Kroussin 93 Explorer build

[Josh40601]

look at choo all flexin in Petersen's

 

[kroussinoffroad]

Say what?

 

[kroussinoffroad]

I like the mis-print. ISUWHA???Looks like i'll have to shoot em an email correction.

anyways...progress made on the explorer. final cuts were made. hatch is now tacked in place. acutally looking at spare tire mounting since i'm not sure if I'm going to use the carrier or just strap it to the floor. Would like to use the carrier so I can stand it up if I do carry anything back there, But straping it to the floor drops it another inch out of sight and brings ounces of weight lower and pounds off total weight.

 

[Josh40601]

pics doodles. pics.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

sometimes i work too late to post up pics when i have to get up in the wee early morning to get everyone's heat working again.. will post up pics soon I promise.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

yep nother late night. but the hatch should be completely welded in first thing in the morning (if i wake up on time) I need a second set of hands to get the top corners burned in and everyone is smart and allready asleep. so project is actually going alot faster than planned. i gave myself 3 weeks to get it sealed in for the next wheelin trip and it will likely be sealed in by sunday evening and hopefully be 100% complete by next weekend

 

[kroussinoffroad]

update, top is completely welded in. working on smoothing everything out. first layer of filler is short strand fiberglass filler knocked down then using conventional lightweight filler. hopefull two coats will be enough might need 3 thickest spot will be less than 1/16". Worked my arse off on getting it all in and managed to work right thru taking alot of pictures. actually worked myself sick and dehyderated. still need to finish lower firewall of the box and then finish trim out the lower box section and cap the tops of the box. everything is completely welded around the entire top just failed to actually get pics of that. The hobart was having a little trouble even stitch welding to I busted out the old century and it worked great. minimal warping while welding. so the only filler is needed is to flush the lap welds at the top and lap welds all the way down the hatch. around the side of the cab its all butt welded to where the window would be

 

[Josh40601]

man its looking good!

 

[kroussinoffroad]

THANK YOU

spare tire wont be angled BTW. that was the original plan but laying it flat and straping it down will keep it below the bedsides. once finished will need to locate two large amo cans for next to the spare tire, tools, recovery gear, and saw will hopefully go behind the seat

 

[Josh40601]

Sweet!

 

[kroussinoffroad]

ideas have also been tossed around about either building a mini headache rack (might be kinda CUTE. or building a removable rack to mount on top of the bedsides for holding cooler and other stuff when making the voyage to camp. rack would definitely limit access to spare tire so would have to pivot side to side or something. also think a mount off the bumper will be in order to hold the rear tires of the big red so hauling a trailer of wood and the trike around is possible

 

[kroussinoffroad]

Did more finishingwork. looks like I have to dig out a file or two. have the template cut for the front o the bed. Made a template for the sides, then made a template for alon the box and over the wheel well, taped them together , traced onto a single piece, test fit on both sides and transfered on two large pieces, taped the two pieces together, and transfered onto 1 lage piece, test fit and loaded into the van to bring to work to shear out. going to use 18 gauge for the front of the box as well will be welded to the gate and the box sides. Plan is to bend up some angle for the lower section will rivet and weld the skin to the brackets and then use 3M 5200 adhesive selant along the floor around the wheel wells and up the bedsides . figure i really wont have anything bouncing around or being thrown in there. Did ALOT of sanding today and hope to spray bomb it by thursday night. planing on doing bed liner inside the box. still have to cut the back corners down cap them, weld all the holes and make some stainless covers for along the bedrails and across the top.

 

[dangerranger83]

I will admit it's nice. Hopefully the body won't flex enough to make the bondo crack.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[kroussinoffroad]

hopefully not. its pretty thin magnet still sticks everywhere and preped pretty good before and inbetween coats. also did it in several coats which helps it flex but im no judge of that. helped finish a suburbalanch a few years ago and they did an awful job keeping things straight and just planed to use filler spackled on thck. well years later and minimal wheeling and the thing looks awful. used allmetal on the lanch since it had to be so thick (1/2''). If mine does crack i'll just take a flap wheel and smooth it all out and paint it back up. think the metal and waves looks better than cracked filler.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

Next project will be eliminating the A/C section of the heater box. hopefully i can just swap a ranger non A/C box however 1st and 2nd gen rangers and 1st gen explorers are pretty rare to see in the yards up here 2nd gen explorers and 3rd gen rangers are everywhere tho.