albator
Active Member
- Joined
- January 14, 2020
- Messages
- 61
- Reaction score
- 7
- City, State
- Bonny Doon, CA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1999 Mercury Mountaineer
Here's a funny story about how I got 3 truck in 3 weeks:
It all started around Thanksgiving, my neighbor offered me his broken 1986 Bronco 2, if I can pull it out of a ravine. I love challenges, and I was looking at getting a side-x-side, so the lifted Bronco 2 and its short wheelbase was appealing. 2.9L fuel injected, manual gearbox and 4x4.
That was part 1, bringing "Broncosaurus" to my driveway. See attached picture, it's a project, broken axles, no seat, mice and rats, etc..
Next, I thought I'd buy a broken Explorer for parts, but first I would go check out a working Explorer just to see and learn. I looked for the closest ad on Craigslist, a few miles away. Seller had been trying to sell it for a month, without success (probably because of the missing "Explorer" keyword; he had listed it only as "Mountaineer"). Seller had given up and was going to donate it to NPR when I contacted him. He sold it to me for a very low price, and even delivered it to my driveway. This is "Forest", a 1999 Mercury Mountaineer.
Next, on Xmas day, I decided to convert "Forest" into a camper, because it's too perfect to be dismantled for parts. I cut a king size mattress to 51" width, to have a 84" long bed (I'm a giraffe). Cutting and rebuilding a spring mattress is quite a project. I will travel with my dog, so I removed all seats and seat belts, except the driver side. I removed the carpet and all trim to pressure wash 20 years of dirt and dust. Complete tear down and wash.
Next, because I still needed parts to repair "Broncosaurus", I bought a broken Explorer for cheap, and towed it back home. That's "Goldie", a 1998 Ford Explorer XLT. Goldie was used as a dog house, terrible stink and dog hair everywhere. Here comes the pressure washer!
I had planned on using Goldie as a training ground and to get parts, but I wonder if I should "ditch" Broncosaurus (pun intended) and build Goldie instead?
Goldie has a title and looks OK, low rust. Broncosaurus looks like it comes from Mad Max, the floor is rusted, etc.. but the 2.9 runs, while I haven't been able to start Goldie yet (no fuel pressure).
Yep, 3 new vehicles in 3 weeks, my driveway looks very different...
It all started around Thanksgiving, my neighbor offered me his broken 1986 Bronco 2, if I can pull it out of a ravine. I love challenges, and I was looking at getting a side-x-side, so the lifted Bronco 2 and its short wheelbase was appealing. 2.9L fuel injected, manual gearbox and 4x4.
That was part 1, bringing "Broncosaurus" to my driveway. See attached picture, it's a project, broken axles, no seat, mice and rats, etc..
Next, I thought I'd buy a broken Explorer for parts, but first I would go check out a working Explorer just to see and learn. I looked for the closest ad on Craigslist, a few miles away. Seller had been trying to sell it for a month, without success (probably because of the missing "Explorer" keyword; he had listed it only as "Mountaineer"). Seller had given up and was going to donate it to NPR when I contacted him. He sold it to me for a very low price, and even delivered it to my driveway. This is "Forest", a 1999 Mercury Mountaineer.
Next, on Xmas day, I decided to convert "Forest" into a camper, because it's too perfect to be dismantled for parts. I cut a king size mattress to 51" width, to have a 84" long bed (I'm a giraffe). Cutting and rebuilding a spring mattress is quite a project. I will travel with my dog, so I removed all seats and seat belts, except the driver side. I removed the carpet and all trim to pressure wash 20 years of dirt and dust. Complete tear down and wash.
Next, because I still needed parts to repair "Broncosaurus", I bought a broken Explorer for cheap, and towed it back home. That's "Goldie", a 1998 Ford Explorer XLT. Goldie was used as a dog house, terrible stink and dog hair everywhere. Here comes the pressure washer!
I had planned on using Goldie as a training ground and to get parts, but I wonder if I should "ditch" Broncosaurus (pun intended) and build Goldie instead?
Goldie has a title and looks OK, low rust. Broncosaurus looks like it comes from Mad Max, the floor is rusted, etc.. but the 2.9 runs, while I haven't been able to start Goldie yet (no fuel pressure).
Yep, 3 new vehicles in 3 weeks, my driveway looks very different...
