Tom's '97 XLT registry

[MidnightRebel07]

I think you and especially your kids will love the SAS and the new adventures you'll be able to do. Whole new world of wheelin' man. Can't wait to see the build and the trail run pic's and videos to follow.

 

[2TimingTom]

In the opening post of this registry, I originally said:

Here's my registry. It's not going to really serve as much of a build log or anything, just to help keep track of the (minor) things I do to it along the way.

Yeah...... about that.......

It's not quite road worthy, but it won't be long.

What was changed:
Trussed and gussetted Dana 30
4.56 gears with Truetracs front and rear
SOA using 63" Chevy leaf springs
Solid Axle diff covers front and rear
1354 transfer case swap
F-150 steering box
Long travel Rancho shocks and custom long arms
XJ 5.5 coil springs

It's still on 33s but that will change at some point. I've got a few other projects to work on before I do those.

 

[Starkman]

Looks good!!!

Minor mods? That's how it always starts...

 

[Kazer]

Looks like the SFF Customs barn

 

[2TimingTom]

Good eye.

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Nice, Just in time for summer wheelin' and camping. I'm stating back to work tomorrow so hopefully I can start funding my SAS build again.

 

[2TimingTom]

4/30/2014

SAS, SOA, TrueTracs front and rear, long travel shocks, trussed and gussetted Dana 30, 1354 is finally complete.

It works VERY well offroad now. I climbed a section in The Gulches with no drama at all that I would have never been able to climb up before- way too much flex for IFS with open diffs.

Before:

This was as far as I could drive up this berm before the open diffs reared their ugly heads.

This is after:

And I could have gone further.

Link for those of us on iPads:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWraJt4YIik&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[delexploder]

Thats awesome, love your rig and how you use it, cant wait to see what comes next

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Awesome suspension flex, I'm thinking next time Luke wheels with you he's gonna be jealous and finally want to go SAS.

 

[2TimingTom]

Yeah, maybe. It's not cheap though!

Josh did mention that he was going to build the 4door Ex he has just like it. It's like a '98 or so. It has a manual transmission, I believe manual transfer case, 4.88 gears. Once he's done, he's going to sell it. No idea on the timetable and I won't mention the price he said (in case it changes) but it was a good price for a turn key trail rig that will go just about anywhere.

 

[Error404]

nice ex! What year F150 did the steering box come from?

 

[2TimingTom]

A '93 4x4 F150.

 

[Error404]

Could you post up some pics of the radius arm setup and coil setup? Looks like older f150/bronco buckets and f250 shock towers?

 

[2TimingTom]

I'll post up some detailed pics this weekend if the front and rear.

New toys installed to solve my horrible storage situation:

 

[theluke19]

Dang, nice!! Those will definitely come in handy!

 

[2TimingTom]

I hope so. I hated my previous storage setup. While on the trail loaded with camping gear, I had to unpack a bunch of stuff just to get anything out.

But speaking of which, do you want my old black Plano box? The nice thing about it was that you could strap it down and still open the lid.

 

[JuBean]

Looks like a slinky!

 

[2TimingTom]

Loaded up the right drawer with tools, recovery gear, tire chains and the like. The left drawer is still pretty empty. I'm thinking my stove, fuel cans for the stove, pots/pans/plates/silverware and stuff like that.

I also added a shifter boot for the manual transfer case:

It's not what I had planned from the get-go, but it'll work. That's one of the nice things about wheeling an older vehicle. It should keep exhaust noise and maybe some heat and water out.

 

[rabbit91]

 

[2TimingTom]