- Joined
- August 3, 2000
- Messages
- 31,678
- Reaction score
- 8,328
- City, State
- NORTH IDAHO, 7B
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- B2 "Slightly" Modified
- Callsign
- FOURTEN
Thats right! I missed almost all of 2006, I have not really been 4x4ing since I moved back from CA and started my 5.0L conversion over 1.5 years ago.
Well tomorrow I am going wheeling!!!
I have spent some time getting the BII ready for mild trail duty, her transformation into 100% toy has begun.
There have been 3 issues that have kept me from wheeling in 06:
1. the Ron Davis radiator I used for my conversion gave up the ghost with a major leak that cannot be fixed. BG cooling system stop leak has been getting me by, as I needed the BII to be my daily driver while I finished my Explorer project. The Ron Davis radiator is still in the truck, but I do have a new Be Cool unit that will be going in soon. The BG stop leak will be sufficient for this day trip. This $550 radiator was the reason I missed Moab 06 :fire: :fire:
2. My rear end blew up.
Early 06 I blew up my 8.8. It seems the shop that installed my 4.10 Precision gears and rebuilt my factory limited slip about 3 years ago screwed it up. The ring gear lost a bunch of teeth and I had to replace everything. I took the opportunity to install an ARB, this time we went with Yukon gears and I used the best damn gear setup guy in Colorado. The $1000+ set me back quite a bit. The rear diff also was leaking quite a bit up until yesterday, after two attempts with silicoln I could not get the leak to stop, so yesterday I installed a gasket and silicoln, no more leak.
3. 5.0L Bugs
I was still working out bugs from my conversion. 99% of the bugs have been destroyed. The only thing left is a pesky transmission range sensor code and an 02 sensor code. I actually believe these to be the fault of the PCM (needs a re-flash), this can wait a bit longer.
So now that the Explorer is running reliably and has taken over daily duties I finally got to pay some attention to the BII, and this is just the start. This winter she is going into the shop for stage III of the buildup, or basically transformation into 100% trail rig.
This week I fixed the rear diff leak, removed both sway bars, built a new shroud to protect my air filter from water/mud/dirt. I went over the chasis with a fine tooth comb, I lubed everything, I adjusted the floor shifter, I re-packed/re torqued the wheel bearings and she is ready to go wheeling.
So I will get some pictures of tomorrows trip, nothing major just a test run. If she passes with flying colors I will be joining the small Explorer group on Labor day weekend for the Salida run
This is the first time EVER the truck has not had sway bars installed (I had disconnects before), I know its not a big deal but it signifies to me that she is no longer my daily driver after 11+ years of service.
You could not ask for a better truck!
Next week I plan to install my new Be Cool radiator with an electric fan
The radiator support requires some modifications to make this work....
Well tomorrow I am going wheeling!!!
I have spent some time getting the BII ready for mild trail duty, her transformation into 100% toy has begun.
There have been 3 issues that have kept me from wheeling in 06:
1. the Ron Davis radiator I used for my conversion gave up the ghost with a major leak that cannot be fixed. BG cooling system stop leak has been getting me by, as I needed the BII to be my daily driver while I finished my Explorer project. The Ron Davis radiator is still in the truck, but I do have a new Be Cool unit that will be going in soon. The BG stop leak will be sufficient for this day trip. This $550 radiator was the reason I missed Moab 06 :fire: :fire:
2. My rear end blew up.
Early 06 I blew up my 8.8. It seems the shop that installed my 4.10 Precision gears and rebuilt my factory limited slip about 3 years ago screwed it up. The ring gear lost a bunch of teeth and I had to replace everything. I took the opportunity to install an ARB, this time we went with Yukon gears and I used the best damn gear setup guy in Colorado. The $1000+ set me back quite a bit. The rear diff also was leaking quite a bit up until yesterday, after two attempts with silicoln I could not get the leak to stop, so yesterday I installed a gasket and silicoln, no more leak.
3. 5.0L Bugs
I was still working out bugs from my conversion. 99% of the bugs have been destroyed. The only thing left is a pesky transmission range sensor code and an 02 sensor code. I actually believe these to be the fault of the PCM (needs a re-flash), this can wait a bit longer.
So now that the Explorer is running reliably and has taken over daily duties I finally got to pay some attention to the BII, and this is just the start. This winter she is going into the shop for stage III of the buildup, or basically transformation into 100% trail rig.
This week I fixed the rear diff leak, removed both sway bars, built a new shroud to protect my air filter from water/mud/dirt. I went over the chasis with a fine tooth comb, I lubed everything, I adjusted the floor shifter, I re-packed/re torqued the wheel bearings and she is ready to go wheeling.
So I will get some pictures of tomorrows trip, nothing major just a test run. If she passes with flying colors I will be joining the small Explorer group on Labor day weekend for the Salida run
This is the first time EVER the truck has not had sway bars installed (I had disconnects before), I know its not a big deal but it signifies to me that she is no longer my daily driver after 11+ years of service.
You could not ask for a better truck!
Next week I plan to install my new Be Cool radiator with an electric fan
The radiator support requires some modifications to make this work....
