Joe Dirt's 2000 Ex-El-Tee "Deuce"

Welcome to the registry for Wedgie 2.0, who has been affectionately named "Deuce"

From Shad's info to save keystrokes:

Here is the run down:

2000 Ford Explorer XLT 5.0L - AWD
Deep Wedgewood Blue
Gray Leather
Yada, yada, yada...

Highlights:

• Transmission rebuilt at 160,000 miles, and filled with synthetic
• Lifted 2" in front with torsion keys
• Lifted 3" in back with Add-a-Leaf and Warrior Shackles
• New Superlift shocks at 166,000 miles
• 31" x 10.5" tires
• As much rust as some southern trucks- she's clean...

Interesting fact- it was an XLT fitted with air-ride shocks from the factory. System was disabled with the kit and shocks were put on to avoid costly repair.



Next to Wedgie:

Today 1/28/11 was the first car wash.

And yes, it needs to be cleaned...

Um... This is going to be my biggest challenge to date.

But it's going to be fine. It's an incredible place to start- the steering wheel isn't even gummy or rolled. I'm very pleased with the canvas...

Anyway, after the car wash, I snapped some pics for starting point reference.
So, here are our obligatory before pictures...

Door seams always oiled

Hatch looks brand new as well!

Nothing on the rocker seams ...but a paint chip

Rockers nice. No rust even at the back- just grime and ice. I think the mudflaps really helped...

 

[BrianDye]

Techie- its identical to this:

Joe- I swear if I see a log somewhere thats small enough, im gonna "strap it on" and get some pics

 

[techieman33]

umm wow, that was way to agressive for what you were doing, it's a good thing it was a battery operated grinder or you could have done some SERIOUS damage to that bumper. In the future use a wheel like the one pictured below, it's basically sand paper on a wheel and is much more suited for the kind of work you were doing. You can get them in different grits depending on how aggressive you want to be.

 

[BrianDye]

I honestly looked for something like that, but didnt know they actually made them. I went to 3 smaller hardware shops and all they had was 1-2 different wheels like I posted.

Trust me, im not grinding it hard at all though, I know how bad it could grind deep grooves in.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Ok, so Friday after work I did some cleaning, here are some updates. We were still here, but I steel wool'd the rust that bugged Eric. Sprayed it afterwards. :

Tackled the doors, because I can't stand knowing this crap is there-

I also changed over my speakers, and re-glued the moisture/sound barrier. I did not clean the jambs or boor bottoms yet, so the remnants of the oil sprayed on them to keep them pristine is still there. Worked awesome- thanks Shad!


Before:

After:

Saturday I made a run to the junkyard to get a new rear glass button, and spent some time installing that so I could have a functioning rear window, and so that I could use my rear wiper, which amazingly now that it runs- actually touches the glass!

At the junkyard, I counted 48 Caravans in the Chrysler/Dodge section

Saturday afternoon I resumed.

This was my parts farm.

While everything was out, I layed my cables and wired in the sub. Pissed, the kit I have didn't have power wire long enough, so I had to go grab another one. WTF? Yes, I did clean the gunk in there after I saw the picture. :


See Eric? I steel wool'd the seat stud!

Carpet in.

I disassembled the console, and cleaned it all out. Nasty. After finishing that, I put that back in, and that got us here, which is how it sits this morning.

I feel like Dale- I work a few hours each day, and then leave it alone. This could take me 2 weeks! lol!

Today I'll swap the black gauges back in, and clean the undersides of the seats, and if time permits- put them back in.

 

[bcbid]

Looking Good Joe! Now that's the way to detail!

 

[GRNMACHINE]

That is beyond detail.... Joe is Down with the Sickness.... I call it jOe.C.D.

 

[sean99]

Hahaha! You down wit Joe cd! Yea, you know me!!!

 

[gmanpaint]

LOL...Joe CD! What a hoot!:

Looks damn good.

Your 8 up Joe, just plain 8 up.

 

[rickybobby]

i recognize that row af caravans joe, too bad i didnt find what i was looking for before the rain started. stupid broken top frame

 

[BrianDye]

Whats with the little plugs in the side air vents? And the soccer ball? :scratch:

 

[Joe Dirt]

The plugs are the interior door panel retainers. I don't lose them that way...

The soccer ball is there waiting for someone to ask why there is a soccer ball there.

 

[BrianDye]

Im asking why

Thats a good ass idea for those...I always loose at least 1 of those buggers per door when I pop my panels off.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Let's go with some old school Beastie's today for our viewing music.






...continuing our journey through obsessive-compulsive land, we now move into the living room.

I took the seats inside today so I could clean up the undersides, re-grease the guides, and clean and condition the leather and vinyl.


This is the disgusting dirty, shiny crap that has to go:

So, as before- I grabbed a few boxes of Magic Erasers. No, they have not been recommended for leather by a lot of detailers due to the "coating" on the leather, but I've had zero issues with them as long as the after-surface is properly conditioned and maintained. Of course, your results may vary.

When using them, do not use lots of pressure- you're only taking the dirt and grime off, they are like small-scale sandpaper, so keep them adequately wet and don't over-do it. You will be taking some coating off I'm sure, but you're conditioning the leather, so I have no issue doing it.

Here is the 60 rear seat, for a before and after.



Before:

1/2 done:

After, drying the seams...

What you want to see...

Mmmm... Grainy 'n clean!

Sponges from the seats, and the water from just the 60 rear seat.

...and who's got time to waste in the morning? Instead of coffee or energy shots, I inhale cleaning agents. Even the 5 hour energy guy was impressed at what I got done... Cleaned, detailed, and reconditioned, ready to go in, and hit again with a matte finished leather dressing once in.

 

[sean99]

Nice work on the Leatha!! Nice Beastie pick too...I think it was 1987 when I saw them with Fishbone. Why are you going back to the stock gauges?

 

[bcbid]

Those are Mr. Clean Magic Erasers? I read some where GOOP hand cleaner works well. Just the plain type, the lanolin helps to keeps the leather soft. That's what did last fall. and I was satisfied with the results. You have got one hell of an Imagination, never a dull moment. Energy dude!!!

 

[Joe Dirt]

Nice work on the Leatha!! Nice Beastie pick too...I think it was 1987 when I saw them with Fishbone. Why are you going back to the stock gauges?

I am swapping back to the black gauges, it just looks funny to me. I loved them on Snowball, maybe it was because it was a white truck and the colors played. I don't like them as much in the dark blue truck and the gray interior.

I was getting ready to take the pic, and the 5 hour energy ad came on- so I waited for the "shrug" to take it.

Those are Mr. Clean Magic Erasers? I read some where GOOP hand cleaner works well. Just the plain type, the lanolin helps to keeps the leather soft. That's what did last fall. and I was satisfied with the results. You have got one hell of an Imagination, never a dull moment. Energy dude!!!

They are Meijer brand erasers, which are packaged by Proctor & Gamble who makes the Mr. Clean erasers. Same stuff, just less $. I think Target does the same thing, may have more in the box for about the same $$. I had these already though, I seem to keep them, uh, in stock. lol!

I have tried the goop, I prefer the erasers though, less mess, easier to clean up the leather after since it's just water and an eraser, and it's just plain easy.

 

[bcbid]

I'm game to try new things, less mess is best.

 

[bcbid]

I can't find a picture of the seats. but I cleaned the vinyl and cargo cover with the goop. worked into the grain with a rag. and wiped it all down.

 

[sean99]

I went looking for Magic Erasers after seeing Joe use them on Wedgie. Walgreens has the Multi-Eraser on sale sometimes, two boxes for $3.99 for a total of 8 pads.
The Mr.Clean erasers were $3.99 for 2 pads.
I bought the Walgeens version and they worked fine.

 

[BrianDye]

Does Joe want to sell the gauges?