"TURDLE" or " How to mess up a perfectly good truck" | Page 20 | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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"TURDLE" or " How to mess up a perfectly good truck"

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Well, it is about time I do this
This is our 1998 Mountaineer.
We acquired it in late 2000, with 29 k on the odometer. Previously it prowled the Oklahoma turnpike as an unmarked police cruiser.

I would say it was about June-2001, when the initial madness set in, and I became obsessed with changing the looks.
I found Explorer Express, Where I scored the x-spec suspension.
After talking with John V., I learned of the Apten group buy here, and the rest is as they say, history.
In June of 2002, I acquired an exhaust leak. Being the expert I thought I was, I bought a header gasket set, went to fix it.
Well, in my thinking I didn't have the front bolt tight enough, I snapped it off into the head---ooops.
After pouting about this for awhile, I decided to really get into this site for answers.
The result--



347 cubic inch, stroked and bored engine


FMS sportsman block-bored .030 over and machined for stroke
Billet crankshaft with chev rod journals
H-beam ultra light rods
Probe PRS forged pistons -9cc dish ( slightly over 10:1 compression)
Melling stock volume oil pump
Edelbrock performer efi heads 2.02 intake, 1.60 ex valve 58cc chambers
Crane's roller lifters--billet aluminum lifter guides
Crane's roller rockers
comp cams pushrods
Cloyes true billet double timing set.
FMS X-303 camshaft, advanced 4 degrees
Professional products Typhoon intake and EGR elbow, with 1" phenolic spacer
FMS 42 lb injectors
Aeromotive fuel rails, boost reference regulator ( currently set to 43 psi.)
Walbro 255LPH fuel pump--return style 3402
Lightning MAF
Torquemonster headers--stock exhaust with rear cats removed--magnaflow dula in single out-Hooker Aerochamber stacked right behind, 3" mandrel bent MAC tailpipe.
Art Carr 3000 RPM flash lockup converter ( 10 " billet housing)
Art Carr built valvebody kit
Amsoil fluids in all otherwise stock components. ( since I change my oil early and often, I use the least expensive synthetic oil. Usually Amsoil, but sometimes I will use Mobil 1)

AWD IS OUT!! 4406 4X4 IS IN!
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166726

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185203&highlight=turdle

UPDATE
As of 2-17-08
I mentioned the truck being a poilice cruiser in it's first life-
well, this caused a little "glitch"
While the PCM says it is a NRT1 box code, somewhere along the line a police code was flashed into the PCM.
My original paperwork shows a dealer service call for a PCM reflash right before the title was signed over. I am assuming the police tune was recovered, and a stock tune re loaded.
However,
they didn't mention they loaded it with a MC2O box code.
After 2 trials with the initial run tune, I actually read the box code with the XCAL2 and James deteremined This error.

Once this was figured out-the tuning was ON!!!

Baseline tuning is complete and all is well. I'm waiting on a new Innovate LM-1 wideband for WOT tuning.
Somehow mine took a dump,
I spent a whole day trying to figure it out. If it had been operating though it would have been a breeze.

James ( jah81592) is about the best help a guy could ask for in this area.

www.hensonperformance.com

UPDATE 2
Tuning complete-after a few WOT pulls to 6000 rpm's
James has not only achieved a great tune in my truck, but totally eliminated the surging issues I was experiencing.

UPDATE 3

Truck now lifted for trip to Colorado Gold mine trails--page8

Update 4
colorado trip completed-Imogene pass and Black bear pass have been driven in this truck
woo hoo!!
picture of black bear pass-

update 5
On Sept 19, 2008 Went to KCIR and ran a 14.8 @ 90mph---2.002 60 ft time
I was snoozing and did everything wrong. It has more in it.

Update 6

After drooling over Mountaineergreen's extensive suspension mod list for years-

With a feeling of guilt, for not doing the actual work myself, I have acquired his

4" superlift suspension lift,
410 gears
aussie locker in rear
disconnect front diff--- http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188359
double cardan front drive shaft ---http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185232

285-75-16" cooper discovery sst (33") tires

UPDATE 7

Exhaust Dumps installed 4-15-2009
These allow the exhaust to be opened right after the cats.









new pics as of 3-16 2009

HPIM4066.jpg


HPIM4067.jpg


attachment.php


attachment.php



update 8

Added another stock trans cooler beside original, installed hard lines and twin 10" cooling fans

fansbumper.jpg


They seemed to work just fine

DSCF2694.jpg


Update 9

Sliders installed!!!

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245321&highlight=sliders


stupidbracket.jpg


I used Smoked chrome powder coat on front and rear bumpers, sliders, and wheels make for a factory look match
Bumper pictures are before slider install-

bumperdonenoflash.jpg


attachment.php


Next up--Get rid of torsion bar drop brackets, and, the bars themselves.

I also have some mild white neon tube rock lights, some very bright 55w rock lights, and, 6 rock llight of death tubes ( to be shown later)

stay tuned!!

turdleflex.jpg
 



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That's what you get for being a gauge *****:D:D
 



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You mean, all this time. all you had to do was plug in Eric's scan gauge and find this out?

Dan has a point, too many gauges can make ya paranoid..:p:

They can also keep you from blowing stuff up. So ok Jon has been playing it safe this whole time, but most of the time I'd rather play it safe then blow up my motor.
 






They can also keep you from blowing stuff up. So ok Jon has been playing it safe this whole time, but most of the time I'd rather play it safe then blow up my motor.

But Jon's Mounty is down more than it runs so their more like decorations.:p:
 












Well
This little incident

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=251879

Has now made the Turdle A "salvage title" vehicle.

Which means no more full coverage insurance.

I should have a check no later than Monday. Repairs will commence then.

Ouray or bust. This will be interesting to say the least.
 












Salvage title!! who needs full coverage? Wreck it bad enough at this point = buy another body and frame and start wrenching

You would think that they would insure anything you build for as much as you want to insure it for... nope! my BII is "un-insurable" because of all the mods so I carry liability and didnt tell them about any mods, its a $1500 1988 BRONCO ii WITH 300k MILES! yeah sure it is......jerks
 






When it's 25 years old you can get collector's insurance on it, for any value you want. That's what I want, it's far cheaper too.
 






2009 - 1988 = 4 more years

come on 25 years! In CO it used to be 20 years... then right when I was at 19 years they changed it to 25 years... go figure I want classic plates :)
 






There was an interview on the Nashville network a while ago. It costs just a few hundred per year for a $30,000 musclecar for insurance. That was full coverage and unlimited mileage. I forgot the name and some details, but that stuck in my mind. I pay that much for my Mountaineer, and it's almost stock right now.
 






I have a strong disatisfaction for the torsion bars, and stupidlift drop brackets on our truck, so stay tuned.

You will never see them on it again

8-28-2009.jpg
 






Well.
I have learned a lot with this truck, and been places I would have never thought of going, until you guys showed me I could. It has done well, and always got us back home. I have been scared for my life in it, Comfy as a kitten in it and everything in between. Even the one time we were hung up real bad in a place I should never have been, it got us out without a tow. I do not remember ever being stuck in it.

However, we do not need, nor, can we afford to maintain 2 off road vehicles.
It has gotten to the point, next step of fun is not looking pretty here for the body.

Lately I have been doing a lot of thinking about this. Since we now have a " next level up" off road toy, the thought of lowering the mounty back down, and converting it to a 2wd towing truck has haunted me.

The last excursion out caused quite a bang up to the suspension drop box. If the frame survived, I may very well do a 2wd coil sprung front street truck with it.

We'll see.
 






Do it! :cool:
 












whats wrong with a 4wd street truck? at least you have 4wd when you need it and 2low is nice for pulling boats out of the water :)

You would have to change your transmission

whatever you decide I HEAR YOU!! Think it through....alot
 






whats wrong with a 4wd street truck? at least you have 4wd when you need it and 2low is nice for pulling boats out of the water :)

You would have to change your transmission

whatever you decide I HEAR YOU!! Think it through....alot

Well, I will not own a boat in the near future, I know this.

The only towing will be towing a 93 explorer on a trailer, and at that rate only 4, maybe 5 times in a year if we are fortunate.
I have to be honest with myself.
Although I really like the adventure, this off roading hurts me. I really shouldn't be doing it. I don't see how I do it. In fact, The last trip to Colorado still has me down for the count. I am just now getting back into this.

Stupid huh?
 






nope, addicting yes = OUCH

Let more air out oof your tires for a softer ride on your back!
Honestly Jon a 4 door explorer is not a good tow vehicle for another explorer, they are just too short and light for hauling a long car hauler IMO
Now that doesnt mean we dont do it, just some more to think about, talk to others here who have done it (gen 2 towing a Gen 1 on a trailer = risky)


A lowered truck rides even worse :)

Airbags!!!!!!!
 






nope, addicting yes = OUCH

Let more air out oof your tires for a softer ride on your back!
Honestly Jon a 4 door explorer is not a good tow vehicle for another explorer, they are just too short and light for hauling a long car hauler IMO
Now that doesnt mean we dont do it, just some more to think about, talk to others here who have done it (gen 2 towing a Gen 1 on a trailer = risky)


A lowered truck rides even worse :)

Airbags!!!!!!!

Hmmm

Looks like I need to trade it for toward a truck then. Something has to give here---
 



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It's sad to now read that this truck will be either gone or turning into a street truck again. it was pretty sweet as a street truck, but intimidating as a offroad truck. but hey as an side note, you can fulfill your quote of being bi-truxual. However i do see a point that with the addition of the 93 caged ex, a second one that does not have any ride quality is not practical.

Good luck with your decision and whatever the choice it was a great project to follow.

Justin :salute:
 






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