91 X by black91EB

[black91EB]

Very nice rig. Looks exactly like the one out in our driveway, except for all the rust LOL.

Yeah, mine fortunately didn't have any rust. Carfax said it had been titled 7 times in 4 states though. (CA three times, NV twice, once in MS and once in TN)

 

[black91EB]

So I have plans for a bunch of stuff, and have materials, but I've been too busy to post. (between helping my girlfriend build a desk and doing a d-44HP SAS into my lil brother's '80 f-150, I've been a bit busy) I have added a front tow point, as well as a reverse light switch. I have pics, will add later.

 

[black91EB]

So this is the main reason I haven't gotten much done on the Ex. All she needs is fluids and driveshafts installed to be moving.

so here are a few pictures. First off, I started out with these tow hooks:

That came off of this 2001 explorer sport:

I didn't do the paint or the parting out, it was given to me by the person that did lol. That will be headed to the scrap yard quite shortly.

Anyway, first thing I did was to find an appropiately sized piece of angle that would work, and measure for length.

After that, I drilled holes for the mounting bolts and tested the fit under the frame

Then I reinforced the angle with some cross straps and end plates, breaking out the welder

The front bolt hole you can see in this goes over the bottom bumper bolt. I was planning to bolt it on at the rear too, but I couldn't find a spot to drill the bolt hole that would not interfere with the body mount. So, going to use the bumper bolt, and burn the mount on with the arc welder.

Here is the finished product, will do the other shortly:

 

[Four0Sport]

ha.. i found the same tow hooks on a scrapped mountaineer a few weekends ago at the yard i go to. i was trying to figure out how to mount them.. i thought about bolting them to some angle iron and welding that to the frame, i think im just going to bolt them through the bottom though. since you know.. i dont have a welder lol

 

[black91EB]

ha.. i found the same tow hooks on a scrapped mountaineer a few weekends ago at the yard i go to. i was trying to figure out how to mount them.. i thought about bolting them to some angle iron and welding that to the frame, i think im just going to bolt them through the bottom though. since you know.. i dont have a welder lol

Well, you could bolt it onto a piece of angle like I used, if you made the piece long enough to extend back past the front body mount on the frame. My problem is I got carried away welding and didn't pay too much attention to bolt hole location I don't know that all the reinforcing I used is necessary or not, but I tend to over-engineer everything.

 

[black91EB]

Slight Change of Plans

The past few weeks have not been very good to the ex. First off, I used it to pull a 10 yard dump trailer around the farm for a week while we rented a backhoe, but it handled it nicely in low range. Then, the explorer was parked on the street, and someone not paying attention ran into the back of it. Caught the driver's side tailight and crushed the sheet metal from the light to the gas cap. No hatch damage fortunately, but his insurance totaled my car. Basically, I have a messed up truck, which I'm keeping and fixing, but I get some money out of it. (BTW, the salvage bid for a 1991 explorer with 198K on it is $120.68 in my area, so it cost me very little to keep it) I will have pics of the damage pretty soon.

However, I have also located a parts truck with everything I need, and then some. Would anyone be interested in a A4LD with a matching 1354 electric shift? (I will have 2 of those transfer cases, someone buy one, please! ) I would take any reasonable offer.

 

[black91EB]

so here is the damage,

And here is the parts truck I got today

 

[Four0Sport]

im going to look at a parts truck this week.. i feel bad snaggin parts off of the bronco II all the time, so i need a parts explorer

 

[black91EB]

im going to look at a parts truck this week.. i feel bad snaggin parts off of the bronco II all the time, so i need a parts explorer

Lol, I know how you feel. I've gotten most of my parts for it thus far from the local pull-it-yourself type yards, we have 3 of them here, and they all have a good number of explorers. (I actually have a list of things I have pulled and what they came off of, and my ex has parts from about 13 vehicles on it, and they are not all explorers)

This parts truck has no engine, but is otherwise complete, so I got lucky there. It has a great interior, which I need badly, as well as all the body parts I need to fix mine. It also happened to have the sunroof cover, which I have been looking all over for, but until now, have been unable to find. I'm really happy that it has a matching 8.8 Traction Lock and a D35 TTB with 3.73s just like mine, as well as the driveshafts, so plenty of spares.

This build will really get underway in August, I'll be out of town till then, but I'll have a Hobart 400 Plasma Cutter waiting for me when I get back.

 

[black91EB]

so since I will not be within 200 miles of my truck untill August 1st, I can spend plenty of time planning and dreaming as to what I will do to my truck when I get back. I've been sketching up some plans for a set of bumpers, as well as a fully concealed snorkel. (Thats going to be a trick, but I think I can make it work)

Here is what I have planned for the bumpers

I plan on making these out of used and or recycled steel, to save on materials cost. I figure I can build both bumpers for under $200, based on the price checking I have done. There is a great place here called Memphis Wrecking that sells salvaged materials for a great price. Any input on how I have these planned would be appreciated, maybe some of yall have built similar bumpers in the past.

Another thing I have planned is the installation of a roof light bar, with 4 lights on it. I know this has been done lots of times, but my idea is to extend the roof rack tracks all the way to the front edge of the roof, and mount the lights on a modified crossbar, that way they could be removed as an assembly with no effort, should I so desire.

 

[black91EB]

ordered my new tires yesterday, going with 31X10.50 cooper STTs, did some research, they seem to wear well in addition to providing great traction. Look more aggressive than a BFG M/T.

Will have more pics when they get on the truck, but it's definitely time to replace the balding toyos.

 

[josh93rodeo]

I can't believe they totaled your truck because of that . That's cool you'll get some cash out of the deal though. It would be a shame to see a truck go to waste over a tail light and a quarter panel.
I think your truck is going to look pretty mean with those tires.

 

[black91EB]

yeah I really hope. I won't see it till august, but the tires will be there waiting. With the parts truck and it's perfect interior and good quarter panel, plus the tires, the wreck could be the best thing that has happened to it.

 

[Freshmeat]

fiberglass diff cover? boy ive never come across one of those. i cant say much for my factory steel cover, its slowly returning to the earth. I need to put the spare i got cleaned and painted on.

The Crown Vic platform was most commonly equipped with the fiberglass covers. Notorious for leaking.

 

[black91EB]

The Crown Vic platform was most commonly equipped with the fiberglass covers. Notorious for leaking.

especially mine

 

[black91EB]

So I went ahead and had someone mount my tires, so that mom could drive it while I'm gone, both because her truck has a couple issues and because the exploder gets better milage. Turned out to be great timing, as she got them mounted friday morning and that tremendous storm hit, so she was able to get to work in the nasty weather with no traction issues. Here are a couple cell pics of the new tires, they look great on the truck

 

[black91EB]

So whilst searching on ebay for spare manual hubs, I came across these. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RARE-87-EARLY-88-FORD-F-150-4WD-4X4-MANUAL-LOCKOUT_W0QQitemZ250457727067QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3a5071a05b&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1171
I was unaware that ford used the "top hat" (as this seller says, never heard it anywhere else) style of lockout on the fullsize trucks. Did they quit using that type of lockout on the fullsize due to the bearing problems that the explorer/BII/ranger family have? You learn something new everyday.

 

[Four0Sport]

ive never seen those on a fullsize.. that is weird.

how do you like the width of those tires?

 

[black91EB]

I like the way it looks, haven't driven it yet. I won't see it till august I liked the 10.50s I had on it before, except for the lack of tread.

 

[black91EB]

well, getting towards that time when I get home and get to work on this thing. First thing I'll have to do is clean out the shop, then I can get started.

I may see if I can fix the other ex I have picked up first, I scored a 96 4wd sport off craigslist that runs great but has a blown t-case for the grand sum of $550. (Nice thing about the internet, can find local deals and bribe family into picking them up for you, even when you are hundreds or thousands of miles away)

First on my list for the 91 this thread is about is to completely tear out the interior and glass, except the dash. This makes it easier for me to cut out and weld in a new (well, to this truck) quarter panel, without having as great a risk of fire, and, since I am going to change out the interior anyway, it works out. While the interior is out, I'm going to replace the floor pan over the shifter with the other one I have, taking better care to properly cut the holes this time so that the boot fits the hole as it should. Also while the interior is out, I'm going to run wiring for my spotlight, auxiliary lighting, CB radio, on-board air system, and my amp and sub, as well as fabricate a toolbox in the rear floor, as mentioned a few posts ago, and possibly some other toolboxes as space permits. After welding and such is complete, going to prep and repaint entire truck in black.

Next, I have to fabricate a front bumper for the Ramsey REP 8000 I'm getting used from a buddy. This will be like the drawing I posted a few weeks ago, almost in the road-armor style. The rear bumper I have not definitely decided on yet, I may just take the easy way out and install a BII tire carrier or similiar for now.

Got some other neat ideas, such as a possible dual batt. setup, and may end up installing another unity on the passenger side if I can get one cheap. All depends on cash and time.