ld50 Explorer mods revisited

[ld50]

The antenna was originally a kit for a Jeep. It is a Firestick, with a 9 foot legth of Coaxial cable. I ran it through two holes I drilled to get it into the cavity where my jack and rear windshield washer res. is, and then under the plastic until it reached the cb. It was exactly the length I needed. (although I never did check the length of it, I was told it was 9 feet)

the guy I bought it from said the length was matched to the antenna, and I would need 18 feet to keep it that way, should I need more length.

 

[ld50]

to get at the bolts so that I can get the tail light out for replacing bulbs, or just to get the bolts on for that matter, I drilled out an aproximately 1-1/4 inch hole on the inner part of the body. it gave me enough room to get the nuts in there, and will allow me to get a wrench in when I need to undo them. I will then fill the hole with a drain plug, but i have to buy one and size the hole first. For now I just put tape over it.

I sealed the holes with some silicone.
here it is all mounted:

 

[ld50]

I Like the hieght of it now, and it is high enough above the roof to not be transmitting into the truck itself.

There is still a small amount of flex, the trucks body metal is pretty thin back there, but I don`t think I have to worry unless I get into really over grown trails. I had to pull pretty hard to get it to flex.

Glory shot:

 

[ld50]

It is easy to take off, and I will leave it off when not wheeling, so I can get in my underground.

 

[Kirby N.]

I like those shock mounts. I am going to do the same thing I think. What did they cost? I looked on the warrior web site and no price. What shocks are you running? Do you have a SOA yet? Thanks

 

[carsonm]

I knew you could do it! Nice job on the antenna can't wait to get mine in and yes I'll bring the .

carsonm

 

[ld50]

Kirby, you just kicked my butt into updating my cost list!

My shocks are from the lift kit people (Pro Comp ES3000)
I was told they are stock lengths.
I don`t have an SOA, I most likely won`t because I don`t want to get too high.

I found the lower shock mounts while leafing through the Warrior catalogue/ magazine they gave me when I got my skidplates, I never saw it on a website anywhere.


Congrats to Carsonm, who just became the parent of another boy, to ensure his genes throughout eternity!
-Way to fertilize, Bro!



*I get all my Warrior Products parts at a small Off-road store dedicated to Jeeps, called Gemini Auto Sales. The Firestick antenna kit was for a Geep TJ.
My next closest offroad store is a huge player around here and it`s fairly accurate to say that they would charge me what I`ve paid PLUS another 75% on top.
I don`t know what the deal is, maybe it`s the prestige of shopping there that costs so much. Good idea to hunt these smaller stores down, IMO...

All costs in CDN funds !

Truck = $8500.00

Plasma white hid headlights = $39.96
Mini driving lights = $65.00
Filter adapter = $68.41**
K&N filter = $50.00
Window visors = $45.00
Cheap CB = $75.00
Antenna = $50.00
Tow hooks = $40.00
2" susp lift with shocks = $464.00 **
31x10.5 BFG T/A K/Os = $835.00
New lower ball jts. and alignment = $ 604.00
Fire extinguisher = $ 40.00
4.10 gears, locker, U-joints = $2635.37
2" body lift kit = $148.45
Shifter extension = $58.21
2" x 20' tow strap = $40.50
War1780 skid plates - $115.00 **
War153 shackles - $99.95 **
1.5" Wheel spacers - $504.87 **
Custom exhaust - $320.00
Dual battery parts approx. $85.00
2nd battery= $100.00
33x10.5 BFG MUD T/A KM (4)
minus sale of old tires (350$) = $578.84
Antenna kit 4' Firestick = $80.03
Lower shock mounts WAR161 = $51.55

(** includes shipping)

Total "EX"penses = $15694.14

 

[Crankcase]

Originally posted by ld50

*I get all my Warrior Products parts at a small Off-road store dedicated to Jeeps, called Gemini Auto Sales.

Did you get your Warrior shackles from Gemini Jeeps too?

 

[ld50]

EVERYTHING Warrior I have gotten through Gemini.
They charged me $99.95 CDN for the shackles. Carsonm priced a set out at a store on the north shore, and I believe was quoted a price of $180 CDN!!!

 

[carsonm]

Carsonm priced a set out at a store on the north shore, and I believe was quoted a price of $180 CDN!!!

It was even more worse than that they quoted me $230.00 CDN!!!

Gemini is an awesome place that's where I got my shackles thanks to ld50. I have him to thanks for alot of my mods. Thanks James and thanks for the words about my new son he is doing great and his mother is also. She got out of the hospital today and he got moved to the neonatal ward from the special care nursery.

carsonm

 

[ld50]

$230 ! !
How can they justify that? It`s unreal! Actually it`s even slightly surreal, and not one bit of a deal!
Glad the baby is doing good Carson!

 

[XLT4X491]

i didnt know you could freestyle ld50. btw your X is lookin great

 

[ld50]

I didn`t know I could do that either, lol.

I got a chance to try my new tires out this weekend by going on a run with a local wheeling club (H.O.T.)
This was my second time out with them and they are actually a bunch of nice, friendly people who are very passionate about the sport, and maintaining a good image for off-roaders.

I did have a problem with the ground on my antenna mount, which was evidenced by my crappy transmit signal. I could hear them, but they had trouble hearing me. The system I had uses a ground which goes into the mount when the pieces are assembled. I rigged up a direct ground and fixed the problem, but I`ll have to look at it some more.

The tires worked as well as I`d figure. The truck does wander a lot more on the road with these, and the ride is slightly harsher.

I got a link here to some pics that were taken by a member of the club I went out with. Check pic 14 out. I managed to get through there without touching the rock. Most of the other trucks rode their rock sliders around it, while I took it as wide as humanly possible.
I did get some good spotting from the guys, they definitely have lots of experience with it, and I felt I could trust them.
I still can`t believe I got around it tho`. I gotta get some sliders soon or I will regret it for sure.

Dead Link Removed

-Oh yeah, I broke down and got some cheap fender flares, I`ll show you later. I was afraid of getting caught in one of these roadside 4x4 ambushes I`ve been hearing about lately.

 

[ld50]

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Well I just realised that I now have owned this thing for one whole year.

 

[Crankcase]

Re: ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Originally posted by ld50
Well I just realised that I now have owned this thing for one whole year.

Congrats!!!

 

[beaston1]

Damn..you people really ARE crazy..nice truck, very nice indeed

 

[ld50]

Crazy?

Oh god, what happened? I just wanted some info on maybe just a 2 inch suspension lift and I found this site. What have I done?
-oh oh, I just peed my pants too, mmmmm..warmth. No, wait, that`s blood! AAAAAARGGGGH! ngh! ptoooii!

mommy?

 

[diablo5969]

Originally posted by ld50
-oh oh, I just peed my pants too, mmmmm..warmth. No, wait, that`s blood! AAAAAARGGGGH! ngh! ptoooii!

mommy?

What the hell are you on?

 

[ld50]

all natural, bro.

`Cept for the weed, but my other self insists it is doing us no harm. Why does it smell like rotten meat right now? -Ah nevermind.

 

[Trapper14]

well I jsut read through all 9 pages and must say, your post rocks! very detailed an thorogh, wish my rig wasn't so damn rusty.... otherwise Iw ould do more to her. oh well....