Completed Project Turboexplorer's Full Width SAS Build Thread

[turboexplorer]

One of the climbs on Cliff Hanger. Fairly close to the start of the trail. I have video of this climb. Was awesome in the truck, and the truck did great. For anyone that has wheeled hard you know how much more vertical you feel in the truck than it looks in pictures or videos.

 

[turboexplorer]

Some cliff views towards the end of Cliff Hanger.

 

[turboexplorer]

Scoping out the last obstacle on the trail. This one was fun, the wife however didn't like it one bit. There is a 4' ish drop off right there and when there is that cliff on the side it makes it a bit more intimidating. But the truck did great with no pucker factor.

Now on these pictures look far to the left and you can see the truck coming down off that ledge. Was great and i have GoPro video on the side of the truck of it going up and down this ledge.

Great pictures but the forum limits me to 800 width so they are small but still look good none the less.

 

[turboexplorer]

Another pic of after the truck just came off that ledge.

And then the group picture. There was me and a RAZR-S and then everyone else mountain biked the trail.

 

[sector9]

You Sir need to update your signature!! I believe the SAS swap is done!

 

[turboexplorer]

Very true. Ill do that.

And you sir need to hurry and get some cash so we can start your X project!

 

[GRNMACHINE]

Very Very cool, awesome pics too!!!

 

[adamsbro2]

Bad Ass man! I know you moved up north in Utah but what city?

 

[turboexplorer]

I am currently living in Cottonwood Heights. So I-215 and Fort Union Blvd area.

 

[adamsbro2]

Man we got to get together I'm in layton. We have started a little Utah explorer group on Facebook you should join us and hopefully we can all get out sometime!

 

[turboexplorer]

Sounds good ill look it up. Would like to go wheelin with more members.

 

[sector9]

Link that Facebook group. It would be sweet to get a utah group going.

 

[turboexplorer]

Alright I didn't have much time but I put the quick videos we made on Poison Spider together and put it on youtube. I really really liked this trial its one I will do many many times in the future. Anyways I didn't have the GoPro on it so all these are fairly low quality, (not near as bad as a lot I have seen on here) But they still look good none the less. Click on it to go to the 720P video. But really its only from my camera so it does okay. Enjoy and post up if you have any thoughts on it!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd2yzYlyFLw

 

[turboexplorer]

So I have had a small oozy coolant leak from between the timing cover and the block for a few years. Never fixed it because you need to pull the oil pan to do it right. The factory IFS crossmember is in the way. So now that its not there I decided, heck ill do it now. So it all went well and much easier with it taller, I can sit under the truck and work on it now!

Anyways got it all apart and the chain is a hair loose. Not bad or like its going to slip a tooth or anything but just 112k loose. So I wasn't concerned about it before thought hey of it needs one I would just run to ford real quick. But as luck would have it they don't stock a timing chain for a 5.0L. What the crap. O well it's on order and will be here on Thursday so ill get it back together this coming Saturday. But really happy oil pan chain sprockets crank rods bottoms of pistons etc all look fantastic. Very clean and smooth. No noticeable poor wear anywhere or anything. Looks great! So ill get the new chain and get it thrown back together and ready for the snow to fall! Can't wait!

 

[turboexplorer]

Got the new timing chain on and it was really tight. Glad I decided to get a new OE chain for it while I was in there. I think the truck when at low revs does feel a bit more responsive, when you snap the throttle its very very quick to respond. Makes me very happy. I got the timing cover all cleaned a new front main seal in. Then instead of cleaning the water pump I just went to Napa and exchanged it for a new one Lifetime free replacement so yup I just went and got a shiny new one. So got the timing cover and water pump on all hoes connected then put the oil pan on and man that sucked bad. The gasket would be very very easy to install when the engine is out and the engine is upside down on a stand but trying to put it up with the oil pan proved to be difficult but I got her done. I also did a huge deep deep clean of the pan and the timing cover so all was perfect shiny new aluminum look! Well worth my time. So everything is back together and the truck is now back at home and I'm ready for the snow to fall!!!!!!! I Love Snow wheeling and can't wait to trudge through 3-4 feet of snow. You should see some awesome stuck pictures to come!

 

[turboexplorer]

Here is a quick video from that Moab trip that we did awhile back. This is one of the climbs on cliffhanger. Completely optional and my buddy who is there almost monthly said he has seen several rigs roll here. In this video you can see the 12" ledge on the left. If the left front falls off it while under hard throttle it's a very easy spot to roll. Anyways here is the view from the right side of the X.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESrJpmsAF7Y&feature=youtu.be

 

[98'Exploder]

I was just Saving up money for this same concept, just happend to come cross this thread. might be borrowing some ideas but i have couple changes hear and there i have to make since im in Florida and we dont have rocks to climb we have swamps, beaches, and BackWoods

 

[98'Exploder]

I have a Question turboexplorer Why did you go with a Single Piston Caliper vs a Twin Piston Caliper?
Wont the Twin piston caliper have a wider range on the pad to stop more efficiently with more stopping power...plus with the twin piston caliper the diameter of the Rotor is not limited to the diameter of the piston like on the single piston.

 

[turboexplorer]

As far as I know there is no twin piston caliper for a 70's F-150 axle. Plus the bigger diameter piston off the T-Bird does fantastic. With the big twin diaphragm brake booster on the 5.0L the truck can stop much better than it ever could stock. Believe it or not the truck is even a little bit better to drive in rush hour. Stops great and with you being able to see so much farther you can see whats coming. I have absolutely no problems with braking and wouldn't change anything. My wife drives it more than I do with our daughter and she feels very comfortable driving the truck in traffic, on the freeway, parking etc. For off the shelf calipers its perfect. And that's with running 37's to.

 

[98'Exploder]

oh yeah duhhh, idk what i was thinking dual pistons werent til late 80s but yeah Awesome built i wish i could just have you do all the work for me but i know its gnna be just me and couple buds. this week im hitting up a few junkyards to find me some good axles to tear up.... wish me luck. i need to just hit the lottery so i can afford all the parts i need, this is gnna take me awhile...