Carlovers Desert Beater Build

[Dannyboy]

this is exactly what my truck needs. The stock wiring is a spaghetti mess. Looks great Sean.

 

[carlover]

Thanks, It really wasnt too hard once i figured out what was what. I kept the engine harness intact, and from there there's only a few hots and grounds needed to make it run.

 

[©H®I$]

Dam!! I just got done going through the whole thread!! Love the explorer!!!

 

[FROADER]

I still need to see this thing cruisin 60 in some whoops!

 

[carlover]

Taking it out again in a few weeks. Upgraded to a bullet proof 3rd member and 35 spline axles. Along with a few other things and redesign of the rear setup. Should be better then ever now. Ill make it a point to get vids this time out.

 

[NWOff-Roader]

Looks good, great build, I'm glad you're getting to have some fun with it!

 

[WidgetTrac]

Sean, Brandon, great work guys - that thing is awesome!!!

Thanks for posting the pics & writeup, i'm glad you switched to the better camera, this whole thread is awesome! It's like homemade **** for FORDophiles... Crack for horsepower junkies!! I innocently came in here looking for info on lift spindles and UCA's (some of which I found, thanks!) for a mild utility-oriented suspension upgrade and, one day and 33 pages later, I find myself looking at my Sport trac the same way I used to look at my mustang... you know, back when the 'stang was street legal and I could drive it every day to go places, like you would in a regular car. Man, I shoulda just stayed with the setup that ran high 12's!

That won't happen this time though - just mild suspension, maybe headers, or at most a 460 with a 120 shot.

 

[WidgetTrac]

Early on in the build when you had the fabtech spindles, you were looking to get wheels with more backspace. Did you ever figure out the maximum before the wheels contact the spindles?

 

[carlover]

Managed to cut up a stock hatch and make it fit. makes a world of difference in looks.

 

[carlover]

Also redid the fuel system with external aeromotive pump/filters, installed new currie 3rd member and 35 spline axles along with a diff skid plate.

 

[FROADER]

Yeah, I like that.

 

[carlover]

It so much cleaner. up soon is paint, i need to pick a color or colors to really make it stand out.

 

[GRNMACHINE]

Very cool, would love to see more pics of the hatch, cant tell exactly what you did, but I like it.

 

[carlover]

Uh ohhhhh...

 

[Maniak]

Uh ohhhhh...

Umm.. Isn't your engine cage welded so you can't pull the old engine out?

~Mark

 

[carlover]

No i had to get the manifold out so the cross bars were put on removable tube clamps awhile back. It's definatly gonna be a challenge to show horn this bad boy in there though. The firewall is going to have to get cut and redone so we can slide it back a few inches.

 

[carlover]

Non explorer update...bought a 2005 chevy for a dd/tow pig. This thing is very clean and well taken care of.

 

[Tbars4]

...Nice find...Gas must be cheaper over in your neighborhood...:

 

[carlover]

Naaa its still $4 a gallon lol. The older chevy i was driving got 12mpg, so this has to be at least a 4mpg+ improvement.

 

[Tbars4]

...So....Is your beater going to be able to make it to Truckhaven in October?