Modified into a F100

[damarble]

I'm blazing forward with the project, although it doesn't seem to be popular it seems to align well from the info I've gathered:

61 F100 unibody on a 3rd gen explorer chassis.

I brought home the Explorer last night, a 2002 V8 4x4. Picking up the truck body this weekend.

The basic idea is remove explorer body, set on truck body, smile every drive.

There's a couple things I'm still sorting out and I'm looking for feedback. I want to strip the Explorer wiring to the bare essentials as I don't need any frills. I'd also like to pull the auto in favor of a 5 speed manual. I have a 5.4 ZF5 but I'm running into hurdles with the clutch to mate it to a 6 bolt crank 4.6, I'd have to use a mustang flywheel but it doesn't look like the ZF5 clutch will bolt to it, and the ZF5 input shaft is too big for a mustang clutch. The easiest solution may be a M5R2 which does have the smaller input.

 

[damarble]

Located a M5R2 because the ZF5 is a huge can of worms.

The victims:

 

[damarble]

The dismantling is under way. It still runs and drives at this point.

 

[dvdswan]

I like this idea. Hate to see a nice Exploder cut up though.

 

[damarble]

I like this idea. Hate to see a nice Exploder cut up though.

It really wasn't that nice and had title issues, it was destined to be a parts car.

 

[410Fortune]

Very cool! I don’t see why you say this is not popular… I mean maybe the 96-01 5.0 explorer is people’s favorite base for this restomod but a gen iii with a 4.6 and irs can work too
I mean they make Ferraris from fieros so you are already way ahead of the game starting with a good ford

So you found a m5od to go behind the 4.6? This is a rwd project?

Assuming the truck was an auto are you planning to tune the pcm to delete pats security and the auto trans functions? Where did you find a clutch pedal? As I understand not many manual gen iii trucks out there

 

[damarble]

Very cool! I don’t see why you say this is not popular… I mean maybe the 96-01 5.0 explorer is people’s favorite base for this restomod but a gen iii with a 4.6 and irs can work too
I mean they make Ferraris from fieros so you are already way ahead of the game starting with a good ford

So you found a m5od to go behind the 4.6? This is a rwd project?

Assuming the truck was an auto are you planning to tune the pcm to delete pats security and the auto trans functions? Where did you find a clutch pedal? As I understand not many manual gen iii trucks out there

Everyone building F100s is stuck on Crown Vic, which is also the right wheelbase but is too wide for my taste and you have to cut out the cab steps if you use the whole frame.

I found a 99 M5R2 and BW4406 and using 97 F150 flywheel and clutch. It will stay 4wd but also lowered.

I think all manual 3rd gens were 4.0s so the PCM won't help. I'm going to try just leaving the auto range selector switch in neutral and see if it behaves. I'll be using the F100 firewall and it's factory clutch pedal/bracket, modified to hold the master cylinder.

 

[410Fortune]

Well we put a 49 f100 body on a 97 5.0 explorer frame and kept it awd… came out slick awd daily driver patina great year of the f1

The crown Vic is one way to go but not if you want a 4wd truck

That’s a great trans a t case combo, I have a m5od-r2 and 4406m behind a 5.0 in my 03 trac

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Nice! Looking forward to this build.

 

[damarble]

Got some more stripped out. Still runs, but doesn't drive well without a steering wheel.

 

[damarble]

Well I was going to drive it around without a body for fun but the 4wd isn't engaging and I got it stuck.
I pulled off the shift motor and shifted into 4L but the front output is still dead.

 

[damarble]

Looks like I'm going to be forced into using a BW4404 at least for now, the 4406 will be a lot more work, it's just massive and hits all over.

I learned why the steering was darty. Some yahoo used a 15mm toe link in the back instead of the required 17mm. It fell out of the knuckle and bound in the wheel.

 

[410Fortune]

Can use ford np205, its tiny hahaha but extremely durable and heavy

 

[damarble]

Can use ford np205, its tiny hahaha but extremely durable and heavy

Yeah it would fit... I really don't want to go that route though. I don't really mind the 4404 other than not being selectable and being weak. Long term plans involve about 500lb of torque and it's not going to like it. But I can cross that bridge then, it might be years.

 

[damarble]

Seeing how the airbags are going to work out.

 

[410Fortune]

Very cool!!

 

[damarble]

Oh baby...hubba hubba.

 

[damarble]

 

[410Fortune]

Man that’s perfect!

 

[Aviatrix]

Hey! We're entertaining a notion of this sort here as well!

Have been waffling over what kind of classic frame to drop on 05 Aviator (and one entity in the planning process keeps making snarky remarks about when this is all gonna happen in my "non-existent free time," but hey, planning is the best part).

Totally appreciate that inclination to do a bit of driving in the stripped-mobile. That just seems like fun.

Love what you did here and love the year and color choices. And that you took action on a fun concept!

If you were going to do this again, same choice on vintage frame?

Part of me wants to go vintage Bronco frame on my chasis, but I end up hauling a lot of lawn care stuff in my DD Nav, which, ideally, needs to stay a little cleaner, so a pickup would make sense if we're trying to make a practicality argument, but "practicality" kinda isn't the point. If I did go Bronco route, def welding a proper dog seat into the 2nd row... 'cause that's practical.

Great job moving this through the stages, especially in what appears to be some cold a$$ed weather!