I ordered a xploder 8.8 off ebay picked it up Saturday with my friend..

took it all apart yesterday..snapped some pics today..what im plannin is this

4.56 Gears
LS
31 Spline-Came with it
high performance pad
Stainless brake lines
Dual Shocks on both side(4 total in Back)

-I think that is all i can come up with now

i got a gallon of purple power tomorrow at lunch gunna clean it down cut off the spring perches and shock mounts..sand blast it and go from there..

now on with the pics

3.73 Gears with Carrier Unit


31 Spline Axle Shafts


empty housing




down the shaft thought that was pretty cool

Misc parts i took off..brackets, rotors brake lines diff cap


i took measurements today at work for the shocks..max-27" min-23"









i found this awsome trailer in GA too..lol




**i know the pics are blurry but oh well**

its an old bronco II front end haha..thought it was pretty neat

 

Sweet! What's the point of that BII trailer? Are the dash or seats still in it. I like this picture, I have never seen anybody do that to get a flex shot.

 

the BII had no seats no dash..just a flat peice of steel for the firewall..no carpet..and a trailer tounge..lol

 

Very nice, that exploder axle is nice. You are gonna like rear disc

 

Why in the hell are you running 2 shocks in the rear? It is absolutely pointless and I will ridicule you for a looooong time.

 

lol, nice jack

 

its very common to use a forklift or bobcat

 

Better not do it Evan... HA HA

Brenton

 

Nice... 2 shocks is a little too much.

 

Sounds sick. I say you should run a exit/tailpipe off that muffler too, will dampen it a little, but will look a lot better.

 

haha sweet axle.

Lovin the trailer..hahah

 

Depending on how much you lift, you can avoid getting longer shocks, or even just clean up a "hang up" point, by cutting off the shock mounts and "reclocking" them parallel to the ground. This is what I did to my 31 spline FX4 axle when I put it on, even though the shock mounts were in the right place spacing-wise.

Look at these pics of mine:

Looking back at it from the front -- very clean without those shock mounts sticking down!


Further images:




Some of those are before the explorer finned aluminum diff cover and 35's obviously!

 

Stacked blocks welded together!

 

i concur...ew.....but i do like the shock mount idear

 

you are supposed to disconnect the stock shocks and then flex to messure the lengths


right now your stock shocks are preventing you from fully flexing, meaning you could actually gain some more flex if you get the right messurements

 

Oh, so you already got the axle already Evan? Well are we gonna go up to Jey's now or no. It's up to you, it's gonna be your b-day.

Brenton

 

yea i picked it up friday..the guy called me and said it was this weekend or he was refunding my money..so i had no choice..i didnt go to tennesse because i worked to late..so picked it up saturday..

runnin 2 shocks was just an idea..its something different that you dont see on a ranger so i thought id give it a stab..nothin is in stone yet so i can change anything..it was just an idea that was goin through my head...

but i am wanting to run different shocks..they need to be the same size tho since i dont have a suspension lift..so they will be the stock height right?

 

Think what you want, lol. They are safe and effective. I had them welded by experts at work, using special rods so the cast steel and rolled steel pieces could be properly joined (employing preheating and controlled cooling).

Furthermore, the traction bars alleviate the wrap problem. They work well. You guys with no kids and no responsibilities in life can spend whatever you want -- the rest of us make do.

If you can afford to be a purist -- great. If not, do what you have to and wheel. Those are as strong as a single block. AMATEURS should not try welding dissimilar metal blocks or they WILL fail. These have survived a great deal of abuse. Furthermore, since they incorportate the stock blocks with the "arm" needed for the bump stop, there was no need to modify it either.

 

truck looks really sweet flexin.

 

i didnt notice the stock ones were in there but gaybriel is right. the point of measuring for shocks is that you get the most travel. having your stockers on there defeats the purpose.

 

Exactly what i was thinkin. surprised no one else caught on. i think they were just lookin at the pretty pictures

4" between max and min should have been your first clue something wasn't right.

John - I didnt even notice that about the shock mounts. Nice touch!

 

In my case, the shock mount relocation gives me back the "flex" I would have lost from the extra block length.

The problem with longer shocks can be that you may have to reconsider your bump stop location to keep from using your shocks as your uptravel limit -- a practice I'm told is not the best.

 

does anybody know the travel on a stock ranger..

and the measuremnts..cuz i havent touched any suspension other then the AALs

do you guys really think adding 2 more shocks is a stupid idea..

im not goin for use im goin for looks....i like being the 1st and the only..ive never seen a ranger with 4 shocks in the back so it was an idea...

 

I have, ive seen a ranger with 12 shocks in the back. it doenst look cool either, just looks like you didnt know what you were doing and spent to much.

 

here's a rear dual shock setup for ya, along with a dual front setup for the 83-97 front.