ZWilson07
Elite Cowboy
- Joined
- July 24, 2009
- Messages
- 569
- Reaction score
- 8
- City, State
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2000 Ford Explorer
Well guys I have finally decided that I would post up about this one. I am usually not one to post up build threads, especially long term ones, but I figured why not finally do one.
I have been wanting to do this one for awhile now, especially ever since I got rid of my 2006 White Ford Ranger. I have quite the soft spot for white Ford vehicles especially a 4x4 that I have a lot of previous experience with and shares a ton of parts from my Ranger as well.
I am hoping progress will not be to slow, but I am also just trying to enjoy this though and not let it turn into a burden like they often times can.
To start its on my 2000 Ford Explorer XLT 5.0 AWD.
I picked it up from a family member with 200,000 on the clock and needing a lot of love. Immediate plans are to put in a used lower mile 5.0 as I really want to make this nice and do some overland trips with this. I am not one to just go out in the middle of nowhere for weeks and months, but I do want to make it somewhat capable. 31s or 32s will be about the biggest it sees for the time being as I still want to be able to daily drive it and keep the ease n comfort of everything. With my Ranger, it seemed like once I went up to 33s and bigger, it just really started to take away from the stock drivability and normal usefulness of the vehicle so I am hoping to find the perfect middle ground between it all. As well as newer interior to make it feel like an updated vehicle.
Some of the photos will just be for other's enjoyment, others will be to help guide through where maybe some haven't been before, and other pictures to help me keep track of everything. Like many of you, a lot of times when you are working especially with big projects, we tend to work and not stop to take to a lot of pictures but I will try my best.
To start, this is kind of what I am working with.
Yes I realize that the floor of my garage is in fact thick wood. It has been really cold here in KY so it has not really warmed up to where I can have my concrete floor done as well as the fact that it is going to cost me a few grand to have it done. Having the wood over the dense grade does still let me work about as good as having a concrete floor for what I am doing and it is certainly better than having no garage.
Normally I actually have carpet down over the wood to where you cant even see it but I was cleaning it and letting it dry out this past weekend with the warm temperatures finally starting to come back in along with some spring cleaning of the garage and tools. Sorry I didn't get better pictures but I already put the explorer in, pulled the interior and battery, etc before getting pictures of it outside.
First things to note were broken fog lights up front.
Broken passenger mirror
Broken negative battery clamp, serp belt hanging off, numerous exhaust and vacuum leaks, etc.
Among these I also had some gauge cluster backlighting out, oil pressure gauge pointer spun around the opposite way, and uninstall aftermarket stereo setup to go back to stock. I personally like the clean look of stock radio setups and this also will allow me to pull the seats, carpet, etc to clean or replace.
To be continued.
I have been wanting to do this one for awhile now, especially ever since I got rid of my 2006 White Ford Ranger. I have quite the soft spot for white Ford vehicles especially a 4x4 that I have a lot of previous experience with and shares a ton of parts from my Ranger as well.
I am hoping progress will not be to slow, but I am also just trying to enjoy this though and not let it turn into a burden like they often times can.
To start its on my 2000 Ford Explorer XLT 5.0 AWD.
I picked it up from a family member with 200,000 on the clock and needing a lot of love. Immediate plans are to put in a used lower mile 5.0 as I really want to make this nice and do some overland trips with this. I am not one to just go out in the middle of nowhere for weeks and months, but I do want to make it somewhat capable. 31s or 32s will be about the biggest it sees for the time being as I still want to be able to daily drive it and keep the ease n comfort of everything. With my Ranger, it seemed like once I went up to 33s and bigger, it just really started to take away from the stock drivability and normal usefulness of the vehicle so I am hoping to find the perfect middle ground between it all. As well as newer interior to make it feel like an updated vehicle.
Some of the photos will just be for other's enjoyment, others will be to help guide through where maybe some haven't been before, and other pictures to help me keep track of everything. Like many of you, a lot of times when you are working especially with big projects, we tend to work and not stop to take to a lot of pictures but I will try my best.
To start, this is kind of what I am working with.
Yes I realize that the floor of my garage is in fact thick wood. It has been really cold here in KY so it has not really warmed up to where I can have my concrete floor done as well as the fact that it is going to cost me a few grand to have it done. Having the wood over the dense grade does still let me work about as good as having a concrete floor for what I am doing and it is certainly better than having no garage.
Normally I actually have carpet down over the wood to where you cant even see it but I was cleaning it and letting it dry out this past weekend with the warm temperatures finally starting to come back in along with some spring cleaning of the garage and tools. Sorry I didn't get better pictures but I already put the explorer in, pulled the interior and battery, etc before getting pictures of it outside.
First things to note were broken fog lights up front.
Broken passenger mirror
Broken negative battery clamp, serp belt hanging off, numerous exhaust and vacuum leaks, etc.
Among these I also had some gauge cluster backlighting out, oil pressure gauge pointer spun around the opposite way, and uninstall aftermarket stereo setup to go back to stock. I personally like the clean look of stock radio setups and this also will allow me to pull the seats, carpet, etc to clean or replace.
To be continued.