Here are a few shots of my Explorer, both when my fiancee gave it to me as a project back in July and a few leading up to the current state. It's been a fun ride and it's about to get a whole lot bigger- I recently picked up a kingpin Dana 60 out of a 1988 F350, which will get rebuilt with 5.13 gears and an ARB locker. The rear will most likely get a Dana 70 or a Sterling 10.25 with welded spider gears. In addition, a buddy recently took his trail rig to 42" tires, so I'm getting his barely-used 38.50s- a pair of boggers for the rear and a pair of SXs for the front, since boggers suck at steering.
Bone stock...
A little lift, 34x10.50s, and lots of trimming...
Took it on a few trail rides... the very first ride resulted in frying the A4LD, at which point I jumped at an opportunity to convert it to a manual transmission (lots more work than I expected...)
Bent up the front bumper on a sloppy night ride, so I had the local off-road fab shop build a new one with D-rings and a stinger... Clayton turned it into a jungle gym as soon as I got home with it and still uses it as a ladder to climb on top of the Ex.
The Dana 60 ready for a rebuild, gears, and locker...
The next step will be to pull the front center section so I can weld the spider gears just to have a little more fun until I go with the one ton axles. I have a feeling it's going to result in an explosion of some parts, but hey- that's why I'm going to the D60, so I can beat the crap out of it without worrying about breakage.
The axle build-up will be very slow, as I'm about to buy a house and I'm saving up to pay for my own wedding. It doesn't help that my son's mom hasn't provided a dime to help support our son in almost two years. I'm hoping that will change come February, when we go before the judge for what should be the final step in the all-too-drawn-out custody case (it's in the bag.) We'll see what happens. As long as I maintain custody, I honestly don't care whether she pays, but as a parent I think she should be held responsible for some of his expenses. I digress...
I'm hoping to take out the Explorer again in the next couple weeks- should have some new action shots at that point.
What do you guys think? I've definitely built this one a lot better than I did my old wagon and Town Car. One of those things where we learn to do it right the first time, I guess.
Bone stock...
A little lift, 34x10.50s, and lots of trimming...
Took it on a few trail rides... the very first ride resulted in frying the A4LD, at which point I jumped at an opportunity to convert it to a manual transmission (lots more work than I expected...)
Bent up the front bumper on a sloppy night ride, so I had the local off-road fab shop build a new one with D-rings and a stinger... Clayton turned it into a jungle gym as soon as I got home with it and still uses it as a ladder to climb on top of the Ex.
The Dana 60 ready for a rebuild, gears, and locker...
The next step will be to pull the front center section so I can weld the spider gears just to have a little more fun until I go with the one ton axles. I have a feeling it's going to result in an explosion of some parts, but hey- that's why I'm going to the D60, so I can beat the crap out of it without worrying about breakage.
The axle build-up will be very slow, as I'm about to buy a house and I'm saving up to pay for my own wedding. It doesn't help that my son's mom hasn't provided a dime to help support our son in almost two years. I'm hoping that will change come February, when we go before the judge for what should be the final step in the all-too-drawn-out custody case (it's in the bag.) We'll see what happens. As long as I maintain custody, I honestly don't care whether she pays, but as a parent I think she should be held responsible for some of his expenses. I digress...
I'm hoping to take out the Explorer again in the next couple weeks- should have some new action shots at that point.
What do you guys think? I've definitely built this one a lot better than I did my old wagon and Town Car. One of those things where we learn to do it right the first time, I guess.
.
Comment