My summer/fall build

[D.T.Starr]

evolution medium body hiems

http://evolutionmachine.com/

 

[zachis4wheeling]

Looks beefy! I like the way you chopped out the stock engine crossmember.

He cut out more than the front engine crossmember dude....If ya look close, it looks like everything in front of and behind the cab has all new framerails. Very clean.

Fawk man.......this thing is gonna be prolly one of the most badass rigs out there. Front fabwork on the suspension looks great plus it's BEEFY as HELL! That's the kind of fabwork I like to see! Glad to see someone is on the same page as me. I remember when I wanted to buy yur D35 stuff and the 8.8 awhile back...like a year ago. Sorry I never got back to ya but I've had to significantly relocate in the last year cuz' I got my first "real job".....the one I went to college for. Plus I got a newer GMC truck, so thankfully, I don;t have to drive the ranger as a gas guzzlin DD anymore. So in short, thanks for the offer while back, but I won't be needing yur drivetrain stuff! Plus, I recently acquired an 86 F350 witha Dana 60 front and either a Sterling or Dana 60 rear....witha 351 and a c6.....so I might be doing something kinda like yur build in the next year as well......Looks awesome. Keep up the good work.

You gonna run the front sheetmetal and hood and clip or you gonna do some crazy tube stuff on the frontend?

And what are your plans for your bed? You gonna run it or flatbed the rig?

 

[D.T.Starr]

I cut the framerails from the front body mounts forward so I could narrow the front framerails by ~6”s (IIRC), it is now 2x5x0.25” box tube.
I plan on running the stock hood (maybe narrowed) and the rest of the front just tube, I will take some current pictures of the rear, but it will be a small sunken down flat deck (between the framerails) for the rad, fuel cell and batteries, then tube for the rest.
Most of the stuff I have been working on has not been picture worthy, rebuilding the kingpins, installing the longfields and driveflanges, mounting the winch, rebuilding and twin sticking the 205, gusseting etc, and I have run into some design problems with my drivetrain (T-case mostly) not fitting where I wanted it to that has eaten up a lot of my time. Also one vendor is really letting me down on some parts I ordered at the beginning of December.
Zach as they say Git er done, there are several areas that are very close to (or in) Michigan that I plan on running next summer.

 

[D.T.Starr]

As I said most of the stuff lately has not really been picture worthy, rebuilt the kingpins, installed my longfields and driveflanges, gusseted some places, finish welding and of course the redesign of the crossmember that I mentioned above. The only new pictures I have are of the crossmember (with temporary bolts) that holds all my links, T-case and tranny mounts. I will post up some better stuff later this week.
Square

 

[D.T.Starr]

I took some more pictures last night.
Winch mount 1.5"x0.25" tube, it extends and is plug welded 8" inside the framerails

Lower link mounts as the attach to the crossmember from above

And my rear platform that holds the batteries and fuel cell, and eventually the rad.

 

[zainyD]]

Sick!

 

[danger88ranger]

Sick!

Couldn't have been more right about that

 

[D.T.Starr]

Thanks

 

[Hardwareman]

Duuuuude!

You've got skillz man! Wish I had them. Truck's going to look wicked.



Allen

 

[choped84]

do you have any pic's of where you added the rectangle tubing to your stock frame? i'm going to do something like that on my bII because the frames bent at the motor mounts

 

[D.T.Starr]

I will take some tonight for you.

 

[D.T.Starr]

We cycled the suspension to do some testing for clearances and decide if I want to keep my front lower spring mounts as they are designed. Other than the tracbar issue I mentioned earlier everything worked out well. While we were at it I took some poser shots for everyone. The suspension still has a lot more flex left in it (I could still move the springs up/down by hand and the rear shackles still had more range) but this is as high as we felt we could safely lift it using the hoist.

 

[D.T.Starr]

Shots from the other side, you can see how close the tracbar is to the diff, and once again the suspension still had more articulation but this is as safe as we felt we could go on the lift. Ignore the reinforced PVC driveshaft for now, just like the rear pinion angle it may change in the future.

 

[red85]

Derek! Where the heck have you been??? Dave and I thought you fell off the face of the earth. I have an Explorer that will be parted out soon and I thought of you. I'm keeping the bucket seats, the wheels and the rear axle and springs. Do you know anyone who would be looking for Explorer parts? BTW I think you need to strengthen that frame a little just in case the Army lobs a tank shell at you LOL

 

[D.T.Starr]

Is the eplorer a OHV or OHC?
I have been spending lots and lots of time in the shop. Considering this is my first major buildup it takes me a long time to build every little thing since I do not know what I am doing and I pontificate way too much over every little detail.