Completed Project Should I start a new Build?? 97 Explorer, SAS, Atlas?

[crazyflights]

Build thread follows

 

[crazyflights]

30 more mins till i'm off work, I cant hardly wait! If i buy it i will haul it home after work tommorow

 

[crazyflights]

Sold, I bought it
97 4dr Black, sun roof, Xlt straight body
SOHC 4.0, automatic

Getting another engine I have,
5spd swap with atlas 2 t-case 4.3-1 low range
SAS dana 44.
Picking it up tommorow morning before work, will post pics tommorow night, very excited about this build, cheaper and easier than my ranger conversion, and i have about 80% of stuff i need for this rig allready and spares.

 

[99ex22]

good deal. Cant wait to see pics and progress!

 

[crazyflights]

Explorer is on the trailer, just waiting for me to get off tonight at 6 and take her home. Im pretty excited, i think 1st thing i will do is start soaking the body mounts with PB and then put a 2in body lift on it, this will in turn make pulling engine and other work easier.

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Sounds like a great platform.

 

[crazyflights]

 

[crazyflights]

1 will die, but the other will live

 

[crazyflights]

Well, rear axle is out, 9in is in and all 4wd front is out, just need to cut brackets out, working on that today, also, will gett warrior shackles in rear and do 2in body lift.

 

[DB_1]

Looks nice and clean, this should be good

Bonus points for best use of old shock:

 

[crazyflights]

Well, all 4wd frame suspension mounts are cut out, need to do some grinding tommorow. I am burnt out for today and my wife took camara so no pics.

 

[fordxranger]

gonna be a cool buildup, but why would this be completed sooner than the cabbed bronco? wiring issues? if its wiring I completely understand, I hate wiring. What size/type of tire are you planning on running? and it seems like an oppertune moment to ask, but what are you doing with the wheels/lugnut covers? I bought a set just like those wheels with no lug covers and I want to get a set. what would you want for them?

 

[crazyflights]

well i just sold, wheels and covers/lugs yesterday.
Reasons not to finish the ranger:
Custom frame work needed to fab rear cab mounts would need raised, cause 6-8in gap would be to much for body lift blocks.
Major wiring issues
takes money to paint it.
Was going to to 4link rear-cost more money than doing spring under on the explorer
I like how the explorer frame is boxed quite a ways back
4 pass-sounds more fun than 2
I should have this explorer done in 2 months hopefully or close.
Running 33in boggers 4 now
i have pic of rear, but still getting 2in body and warrior shackles, i dont llike tight fit on tires.

 

[crazyflights]

 

[crazyflights]

All this crap is gone now, just doing some grinding and prep work left.

 

[gmanpaint]

DUDE!!

I just now seen this thread! Awesome!

When you get it done, we need to hook up and go wheeling! The extra room and the fact that the Ex is comfy, makes for a nice road trip with passengers.

I dont now how you manage to do so many diff things all the time! You are constantly wrenching or fabricating something or another.

Keep the camera at home, and keep the pics coming!

 

[crazyflights]

Thanks Gmanpaint, yea the Ex will be great 4 pass, i will take you thru all the trails at Smorr in it other than drop ledge on Doe Skid and the waterfall, no need for unwanted carnage. I m thinking about getting a Dolly and just driving this to the events and towing my Bronco behind it on a dolly? LOL

 

[Dannyboy]

So you're putting all the work into the suspension and then working on the engine?
I'm trying to think who has a black soild axled second gen, most of them are white or a color that's not too common, that will look great.

You going to part down that Ranger? I'd be interested in the front grill, headlight assembly and header panel holding that all in.

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

nice x u got there keep up good work

 

[fordxranger]

well i just sold, wheels and covers/lugs yesterday.
Reasons not to finish the ranger:
Custom frame work needed to fab rear cab mounts would need raised, cause 6-8in gap would be to much for body lift blocks.
Major wiring issues
takes money to paint it.
Was going to to 4link rear-cost more money than doing spring under on the explorer
I like how the explorer frame is boxed quite a ways back
4 pass-sounds more fun than 2
I should have this explorer done in 2 months hopefully or close.
Running 33in boggers 4 now
i have pic of rear, but still getting 2in body and warrior shackles, i dont llike tight fit on tires.

I thought that the cab mounts all pretty much lined up? maybe they do if there the same gen as each other? this explorer does already look waaay cooler with just the rear axle and 2 of the boggers. can't wait to see this with the front axle in place. keep it up!