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5spdman's slow and cheap XLT build

Wheels should look something like this when finished:

10930146_573392157455_6351497701151116257_n.jpg


I think I'll refrain from painting the tracks aluminum until the blue is on and the wheels are mounted so I can picture it a little better...kinda like it just like this...
 



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Well, not much has happened as of late, just the few things I mentioned before...

Wheels all got painted, rebalanced, and mounted onto the truck...they look pretty good I think!

11042675_573634032735_1745921243526384844_n.jpg


Didn't get any pictures in the process or after, but slave cylinder was replaced, and I resealed the transmission with Permatex Ultra Copper, and haven't had even a hint of a leak yet.

Shocks came in last week as well!

10505424_573634057685_7760333319224592832_n.jpg


ProComp ES9000's...I'll just be holding onto these until I get around to doing a F250 shock tower/extended RA modification up front to throw them all on to the Explorer...who knows when that will be...
 












I think the rims look great. If you want a little more "pop" paint your lugs blue.
 






As far as it comes to the style of the stock rims that came on the first and second gen Explorers, I actually prefer the deer tracks...all comes down to personal preference I guess. I'd actually much rather prefer something like a set of black Cragar soft 8's, with a chrome or blue beadlock ring.

Not sure I like the lugs that are on it, as they're just open nuts. Was thinking of getting a set of closed lug nuts, chrome, with the special security lug nuts as well. I found these on eBay...all chrome, all closed, and all security type lug nuts...
 












Not sure I like the lugs that are on it, as they're just open nuts. Was thinking of getting a set of closed lug nuts, chrome, with the special security lug nuts as well. I found these on eBay...all chrome, all closed, and all security type lug nuts...

Ahh, so that's where the lug nuts on my Honda came from. My honda has that set (although, a different size thread)...

The 3/4 & 13/16 end is nice as it works with either socket BUT, you only have 1 socket to lose before you have issues.

I don't know "how" much security it gives since that pattern on the lug nuts isn't exactly security. I found a car in the junk yard with the same 'style" and my socket that came with the kit worked on it.

What I do like about that style is the thin-ness of the lugs. If I run 1/2-20 lugs nuts with 13/16 soutside diameter I can't fit my impact socket around the nuts on the front as the center cap gets in the way. I have to search around to find 1/2-20 with 3/4" outside diameter whenever I need new lug nuts (Discount Tire seems to always have them).
 






The security nuts won't do that much. It might slow down someone looking to steal something expensive but for someone that knows about wheels, there's only a couple different 'security' nuts out there. If that fails, someone can always ream a socket on it to make it fit and take them off that way. Or, worst case scenario, they mess up the lug nut while trying to do that and give up, leaving you with a mangled mess.

After seeing my OEM ones lose their caps and become 'open', I bought a set of 20 on eBay from Lug Nut Guys:
http://stores.ebay.com/lugnutguys

They were affordable, did the job and don't look like they'll fall apart on me.
 






Chances are, I'll just stick with a regular "acorn" lug nut...spent $450 on a 1/2" drive, 18v Milwaukee Fuel high-torque impact driver, and $20 on a set of lug nut impact sockets a month ago, and still looking out for a set of torque sticks, so I may as well get lug nuts I can use my new toy on! :D
 






And in case anyone was wondering on those shocks:

Fronts (waiting for F250 towers);
ProComp ES9000, part # 932000
18.8" collapsed, 32.8" extended, 14" travel

Rears (same size as stock);
ProComp ES9000, part # 926500
15.9" collapsed, 27" extended, 11.1" travel

Got them for a deal on 4wheelparts.com, and they were supposed to come with black boots too...gonna call them tomorrow and see where the boots are at...
 






Grabbed these today at U-Pick-It: :bounce:

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Can anyone tell me why the base that bolts to the frame is wider on one than the other? I'm assuming that I just happened to pick them from an F250 that had one replaced at some point, but I didn't notice it until now. It won't matter once they're on the Explorer as you won't notice it (although I'll know it's that way), but I was just curious.

Getting paid this week, and I'm about to go change the shocks on someone's Durango (plus a few other automotive jobs for people), so once that's all in the bank, I'll be ordering DOM and a heim joint set from RuffStuff for the radius arm extension....stay tuned!
 






Came to Tuba City to cover at the fire station over the weekend and was asked by one of the guys here if I wanted to go do some night wheeling. Haven't really had the XLT off the road since the build and was chomping at the bit to get out there. Inadvertently, we ended up meeting his friend, a fellow forum member (didn't get his screen name though), and we went out to hit the rez trails. Unfortunately, after an hour and him getting stuck in the sand, the hubs on his explorer went out and he called it quits. We headed of the trail and met up with another guy who took us to a more serious wheeling trail, and as short as it was, I learned a few things.

1: airing down my tires would have really helped on the wall climb (including lockers....usually air down my tires but didn't take the time to do it), 2: rock lights would be nice (might use the extra lights from the escort), 3: sand dunes are a lot more fun than I thought, 4: there are more rock trails around here on the rez and closer than Sedona for me then I thought, and 5: I'm pretty pleased with the way the truck handles right now.

Hoping to possibly get started in the next two weeks on the F250 towers and extended RAs, and helping my new friend get his hubs fixed, replaced or swapped to manuals to hit some trails each time I'm out here to cover at the fire station. I apologize for not getting any photos, but I'll get some next time! :D
 


















Not sure why I didn't work on this last week when we had to cancel school all week (leaking propane line), but I started on my receiver hitch project today. The "tow points" at the bottom of the rear cross member had been pulled on so hard, it had actually been pulled off the rivets, so it was time to go. Receiver is from a '94 Dodge 3500 van and wider than the frame of the Explorer, so the ends got cut off and it will be welded into the frame and along the remaining crossmember.

Started by jacking up the rear end, placing stands under the front of the leafs, and allowing the axle to drop which moved the shackles out of the way. As I was doing this, I noticed that the axle was drooping more on the passenger side than the driver side...further investigation revealed that the plate on top of the springs was catching on the gas tank's skid plate.

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A grinder with a cutting wheel took care of that little issue...

11064620_573904236245_1716177639604830777_n.jpg


11013121_573904251215_2257991540392046492_n.jpg


With that taken care of, it was time to cut into the crossmember in the rear. The tubing on the receiver measured 2.5", leaving 1.5" (can't remember the exact measurement now) left at the top. Made the mark across the crossmember, grabbed the cutting wheel and finished it off with a sawzall.

11063855_573904276165_680178154623519880_n.jpg


The receiver is still a little too wide and not enough taken off the cross member, so I'll grind them down and prep all the surfaces for welding tomorrow night, and weld it in later this week, along with cutting out the roll pan to accommodate and reinforcing plates made from the remnants of the receiver. I'd get it all done tomorrow evening, but I'll be picking up a rear axle for the schools '95 Ram 2500 tomorrow morning and then getting that put in tomorrow so it can be used around the school again.
 


















this build thred is nice inspiration.. keep it up:thumbsup:

Thanks! :)

That is a beefy hitch.

That it is! :D I'm thinking of cutting off those tabs near the edges with the bolt holes and welding on some bumper clevis's from Barnes4WD that would stick through the roll pan, but I'm not sure they would be long enough. I know I have some material somewhere in the scrap pile I could make some myself, but I'm not sure where it's at...:scratch:
 









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