Tim's '93 Sport

[timtimtimajim]

Finished up my gas can mount today!

In other news the Explorer will soon be retired from daily driver duties and will now be solely a recreational and project vehicle. I’ll still drive it on occasion though. Gas is just really expensive and the oil leak is awful. My search for a fuel efficient daily is in full force. Looking at getting either a Focus ST or Fiesta ST

 

[kmack]

That gas can holder turned out pretty good!
Question: Have you noticed any deflection of your bumper with the tire carrier extended out? Or do you have it beefed up on the underside (I don't remember seeing anything)? Just wondering...

RE: the car you will be cheating on your Ex with...
I like the Focus. We have a '11 Focus SES. That little 16V motor is a little pocket-rocket! Just turned 90k miles and it still gives 26+ mpg in the city. We did a 12-day, 8-state vacation with it a few years back. 3400 miles at pretty much 80 mph most of the way returned an average of almost 35 mpg! IMO, the Fiesta is too small. Just my $.02

 

[timtimtimajim]

There’s really not much deflection at all! I did beef up the inside of the bumper with a piece of 3/16” wall 1x2 square tubing. Modified the factory brackets and welded them to the tube. Had to modify the end of the frame a bit as well for the tube to fit.

Though at some point this will all change as I’m planning custom bumpers down the road.

Hahaha you’re right I’ll be cheating on the Explorer

Yah I like the Focus too. My parents have a 2014 Focus Titanium and it’s a good little car, minus all the problems with that damn Powershift transmission. It’s my mom’s daily and it’s used as a road trip car as well.

The Fiesta is a bit small I agree. Surprisingly I fit in it (I’m 6’3” about 200 pounds). But with that being said and looking solely at ST models, the Fiesta is a bit cheaper and easier for me to get my hands on. Plus you know 35 mpg in a car with a little turbo engine is pretty good. And I also really can’t own anything without modifying it, so that’s the reason for an ST

 

[WormsExplorer]

That looks good. I like how it turned out.

Question, Does your Spare sage a little? I have seen a lot of Jeeps that have a tire carrier and they Spare sags a bit or Bounces a little. Just wondering. I really like how it looks though.

 

[roscoe 0202]

thanks for the info on the gas cans
roscoe

 

[timtimtimajim]

That looks good. I like how it turned out.

Question, Does your Spare sage a little? I have seen a lot of Jeeps that have a tire carrier and they Spare sags a bit or Bounces a little. Just wondering. I really like how it looks though.

Thanks!

Yah I believe it does sag a little. It looks that way when I put the tire on anyway. It also does bounce a bit, but I think they’re both just characteristics of the way it’s designed.

I have a couple ideas for when I get around to building a new one to remedy this.

thanks for the info on the gas cans
roscoe

No problem!

 

[timtimtimajim]

Just a quick update. I purchased a new daily driver yesterday! Not going to say what it is quite yet as the one I purchased is still on the train about two weeks out. All I am going to say is that it’s not EXACTLY like what I initially wanted to get. But got a really good deal on it, so really couldn’t pass it up.

So as soon as it gets here you guys will get to see it. This new daily is also going to allow me to take care of more projects on the Explorer since it won’t need to be driven all the time.

 

[timtimtimajim]

FINALLY! It’s here! My new daily driver is here!

Ended up getting a Fiesta SE hatch with the 5 speed. So I can at least pretend I own an ST

 

[WormsExplorer]

Are you going to be ok getting in and out of that? I mean you had the explorer for so long LOL

 

[timtimtimajim]

Lmao I’ve been doing okay so far! This whole sitting down into the car versus climbing up is tough... especially with my size and weak knee lol

So far I’m happy with it though. It’s not fancy, which is fine. Means I have more money for projects on the Explorer

 

[WormsExplorer]

There you go sir. Up for a little playing on the 18th of August? Me and Family are planning to head to Rainbow falls for my Explorer shake down / Birthday Play time. Yes Planning to head to Mini Moab.

 

[timtimtimajim]

Yah I’d be down for that! Especially since it’s Rainbow Falls. Haven’t been out since the beginning of June.

 

[timtimtimajim]

Finished building my second Explorer today

 

[WormsExplorer]

I am jealous sir. Where did you find that?

 

[timtimtimajim]

I bought it off of someone here off the forum. Can’t remeber his name now, but he was the same one I bought my 91-92 Sport fender flares from. He just happened to have the model that looked like mine and asked if I wanted it. Couldn’t say no to that!

 

[WormsExplorer]

I would not say no either LOL

 

[timtimtimajim]

So I did some checking on the Explorer’s engine today since I had a chance. Found that cylinder number six is showing signs of a head gasket leak. It’s not major right now, but it is just the beginning. This adds to the list of things that are wrong with the engine.

Here’s the list in case anyone is curious

- Leaking oil pan gasket (15+ years old but gotten worse)
- Leaking rear main seal
- lifter tick has gotten worse
- valve train rattle (gets worse when under slight load)
- no power for even the slightest hills
- runs hot when under little load
- moisture in the exhaust all the time
- early signs of head gasket leak

I would think about just throwing new head gaskets on, but there’s a long enough list of other things that it makes more sense to start collecting parts to rebuild the whole engine. And not just rebuild but also upgrade for better performance. Which I’m not going to give away my plans just yet for upgrades

This isn’t going to stop me from taking the Explorer out to some of the local trails here. However it will stop me from going to anything far away.

 

[timtimtimajim]

The Explorer is 25 years old today!

 

[WormsExplorer]

The Explorer is 25 years old today!
View attachment 161344

Happy birthday.

 

[timtimtimajim]

Really haven't done much to the Explorer lately. Just planning and saving for the engine...

Hoping I can get it out on some trails soon, I'm dying to over here

I did take some family photos though