James135
New Member
- Joined
- July 2, 2010
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Delaware
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1997 XLT
Well where to begin?
It all started about three years ago, I was a younger lad who had just received his drivers license and I was enthused for my first car. Eventually I found a purty 1997 ford explorer for sale, she was black and other than a spot of rust on the bumper and a broken seat handle she was perfect, and best of all she was mine. I paid 2400, (guy was asking for 2900). I drove that car to no end till one day i heard a "clu clunk" sound coming from the back end. I pulled over and took a look under the back and my drivers side control arm had come detached from the point that connected to a cross member of the frame, not only that but their was more rust under that truck then i had ever seen in my life. I realized i had bought a rust bucket. Well to spare you a progressively more disappointing story the damage was beyond repair, i had to stop driving her and unfortunately graduated high school with no car and then went off to college in another state with no car.
Well I came home and after being hopelessly frustrated with the lack of a vehicle i set out to repair my truck. these are the photos of what she looked like.
I replaced leaf spring shackles, control arms, shocks, had plates welded over holes in the frame, stripped and painted the frame, changed the brake lines, got a new catalytic converter, put on a new rear bumper and finally put some off roading lights on her
she's a work in progress but here's a few pics (I have yet to do her second coat)
This is the plate over the huge hole in the previous photos
More photos to come
It all started about three years ago, I was a younger lad who had just received his drivers license and I was enthused for my first car. Eventually I found a purty 1997 ford explorer for sale, she was black and other than a spot of rust on the bumper and a broken seat handle she was perfect, and best of all she was mine. I paid 2400, (guy was asking for 2900). I drove that car to no end till one day i heard a "clu clunk" sound coming from the back end. I pulled over and took a look under the back and my drivers side control arm had come detached from the point that connected to a cross member of the frame, not only that but their was more rust under that truck then i had ever seen in my life. I realized i had bought a rust bucket. Well to spare you a progressively more disappointing story the damage was beyond repair, i had to stop driving her and unfortunately graduated high school with no car and then went off to college in another state with no car.
Well I came home and after being hopelessly frustrated with the lack of a vehicle i set out to repair my truck. these are the photos of what she looked like.
I replaced leaf spring shackles, control arms, shocks, had plates welded over holes in the frame, stripped and painted the frame, changed the brake lines, got a new catalytic converter, put on a new rear bumper and finally put some off roading lights on her
she's a work in progress but here's a few pics (I have yet to do her second coat)
This is the plate over the huge hole in the previous photos
More photos to come
