the explorers...and having a little dirt under my fingernails, I knew I liked the newer non-TTB front suspension for the limited, non-extreme wheeling I was accustomed to. All of those in the same package? Ok...lets talk.
Turns out it was owned by a former service writer from the shop I work at. Well, technically his ex-wfe...and their 5 kids. Yes 5. In an explorer. Oh man. I'm convinced that all 6 of them, thats the wife and kids, were out to ruin this truck to spite their former family member. Interior...shot.
Well, apparently those kids had a lot of extra curricular activities on their schedule and they put a lot of miles on the poor old thing. 189 on the clock (10k less than the ranger I was giving up). Though, thanks to the father, the explorer got some maintenance during this period. Some decent shocks (Monroe sensa-track), alignments (performed, quick ironically, by me), and a trip to the Ford shop for a check engine light that they threw parts at (DPFE, O2 sensors and a MAF).
It wasn't much to look at. I started it to see how it ran...and was surprised. It ran fine! Then I rev'd it up...and that damned exhaust leak presented itself. With no EGR to point the finger at...I knew it had to be the manifolds.
Took it for a quick spin and I could *feel* the AWD front drive shaft slapping around down there. The transmission wouldnt shift past second...no matter what speed, setting, gear or whatever you put it in.
SOo...before this gets out of hand...I bought it. Well, I traded it...kinda. I got the explorer and a few bits and pieces needed to swap in a BW4406. I think I might also get rights to my friend's front suspension when he cuts it out. He sold my ranger after we stripped it of all the exciting parts (gears, lockers, etc) and took whatever he wanted. Not too bad of a deal, really.
Well, I got excited...and I managed to get quite a bit done before I took any pictures.
- Swapped in a manual BW4406 from a (I'm guessing) 99 f150. It had the speedo gear on the end of it and everything plugged and played together perfectly. There was very little drama, and mucho gracias to the various write-up authors that helped!
- I removed the carpet from the interior and tried my best to get some control of the color and odor stored within it. It was a hard fought battle, but I managed to get the smell under control...but 16 years of kids, crayons and candy just cant be defeated, and the dull grey it mottled with stains. Oh well.
- I swapped the old Explorer wheels for my Pacer alloys and a set of 31x10.50 BFG AT's. Which leads us to this pic...which goes to show you what I really wanted to accomplish...
Future plans are a mixture of honey-do's and gearing up.
- Both rear doors need their handles replaced.
- Half the dash lights need replacing.
- Need a new windshield.
- Replace all swaybar end links and make a few quick disconnects.
- Add-a-leaf in the rear (about a half inch shorter in the rear)
- TT the front (although the 31's are clearing fine right now)
- Install a lock-right in the front dif.
- Install an open carrier and lock-right in the rear dif.
- Swap out the rear dif cover for rock-crusher cover.
- Install a reciever hitch onto the front of the explorer (well, possibly...if it fits and doesnt seem too heavy/in the way.)
- Install a reciver hitch in the back. (I do plan on using the explorer for camping as well as wheeling...so I'll need a proper receiver)
- Hood props.
- Torque Monster Headers (if I can find a way to make them sound like 700 dollars isnt a negative thing)
- Some kind of muffler. Definitely 2 into 1 with a proper exit.
- Some kind of intake. Not necessarily a snorkel...but less water-intakey than the current filter by the headlight setup.
- Rhino-lining the quarter panels and possibly the bumper plastic.
- Re-do the arm rest.
- Mount some fog-lights up front.
There are a few more that are a bit lofty (sliders, bumpers, swing out tire carrier, SAS, SOA, 35x12.50) but thats quite a bit further down the way...and I'm looking forward to trying her out as she is.
Anywho, thanks for reading...and I'll try to update as I can. Even if its just more cell-phone pics.
Well, I did it again. I had a budget set, a goal to attain...and I managed to get snagged on another RBV. Ya see, I'm supposed to be pinching pennies and shaking out jeans in an effort to get my head above the recent household purchases.
Then a friend, the same friend that turned my relatively stock 1997 ranger into a capable off-road vehicle, told me about a deal he had going on a 5 liter explorer. Now ever since I started learning about the Ranger based vehicle experience, I've loved the idea of having a small block in the front of one. I knew I liked the disc braked 31 spline 8.8 in the back of the explorers...and having a little dirt under my fingernails, I knew I liked the newer non-TTB front suspension for the limited, non-extreme wheeling I was accustomed to. All of those in the same package? Ok...lets talk.
Turns out it was owned by a former service writer from the shop I work at. Well, technically his ex-wfe...and their 5 kids. Yes 5. In an explorer. Oh man. I'm convinced that all 6 of them, thats the wife and kids, were out to ruin this truck to spite their former family member. Interior...shot.
Well, apparently those kids had a lot of extra curricular activities on their schedule and they put a lot of miles on the poor old thing. 189 on the clock (10k less than the ranger I was giving up). Though, thanks to the father, the explorer got some maintenance during this period. Some decent shocks (Monroe sensa-track), alignments (performed, quick ironically, by me), and a trip to the Ford shop for a check engine light that they threw parts at (DPFE, O2 sensors and a MAF).
It wasn't much to look at. I started it to see how it ran...and was surprised. It ran fine! Then I rev'd it up...and that damned exhaust leak presented itself. With no EGR to point the finger at...I knew it had to be the manifolds.
Took it for a quick spin and I could *feel* the AWD front drive shaft slapping around down there. The transmission wouldnt shift past second...no matter what speed, setting, gear or whatever you put it in.
SOo...before this gets out of hand...I bought it. Well, I traded it...kinda. I got the explorer and a few bits and pieces needed to swap in a BW4406. I think I might also get rights to my friend's front suspension when he cuts it out. He sold my ranger after we stripped it of all the exciting parts (gears, lockers, etc) and took whatever he wanted. Not too bad of a deal, really.
Well, I got excited...and I managed to get quite a bit done before I took any pictures.
- Swapped in a manual BW4406 from a (I'm guessing) 99 f150. It had the speedo gear on the end of it and everything plugged and played together perfectly. There was very little drama, and mucho gracias to the various write-up authors that helped!
- I removed the carpet from the interior and tried my best to get some control of the color and odor stored within it. It was a hard fought battle, but I managed to get the smell under control...but 16 years of kids, crayons and candy just cant be defeated, and the dull grey it mottled with stains. Oh well.
- I swapped the old Explorer wheels for my Pacer alloys and a set of 31x10.50 BFG AT's. Which leads us to this pic...which goes to show you what I really wanted to accomplish...
Future plans are a mixture of honey-do's and gearing up.
- Both rear doors need their handles replaced.
- Half the dash lights need replacing.
- Need a new windshield.
- Replace all swaybar end links and make a few quick disconnects.
- Add-a-leaf in the rear (about a half inch shorter in the rear)
- TT the front (although the 31's are clearing fine right now)
- Install a lock-right in the front dif.
- Install an open carrier and lock-right in the rear dif.
- Swap out the rear dif cover for rock-crusher cover.
- Install a reciever hitch onto the front of the explorer (well, possibly...if it fits and doesnt seem too heavy/in the way.)
- Install a reciver hitch in the back. (I do plan on using the explorer for camping as well as wheeling...so I'll need a proper receiver)
- Hood props.
- Torque Monster Headers (if I can find a way to make them sound like 700 dollars isnt a negative thing)
- Some kind of muffler. Definitely 2 into 1 with a proper exit.
- Some kind of intake. Not necessarily a snorkel...but less water-intakey than the current filter by the headlight setup.
- Rhino-lining the quarter panels and possibly the bumper plastic.
- Re-do the arm rest.
- Mount some fog-lights up front.
There are a few more that are a bit lofty (sliders, bumpers, swing out tire carrier, SAS, SOA, 35x12.50) but thats quite a bit further down the way...and I'm looking forward to trying her out as she is.
Anywho, thanks for reading...and I'll try to update as I can. Even if its just more cell-phone pics.
