Prerunner/weekend toy Explorer

I have a thread up in modified 95-01 Explorers, but since mine is mainly off-road I figured it would be more suitable to have a thread in here.

What I am working with

97 2wd Explorer 4 door with 5.0L V-8

Front suspension: 14" Wheel travel

Modified LCA to accept a 1" uniball as the outer pivot then boxed in accordingly. Custom UCA with 7/8" heim as outter pivot and 3/4" heim on frame pivots. Fabtech lift spindle tapped out for the heim and drilled knuckle for a 7/8" on the outter tie rod as well. Fox twin tube bypass shocks as well as a 2.0 body air shock per side assist the stock torsions with spring rate. Fox hydraulic bump stop off of the UCA

Rear suspension: 18" wheel travel

62" race leaf springs by Deaver with custom 12" long shackles. 18x2.5 triple bypasses by Fox though the wheel wells.

Other:

Baker 8" front fenders with FIberwerx 8 " fiber glass rear panels. Front and rear bumpers with a 2" rollcage threaded throughout still in the making. Fullsize axle out back with 4.56 gears and a L/S. 35x12.50 BFG Baja TAs and some Pro comp rims to hit the ground running.

 

[danwaters]

Thanks dude, she's just days away from going under the knife again for a full rear chassis and suspension upgrade!

 

[jprentice94]

Bump?

 

[danwaters]

Well I hurt my Explorer this weekend in Ocotillo on a night run. Came out of thick dust and smashed a huge double going too fast and sky'd the thing well over 10 feet in the air. We paced out the distance at 75+ feet. Broke a wheel in half bent the other and bent both upper arms. Everything else handled the hit.

The size of the obstacle was impossible to capture on a pic but it was about 5 feet tall really peaky and the other side was a good 6-8 foot drop into a cross wash. It was a nasty deal

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Man that sucks. As long as everyone is alright that's all that counts, it could always be alot worse. "Build it, Break it, Build it stronger !!!"

 

[james t]

Damn!!!! Just be glad everyone is okay... and the broken stuff could have been ALOT worse!

 

[Randall]

Wow, that is some impressive carnage.

 

[jprentice94]

Hey is this 2wd or awd also did you draw that light bar up on paper because i would love it if you coul post a pic i want to make one for mine

 

[turboexplorer]

Glad everyone is okay! Sorry about the rig, worse things could have happened. Must have been a crazy nasty hit.

 

[danwaters]

It is 2wd and no I don't have a drawing of the light rack. I built it from scratch on the truck. As far as the carnage...it could have been so much worse and I am very lucky it didn't flip end over. I got enough "driving" done before the big hit to save it. I'm very impressed how this 5000 pound pig landed from 12-15' in the air at over 75' in distance and only broke two wheels and bent the UCA's. My builder is very talented!

 

[PrerunnerManiac]

Any updates on the rebuild?

 

[danwaters]

Yeah, frame is cut off behind the front doors and building tube chassis for the 4 link. I'll get some pics up as it starts to look like something again

 

[explorinitup]

i didnt see in the build but i hear a whine in the last videos you posted. supercharged??

 

[danwaters]

i didnt see in the build but i hear a whine in the last videos you posted. supercharged??

no, its just the intake whistling a little. I plan on running a blown 331 though after this motor goes!

 

[explorinitup]

no, its just the intake whistling a little. I plan on running a blown 331 though after this motor goes!

10-4 nice sound tho. And as for when it goes if its anything like the 5.0s i have owned its going to be awhile. The set up im running not a 5.0 with m90. With 180000 on the clock and still kicking.

 

[danwaters]

Here's some teaser pics of my 4-link in progress. Slowly but getting there

 

[firefighterjosh]

Sweet build. Ever finish it?

 

[danwaters]

It's been a while. Work has been too crazy the last year working damn near everyday 12hrs.
Somewhat new update on my explorer

 

[housemonkeymedia]

Just bought a 2000 explorer 5.0 2wd. plan on doing something very similar to you. would love to come see this thing in person sometime.

 

[mounty71]

Wow, just saw your latest updates and didn't realize you were cutting that much of the frame! Is it cut in a similar spot that back-halfed Rangers are? We need more updates Dan!

 

[Darthdaddy]

Hello my new best friend

Hello new to the forum. Your rig caught my eye. I have a 2001 4.0 Sohc. I want to copy and paste your truck onto mine. I noticed the plates, still streetable? Pass smog? I would like to know how you designed your a-arms. Oh yea nice build