I think Ford needs to create a "tuner" division (not unlike the SVT) with an off-road bent. Offer a small family of vehicles built on the first-generation Explorer frame (both the 4-door and the 2-door) with a couple of "packages" aimed at different sub-groups of the off-road community. They would share several components, almost the entire drivetrain. Engine options could be a 4- or 6- cyl. turbodiesel (one or the other), a gas V6 (or I6
), and a gas V8. Trannies would be a heavy-duty 4- or 5-speed auto and a heavy-duty 5-speed manual. Transfercase would be a heavy-duty twinstick unit. Heavy-duty PS pump, heavy-duty alternator, onboard welder, dual battery option, LS standard unless it's got lockers, manual hubs on all 4wd models, full roll cage, probably 3.73, 4.10, 4.56, and 4.88 gearing options, and skid plates. Design the brake lines to accomdate future lift, maybe also have an optional keyed ABS switch. Offer heavy-duty bumpers with a MileMarker winch option, design the electrical system to allow for aftermarket lighting, etc. :smoke:
Package #1 would be aimed at the rockcrawlers. Built on the 2-door frame/body, it would have a solid D44 front, Ford 9" or D60 rear, cable- or electronically-actuated lockers in both ends, gear reducer (like the Klune-V) between the tranny and t-case, coil sprung, 33" tires, engine snorkel option.
Package #2 would be aimed at the desert runners. Built on the 4-door frame/body, it would have the same Ford 9" or D60 rear with a built D44 TTB front (or a 2wd TIB front). Coilovers all around, 33" tires, 4-point harness option, LS in front, optional locker in rear, optional snorkel, all intake equipment would be "dust-proofed", prerunner bumpers.
Package #3 would be a more general-purpose truck. Available on the 4-door or the 2-door frame, same rear axles as above, the D44 TTB front, coil sprung (not coilovers, though), optional lockers either end, LS standard in both. Again, 33" tires, snorkel option. Maybe offer an option of prerunner bumpers or the heavy-duty rockcrawling bumpers.
Sorry for the long schpiel; I probably left something out, I'll probably just come back and edit. :smoke: