'99 EB Explorer Official Build Thread

['99 EB Explorer]

The fact that I was able to put the Bronco in his garage to begin with was "bonding" enough. lol.

 

['99 EB Explorer]

UPDATE!!​

So the weather was half decent today. Decided it would be a good day to start breaking down the Bronco.

It went incredibly smooth! (maybe had something to do with the beer...)

I started off with removing the driveshafts. Rear first.

This is what was holding the U-Joint to the yoke

At least the nuts came off nice and easy!

Then it was time for the front. Started turning the wrench and realized that not having hub locking assemblies up front was going to be a major complication at this point.

So out came the C clamp!

Clamped that sucker on and made it bind up on the frame. Those little bastards came out!

Speaking of bolts...here's what I had to contend with.

That is a 12 point 5/16". Want to know how big the wrench is for a 12 point 5/16" bolt?

About this big...

Turning 32 year old bolts with a 4" long wrench wasn't my idea of fun. My hands were killing me at the end of that.

And NO, I didn't have a pipe to fit over it. So don't say it. lol

Rear driveshaft off

I'll be keeping this for future use

Front driveshaft off

And same story...I'll be keeping this one too

Then it was time to start removing the front axle.

Starting with the radius arm mounts. A couple of the bolts came off without too much trouble. The rest called for the grinder to come out and play.

At this point..beer was enjoyed

Best part about working on a truck when it's only 41F outside?? The beer never gets warm!

So at this point, all that's holding the axle to the frame is 1 bolt and the coil springs.

Oh, and a word of warning to anyone that plans on doing this. BLOCK THE TIRES BEFORE YOU TAKE THE LAST RADIUS ARM MOUNT BOLT OUT!
The frame went one way and the axle went the other!

So after bringing them back to where they were supposed to be(keeping in mind that the 1 bolt and coil springs were still attached) I blocked the rear tires and put jackstands under the front crossmember in preparation for the next move.

BTW, that yellow bucket is all my hub assembly and brand new front end bushings!

A couple shots of the axle sagging

Now, before I could take the last bolt out, I had to remove the steering box.

Anyone want to know what 32 year old power steering fluid looks like?? It looks like pink skittles and water went through a blender.

Here's the frame...steering box-less

And here's the steering box. Which still works, so another part to be kept for future use!

Needs a bit of a wash first tho..

After that, I took the last bolt out and the coils were the last thing to come off.

Here's the stock coil sitting beside the lift coils that came with this thing

I may be selling those. Not sure yet. I've been told that Cherokee coils are a much better ride for a small truck.

And here's a few of how she's sitting right now.

Tomorrow's plan is to get the axle out from under the frame and take the radius arms off. Not sure how far I'll get beyond that tho.

I started this work just after lunch, and the final product was at around 5:00. I can't believe how well that went!


Thanks for checkin it out

 

[Colin]

awesome work man and good beer choice!


you need to go park your truck somewhere offroad so i can nominate you though!

 

[superds]

Lookin good, I'm excited to see this thing happen!

 

['99 EB Explorer]

Continued from yesterday...​

Last time we saw our hero, he had dropped the axle from the frame....


Started with pulling the axle out from under the frame. I used my tow strap and pulled it out with Stealth!

And here's the frame...axle-less

Then it was time to build the stand I plan on using to do most of the rebuild on

That took me all of 15 minutes to throw together.

From there, I had to pull off the steering and radius arms to lighten the load to lift that sucker on the stand. Sorry, no picks of the work, but here she is on her new home...

After some fun with a REALLY big wire wheel...I found a few numbers on it.
This one is on the backside of the differential to the right of the pinion.

This tag is bolted to the front of the diff by the diff cover bolts

If you're facing the diff cover, this is on the axle housing just to the right

This one is in the webbing just in front of the first number I posted

And this one is on the top of the diff towards the rear. Just behind the brake line splitter

So that's how it sits for now. Next will be the removal of the engine/transmission and rear axle.

 

[06RangerXLT]

awesome!

 

[4.0B2]

uh oh....

 

[Insanejughead]

You should've bought a 12 point 5/16" socket; or just used another combination wrench as leverage.

Have you ever taken the closed end of a combo wrench and stuck it around the horn of the open end of the first wrench and gained another 4-5"? If not, I'm surprised.


Btw, you have had a hell of a project for yourself. I would not be prepared to do so much.

 

['99 EB Explorer]

uh oh....

You should've bought a 12 point 5/16" socket; or just used another combination wrench as leverage.

Have you ever taken the closed end of a combo wrench and stuck it around the horn of the open end of the first wrench and gained another 4-5"? If not, I'm surprised.


Btw, you have had a hell of a project for yourself. I would not be prepared to do so much.

Yeah, I called the parts shop to ask about a socket. They didn't have any in stock that small. And yes, I tried using the other combo wrench as leverage many many times. The open end of the 5/16" was too short and wouldn't give the other wrench any grip.

And I have to give credit where credit is due...my dad was working with me for a good chunk of pulling the radius arms and steering apart. There were nuts and bolts that did NOT want to turn, so he brought his millwrite expertise to the project and we got it all apart.

 

[Insanejughead]

Hahahaha, not too long after logging off last night I remembered that I bought a 12 point 8mm socket once, and it's proven invaluable.

I had to get something like that for my oil pump bolts when I rebuilt my 2.3. I'll tell you, Ace Hardware has come through for me several times.



Are there any basic hardware stores up there near you? I've noticed that automotive parts stores don't often have everything you need, but those hardware stores sure do.

 

['99 EB Explorer]

Yeah, I'll have to check the hardware store. Canadian Tire will probably have what I'm looking for. Although I already have those bolts out. lol

 

[4.0B2]

i say uh oh, b/c you're gonna cut up a perfectly good IFS explorer....






hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

good luck

 

[Sunk]

perfectly good IFS

I'm sorry, what?

 

['99 EB Explorer]

i say uh oh, b/c you're gonna cut up a perfectly good IFS explorer....

The words "perfectly good" and "IFS" usually aren't found in the same sentence. Just throwing that out there...

 

[4.0B2]

lol i actually expected neg rep from that...

i just don't see how one vehicle can have
a. solid front axle
b. seat warmers.....

i mean, really?

i'm just busting balls again. just get 'er done!