I'm so excited I just had to make a pointless thread to show what I will be doing this weekend.



As you probably noticed, my 5.0 swap progress came to a screeching halt recently. This was because I had to focus on final exams in school and other priorities that needed my attention. Oh...and my swap fund got cleaned out...so I was a broke joke!

I just opened an account with USAA and have gotten approval from my wife to EFT $1800 into it. The EFT processed last night, so now I'm waiting on PayPal to verify the account so I can start making these purchases.

Right now, the motor is ready to drop in, but it doesn't have the mounts. I tried modifying the stock mounts by milling out the mount holes, but it didn't work. Now I will be able to order the Motor Mount plate drawings from Brian (BrianB31) and get them fabricated while I finish up the odds and ends.

I'm going to order Lift Shackles for the rear, because the axle flip from the Explorer 8.8 axle and leafs caused a significant drop. These shackles, based on my measurements, will allow me to either Level the truck out (middle notch), or give it a 1" rake (outer notch).

Ebay link

Also, I'll be ordering a performance 3-core Ford Racing aluminum radiator, to sit nicely in front of my 16" cooling fan.


Let the fun begin! I'm going to contact Brodix about some aluminum heads next week, but that may have to wait until after the truck is running.

Anyone have any suggestions on what else to buy? I'm looking for some basic performance upgrades now, since the motor mounts are "in process".

Here's my list:

• Lift Shackles
• Aluminum Radiator
• B&M Shift Kit for the A4OD
• AutoMeter gauge pod with Oil Pressure and Water Temp
• Sport Trac A/C face to match my silver indiglo gauges and AutoMeter gauges
• K&N Cone filter and aluminum intake tube

What can I add to it???

 

nice! you know we like pictures though....

 

I'll rise to the occasion, and go take some pics....

 

cobra intake
e303 cam

 

maybe try and win these shackles and save a few $$$..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/lower...spagenameZWDVW

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-DRO...spagenameZWDVW

 

Thanks for those links! I was looking for a Buy It Now auction, but I went ahead and bid on both of those. Hopefully one will pull through in the next 2 days for less than $40! Thanks a lot!

 

even though the "ranger lift shackles" are more money they are the same exact thing as the chevy lowering shackle.

just look how much cheaper they are
http://search.ebay.com/search/search...kle&category0=

 

Do a spring-over on the explorer axle. tall shackles are like putting a band-aid on an axe-wound.

 

even with a axle over spring setup and a shackle, he will get LESS axle wrap than a stock setup would ever think about getting....

 

I couldn't agree more, which is why I'm trying to stick with the stock design for the spring under. This will allow me to later add the 3rd axle wrap shock absorber normally found on the Exploders...

 

Isn't that the one that is directed laterally? Like from driver's side to passenger's side?

 

Yes sir!

 

That's interesting... wouldn't happen to have any pics of that would you?

 

Here ya go. It's mounted to the front portion of the differential housing.



Here you can see it extending up towards the frame to the mounting point. I will fabricate a mount pin to attach the top of the shock to the frame.

 

that shock looks useless.. wont it just pivot and bearly even comress?

the longer shackle shouldnt hurt axle wind up anyway because the reason for axle wind up is the front of the spring being to weak and bending.. thats why traction bars work because now they caint bend...

and i wonder if they put that extra shock there because the explorer (at least in the picture) has both shocks in the rear not staggered like the ranger to help with the wind up?

eh im usually wrong anyway.


JOSH

 

the shocks to the rear wouldn't be any problem........there is a lot of vehicles with both shocks to the rear

 

I was thinking it was added because of the increased weight over the rear end, with the rear body, hatch, and seats.

From my TSP:
It's not an axle wrap shock, but instead an anti-windup reducer.

The anti-windup bar compensates for rotational torque placed on the rear axle during acceleration and braking by preventing the rear axle and rear spring from twisting (winding up).

The anti-windup bar minimizes noise and vibration issues caused by excessive pinion-to-driveshaft angles during acceleration and braking.

Since it mentions nothing about performance or safety, I will not hesitate to run without it for a while. If I decide I need it, I'll put it on later.

 

that would be slick to put a rod there instead of the shock.....that would prevent ANY axle wrap, wind up, or whatever else you want to call it......and it would act as a traction bar....

 

you could, but you would have to make some kind of bushing setup.
kinda like the jd bars, they have two poly bushings so it can move a little.

 

i think this would be better

 

What about when the suspension compresses? Wouldn't that rod create an additional pivot point?

 

If you're going to use the sideways third shock, it would need to remain a shock, not a rod. It has to change length as the suspension moves. As far as I can see, it is not a traction aid at all. The stock 5.0 traction bars take care of that. The sideways shock looks like a device to help control leaf spring sway.