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.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

calling @danwaters dont keep us waiting

 

[danwaters]

calling @danwaters dont keep us waiting

Ok it’s been a while since I’ve made an update here. The project was a little on pause due to building my dads sand car and followed by a lack of motivation lol.

Here’s an update…

Took the whole front end apart and motor/trans out.
Had a 331 SBF stroker built by TRE Performance in Santa Monica.
Used Holley EFI Terminator X for my fuel management and ECU.
I converted the trans to full manual VB, no longer comp controlled.
I had my buddy build some chromoly boxed upper arms cause I’ve folded 2 sets of tubular. Cut original arm mounts off and plated the frame with 1/8” chromoly up to where the a-Pilar tube on the cage strikes the frame. I build new upper arm tabs to accommodate for the 1” wider 1” longer arms.
I added a 3.0 bypass to replace the 2.5 and added a set of SAW 2.5 race hubs. Matched with a set of 14” Coleman rotors and some big 6 piston Aero9 Wilwoods, stopping would not be an issue.
I got everything finished up and started on the steering.
I dual sheered the new rack and rebuilt the steering shaft out of 3/4” chromoly and added a 1.5:1 quickener as I built the steering column.
I installed a Fiberwerx dash and cut in all my instruments and accessories.
Had the truck wired bumper to bumper with everything new and fresh.
I built my own center console and upholstered it after cutting in a few things.

After all was said and done I took the truck down to go get tuned. It put down 280/321 @6200 still building power. That’s twice what it had before!

 

[danwaters]

I added a few more things here and there…

 

[danwaters]

Then I went out and raced tough trucks at the del mar fair in July

 

[410Fortune]

soooooo much want!!

Lack of motivation LMFAO!!!!!!!!!! looks like you played catch up.
good show! love how she just floats over the terrain

 

[danwaters]

soooooo much want!!

Lack of motivation LMFAO!!!!!!!!!! looks like you played catch up.
good show! love how she just floats over the terrain

I was working 60-70hr weeks and was just tired lol. One day my brother came over and helped me thread the needle on getting the new motor dropped in and that relit the fire! I was on it every night til 10pm working on in ontop of a gnarly work schedule. The hard work paid off!