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Post number 3327 has been selected as best answered.

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. :D




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I am deff taking it in to a shop for the install. Gears and master kits are to much $$ to try to do it on my own. Going to purchase one thing at a time, until I have everything I need.
 



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Another Saturday and another post.

I have ran into a limiting factor this week. NO MONEY!! LOl.!!

Since the rear springs have started failing, (lost the lift arch) I replaced the war153 shackles. It is back to the height I like it at. When I get the fundage, the leafs will go back to the shop and a custom leaf will be added.

Measuring from center of axles to the fender lip, the height is:
Front--39"
Rear---40"

Height for the sliders are at 18"

The shock skid plates are on the way, they will raise the lower shock mounts 3".

I finally got the 10" brake line extension and the coupler for the rear line. Installing that tomorrow.

Applied the EF decal on the rear window, and 2 more small decals on the rear side glass.


Pics in a bit.
 






Edit: More Photobucket carnage....Sorry.

Trim & bumper paint to black
You can see the steel roof rack/light bars installed now.
War153 back on


:salute:
 






Another weekend and another update!

I ordered a set of custom Shock/u-bolt skids from Brian1 last week, and got around to installing them today. They are heavy duty 1/4" steel with shock mounts that raise the bottom of the shock by 3". No more hitting the shocks! I dont have to worry about ripping of my adjuster knob on the new Rancho's.:thumbsup:
Removed the sway bar as well. I got PB blaster all over everything in the process.
I had to take a break, so I took these pics and posted. Going back out in a few to finish up putting it all back together. The heat & humidity today is unbearable:(.
Shockskids1.jpg

Shockskids2.jpg

Shockskids3.jpg


installedleft.jpg

bothsidesinstalled.jpg


I wanted to see if i could use the rock sliders as a good place for the jack stands, they held perfect.
sliderholdingtruckup.jpg


Next thing I have on the list is a set of T-bars from a Sport Trac. Mine have the rubber pc attached to the keys on the bars, the newer ones don't have anything on them. Idea time!! Going to buy some silicone spatula's, cut off the ends, and place them on the keys, yeah baby!:D

More to come!
 






The heat & humidity today is unbearable:(.

yup you're right it did suck when i passed through there this weekend.:D Friday to be more specific
 






...Next thing I have on the list is a set of T-bars from a Sport Trac. Mine have the rubber pc attached to the keys on the bars, the newer ones don't have anything on them. Idea time!! Going to buy some silicone spatula's, cut off the ends, and place them on the keys, yeah baby!:D
...

If you are keeping the torsion bars, then why not replace the frame piece of your 95-97 part? Cut the frame pocket from a 98+ truck being parted out, and weld that on. The isolator piece that goes inside it is replaceable. Then you don't need the kevlar wear pad. It's looking good, keep at it.
 

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Nice work, looks great.
 






If you are keeping the torsion bars, then why not replace the frame piece of your 95-97 part? Cut the frame pocket from a 98+ truck being parted out, and weld that on. The isolator piece that goes inside it is replaceable. Then you don't need the kevlar wear pad. It's looking good, keep at it.
That sounds good, but this rig is not going to be a full time off road rig.

Doing things as I can afford them, (which is never), but I don't think I have done too bad in the time I have owned this rig. I never wanted a full time off road rig with this EX, just like 50/50, as I want to take this rig on road trips. I think I have accomplished that already, just making it a little better here and there.

A full time crawler will most likely happen in the future. It will most likely be a 1st gen, and since I own a 94 XLT already, it might happen to it sooner than later.
 






Looking good!
 






I suggested the frame modification to get rid of the kevlar padded keys. You have to replace them when they wear out, which actually isn't that bad to do. The later keys are maybe $100 for a pair, I don't know what the 95-97 keys would cost.
 






I suggested the frame modification to get rid of the kevlar padded keys. You have to replace them when they wear out, which actually isn't that bad to do. The later keys are maybe $100 for a pair, I don't know what the 95-97 keys would cost.

Thanks for the tip Don. Since I am replacing them with a free set of T-bars, I am going to try a homemade idea first. If it works, thats the end of it, if it dont, I would probably get new keys with the pads on them already. Welding is like doing plumbing in the house to me...cant do it, dont want to do it, and I avoid it like the plague. LOL..

If I need something welded, I am at the mercy of a welding shop, a welder moonlighting, or a friend that can do it for me.
 






That's why I've never mentioned it before, I would have to have it done for me. I have a cheap small welder, but I'm a very green novice. I'd need to practice to work my way up to poor.
 






I can weld a little. But that doesnt help you any. Maybe someday you can do a SAS?
 






SAS & SOA......Someday! That would mean 35's or bigger. That will be costly.

Thinking of playing the daily pick 4 lottery, and saving $2 a day as well. LOL.! Could have the $$ in about 3 yrs, or less if I hit the lottery.
 






How is the gear situation going? Will you have them in by CO? :D
 












Awesome great to hear. Bring'em to humbolt when I get the bumper coated and we'll put'em in. (Probably should ask Turdle first). But If we had a weekend, and a place to do it. I got the tools and have done a few (5 or so).

But the drive home would suck 45 or slower. 10 min cool down... 10 min cool down... 20 min cool down and so on for 500 miles (that is how long it takes to break them in)

Good Luck w/ everything and I hope to see some 4.56's in CO :D
 






Never heard of rear end gears requiring a break in...
 






Well, dang!

How long can I drive on them b/4 having to let them cool off?

Sounds like an awesome idea, and would save me some much needed cash towards the CCR trip, but...That would be up to Jon and you. I wouldnt mind the trip home if I could at least drive an hour at a time. Side roads all the way home from Jon's :).
 



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1. Insure that the axle has been filled to the correct level with proper hypoid lubricant before driving the vehicle.
2. Bring the axle to normal operating temperature by driving the vehicle (unloaded) for approximately 15 to 20 miles. Do not run full throttle accelerations or create any shock loads.
3. Let the axle assembly cool completely.
4. For the next 200 miles of operation, drive gently, without any heavy loads.
5. If trailer towing is intended, an additional cycle of 200 to 300 miles of break-in is required without the trailer. To properly break-in a new gear set, a minimum of 500 miles of driving is essential before towing.
 






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