red.EDDIE.4x4's Explorer Registry

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

got thoe drag links on...looks fine and i aligned it pretty close by myself in the ol driveway. it doesnt pull to any direction, but my steering wheel is at a 90* angle... i think ill convert the tie rod ends to heim joints when i can find the correct size, any tips?

the angle of the rod end seems a little extreme...which is why heims are needed i believe.

also got the tire mounted for free at Hibton tires today.

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

i finally got my welder back after i let a buddy of mine use it for "a few days", then it turned into a few weeks... and i got this little doo-hicky done. inspired by LD50 and all his awesome low budget mods.

then i went the extra mile with a flag... i wanted a bigger one but this was the best i could find. cost me a whole $1.99 at toys R us...

(and i decided to say F it to the steering stuff)
more to come!

 

[stock_exploder]

did you ever take your ex off road with just the 4" RC lift im looking at getting it but want to be able to use it as well and i was told it would not hold up well

 

[stock_exploder]

also what size material did you use to make your roof rack and how did you bend it

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

did you ever take your ex off road with just the 4" RC lift im looking at getting it but want to be able to use it as well and i was told it would not hold up well

yes i take my truck off road about every weekend to various places. and its also DD so it sees some miles. i believe it has held up well and i have only one complaint, the springs sag very badly after about 5 months. so im switching to the skyjacker 6 inch springs, which i expect to sag down to about 5 or 5.5

the only thing you need to watch out for is the bump stops, PUT THEM ON! or else you will end up with a hole in your front diff. as far as a cheap weekend lift goes i would say its about as straight forward as you can get. also its good on the wallet.

the material i used was 3/4" hot rolled square tubing. and for the center i used 1" hot rolled square tubing. i cant much give you a place or price because ive got a cousin who owns a machine shop and had it just layin around (they dont use much tubing) and just gave me about 40 feet of 3/4 inch and about 20 feet of 1 inch. to make the bends i just made cuts in the metal till i could bend it properly.

then welded up the seams and ground it down to perfection!

also i bit the dust...FA600 is here, just comparing its size to a nalgene bottle. also got a monster D link shackle from a friend of mine. holds 18 tons. =]

 

[stock_exploder]

Sweet one more thing any pics of how it is attached?

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

sure thing.
I used some old shock extra parts and some little plates i made. they are 3/16th steel. about 2 inches long and a 1/2 or 5/8 wide. i drilled and tapped a hole in the middle (cant remember what the size is, but im wanting to say 3/8x16) i need to add a washer under the silver tube and between the rails.
how it holds is that it clamps down on the lip of the rail. right now its only holding at one lip. im not very concerned about it because it seems really sturdy, and ive been driving around with it like that for about 6 months.

 

[stock_exploder]

do you remember what wall thickness your tubing was

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

not too thick. But it was strong enough for me to stand on it the other day. I'll take the calipers to the walls tomorrow and let you know.

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

calipers say .078" wall thickness

 

[stock_exploder]

ok thanks

do you have a photo of how you routed the wires for the lights

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

i do not have any pics at the moment. however, i will take some and post them tomorrow after work.

on a side note...i just got my 4.88 gears back from Youngs 4X4. they are a little self owned shop here who have great quality and since they only have 2 shop guys (including the owner) they re-geared both my axles for $265 and welded my axle tubes to the cast casing. not too shabby i dont think. and the turn-around time was incredible! i dropped them off last night at 6:30PM...got a call today at 1 PM from them saying they were done. and i picked them up tonight at about 7. lets have a looksie....
the little D35....need to throw a trac lock or aussie in it sometime...prob as a winter project.

welded axle tubes.

the 8.8 also with 4.88s (also open diff, Detroit to come when the wallet and girlfriend allow)

my swagger (stock calipers...

 

[Slowlyvverot]

yummm. that's quite a deal you scored.

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

ok thanks

do you have a photo of how you routed the wires for the lights

here ya go.

radioshack disconnect, need to upgrade to waterproof one

ghetto wiring job. the orange/red is rtv to hold it in place, then it goes thru the sheet metal into the cab and down the A pillar. then thru the firewall to relays and the battery.

anything else?

 

[stock_exploder]

Nope you don't care If I copy it do you sir?

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

not at all, im glad to share ideas.
ive copied plenty of people...:

 

[msilver]

nice work, i like all the toy your friends have for you to play with, is that your corvette in the back ground in your first couple pictures?

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

nice work, i like all the toy your friends have for you to play with, is that your corvette in the back ground in your first couple pictures?

Hey thanks but um...Toy my friends have to play with? I'm confused...
And the vette is a '72 stingray. It's all original unrestored. But no it's not mine, it's my dads, he's is the 2nd owner. It's pretty quick for stock, it's way fun screeching the tires around turns. The rear end is also really to lose if your not paying attention...

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

went wheelin yesterday with some buddies, (toyota and a jeep)
i went into a little mud bog and drove on out fine. in heard a PSH! PSH! PSH! sound in the grass when i was driving past and my heart sank.

slashed a sidewall somehow in the mud. im assuming there was either a sharp rock or a chunk of metal. glad i found that 33" BFG MT at the salvage yard.

to make matters worse...when i went to put it on the front pass side. it wouldnt fit! the hole in the center of my stock spare tire wheel wasnt large enough to fit over my warn hubs, whats up with that!?
so i had to swap and put the spare on the rear pass side and take the orginal wheel and put it on the front pass side. long story short it was a pita.
so ive got a set of maxxis 35x12.5.15s bighorns on the way.
then ill start my build part 2!

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

found some pics from yesterday,

had to pull out the yota...figures