Escort's Project Family Wheeler

escort_gts · Apr 5, 2015

I have outgrown my ranger as a wheeler and needed something with a little more room. Some thing that can comfortable hold four people. So I was on the lookout for an Explorer. I decided on trying to find a 5.0 2nd gen. I found this one with a blown transmission, less than 105k miles and fully loaded 2001 Limited. It has the typical explorer rust areas, but the rust spots are not that bad....yet. Guy was asking $1200 and I was able to talk him down to $1000.

I am in the planning stages at this point and trying to decide on what exactly I want to do with it. I do know that i want a solid axle (probably a D30). 35x12.5x17 tires, lockers, and keep it as low as possible.

This will be a slow build process that I want to finish before the next winter....but might be sooner than that.

RangerSVT · Apr 6, 2015

Sub'd.
You might want to go with a 44 up front. Thats a lot of weight and power for a 30...

SVT

escort_gts · Apr 6, 2015

RangerSVT said:
Sub'd.
You might want to go with a 44 up front. Thats a lot of weight and power for a 30...

SVT

The 30 would be cheaper and simpler swap though....

dangerranger83 · Apr 6, 2015

Sub'd

I've seen plenty of explorers running a d30 with no issues. And with what he plans to do with the d30, it will hold up with no issues.

escort_gts · Apr 6, 2015

I priced what it would cost in parts to rebuild the transmission (complete rebuild with all parts replaced plus special tools) and what the transmission shops want for a rebuilt one. So i think I will just buy or have a shop rebuild it for me. This way I will have a guarantee that it will work and also have a warranty.

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RangerNielsen · Apr 6, 2015

So no more ranger, or is that moved back and is now a garage queen?

escort_gts · Apr 6, 2015

The ranger is now a trailer queen. It hasn't seen daily use for almost a year. I'm keeping the ranger, it's not going anywhere

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RangerNielsen · Apr 6, 2015

Presuming the 6.0 is a daily then?

escort_gts · Apr 6, 2015

I have the Cruze as my daily.

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RangerNielsen · Apr 13, 2015

Any updates?

escort_gts · Apr 14, 2015

Nothing really. I've been gathering parts, but next week I'm going to change the filter and fluid change on the transmission before I pull it out.

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escort_gts · Apr 29, 2015

Finally started working on the ex.
My son and I removed the running boards to make room to get the transmission out from under. Removed front bumper to get to the trans cooler and hoses that leak (reason why trans is shot).

Typical Explorer...

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dangerranger83 · Apr 29, 2015

Glad you have motivation to do work on a vehicle, right now I lack it. Also having back issues because of work slows me down. Currently wearing a wrap around my upper body. All they told me to do was baby my back and gave me a days and half of ibuprofen and see them next Monday...so far all I haven't had was a headache. The wrap was my idea and it works a bit to compress the musclesand keep the pain down.

hoosier1104 · Apr 30, 2015

It is about time you started working on something new.

dangerranger83 · Apr 30, 2015

About time you get another ranger.

Escort's Project Family Wheeler

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner

Oct 09 OTOTM

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner

5.0 HO under the hood!!!

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner

Well-Known Member

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner

Well-Known Member

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner

Well-Known Member

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner

5.0 HO under the hood!!!

I'm Awesome!

5.0 HO under the hood!!!

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