Project Rupert: Expedition Build-up

[Beanmachine7000]

All right, now that I finally have a stable job (after 6 months of looking) it's time to start my build thread!!

I'm building up my Explorer for an expedition type set-up (Imagine Landcruiser/Rover equipped for self sustaining travel through Africa overland, except not as hardcore). It is mainly going to be used to travel the country and get me to remote places and back reliably, so it's going to see 80/20 street/off road use. My plans are

1.) 4WD swap with 4.10 D35 (maybe it will get an ARB too)
2.) ~3" lift (enough to fit 31's/32's)
3.) 4.10 disc brake 'Super 8.8' with ARB
4.) Front winch bumper, and lights
5.) Rear bumper with tire carrier and fuel can storage
6.) Roof Rack
7.) GPS system and CB radio
8.) BFG AT K/O's in 31x10.50 or 33x10.50
9.) Diesel swap?? (only if I can find a suitable engine)

My plans for right now are just removing all the weak links from the drivetrain (FF rear, etc.) Any ideas/suggestions?

There she is in the 'Before' state...

 

[feellnfroggy]

What a disapointment, I thought I was finally gonna meet someone else with an expedition built for offroading. LOL, either way can't way to see how it turns out.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

You mean an Explorer? I plan on wheeling it a little... I might even pick me up some MT's if I can find them cheap... There's not much off roading here except for camping and farm trails...

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Ok, so I've been looking around and notice that (#1) They don't offer the FF 8.8" kit anymore, is the superior 8.8" kit the smae or better? (#2) there isn't a lift kit that's less than 4" listed... The wheel fitment guide says I can fit 31x10.50 on a stock 1G Explorer, I would like to run a BFG AT K/O in 31x10.50, but have the option to go to a 32x10.50 if I wanted to, but I don't need 4" of lift for a 32" tire would I?

I also just found out Tirerack doesnt have a 32x10.50 size at all (I guess i'll stick with 31s)... Is there anyone that makes a 2-3" lift (I'm sure I'll want to go to a larger size tire eventually (33x10.50)?

 

[Bray D]

By FF do you mean Full Float? I didn't know there was a FF 8.8 kit available, though I guess I was never looking. The superior "super 88" kit is nice cause it incorperates a c-clip eliminator, making it better than the standard c-clip style axle. It does however still support the weight of the vehicle, were a FF setup sees only torsional loads. So its better than stock, but not better than a FF setup (if that were available) IMO.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/FreeFloating8_8.html

Full float 8.8" kit, says it's no longer produced... I guess that means I'll be going with the super 88 thing... I can't seem to find a lift that is under 4"... I found a Superlift that's 3.5" and it seems decent, but it uses blocks in the rear... I'd really like to find a kit that is 3", uses drop brackets, and a new spring pack in the rear... Any ideas?

 

[Mechanickid]

I had a 4x4, stick, gen. 1 exploder. There good trucks, and yes they can fit 31's stock with very little rubbing. If I were you I'd go with a 2" body lift kit. Keeps the center of gravity low and there cheep. The explorer body lift kits include the bumper brackets so you don't get the ugly effect like a 1st gen. Ranger with the same amount of body lift. And you said you were doing a custom rear bumper so that works as well. I wish I could have done all this to my explorer.

 

[Bray D]

I'd really like to find a kit that is 3", uses drop brackets, and a new spring pack in the rear... Any ideas?

Nope. You can get 3" out of the rear with a 63" chevy leaf pack and the beltech 6400 shackles. If that doesn't net you 3" you can always add a leaf to the pack from your stock ranger pack.

I doubt you're going to find drop brackets for anything smaller than a 4" lift.

Two options that come to mind to obtain the requirements you have:
1) get a 3" bodylift. Its exactly 3" of lift, providing room for larger tires
2) do the chevy leaf OR longer shackle for the rear, netting ~1.5" lift. Add 1" of washers under your coils up front (netting 1.5" lift) and realign with adjustable camber/caster bushings. Trim as little fender as possible to fit the tire you want.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

2) do the chevy leaf OR longer shackle for the rear, netting ~1.5" lift. Add 1" of washers under your coils up front (netting 1.5" lift) and realign with adjustable camber/caster bushings. Trim as little fender as possible to fit the tire you want.

I think I might do that, and maybe a 1/1.5" BL... I looked at the James Duff stuff and they offer a 2.5" lift with drop brackets, ext RA's and new rear spring packs... But, is it really worth $1700? I've heard some guys not being happy with what they got... I'll spend the money if it's worth it, I plan on doing this right the first time and not having to go back and fix it...

 

[Bray D]

I guess that depends on whether you want cut fenders or not. You can do a multitude of things to net the same amount of lift, you just need to choose which route you'd like to take. You could do the "pieced together lift" with the chevy leafs or shackle, coil spacers, and 1-1.5" BL; or you could get all your lift via a bolt on suspension lift and pay 1700 dollars.

Method '2' I described will cost you ~100-150 bucks depending on whether you get springs or shackles.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I'd really rather not cut my fenders up... I plan on DD'ing this too... I've got alot more research to do... I've got a good 3 weeks before I order all my stuff and start on it, I just want to know exactly what I want to get when the time comes down to it... I'm leaning towards the Duff Stage one kit now, just because it all comes in one kit... Upgrading it if I ever need to in the future... I don't think I'll need extended RA's or dual shocks, and a rear AAL and shackle doesn't bother me like a block does...

 

[Bray D]

Being a DD has nothing to do with the mods you're considering. My truck is my DD (sees 350+ mi/wk) and I'm geared/locked/doubled/etc.

The Duff kit I'm sure is nice, and it will come with everything you need - no mixing/matching parts. You hit the nail on the head, you can always upgrade later. I started with a 5.5" Superlift kit, and now I think the only thing Superlift on my truck is the rear shocks from the kit.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I don't plan on making this very hardcore... Just to get me to more remote areas... I think I'm going to go with the Duff, just because I don't have to mix and match parts... that's only $700 gone... I plan on doing ARB's at least in the rear, I might get one for the front too, depends on how money is... Thanks for all your help man, hopefully I'll get the stuff ordered and some work on this thing if it would ever warm up for good around here...

 

[Bray D]

A mild lift with a moderate size tire (31-33) and locked at both ends you'll go places you would've never imagined. Some say lockers are the best mod they've done. It sounds like you've got a good idea of what you want to do with the rig, and which direction you need to go to accomplish your goals.

Yeah it needs to warm up a bit, I think it was in the high 30's today. Its supposed to be low-mid 50's here next week, so that'll be nice.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I've heard about the magic of lockers, and I know pretty much exactly what I want from it, it's just getting it from my head to the truck that's the problem, haha...

We had one day 78 degree weather, and the next two days it's snowed? I don't know what's with the weather...