MrQ's Red Flyer

[MrQ]

Welcome back, Red!

Completed

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

I'm impressed. How did you fix the passenger door?

 

[MrQ]

Well its riding on two bolts now. I had to drill new holes and I now have a big gap between the door and the frame. The frame was bent in about 10-15 degrees. Fortunately it all works. Had to unplug the dome light switch though.

 

[Super_Swamper_98]

Are you going to swith out your old lower molding or is it to messed up

 

[MrQ]

It's too messed up. Sooner or later (prob later ) I will get another vehicle and play with this one. As long as it runs and is legal then I can deal with the outside.

 

[MrQ]

I have finally dealt with the gap between the inside part of the door and the frame. It's amazing what a little pipe insulation can do for you. I put new treads on the front and now all the tires match, the first time in a one and a half years! Front end alignment is terrible and when I took it in to get one I found I needed new hub bearings on the drivers side and new tie-rod ends. *sigh*

What is this fiasco I call, Explorer?

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

After this semester ends I'll be replacing my tie rods too. My outer driver's is going, I'll probably just end up replacing all four tie rods just to get it done.

Hang in there!

At least you already know how to do all the work!

 

[MrQ]

It turns out that the tie rod ends and the steering rack are NOT interchangeable between 4wd and 2wd. 4wd TRE's will not fit on a 2wd rack. The threads are wrong. On a 2wd TRE it's "righty-tighty, lefty-loosy" while on the 4wd TRE its backwards. I guess its a way to prevent the wrong TRE from being used.

So, yesterday I had to switch out the rack. That was fun. I then lost one of the castle nuts to the inner driver's side tie rod when I pulled the 4wd rack back in June and none of the other castle nuts would fit. It turns out that the joints on the inner tie rods have slightly larger bolts that the ones on the TRE's. So off to ACE and picked up the wrong nut. They wanted $5 for one nut. ONE!! Sigh, I even lost the bag so I couldn't take it back. But, today I caught a break and found the right nut at Oreilly's. What a lifesaver.

With the new rack in and the TRE's the front end is tighter and I don't have the front end squat anymore. YAY!! I also did a quick and dirty alignment. You can get pretty close with a level.

 

[MrQ]

Some new pics with the new tires on the front.

 

[black91EB]

how come no center caps on the front? I thought you got those with the 4x4 stuff. I hate mine, they keep coming apart, the metal peels off the inner plastic part.

Looks good though, although you and I are now both members of the incomplete/mismatched pinstripe club.

 

[MrQ]

I thought I was going to get them but the guy couldn't find them. It's okay with me. I have kinda gotten used to it now. I plan on getting bigger tires and putting them on cragars when I head out to 4x4.

 

[black91EB]

yeah, that sounds like a plan, I'm going to put mine on second gen teardrop wheels, now that I have an extra set.

 

[MrQ]

WOW, after 2 hours of compiling my list for SMORR I have used a lot of paper and cramped my writing hand .

YES, I am taking this trip seriously!! The only reason I am listed as a "maybe" is because of the unfinished state of the 4x4 conversion. You want the list? Probably not, but I'll post it anyway

Maintenance

Replace:
-radius arm bushing w/ polyurethane
-radius arm brackets
-drag link (tore the boot up)
-driver's side rotor
-all the u-joints on both drive shafts
-shocks (Looking at Rancho RS5000s)
-radiator (STILL leaking coolant )

$400

4x4 Conversion

Install Transmission
-Build jig for jack to hold transmission
-Purchase Torque converter
-Purchase and install tranny temp gauge
-Purchase and install shift linkage for transfer case, cut carpet and hump plate
-Verify operation of transmission and transfer case

Purchase, Get home, and Install 3.73 LS rear axle
-Install w/ fresh gear lube after inspecting clutch packs

Front End
-Fill front pig with new gear lube

Purchase and Install OEM skid plates

Needs and Wants for SMORR

Needs
-31's possibly Treadwright
-Spare set of rims
-Tow hooks 2 front, 1 in rear hitch
-Run all vent tubes higher
-Install sway bar disconnects
-Find a way to mount spare tire in rear
-Get tools together
-Purchase recovery gear: Hi lift jack, 2 straps, shackles
-CB radio

Wants
-More Skids
-Set up lighting front bumper and on rack

Geez and I have only 2 1/2 months to do it. Any bets?

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

I don't think explorers ever came with skid plates from the factory.

 

[black91EB]

yeah, I second that, the only ones I have ever seen are on the fuel tank, and I think the 2wd ones have that anyway.

 

[MrQ]

That's funny, because at the JY I see a large piece of ribbed plate bolted to the frame rails under the transfer case. Maybe its an aftermarket add on, if it is I am grabbing it at whatever the cost, because it'll save me some time and protect my transfer case. I also am considering using cutting boards as a cheap skid for the tranny as well.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

I bet it was a custom fabbed skid. Grab it if you can get it for cheap

 

[yellowford]

I don't think explorers ever came with skid plates from the factory.

All 4wd Explorers up to 98 came with factory skids, then it was optional on till 02. When the 3rd gens came out only the NBX's came with any skids and those were plastic. The skids from the factory are the transmission and gas tank skids. I know when I found the one for mine from the junk yard it was a pain for the gas tank since all the ones there were messed up from fork lifts picking them up.

 

[gmanpaint]

I have the skids on my 94.

One suggestion is to NOT have a hitch on your rig for wheeling. Instead, bolt hooks directly to the rear frame rail. Your going to have some clearance issues with the hitch while only riding on 31" tires. I had my hitch on my 94 (on 31") out at SMORR, and dragged it everywhere.

I'm not sure if you have installed disconnects for your sway bars or not, but this is a super cheap mod, extremely increases articulation, and will amplify your wheeling pleasure ten fold

I have a set of rear red powder coated sway bar end links with coated disconnects for sale I can bring them to SMORR.

 

[black91EB]

ohh yeah, they do come with a transfer case skid plate. I call that the mud scoop, and I have a couple extras, you can have one for shipping if you want.