Desert Explorers????

[prerunnersvo]

Anyone out there have an Explorer set up for serious desert terrain?I've got a 4wd 92 4dr with an Autofab 16" travel kit & 2.5" Sway-A-Ways all around.
Just wondering if how many others out there are playing hard in the desert.....

 

[sirhk100]

My list of mods are in the signature. Mine will hold it's own. The rear still kinda lags when it leaves the ground but 1'-2' whoops at 45 are pretty smooth. Where to you run around most? I'm mostly at Ocotillo Wells, I was there this past Friday night. And I go to Glamis on holidays and occasionally inbetween. I also go to a lot of the desert races cause I ride shot gun in a 7S truck.... www.andrewsracing.com

Khris

also, there's a guy on here names Paul Brendenhoff (sp?) anyways, you'll know when you see his Explorer.... It's insane!!! Widened about 8" up front, extended radius arms, coilovers, crossover (swingset) steering, and I think he's four linking the rear soon. It's all custom and WAY nicer then Perry McNeil could ever dream of building. Personally I think Perry's fab work is crap.... His Glass is nice though.

 

[prerunnersvo]

desert Explorer

Khris,
sounds like a pretty cool set-up. I run a single 14" in front of the coils on the front end. I had the kit set up for 2 2.5" S-A-W's. Eventually, I'll be running a 14" bypass in front of the coil & a standard 10" behind. I'm still deciding on the rear. For the time being, I'm running a 10" 2.5 in the stock location, but eventually I'll be using custom Nationals (through Autofab), a two link & one 18" S-A-W's per wheel in the rear by going through the floor.
It alread works really well, but like you, I need the rear to be able to keep up with the front.

What did you do for a rear shackle for the Deavers? i've asked them about that & they don't have any standard specs for a shackle, they just say "build it sort of like this..." What length shocks are you running in the rear?

I'm on the central coast-Pismo. email me pics if you've got any. send me your email & I'll send you some as soon as I take them.

 

[prerunnersvo]

Khris email me prerunnersvo@aol.com

email

 

[sirhk100]

I emailed you and just checked out your profile, Happy B-Day.

 

[prerunnersvo]

I guess you and I are the only two with Explorers set up for the desert. I know there wouldn't be many, but I figured there'd be more than 2, lol....oh well

 

[sirhk100]

There's a few out there but not many. That guy Paul I was talking about by far has the sickest one I've seen so far... I know there's also a couple kids on here that are slowly building theirs. Hey, don't know what your plans are but I'll be in Lucern Valley (near Barstow) for a race on Aug 10th. I'm riding shotgun in the truck. We'll probably go up Thursday night and come home Sat. night or Sunday morning.

Khris

 

[Paul B.]

Khris, If you think my front suspension is insane just wait until you see what Winter has in mine for the rear suspension. Right now Winter is trying to finish up the front steering system so that we can do the Rubicon at the end of Aug. but after that, then the rear suspension will be started. When it's all finish then we will have to get together to try it out.

 

[Josh S.]

I'm trying khris!

 

[410Fortune]

PrerunnerSVO? are you saying you have a 2.3L turbo in an Explorer?

If you do I think you would be the first....

Now a 2.3L Turbo in a Ranger is a little more common, but still a wicked setup.....

 

[sirhk100]

There's Paul, How about some links to the pics of your front end??? I still can't believe that Winter is redoing the steering. It was already insane enough.

Khris

 

[Paul B.]

Khris, the only link that I can give you right now is the one that Rick took pictures of the front end at TDS. So I do not take credit for these, but it goes to Rick. The link is www.explorerforum.com/tds 02.They can also check out some more photo's again from Rick at the Az. run back in March.

As for the steering system, Winter is a perfectionist and he wasn't satisfied with it. He also is going to install a ram system for it. This is why I hire the best to build the truck right the first time.

 

[Paul B.]

Well, I don't know why the link won't work. So if you want to see them, then go the the Tierra Del Sol 2002 Photos under the Trail forum. You will have to go back a few pages to find the article, sorry.

 

[Rick]

Here ya go:
www.explorerforum.com/tds_02

There are a lot of Explorer desert racers actually. Perry's Fab N Fiber has built about 20 of them all 4x4s. There are also loads of 2wd Explorer desert trucks.

Besides Perry's, other builders are Camburg, AOD, and Donahoe Racing.

 

[Paul B.]

Thanks. Rick!

 

[prerunnersvo]

Paul, as an Ex-SVO owner, I'm a huge fan of the 2.3L turbo, but what made you think I had one in an Explorer?
I'm looking forward to seeing & hearng more about yours....

 

[Paul B.]

prerunnersvo, I did not ask that question. 410fortune ask that question. I guess he thought that by your name.

 

[Tom M.]

I am currently building a 92 2wd prerunner. Waiting on the funds to have AOD work the front end magic.

 

[Rick]

Someone told me recently that AOD went out of business.

 

[prerunnersvo]

OOPS, MY BAD PAUL.........