Looking to buy: 96-2001 5.0L built trail rig with SAS. body damage prefered

[Jordanf1313]

Hey comrades,
I usually post in the Sport trac threads, I've got a clean '09 adrenalin that I like to work on and participate on the forums with.
I have a new project though, scooped up a '55 F250 and I want to do a body swap onto an Explorer and make a sweet trail rig with.

Intention of this project is to have a truck that I can take off roading, but still tow with and do junk around town in.
Because im doing a body swap, a rolled rig isn't out of the question. Appearance is not an issue.
Also, big bonus, does not need a clean title! The title of the F250 will be the primary and everything Explorer, paperwork wise, will be salvaged. If it isn't even road legal, I'll take it.

Requirements are a good running 5.0 V8 with or without performance mods.
Solid axle swap.
Preferably with a manual 4x4 conversion, not nessissary, but would also rather not have AWD.
Suspension lift around 6".
All work done would be expected to be clean and of demanding trail level of quality. I've flipped (sold for a profit, not rolled the thing) a fair share of Jeep XJs and can tell when someone has home cooked a performance mod.

I have been looking for a lower mile stock example, but the work to do the body swap will be extensive, and a built rig will save me a ton of time.

Mileage is obviously not that big of a deal, as these trucks can go really far with good maintenance. I've had 300K Jeep XJs and Explorers of the same years are pretty comparable on the trail.

I don't know what to expect for price. I live in Tucson, so location is going to factor in a big way. Im not against traveling, or shipping, for the right rig. The kind of person looking to sell to me would be wanting to off load their baby, for any myraid of reasons, be it too many toys, or lack of interest and desire for something new. This is going to be a higher price build, so I will expect buying the Explorer will be the largest cost of the project. I will entertain anything justifiable. I respect when someone has put massive blood, sweat, and tears into a rig. Please just remember, a 150K XLT with all that I'm looking for is pretty cheap up in Phoenix and a 4x4 shop can build what I need just as well as anyone else. I'm trying to save time, money, and give someone with a car they got a lot out of, might be beat up a bit on the body or paperwork, a great opportunity to offload their rig to a cause that will cherish it.

Let me know whats up!

Jordan

 

[BruceExploder]

I have a green 2wd 5.0 1998 that I botched getting the title for. Runs and drives just sitting in my garage. But I am in Oklahoma

150k

 

[Mbrooks420]

If only it had a solid axle, and was a 4wd...

What’s the wheelbase on the ‘55?

 

[Jordanf1313]

Hey BruceExploder, thanks for the offer, but looking for something more complete on the trail build side.

Mbrooks420, the F250 has a wheel base that is a few inches longer than the 4-door explorer. I'm not worried about the slight differences, as a body lift will be incorporated to get more wheel well clearance and to help everything fit. This body swap isn't uncommon, not as easy as a 1960's F-body onto a 2000's Crown Vic, but also not somthing that someone can't do in their garage with basic fab tools:

2831mm to inches = 111.5

 

[BruceExploder]

I understand

 

[RangerX]

The 53 is full size, an Explorer is mid size. The axles will be 6” too narrow, unless you find an ex with full width axles swapped in. Plus the frame width will be a factor, especially as a trail rig where you would have less stability on a narrow frame with a wide and heavy body.
Maybe look for a built and rolled F150...

 

[Stic-o]

I could go out and roll my truck for you.....but it's not a 5.0... so I guess that would not do you any good.



Seriously though, your looking for a full width SAS explorer with a 5.0 that has already been swapped to a part time 4wd set up.

That alone already is a unicorn set up on here, little alone one some one tried to kill in a roll over. Your either going to have to settle for something else as close as you can to it, wait for a unicorn, or go a little different direction.

You may have better luck finding a 87-96 F-150 reg cab short bed 4x4(117" wb) that some one has done a SAS swap, or just find a TTB and do the SAS yourself, which would be pretty easy on a F-150.

Like this...

1994 ford f150 4x4

or this...

96 ford f-150 4x4

 

[Jordanf1313]

RangerX, the ford F series back in the 50s may have been "full size" for that time, but the truck itself was much more similar to the late 2000s Ranger than the F-150. The Frame rails are closer together on the '55, almost identical in separation to the Ranger/Explorer, where as the F-150 is too wide for a clean body swap. As far as axles being too narrow, you are off by a few inches. The 8.8 is 60" wide and the ancient '55 axles are 62". This doesn't matter at all, as the body of the F-250 is the only part of the old truck that will be kept original, the axils and everything Explorer will not be removed from the frame. The '55s body is thin steel with no reinforcement (light weight), which will be fixed with a small roll cage setup. This rig won't be any top-heavy worse than a trail built explorer with a roof rack. Wider tires will help a lot as well.

Stic-o, Id take your rig for the paint job alone!!! Thanks for the CL finds, but there is more research and builds done on the Explorer swap than F-150 swap, due mostly to the F-150 frames being too wide and long. The engine layout and drive train is also unfavorable for this body swap, too much would need to be modified to make for a clean fit. I know trying to find a built up unicorn is going to be hard, but thats why I made this post, you never know until you ask. There have been plenty of members on here that have done SAS: List of Useful Threads - Ford Explorer & Ranger Solid Axle Swap - SAS - Registry Index

Anyone on this list that still has their rig, but looking to hand it off, I am a very interested party. And this list is just of the people who spoke up! I bet there are 2x the number that did the swap, but never posted about it.

I also don't need a unicorn, I am interested in close. If all I have to do is SAS and everything else is there, Ill bite. I've seen some amazing custom Cherokees that have been the model of the forum come up for sale, $10k for a $25k build. People lose interest in their gem after its finally perfect. or they work it, wreck it, and move on.

 

[RangerX]

Wow, I would have guessed that a 50s truck would be as big or even bigger than current size trucks. Obviously you did your homework!
Hope you find something, it will be a very cool rig to see.

 

[boominXplorer]

There is a pretty big difference in frame width and style from explorer to ranger. The ranger is a solid 4" more narrow in the cab area. You might need a 4x4 V8 swapped ranger frame with a sas. You could go pre 97 ranger with the frame and you can buy everything to bolt all what you want in.