I'm back! Quick question though...

[sirhk100]

I used to be active on here quite a bit back when I had my '91 expo but I sold it back in about '04. Well I'm back... I picked up a '91 this weekend and it's like deja vu basically! Only thing stranger would be if this one was red instead of white! LOL

Anyways, is there a regional section to the forum? The rig I bought is a fixer upper and is intended to replace my Jeep. I need to get it cleaned up and sold ASAP. Once I get the Expo fixed up and a bit more dialed in I'm leaning towards also using it as a DD and selling off my car too. I was hoping to find a regional section of the forum in hopes of finding other locals with them that I could use for reference both visual and maybe for testing. One project I've got to deal with is getting the a/c system back up and running 100%. Mine is missing some things so just popping the hood on another rig parked next to mine to compare and contrast would help for me figuring out what's going on. Things like that.


Anyways, here's the hoopty I picked up. Plan of attack is...

• align front end
• fix drvr rear door lock
• get a/c system up and running
• deal with check engine light
• build new axles and get 4wd working again
• install stereo system and secure all interior panels and rattles
• detail/clean up interior
• have fun!

 

[1Aauto]

That's a really cool Explorer. Great looking truck!:notworthy

 

[1AJeremyD]

Welcome to the forum! I'm really loving the bumpers!

 

[RangerX]

Chris! Welcome back!! That' a very capable looking Ex you got. It looks familiar, was it from somebody on this forum?
We dropped the regional section of the forum just recently, so maybe just post in the Offroad Runs discussion section that you're looking for members in the Vegas area just to for a get-together...

 

[sirhk100]

Hey Bill! There's a user I remember and it looks like you're still rocking the same ranger or at least have one very similar in your avatar if it's not the same one!

Not sure if it was on here or not. I spotted it on racedezert.com, then found more info on it on dezertranger.com and then even more on craigslist... LOL I should look cause there's a good chance it was on here too. Funny part is Thursday morning I had ZERO intention of buying a vehicle, by mid afternoon on Thursday I'd already had it locked down and my mind set that the jeep was going up for sale! LOL I bought it out of Phoenix.

Thanks for the info on the regional situation, I've searched "vegas" and looked around for similar members. There is one guy here that's pretty expo guru like. He actually already came by and checked it out and brought me a couple manuals and some other goodies cause his expo hasn't got moved out here to vegas yet. I used to know the ins and outs of these things like the back of my hand but like I said, I sold my last one in '04 so it's been quite a while and I just gotta get back into the swing of things. This one has it's issues but I knew none of them were outta my league and for the price I figured a few months of work and not too much cash and this thing should be golden!

 

[sirhk100]

BTW, details on the rig...

Obviously you can see what's there. The beams have been widened and they're on uniball pivots. Radius arms are on heims. It's on king coilovers up front. I've got the front diff and driveshaft for it and a set of 4.56 gears to install in the diff. I need to build axles. Rear has a 8.8 out of a newer expo with the discs, national leafs, cheap white shocks. Obviously it's got the conversion glass and rear fenders, the bumpers, it's on 35's but I'm going to put those on a race truck I'm building and swap the 35" goodyear mtr's off my jeep onto it before I sell it. Those are real KMC beadlocks... Inside is in pretty decent shape considering the age. I think a professional car detailer with a good shampooer could get the inside actually really nice and it's on my to do list.

My plans are to knock out that list of maintenance and fixing upping listed above. Beyond that I'd like to put some better shocks in the rear and some hydro bumps on all 4 corners. I don't actually plan on using it as a prerunner hauling but vehicle. I want to daily drive it and use it to replace my jeep for a exploring type rig and something to go rock crawling and 4 wheeling with. I've actually got a MUCH more capable truck for my itch to go fast in the dirt with so no reason to beat on this. I'm happy with the go fast look and know it'll hold it's own in the rocks and canyons.

 

[sirhk100]

Well, it's been cleaned up on the outside and looks a bit nicer. Had the local detail place put 4 hours of labor into the interior and I'm happy to say it looks darn nice inside now! I got some different tires on it that are a bit more road friendly while still going to hold their own in the dirt. I fixed the windshield wipers in case it actually rains here this year too. Got the 2 door locks that weren't working fixed and one of the door handles fixed too. Secured some external trim pieces that were flapping in the wind and got the sticker residue taken off from the billboard of stickers that were on it.

Next up is time to start focusing on the a/c system and then I'll turn my attention to cleaning up the engine compartment at the same time and follow that up with getting the 4WD functioning again! It's still a long term project with a lot to go but I'm make progress slowly but surely.

Tonight though I gotta share the labor love with the race truck I'm also building... It's been neglected for the past week or two...

 

[Rick]

Are we going to see you out at Truck Haven again??

Sure has been awhile, glad to see you back

 

[FROADER]

Welcome back! "Fenderguy" here... The new rig looks like it will be a lot of fun once you get it dialed. Looking forward to seeing you in the desert sometime soon.

 

[sirhk100]

Absolutely I'll be down for truckhaven! Will have to see how the schedule works out and how far along the expo is by this next go around but sounds like a blast! It's been about 3 years since I was down there and last time it was in my jeep and with my dirt bike. Would be fun to have this out there.

It's kinda cool to see all the old names still on here after all these years! Almost like deja vu! I will say, it was a bit strange hopping in this thing and not having the red hood! Almost like mind games! One thing that I still can't get by is I'm about 3 weeks into owning it and I've been driving it quite a bit. It's not quite my daily driver yet but it's getting used for sure. But the funny thing is I find myself getting a little bit nervous at red lights cause that's a vivid memory of my old expo's torque convertor exploding! LOL I just need to gain some faith in this one and things will be great. I can say that I already like driving it WAY better then both my Jeep tj that's on 35's and my daily driver mazda. Something about these things are just comfy inside and they ride nice! My mazda is comfy inside but rides rough and well, the jeep isn't comfy and doesn't ride nice at all! LOL One thing the jeep does have going for it though is they're completely over priced right now which is awesome since it's for sale!!!! LOL

 

[sirhk100]

Oh wait, it totally just dawned on me... Fenderguy... Grayish expo with front fiberglass on it back in the day up in orange county? I met you once at like the irvine spectrum or something if I remember right?

And well, Rick, can't forget your expo, definitely one of a kind and probably even more insane after all these years I'd imagine? What part of Az are you in again? I actually own a house up north of Prescott and spent a few years living out there. Didn't have anything 4Wd though. Was doing the go fast prerunner type stuff. Still am actually. Have a pretty heavily built toyota pickup to go fast and jump with and am mid build of another to race with. Gonna use the expo as a daily driver and a crawler. Nothing too crazy in the plans but it should be a nice fun ride when all said and done.

 

[FROADER]

Oh wait, it totally just dawned on me... Fenderguy... Grayish expo with front fiberglass on it back in the day up in orange county? I met you once at like the irvine spectrum or something if I remember right?

Yep, that's me.

 

[Rick]

What part of Az are you in again?

We're in Wittmann now, just South of Wickenburg. Just 1 stoplight between us and Prescott. We're going up there at the end of this week to get out of the heat for a bit. We try to go once a week in the summer.

The latest mods to my Explorer were the Currie Rock Jock 60 and a ladder bar to reduce spring wrap. Only been out once with it since.

 

[sirhk100]

Ahhh, wittmann, yes... So I'm assuming you head up thru yarnell and the whitespar curves basically assuming you don't just take some trails up there or whatever like thru crown king. LOL

You've got the chrysler and toyota tracks right there close by too right?

Expo looks sweet!!! Nice choice with the currie axle! I've got a currie 3rd and axles in the rear of a junkyard built housing in my toyota and I'm a bit bummed out how loud the gear set is. I'm hoping it's not on it's way out with less then 10K on them... We've got a currie housing and axles sitting at my house also ready to go into the race truck I'm building also. Strange built 3rd member for it though.


Here's the race truck I'm in the midst of building...

And here's my other toy...

It's got a spool in the rear and sometimes I pretend it's a crawler! LOL

I'm working on a new top secret hover kit for the expo though. I probably shouldn't show this picture and let it outta the bag too soon but oh well! LOL

And like everyone that's bought a new toy I was just curious as to what it would do... This isn't full droop but it seems to be decent.

A/C system is going to be Sunday's project to make some progress on. Hoping to get it knocked out and blowing cold over the next few weeks-month. Then I'll start scrounging up the parts to build my axles and also figure out if it's the motor at the tcase that's not working or what on the 4WD. I don't have the front driveshaft or diff in it right now but I'd think I should still be able to hit the button and have the t-case engage and light turn on which it's not right now. I'd like to have that figured out and fixed so that once I get the axles finished up and I can just put everything in place and go have fun.

 

[AJ@AutoAnything]

Awesome truck and great pics!! Love the ROCK ON out of the window LOL
Welcome back...

 

[rickybobby]

We're in Wittmann now, just South of Wickenburg. Just 1 stoplight between us and Prescott. We're going up there at the end of this week to get out of the heat for a bit. We try to go once a week in the summer.

The latest mods to my Explorer were the Currie Rock Jock 60 and a ladder bar to reduce spring wrap. Only been out once with it since.

And it handled the MO terrain like a champ

 

[sirhk100]

Awesome truck and great pics!! Love the ROCK ON out of the window LOL
Welcome back...

It was funny, that guy had been in his own truck all day which is much more mildly built. My friend that was riding shot gun with me on that day hopped out to snap some pictures so I had that other dude hop in. As we're gaining speed to hit the jump he tells me that he's never actually been in a truck that's jumping so I get a good laugh and off into the sky we go. I had no clue his arm was out the window let alone throwing up the horns! LOL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8evywqvZ_cs&feature=relmfu

 

[Rick]

You've got the chrysler and toyota tracks right there close by too right?

Chrysler sold their proving grounds, but it's still there sitting empty. I would love to do some laps around their track

Toyota is at the end of our road, and the Volvo/Ford proving ground is 3 or 4 miles as the crow flies. We get to see a lot of cool stuff on the road out here.

Nice looking rigs you've got there. The pre-runner looks like it's a blast.

 

[sirhk100]

What's the big ass triangle shaped thing that's visable on google earth out near you guys? I've seen that thing for years but never heard what the heck it is.

 

[Rick]

What's the big ass triangle shaped thing that's visable on google earth out near you guys? I've seen that thing for years but never heard what the heck it is.

Luke Aux Field 1. There used to be three out here.