Kroussin 93 Explorer build

[kroussinoffroad]

worked a little bit more on the bumper adding a stinger and somwhere to hook my winch line to. also added a reciever in the front of the main bracket on the driverside. as soon as i get more reciever tubing I will be doin the same thing on the passanger side. I will also be wraping around the front of the truck and connecting to the rear most part of the front bumper to help protect the headlights, will be doing that with some 1-1/4 o.d. and might run some other supports in there as well.

it looks offcenter cuz the way the pic was taken i can promise that it is centered.

 

[SAY789]

Looks good but whats with all the clamps on the winch line?

 

[kroussinoffroad]

winch line came with 98' which was alot to fit on the drum. high chance of bunching up on one side and damaging the winch. when it was behind the grill on the mazda i had this happen too often one night i hastely cut 25' off the line and realized that i wanted to cut 25' off the oposite side and retain the factroy hook side. OOPS!!!

i plan to replace the winch line but am still on the fence. if i replace it with standard steel cable i will go with 75-80 feet instead of the 100 however i am really starting to like synthetic line. a buddy is running it on his jeep wj and its soo much nicer to use. i never thought that the weight of it would make that much difference, but when soo much nicer to pull out than the steel stuff.

 

[4.0B2]

Discountwinchline.com

ScubaJeeper is the forum name of the guy tha runs it; not on this forum... But he's got good prices on great stuff.. Legoms got his from Billy. Check 'em out. Even has ORANGE! in 3/8's stuff.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

it wont be replaced until after she is back outta the garage. the clamps will do just fine for now. technically i should have a thimble in their too but it got destroyed pretty early on after i put this all together.

I need to make sure all the bugs are outta the axles and everything else i'm tackling before i worry bout little things like this. BTW i carry an extra 100' of cable with eyes on both side's, 50 feet of LARGE chain, 30' of 3" strap so i dont really worry bout not being able to reach an anchor point. (altho it has happened) the pics of the mazda burried in the pont i had every usable inch of cable off the winch and all of my extra cable and it just reached shore. needless to say i wont be takin the explorer thru that any time soon.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

oh yeah a couple more pics for ya'll too.

axle is gone!!

and tryin to find room for all the stuff outta the mazda is a PAIN. still have a whole lot of stuff to try and hide in here. i have only the bare necesities in here right now.
still need to hide
highlift
fullsize spare
first aid kit
shovels (spade and flat)
flashlights (allways carry multiple)
some sort of O.B.A.
a bunch of MISC. tools and hardware i like to have with me (stuff not in my typical tool bag)
chainsaw (gas and bar oil)
12v spot light
i'm sure i'm forgetting alot

the red duffle bag is only in there in the winter, it has my winter survival gear in there in case i have to walk out or stay the night. the camo backpack comes with me whenever i'm in the woods. to has all my other survival stuff in there. it will take awhile to get everything arranged as well. typically takes a couple of good outtings to get the important stuff easiest acess and the rest of the stuff tucked away.

100# of crap in a 50# space

the white bag is an old air bag outta a car it has 100 of cable in it. (have a smaller one that has chain in it as well)

 

[4.0B2]

Dang man you need a diesel excursion

 

[kroussinoffroad]

why it all fit in the mazda and the only things loose in the box were
2 shovels
12x12x12 oak block
2 camping chairs
amazing what you can find places for in a reg cab pickup
just about everyone I wheel with knew not to fold the seat forward unless they HAD to and to take care while pullin stuff out of the tool box or from under it.

some stuff just rode on the seat in the center buckled in like my backpack but i would like to actually find a spot for it so i have at least 4 fully open seats. and nothing coming dislodged and falling out from under the seat.

CRAP couple more things i need to make room for.

 

[Josh40601]

Scribed. Clean motor!

Exactly my thoughts!

Expo looks great buddy!

 

[kroussinoffroad]

thanks alot! still has a LONG way to go. I droped off the front axle tonight and will drop off the 3rd member friday

hopefully I will have the axles back in shortly after the new years and am really crossing my fingers to be able to order the front locker within the next week. plans to have it wheeling by mid january are right on track. even tho i will have alot of little stuff that will still need to be done before its ready for spring/summer i will be able to have a little fun in it and keep me on track with the ultimate goal. If i work on it for too long of a stretch i get kinda burnt out and time in the garage decreases.

seriously thinking of adding a cage, more on this later.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

got the tires!!! 38.5x14.5x15's on steel 15x12 wheels will post pics after i go get somthin to eat,

missed din din to go get them. not somthing i like doin!!!!!

 

[kroussinoffroad]

well got all the tires all in all i justify it like this

4- 38.5x14.5x15 tsl sx on 12 wide wheels all have lots of tread but all also have lots of weather checking fair 450$ +/-

4- 35x14.?x15 bogger on waggon wheels lots of tread left tires in good condition fair 450 +/- (altho i'm only getting 350 for em)

ford 9" complete 3rd fair 100 +/-

so all in all broke around a grand and thats what i was hopin to get for my truck in pieces like it is so i think its a pretty fair trade.


da boggers they have alot more tread than it looks like

the SX's

now you see the lighter

now you dont

here you can kinda see the dry rot, oh well should get me by until i can afford a new set of meats. and then i will know for sure if i wanna run 37's or 38's i liked the 37's so we will just have to see how i like these.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

well well well.

my aussie for the rear should be here tomorrow.

in prep for it getting here I disassembled the 3rd member i picked up and took the carrier apart. while taking the ring gear off i noticed a richmond emblem stamped in the gear. upon further inspection the "3.55 open carrier 3rd member" i picked up with the tires was loaded with 3.82 gears, still not usefull at this time but definately worth hanging onto i guess.

upon further disassembly i started to do a little happy dance. found this inside

I really wish i could see into the future. i woulda ordered the locker for the front and just ran this until money cam up for the other one, oh well. guess i'll have a back up it the aussie ever Shit's out on me. now i just need to do this lift gate this weekend and i'll have my money for the front locker. might even make an apperance on the trails late next week!!!

yep more snoopy happy dance goin on here.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

truck should be a completely different animal with tires that have descent tread, better gearing and locked front and rear. let the destruction begin!

 

[Josh40601]

looks awesome brother! I love SX's. That is what i ran on my CJ. On a rig, don't worry about dry rot. Just install an OBA setup, and run some slime in them. I have one of those Super swamper sets (I dunno if they are SX or SSR) on the SGT, and the PO said they did fantastic. He has Rockers on his new rig and said he is going back to the SS when he is done with those. Wishes he never switched.