One more 2wd 98 coil spring 5.0 swap.

[Jbrown1238]

Great looking truck! Can I ask what radiator you're running?

Just the stock 5.0 Explorer radiator. The front accessory package fits so nice and replacement parts are right around the corner at the local parts store. There didn't seem to be any reason not to go with that option.

 

[RangerSVT]

Looks good, Jeff. I bet you can't wait for that first test drive

SVT

 

[Jbrown1238]

Looks good, Jeff. I bet you can't wait for that first test drive

SVT

Thanks Rick, yep, that is for sure! I am going to be 51 years old in a few months and this thing has me feeling like I am 17 again. Just like a little kid a day or two before Christmas.

 

[Jbrown1238]

I made it home from work a few minutes before dark today and shot a few detailed photos of the exhaust from front to back. It rained when I towed the truck north so at the moment the truck is trashed from top to bottom. No more clean undercarriage photos, I think those days are gone for good!

 

[Jbrown1238]

I am still trying to figure out how to successfully work with videos on you tube (embedding). Until I get that all sorted out here are a couple not so great attempts at posting videos of the new exhaust at idle and slightly revving the engine.

Idle and walk around.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcEIgPfXrec&feature=player_detailpage

Slight revving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM6q-GBu4ko&feature=player_detailpage

Idle at the back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRLEBn_ToII&feature=player_detailpage

 

[Stangman92]

Wow that sounds great!

 

[Jbrown1238]

You guys are going to be ashamed of me but I couldn't wait to take it for a quick test drive. No turn signals, no brake lights, no plate, but plenty of power!!! It is a real blast to drive!! I only took it around the block a few times but I did manage to get it into third gear. It has a lot more power then the 93 5.0 Ranger I had. I need to buckle down and finish this thing up so I can enjoy it.

 

[Stangman92]

You guys are going to be ashamed of me but I couldn't wait to take it for a quick test drive. No turn signals, no brake lights, no plate, but plenty of power!!! It is a real blast to drive!! I only took it around the block a few times but I did manage to get it into third gear. It has a lot more power then the 93 5.0 Ranger I had. I need to buckle down and finish this thing up so I can enjoy it.

 

[RangerSVT]

Just wait, you'll want to strap a hair dryer to it to enjoy it even more! Lol

SVT

 

[Lil-Pony]

Just got my running as well. Still have the rear end to do. Tho mines sounds a little more raspy with the custom cam. Nice to see im not far behind you and it looks and sounds great


Sent from outer space.

 

[Jbrown1238]

Just got my running as well. Still have the rear end to do. Tho mines sounds a little more raspy with the custom cam. Nice to see im not far behind you and it looks and sounds great


Sent from outer space.

Good to hear man! I know you have been working on it pretty steady. I have been checking in on your thread. I know when I hear that thing I am going to want one of those cams.

 

[Lil-Pony]

Good to hear man! I know you have been working on it pretty steady. I have been checking in on your thread. I know when I hear that thing I am going to want one of those cams.

Just posted a video of it. Tried to fit the magnaflow direct fit cats and the lower aframes get in the way


Sent from outer space.

 

[Jbrown1238]

Just posted a video of it. Tried to fit the magnaflow direct fit cats and the lower aframes get in the way


Sent from outer space.

I am heading that way now to check it out.

 

[oddball101]

Very nice, Jeff. Very nice indeed. What level of tint is that on your cab? I am interested in doing mine in a similar way.

..I about laughed when I read your statement about the underside was "trashed" after some travels. You kill me, but I imagine after all of that work you did, it was probably just eating you up during the brief moves LOL.

I have been in this thread since the beginning (lurking) and I may have overlooked your suspension specifics. I appreciate the tightness in stature and am curious as to the handling. I have a torsion bar setup and trying to get it tighter in the front is a pain, even with the expo sways.

Good for you!! That is something to be proud of!

 

[Jbrown1238]

Very nice, Jeff. Very nice indeed. What level of tint is that on your cab? I am interested in doing mine in a similar way.

..I about laughed when I read your statement about the underside was "trashed" after some travels. You kill me, but I imagine after all of that work you did, it was probably just eating you up during the brief moves LOL.

I have been in this thread since the beginning (lurking) and I may have overlooked your suspension specifics. I appreciate the tightness in stature and am curious as to the handling. I have a torsion bar setup and trying to get it tighter in the front is a pain, even with the expo sways.

Good for you!! That is something to be proud of!

Thank you Sir! I am not sure what tint is on the side windows as they were already done when I purchased it. I switched the back glass to get rid of the slider. That window is factory tint with Limo tint over the top. I had that done when it was in the 98 I own.

I didn't like moving it in the rain but that was just because of the distance and the risk of pulling it on a U-haul dolly. I never really planned to keep the underside like it is now for any length of time. It is going to be a work truck and it will be difficult to keep the bottom clean. I know this is going to be hard to believe but I really just wanted it to look good in the photos for this thread. I remember reading a lot of threads here before I started and there was this one in particular. A member was building a black 306 Ranger in the Midwest on a farm. He had painted a lot of the underside pieces including the front section of the frame. I looked at those photos a hundred times and thought it really looked good! Plus I had never done a frame off of my own. Oh well, at least in my photos the underside will stay clean forever!

I don't have much drive time on the suspension. But I do have enough to know the front needs to come up about 1 inch or so. It bangs on the stops and I know under the right circumstance the front tires will get into the fenders and tweak them up a bit. I removed the stock stops and used the DJM stops that came with the rear flip kit. They work good but currently I only have about 1/2 inch of travel. Plus the front sits slightly lower than the back and I want it pretty much level. I am getting ready to install the springs that came with this truck and then dial them in. They are stock height at the moment. The ones in there now have been cut slightly. The rear is basically stock except for urethane bushings and a flip kit. I can say for sure that the rear sway bar is amazing. Even though it is stock and nothing special it cleans up the ride 100%.

I am really looking forward to seeing how it brakes HARD! Once the adjustable proportion valve is dialed in and the front and rear is set up to compliment each other I bet it will feel much like my 03 Cobra. It has the same brake package and is a little lighter. It should haul down very nice.