Kroussin 93 Explorer build

[kroussinoffroad]

well i got the 44 back it's set up and slid under the truck just need to get it all hooked back in place. still no locker for the front yet. talked with my buddie that is setting them up for me and explained my financial situation (holidays took a lot) and that i have been considering throwing the spiders back in and running it open until i can afford a the locker, hardened crosspin, and new thrust washers (everything else is new why not) he recomended that until i can afford the locker (in a month or two) that he would recommend welding the spiders. so i think i'm gonna go that route and get the front DONE and back under the truck. i have been loosing motivation not being able to enjoy the rig. so it looks like it will be on the trail by mid JAN hopefully. just waiting on the rear hardened cross pin kit and thrust washers. then it will be READY TO RIP

 

[kroussinoffroad]

ordered EVEN more parts today. hardened cross pins and new thrust washers on their way. after talking to the rep at randys ring and pinion i will definately be ordering a spartan for the front v.s. the matching aussie.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

didnt get much accomplished this weekend. i completely removed the front body panels and grill assembly for the fun of it. its all just about back on now. but it was 100% unneeded. gonna try and order the front hardened cross pin this week and get the axles DONE by this weekend.

i also keep going back and forth between making my own sliders or just buying the trail gear one's. the price for their sliders and shipping is about the same price as building my own. if i build my own i could get just what i want but could waste some money on screwed up bends and what not. if i buy theirs i kinda settle for what they are and possiably add to them in the future IDK.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

after even more reasearch i think i will most likely go with the TG sliders. i was concerned that they wouldnt stick out far enough to keep me off trees after all i'm not accustomed to much rocks. after seeing this picture i think they shall stick out plenty far.

now i just need to get another elusive commision check so i can actually order them

 

[4.0B2]

The tg sliders are nice. I thought about getting a set at one time

 

[kroussinoffroad]

here are some pics for all you picture whoors.

the body tins taken off for no reasone.
the intentions were to see how much hacking was gonna be involved to get 3rd gen ranger panels to work conclusion was too much for my liking. door gam is WAY different. i should have posted a picture since i searched for days to find out how different they were and no one really said. not to mention the rounded panels just looked very strange on somthing so boxy

dont think ive posted a pic of this yet but here it is (possiably again)
Rocker panels GONE. still need to do some minor trimming and to decide if i'm going to cap it in underneath and make it so it holds moisture and roadsalt to rust out in the future or leave it open so it looks slightly unfinished underneath.

and here is where the lower fenders will be trimmed to match the rocker. new mounts will be made and will cap the bottoms of these with some leftover banged up ranger fenders.

black line is the trim line cardboard is just showing the template to get the cut the same on both sides. made it so i could line it up with the fender lip and the body trim.

front axle is back in enough to set it on tires. and thats it.

100% sitting on weight however the rear axle is supported by jackstand due to no 3rd member. tires are aired down and jackstands are set so this is showing rideheight.

damn my short garage!!!

not sure if its gonna rub or not. if it does it shouldnt be much. you can seethe trim line in this picture which will eliminate the corner of the fender so?

and here is another reasone i hate the truck sitting in here so long it seems to catch all sorts of misplaced junk. most of it belongs in the truck but none of it belongs in the back seat aside from the duffle bag and about 5 of the jackets can be taken out aswell

 

[railman]

I see major trimming up front if you get flexed out at all....

even Dustin (disciplerocks) had to trim his fenders more than you with just 35's on his flexy TTB setup.....

still, I think ya have done a really good job

l8r, John

 

[disciplerocks]

^True, but there is a width difference so it might not be as bad. I dunno.

 

[Josh40601]

Oh there will be cutting..

 

[kroussinoffroad]

Oh there will be cutting..

well the 37's just squeaked on the inner fenders fully stuffed and full lock. so in "THEORY" this tire only being 1.5" taller overall 3/4" larger radius it shouldnt rub much more. but we all know thats not how it works. tire measures out a couple inches taller and a couple wider so i think there is definately gonna need to be some cutting. however if it will stuff a tire into the fenderwell and has respectable articulation (without cutting) i may just bump it. very seldom does the truck get into a situation where i am completely stuffed while actually on the trail I do get it there very frequently playing around but thats bout it.

i am on the hunt for some other fenders to hack up. i know these are rusted a bit but the paint matches so ide hate to completely screw them up. the way i plan on cutting them will make them still appear somwhat factory. and remember just cuz its going onto the bigger tires doesnt mean it'll stay on that size forever. i was very happy with how it performed on the 37's. so if its not a huge difference on the trail and there is a huge amount of rub i'll go back to 37's when i buy tires.

 

[dangerranger83]

Matching paint whats that?

 

[kroussinoffroad]

somthing ide like to keep if at all possiable.

 

[hurleyed]

the exploder looks good man the mazda was pretty sweet as well saw it around ishpeming a few times and talked to pete about it at carquest his b2 is pretty sweet to man just wanted to drop a few lines

 

[kroussinoffroad]

sooooo WHO IS THIS???^^^^^

 

[escort_gts]

sooooo WHO IS THIS???^^^^^

Looks like you have a stalker