It starts again!

Here is a picture of my truck pre October 2010:



Specs:

2000 Ranger XLT 4X4. 3.0 V6
Dixon Brothers Racing (DBR) LT Kit
8" King Remote Reservoir Coil Overs
2"X2.5" King Hydraulic Bump Stops
Heim Steering
Giant 64 Long Travel Leaf Spring Kit
ADS 16" Triple Bypass Shocks
Ford F150 9.75 Axle w/ 4:88 Gears and Posi
Fiberwerxs 6" Fenders and Bedsides
6 315/70R17(35") BFG AT's
MasterCraft Baja RS Seats
ICOM Race Radio

It was a fun truck, but in October 2010 someone made an illegal left turn and hit me right behind the axle on the driver side front wheel. Here is the aftermath:







The insurance company only offered $5K and asked for a $1K buyback, so I hired a lawyer and filed a lawsuit. Almost two and a half years later, I have now settled the case and am able to move forward with another build.

The plan:

Build a Ford Explorer with the useable parts off of the Ranger (5 seats vs 2 seats)
Full safety cage
Try to modify the Dixon Kit to accept a bypass shock

Part of my parts pile:



and, last but not least, the donor vehicle:











Specs:

1999 Explorer XLT 4X4, 4.0 SOHC
199K on original engine and transmission - still runs strong

Hopefully, I will begin to remove the interior this week and fabrication will begin within two weeks.

 

How much did you end up paying for the truck to get it back?

 

I ended up getting 14.5K with the truck included. I spent roughly 1K of that in court and appraisal fees.

 

Not too shabby. Can't wait to see how this Explorer turns out

 

awesome! glad you're back!

 

Subscribed cant wait to see this build!

 

Cool! Were all the dixon parts straight?

 

was wondering when this would pop up. i'll be following along.

 

Spent a couple of hours last night removing the interior up to the front seats. Everything came out easier than I was expecting. Hopefully, I will have both trucks in the same location by a week from Thursday. Until then, not much more will get done.

 

The lower cross member was a total loss. The lower control arm sheared the ball joint (no big deal), the limit strap tab bent over a bit, and one of the bushing sleeves oval-ed out a bit. I had a fabricator look it over, and he felt that it was OK to run. I believe that the upper is fine, but I have not had it off of the truck to check it out.

 

Hell to the yeah!

 

operation fun bus!

 

Definitely looking forward to this build.

 

think you gonna have it done soon? we should race to see whos wrapped up first lol

 

If it is the first to have a wrapped up project, I will most certainly lose. Too many small projects that will extend into future years. For the basics, I am hopeful that I will be caged with front and rear suspension and fiberglass mounted within 2 to 3 months. I would like to have bumpers and a re-sealed cabin before the end of the year. Might be wishful thinking, but that is the goal.

 

Small update:

Moved what remains of the Ranger to the same location as the Explorer. Pack rats had made a substantial nest under the hood. It took over 1/2 an hour to clean all of the cholla and crap out of the engine compartment before it could be moved.



The plan for the following week is take measurements off of the Ranger to figure out how to adapt the 64 kit to the Explorer, and continue with the removal of the interior and front body panels.

 

Remainder of the interior out with the exception of the headliner and the dash. For right now I need to keep the Expo mobile under it's own power, so the remainder of the dash will need to stay until I have a dedicated spot for the truck to sit during fabrication.

 

getn there man. it will be sweet to see the build take shape.

 

Small update:

Rear axle, and springs removed from the Ranger



Front bumper, fenders and fender wells removed





Hoping that suspension work will start later this week.

 

sweet,should be done this weekend right? haha

 

Awesme, when are you doing the front end?

 

Re-installing the Dixon kit from my Ranger. I am going to try and retro fit the kit to work with a bypass shock.

 

i thought about switching to a 2.0 coil carrier with a 2.5 bypass. id like to see someone go through with it.

 

Mac, I can't find the info. What rims were on the ranger? Specs too please.

 

MB Wheels Model 72 Polished. 17"X8.5" 4.5" BS