The Black Hole

Whats In A Name?

It was hot humid august night. The winds have all but vanished. I was doing my best to keep the sweat out of my eyes. The A/C was dying in my 94 Explorer, lovingly named "Pugly", and there was no relief in sight. I decided it was time to stop throwing good money into bad. I was gonna do the unthinkable,.......I was going to commit the most heinous crime of them all! I was going to trade Pugly in for a newer model! Oh the heart break! The insanity of it all! I couldn't believe the thoughts were even going through my head.

I managed to get the old girl back home, to her resting place. She seemed at ease in her familiar surroundings. I had to come up with an explanation to let her know of my evil plan. So i just gave her that old wink and grin that she likes to see from me as we made it back home from another day of adventure in the treacherous Midwestern terrain. I did my best in hiding my cynical thoughts, as I walked around to her rear flank and gave her that little pat on her bumper, as I always have when we part for the night.

The next morning I gave her a real good bath, cleaned behind her mirrors, and brushed her grill. She still looked pretty good for her age. Oh sure she had the tell tale signs, gravity has got its firm grip on her, and I am not the best cosmetics guy in the world. she didn't seem to mind too much, she still kept her nose up and drove with pride.

After looking at many vehicles I just could not find anything that had the same feel as my old girl. Then it happened! Was I seeing a mirage? Was I so desperate to find another rig that I was blinded by insanity? I found my replacement! I quickly made a sale with the owner, and brought it home.

When I pulled in the driveway, my heart sunk as I looked into the yard to see my 94 looking at me in disbelief. She was sunning herself in the grass looking all shiny and then, she just looked away from me. My heart was tearing in two. I parked the new rig, and walked up to her and gave her a soft spoken "Hello". No reply. I tried to tickle her mirrors, no response. The tension was so great, you could have cut it with a 32 count fine tooth hacksaw. I had to explain to her that she gave me great satisfaction for many years, and we made a terrific team together, but the time has come for her to just relax and enjoy her final days. She finally revved up, and understood, her days as my work horse has ended (so we thought).

I introduced her to her daily driver replacement. The shiny new(er) next generation of her kind. The 95 Explorer XLT. She warmed right up to it. Before you know it they were swapping stories. Now I had to ask her for help. I needed a name for the new ride,
so I went to find her, and what did I see? Those two were grill to grill in the driveway. rubbing chrome! I had to get the water hose out and break them up! Sheesh, she was acting like a girl at the prom dance! I let the name thing drop for awhile.

The new(er) Ex needed to get its shots, and a physical. When I got the word on it's health, I about had a coronary. "What do you mean Doc"! I yelled. "Your kidding right"? I asked. The Doc just shook his head and gathered his tools. As he walked away, He said it had a 50/50 chance of survival. My stomach knotted up, my teeth ground, my heart raced, and I could feel the energy build up as I let it all out, "Why! Why! Why did this have to happen"! I screamed.

The prognostic exam from the doc was as such. It had a blown steering rack, the shocks were gone, the brakes were non existent, front sway bar was cracked in half, the 3rd brake light was out, none of the windows or the moon roof would work, the door locks were broke, the rear end LS clutch pack was burned up, the tires were all in need of replacement, the spare was a Firestone recall and flat, the engine had a nasty tick to it, the TPS was shot, the MAF was corroded, the battery had a dead cell in it, the hood shocks were not working, the rear hatch lock was jammed up and you couldn't open it with out a key in the lock, The carpet was stained to no repair, the rear window wiper didn't want to work, and we could not tell what year its engine swap came from. it was a mess, to say the least.

I went in the house to get my gun. I was gonna just put it out of its misery right there and then. I suddenly realized I was out of ammo, from shooting at the jeep that was in my field. I went to the computer to find a place to buy some cheap ammo, and I stumbled across this website, explorerforum.com that said it could heal any ford Explorer no matter what the problems were! I jumped for joy, I could not believe the things I was reading! I wore out the search button, asked a bunch of questions. I quickly broke out my pen and paper, feverishly writing down things as I was learning! I had found a cure for everything that was wrong with my new transport. It was a Godsend, an angel from the SUV heavens!

I sprung into action. I worked day and night, Pugly was right by my side the entire time, helping me in any way she could. I never seen this side of her, and was really amazed at how well she handled the pressure. She gently squeegeed the sweat out off my fore head with her soft wiper blades as I worked away. After an entire weekend of work, I collapsed. I needed some rest, and so did the 95. The sun crested over the hills, and awoke me to a new day. I shuffled my feet to the window facing the driveway, peeled the drapes gently back, and peered out at the 95. WOW!
It had a its color back, and was looking great! Now as the time went on, (and most of my paychecks), and the selling of almost everything I own, for funds to get the 95 to its former glory.

After some time to reflect on this name thing, I strolled up and whispered into Pugly's passenger side mirror, and she giggled with delight.

I climbed up onto the front bumper in my pajamas and robe half opened, with a cup of coffee in one hand and the daily newspaper in the other, I raised my arms with out stretched hands and proclaimed the new name of the 95.

BEHOLD...........THE BLACK HOLE!!!!!!!! (Then the neighbor yelled at me to close my robe)



The End................(or is it just the beginning?)


Actually, only some of this really happened.




View attachment 324381

 

[corkey]

In my opinion, Superlift does not build the best kits. While their kits might survive for a few years, I do not think they are built strong enough to last many years and miles (and hard use.)

Not that I'm a huge Rancho fan, but my [modified] Rancho kit has over 200K miles on it, and is still solid. I don't think a Superlift kit would last that many miles.

Not to start a flame war here, just sayin...

hmmm, only had mine since December and already have 15,000 miles on it, so, i guess i will put all kinds of miles on mine and let you know,,

 

[gmanpaint]

Hey, where's my sammich?

Stardate....04.24.10

Delivery of sammich completed. Subject couldn't handle the entire thing. Family members stepped in to finish "Said" Sammich for subject, then continued on to digest the rest of the consumables.

In Mass quanity:

 

[Turdle]

Think I will have a cookie now

 

[dkchrist]

Stop talking about the torsion bars as a support device or for any purpose but twisting force on the LCA front surface. The torsion bar touches nothing except the two ends that are holding it. The rear of the LCA has a huge hole in it for the torsion bar to go through, they never touch.

I agree about the support issue of the lifted trucks with the lift brackets. As those get farther down away from the frame, there can be more movement or deflection. I'd lay under there and consider what the suspension tries to do when the truck gets twisted in use. If it seems like the LCA may push/pull the mounting points, figure out which way it wants to move, and how to make a brace to stop that.

I don't wanna have to pull the green e-paper out but I can. Just kidding

The bars prevent rotation on the control arms on two axes. Around the bolt and perpendicular to it. One axis being the twist or spring and the other being bending the bar.



The arms need addition support once the bars are removed period.[end/hijack]

 

[CDW6212R]

...
The arms need addition support once the bars are removed period.[end/hijack]

No, period.

 

[techieman33]

No, period.

Sorry Don but I have to trust the mechanical engineer on this one.

 

[gmanpaint]

I got a reply from Dixon Bros about the cross member inquiry.

All I got in the response pertinent to my set up is that, it will be a direct bolt on to the stock LCA. No explanation of why or how this will help me. I am thinking they are just busy, and don't have time to explain everything. At least I hope that's the case.

I wish I had the capabilities to make a version of this crossmember, but alas, I do not. I will just order one and bolt it up.

If it helps anyone here that has been a part of this Mod discussion, I have not seen anyone that had done something about this here, (at least that I have seen) and I really haven't heard anybody complaining about their coil overs and the LCA. So for someone like myself, this is uncharted waters. I have thought about this, and have to say that this part of the mod has been settled for now.

Lets just give it some time after the crossmember is on, I get to wheel it a bit, and pay attention to how the LCA acts in real world arenas.

Fair enough?

 

[dkchrist]

Good enough! you wanna just stick the rest of the dixon kit on with your order?

 

[CDW6212R]

I got a reply from Dixon Bros about the cross member inquiry.

All I got in the response pertinent to my set up is that, it will be a direct bolt on to the stock LCA. No explanation of why or how this will help me. I am thinking they are just busy, and don't have time to explain everything. At least I hope that's the case.

I wish I had the capabilities to make a version of this crossmember, but alas, I do not. I will just order one and bolt it up.

If it helps anyone here that has been a part of this Mod discussion, I have not seen anyone that had done something about this here, (at least that I have seen) and I really haven't heard anybody complaining about their coil overs and the LCA. So for someone like myself, this is uncharted waters. I have thought about this, and have to say that this part of the mod has been settled for now.

Lets just give it some time after the crossmember is on, I get to wheel it a bit, and pay attention to how the LCA acts in real world arenas.

Fair enough?

Your truck and all others with no torsion bars will be absolutely fine in all normal driving conditions. The torsion bars do nothing except add a twist force(bar twisting) to the front of the LCA. They hold the truck up, and that's all they do.

You are wise to be concerned about off road use though. The issue for that has nothing to do with the torsion bars. You have lift brackets, which lower the suspension farther from the frame. The forces from off roading when you impact things that try to push the tires forward or backward, those are critical. You should watch how the front/back forces will try to push the whole suspension forward or backward. That's a twisting force as you look at the tire from the side. As the lift brackets move the LCA's down more, there is less to support them from moving forward or backward. The lift brackets may be triangulated side to side already, but clearly they have nothing front to back triangulated to the frame. That's what I thought this recent discussion was about.

 

[gmanpaint]

I think part of the confusion is stemmed from some thinking this rig has a drop bracket lift, which it does not. The IFS is still in stock form.

This is how I see it, and I could be wrong, but none the less......

The kickers bolted to the old T-bar mount location, and then mounted to the crossmember drop bracket offers rear force support. Now I have seen a rig in person who has the drop bracket lift, and no kickers. The PLOW (drop crossmember), was forced back and out of vertical alignment (leaning to the rear) from being smashed into rocks. I do see how these will help that set up.

Since I don't have that type of lift, the stock cross member being one with the frame itself is stronger. So no worries there. No need for kickers.

Now the LCA is a different matter altogether. The T-bars hold the LCA square (front hole, rear bracket) and in alignment, and all the bushings have forced on them is vertical direction.

Remove the T-bars, and the LCA can now be forced horizontal from front to back & vise verse. The crossmember from Dixon Bros. will hold the LCA square and save my bushings, more than without.

I am being careful, and I am thinking this though. This is not a cheap mod for me, and I want it right, and safe at the same time.

 

[Scott B.]

...Remove the T-bars, and the LCA can now be forced horizontal from front to back & vise verse. The crossmember from Dixon Bros. will hold the LCA square and save my bushings, more than without.
...

Not to stir the pot, but...

The torsion bars do not keep the LCA from moving fore and aft - they are attached to the LCAs via a slip connection. The frame rails keep the LCA positioned properly.

That being said, the ears on the frame that the LCA mount to have been know to flex and/or bend (they could be stronger.) Drop brackets act like a lever arm on the ears, multiplying the force acting on the ears, causing them to flex/bend or fail. The kicker is designed to counter act this multiplied force.

The Dixon Bros. bracket is designed to assist the frame in not spreading apart. If the front suspension is unloaded then loaded quickly (the truck is jumped, for instance,) as the suspension is loaded (landing) the tendency is, as the tires are pushed upward against the torsion bars or springs, instead of the springs flexing/compressing, the front suspension assembly (upper A-arm, knuckle, lower A-arm) tends to rotate upward and inward as a unit, twisting the frame rails, pushing the upper a-arms inward (toward the engine) and the LCAs outward.

Notice the engine cross brace on desert race trucks - it prevents the coil towers from twisting.

 

[gmanpaint]

Not to stir the pot, but...

The torsion bars do not keep the LCA from moving fore and aft - they are attached to the LCAs via a slip connection. The frame rails keep the LCA positioned properly.

That being said, the ears on the frame that the LCA mount to have been know to flex and/or bend (they could be stronger.) Drop brackets act like a lever arm on the ears, multiplying the force acting on the ears, causing them to flex/bend or fail. The kicker is designed to counter act this multiplied force.

The Dixon Bros. bracket is designed to assist the frame in not spreading apart. If the front suspension is unloaded then loaded quickly (the truck is jumped, for instance,) as the suspension is loaded (landing) the tendency is, as the tires are pushed upward against the torsion bars or springs, instead of the springs flexing/compressing, the front suspension assembly (upper A-arm, knuckle, lower A-arm) tends to rotate upward and inward as a unit, twisting the frame rails, pushing the upper a-arms inward (toward the engine) and the LCAs outward.

Notice the engine cross brace on desert race trucks - it prevents the coil towers from twisting.

Scott, I understand completely what you are saying. But I believe the the T-bars do offer support from the front of the LCA from being forced outward, (I said to & fro), but that is it, nothing more. Jumping is not going to happen for me, but shoving them back will while climbing.

I also understand about shock hoops and what they do. But again, that is a different style of Off road that the hoops are called for. All I am after is keeping my LCA and the tabs in alignment while crawling over obstacles.

 

[Scott B.]

I know you are not going to jump your truck, I was just using that as an example.

I like the Dixon Bros piece - I am planning on putting one on my '06.

 

[gmanpaint]

Its all good Scott. One day I will be armed with more knowledge and will be able to explain things more concise. I am trying my best to convey my thoughts here in a manner that is "Generic".

Until the next mod............Vine Vidi Viche!

 

[CDW6212R]

I think part of the confusion is stemmed from some thinking this rig has a drop bracket lift, which it does not. The IFS is still in stock form....

Ah, I thought the one pictured above was yours. You have more strength of the frame at the moment then.

The LCA does have friction on the torsion bars trying to hold them front/rear. But that is just friction, the kind of force that would bend the frame crossover, or the LCA, that would first push the torsion bar forward out through the LCA. The rear parts(key etc), don't offer any real resistance from that large kind of impact.

I agree you guys should consider adding a structural piece to the cross member where the LCA mounts front/back. I'd see about adding a 5-10 pound piece of frame strong steel at all four corners, making a triangle to the frame for each. I think there is nothing there in the way. But at this point isn't the solid front diff and leaf springs the usual way people go?

 

[gmanpaint]

But at this point isn't the solid front diff and leaf springs the usual way people go?

Most do go SAS when they get to a certain point where they can't take the IFS any farther.

But this rig isn't going that direction, it is staying IFS. Now I know this isn't the most popular thing to do amongst off road folk, but I really like the IFS for a few reasons. I have said from the beginning, this rig will not become a full time off road vehicle, but it will be a darn good capable wheeler.

This rig is nothing but a weekend warrior, and come Monday, it is back to being a grocery getter. :

SAS = 1st gen with a stronger frame in my book. Oh, there happens to be one sitting next to the Black Hole...Hmmm....

 

[CDW6212R]

Very good, that's the way I go usually, the normal path until I see one I like for myself.

I've seen the two frames along side each other without bodies. They are not appreciably different in strength. The suspension in front makes them far different, but you can box the frame of each and achieve the same thing. Keep at it.

 

[gmanpaint]

I agree on the boxing of the frames. The 2nd gen has the crumple zone in the front, and some plating welded to the rails should take care of that. I "think" I have read that the 1st gen frame is thicker and is boxed front and back already.

 

[crazyflights]

1st gen is not boxed in rear, and not boxed as much in front as 2nd Gen, But I think the frame itself is thicker, the 2nd Gens are boxed in front but only like 1/8.

1st gens are way easier to deal with steering for a SAS also.

 

[CDW6212R]

...
1st gens are way easier to deal with steering for a SAS also.

That's a great point, the 1st gens have the stronger steering box mounting already on the frame. I gather that's the same old style that is still in NASCAR today.