no name B2

[CheapThrillEX]

it pulls hard and i have had no problems with it other then the steel cable. But any manufacuterer on the cable wouldn't matter. Line speed is a little slow but for $299 i deal with it

 

[colindo94]

Got a question for you. You did a cab swap on the explorer fram with a ranger cab. How did that go for you? Does the whole cab section fit the explorer body mounts or was there some modification? What about the bed? I'm not so worried about the bed because thats much easier to modify.

 

[CheapThrillEX]

the front four cab mounts line up perfect. But the last two cab mounts need to be fabbed up, they do not line up at all. As far as the bed, we are planing a tube bed with only using the bed sides being hung off the roll bars.

 

[colindo94]

O ok. I was wondering about the bed. The frame on x's seem to go higher in the back so the bed wouldn't work, unless you did it that way. Thats for the help.

 

[colindo94]

So would a 84 ranger cab fit the body mounts on the explorer frame like yours did? And if it did fit would I be able to swap the front clip of the explorer onto the ranger cab. along with the dash, seats, ect. Just wondering because I have this ranger and have nothing to do with it.

 

[CheapThrillEX]

it wasn't my ranger, i helped holshotracer with it......

the front four cab mounts line up with all rbvs 83-94 as far as i know (94 rangers being an exception) as long as you use the core support for the headlight style you want it will fit, also the seats will fit but you have to change the seat tracks, those vary between years. The dash will fit but you have to use the steering column and column bracket from the explorer. Using that column and bracket require small mods to the firewall but is easy..


http://youtube.com/watch?v=pON-ofdnO-Y

got bored waiting for parts to arrive so i don't have much to do, thought i would throw together a slide show

 

[CheapThrillEX]

been Busy, Heres an update

did this at a buddies house

I have decided to try a few different things. I have traded my Iroks for a set of 36x12.50 15 TSL's with some custom grooving. I have also decided to give leaf springs up front a try.....

Tear Down

Picture of the wedge on my 77 F150 D44

Wedge removed

Heres a shot of the TSL

I got my PAss side of the axle cut down 6"s to EB width. The tight trails i run and being full width was just hell on my RF tire. Kept runing it into trees etc...

got the rear tires put on the B2, man i cannot wait to get this thing back on the trails

I picked up a set of 75' Chevy D44 Flat Top Knuckles. I am getting the pass side smoothed out and the three holes drilled and tapped. I have ordered a set of Hi-Steer Arms (waiting for delivery) and i have purchased all one ton chevy TRE's for my steering

bought some Chromo Shafts for the front

heres the axle and susp under load

shot of a front shackle under load

heres the tire bolted on, looks like i got some trimming to do. I intentionally pushed the axle forward for a more aggresive approach angle

Rear Mount secured to the frame, i'll probably add some side strength to it and go up the frame rail with a bracket

just a shot from the front

Waiting to buy a Aussie for the front and still waiting on the hi-steer arms. Then i need to buy the DOM and thread it for the tie rods. GEtting close to getting it back together though. Can't wait. I think i might move the rear spring bracket another inch or so forward to push the shackle further forward. I think its to vertical right now.

 

[CheapThrillEX]

another step closer, one knuckle down one more to go

 

[CheapThrillEX]

Worked on my locking hubs today. Had to midifiy them to work with my spindle set-up. I am using 75 chevy Knuckles, chevy spindles, chevy caliper bracket and calipers. Ford Rotor and Ford Hubs. I am suppose to use the chevy stubs with this combo cause they are a touch longer then the fords. So when installing all above components and using the ford stub, the stub doesn't stick through the spindle far enough to get the retaining clip on it. Well i ordered ford Chromo shafts, so i modified each of my four locking hubs to work with the Ford stubs. I have two of the stock cast type lock-outs (weaker ones) and then modified my Ford Lockouts that are pretty much indestructable (made from all metal except the dial). So now i have got all four Lockouts to work with the Knuckle set-up. I fi am feeling motivated tomorrow (day-off) i met just get medevil on the B2 with the plasma/sawzall

 

[CheapThrillEX]

 

[Burns]

Well major changes there. Tuning in to see how it turns out

 

[RangerX]

Awesome clearancing on those front fenders. How about a pic from a few feet back, so we can see the whole arch in one pic.

 

[Dannyboy]

dang dude, you don't F around. just scrap everything and try out a whole different setup, and pretty quick too.

Bill, I was already saving the pics he had of the coils mounting up on the full width axle to show you. my mind is already spinning.

 

[CheapThrillEX]

dang dude, you don't F around. just scrap everything and try out a whole different setup, and pretty quick too.

Bill, I was already saving the pics he had of the coils mounting up on the full width axle to show you. my mind is already spinning.

that was a pretty hack set-up i did, i knew at the time when i did it, it was going to be a very short lifespan that way. I was trying to get the truck from a bare frame to wheelable in two months (which i did)

Awesome clearancing on those front fenders. How about a pic from a few feet back, so we can see the whole arch in one pic.

i can't stand back any further right now, my garage is small and the truck isn't rollable. Still waiting on getting the pass knuckle back from the machine shop.

Thanks for the kind words fella's. But that wasn't the only thing i did today,
i was naughty

i also saved the qaurter glass from breaking at removal

 

[CheapThrillEX]

got a small amount done today, was feeling a little rough after last nite. Small hang over

pass side knuckle finished and assm and on the truck

got the tie rods sitting on the arms. Had to measure the length of the tubes to buy and thread.

width turned out almost dead on with the 8.8 and adapters.

just a shot from the front

also played with a buddies harbor frieght bender and was able to bend some 1 1/4 into 90s without any type of kinking so next weekend i'll probably start building the cage in it.

 

[CheapThrillEX]

okay having never built a cage nor have helped with building a cage and using a harbor freight bender i have to admit building a cage SUCKS.......oh and not having an actual tube notcher doesn't help either.....

heres my progress thus far

got everything tacked all good and nice then start welding and the stupid things warps and becomes a PITA.....pretty much all my plans backfired. Go at it again tomorrow and hopefully get it close to finished up.

FLAME ON

 

[CheapThrillEX]

well today i got all the imterior plates drilled and bolted to the floor and wrapped up the B-Pillar and forward. So all that is done. Still have to put the harness bar and cross brace the b-pillar. But i started on the back half of the cage and got both hoops bent and a couple top bars installed but the chop saw wheel wore out so that ended my day. Heres a couple shots.

Spent the rest of the afternnon doing clean-up in the garage, it was in desperate need of it. Wife came out to see progress and wanted to know why i can't help keep the house as clean and picked up as i do the garage lol.

 

[FROADER]

Looks good for a first cage, but I have two suggestions that would be an easy fix and give you a much stronger cage. You need "triagulation" so here is what I think you should do. This thing is looking mean!

Top of B pillar on driver side to bottom of B pillar on pass. side.

Then move one of the middle bars to the middle and put two triangle pieces in there like this.

 

[CheapThrillEX]

this what i had in mind

 

[Burns]

Wow i quit reading for just a while and you get a monster build. Looking good.