Truck of the Week JoshC 3/15/04

I'm Josh Cassell and here is my picture: Dead Link Removed

My Explorer is an XL 4door 4wd, but here are somethings i have added:

Interior:
-JVC CD player
-replace all 4 5x7's
-Changed the seats out with 2000 model seats
-first aid kit
-"custom" rear cargo storage space
-added 2 front power supplies and a CB
-rear power supply and fire extinquisher
-Garmin etrexDead Link Removed

Exterior:
-Dead Link Removed with Hi Lift mount
-Steel Horse Roof rack
-2 Hella 500 lights on front of rack
-2 Hella 530 lights on brush guard
-manik brush guard
-manik tail light guards
-2 Blazer lights on the back of rack
-Home made nerf bars
-fender flares (forgot what brand)
-front tow hooks
-Dead Link Removed
-Reese roof mount bike rack

Suspension:
-Front--2" TT
-Rear--Monroe Air shocks, ad-a-leaf, shackles
-removed rear sway bar

My motor, which is the 4.0 OHV is stock. I don't know a thing about motors so i don't work on them. It has been a great motor, 123,000 miles on it now and does not burn any oil. The truck came to me as an automatic but when the second tranny kicked the bucket i changed it over to a manual 5-speed. Took a lot of time and about $2000 but it was worth it. Here is the thread and write up on my conversion: Dead Link Removed. I have changed the exhaust for a Flowmaster series too. Just about every thing no the truck as been replaced, literally. I call it my "lifetime warrenty truck!" The gears came as 3:73 open, so for the rear i added a Dead Link Removed and i love it! Since the 97's came out with the "no 2wd" option, with a little help from KMak, another member, we figured out how to disable this option with an inline switch, which now gives me 2wd. With the switch off i can still use the tcase and actually put it in low range, and be in 2wd low. It is great, i do use this a lot when i'll pulling up really steep hill here in WV. Here is my thread and write up on it: Dead Link Removed

My tires and wheels in the pictures below are ARE Bajas with 31" BFG AT's. I also have the cheapo grey wheels that came on it stock. I added 31" BFG MT's to them, i run them if i'm going out for a big trip or i know i'll be using my truck for off road work during a weekend, but both tires are awesome for off road and on road.

In the Process:
Dana 30 off of a 95 XJ with 4.56 gears, Dead Link Removed in it. Work is being done by Cory at CRL Customs. I've got all 5 35's. They are Dead Link Removed. Here is the Dead Link Removed to the thread for the work.

I absolutly love my truck and would not get rid of it for the world.

Here is my photo gallery: Elite Photo Gallery
A couple more sites with misc. pictures:
webshots more pictures

Happy trails!!

This is courtesy of Spas:

Dead Link Removed

 

[Mr. Souc]

Wow

I am speechless... the truck is absolutely gorgeous... the way the suspension moved when you had the fork lift uder the tires was wicked.... Way to go man keep up the good work and post some pics of you offroading... Id like to see the truck action...

 

[Monkeybone]

yes same color just found an xj for an axle i'm very excited

 

[JoshC]

I am speechless... the truck is absolutely gorgeous... the way the suspension moved when you had the fork lift uder the tires was wicked.... Way to go man keep up the good work and post some pics of you offroading... Id like to see the truck action...

Thanks for the compliments. Sorry i didn't respond back, for some reason i don't remember getting an email about you replying here. I do need to post some more pics on here, i'll do that in a few weeks, when i'm finally home.

That's cool Monkeybone, good luck!!

 

[LOGJOCKY]

how do the coil buckets work for ya, id have never thought of that

 

[JoshC]

I wouldn't recommend them. They work like they should, but they are extremely noisy where the coils rub against them constantly. Just ask anyone that has wheeled with me. I'm going to make some coil buckets this spring to replace these.

 

[AlanGoering]

very rad nice SAS. i think im gonna stay IFS for a little longer. looks great. nice bumper too.

 

[JoshC]

Thank ya Alan!!

Welcome to the boards, if you stay here to long you won't stay with IFS lol

 

[AlanGoering]

haha im staying ifs for a little while cause i just got it lifted 4 inches and the trailmaster kit was a horrible amount of money. but i know your right. i have a pair of 8.8's in the garage and if i hadnt just gotten it lifted and dropped to 4.56's i would have used one of them or something like that with a soa and everything. also... im building my own tube crawler and i was wondering if you would tell me where you got those spring buckets or if i would be better off making my own they dont look too complex. ill try to get pictures up on here once im done with everything on the explorer and the explorer cab tube crawler with the turbo'd 460
:exp: thanks and very gnarly truck man great articulation,
Alan
98 with a 302, ram air, chips, programmer, big block duals, add a leafs, 33x12.50 bf muds on outlaw II - 32x11.50 wrangler mtr on tech 1 crawlers, trailmaster 4" no blocks, TT, 4.56's, detroits, basket with spare and hi lift, soon completed custom front bumper with compressor, 2 100 watt lights on my safari guard, 2 100 watts on roof facing forward, 2 100 watt reverse lights, custom skids almost everywhere under it, sliders, dual 1000 CCA batteries, just got a 3 inch body lift but isnt on yet, 300 watt system, 12 disc changer

 

[JoshC]

The buckets came from some racing magazine, but i wouldn't buy them again. They make a ton of noise since the coil spring rubs on them. I'd just make your own or buy some from another truck.

 

[AlanGoering]

thanks man i think ill end up making them and if i screw up somehow ill buy some old ones. thanks for the quick reply and input. 10 mpg isnt too bad for your nice f250. my 90 lariat XLT 250 gets less than that without anything. damn greatness of the 502. thanks again man. Alan

 

[appx91]

Josh your X is awesome. I hope you can make it to the Tellico summer run. I will be SAS by then. Had tons of fun on the last Tellico run. Once again very nice clean ride man. Love the rear bumper.

 

[JoshC]

Thank ya! May have to make a summer run down there to try some tougher trails.

 

[ExploderXLT00]

IMO one of the best lookin x's ive seen on here...real clean work, looks great, congrats man...get some towel heads for me :fire:

 

[armytnkr69]

Hey Josh, Pretty cool Exploder, Just got back from Iraq myself and am looking forward to getting back to work on my 92 Sport. Hope all went well for you over there!

 

[JoshC]

Thanks man. And thanks for the compliments Exploder..sorry i didn't respond.

Things went well in Iraq, and it's sooooo nice to be home again!

 

[ExplorerOfDaMud]

Nice

nice rig man and i wish you the best of luck on the return home i got some friends over there and if i had a choice id take their spot.

 

[collkid]

WOWOW! very nice... I see those M/T's, how much did they cost?

 

[JoshC]

Thanks for the compliments fellas. I think i gave 133 per tire when i bought those a few years back.

 

[outhouse]

Well sorted - looks very usable when the going nots so tough.

Safe return

 

[wingot]

sweet rig man, sweet rig