The Explorer Experiment

HotRod82
Posts: 119
Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:27 pm
Bronco Info: 99 Explorer -Dixon Front, Giant 64 rear.

The Explorer Experiment

Post by HotRod82 »

Ok for something a little different here on GFB, my recently acquired 99 Explorer. Some of you may have seen the build thread on the DR site, the guys who built it did a pretty good job. I'm hoping to give it a good prep and run it as is this season before doing a smog legal 5.0 swap among other things. Here's a few pics and some details from his FS ad.

Front Suspension 14” (strapped) 4x4 A-Arm travel

Dixon Brother’s Racing Upper and Lower Control Arms (Lower arm modified to accept bypass shock)
Dixon Brother’s Racing Heimed Steering Kit
Dixon Brother’s Racing 930 CV Axles (less than 8,000 miles – mostly street)
8” stroke ADS 2.5” coil over shocks w/ 16” King 700# Coils (less than 8,000 miles – mostly street)
8” stroke ADS 2.5” Triple Bypass Shocks (less than 8,000 miles – mostly street)
Custom shock tower/engine Cage tied into internal cage
Custom lower control arm support brace w/ integrated skid plate to protect front differential

Rear Suspension 18” (strapped)

Giant 64 Kit (Springs, hangers, shackles, & u-bolt plates)
16” stroke ADS triple bypass shocks
Shocks and springs mounted outside factory frame
Frame notched to allow additional bump travel

Drivetrain

4.0 SOHC V6
Automatic 5R55E transmission
2003 F150 9.75 axle with factory posi
Front differential re-geared to 4:88 (less than 8,000 miles – mostly street)
Rear differential re-geared to 4:88
BW 1354 manual shift transfer case swap

Brakes

Front – Factory calibers, Brembo slotted rotors
Rear – Factory 13” disk brakes (2003 vintage F150)


Wheels & Tires

5 – MB Wheels Model 71 – 17X8.5 4.5” BS
5 – 315/70 R17 BFG KO (Internally stored spare has never been run)


Body

Front bumper and skid plate
Bumper tied into frame and engine cage tabbed for two 6” lights
Glassworks “Baker” front fenders painted to match factory color
Fiberwerx 7” bedsides with functional rear doors painted to match factory color

Interior

Full safety cage 1.75” with some 1.5” support
2 – MasterCraft Baja RS reclining off-road seats on factory sliders
2 – PRP 3” Link and Latch 5 point harnesses with sewn in pads
1 – PRP 42” off-road bench seat
2 – PRP 2” Link and Latch 4 point harnesses with sewn in pads
Cargo area cut and tubbed to allow for wheel travel and mounting of shocks outside the cabin
Bolt in carpeted rear cargo shelf
Swing up mount for two 2 – gallon RotoPax water containers
The headliner, carpet and majority of factory interior has been re-installed
1 – Ram Mount X-Grip tablet mount on adjustable swing arm

Communications

ICOM F121 50 Watt Radio with hardwired antenna on roof (purchased from PCI)
Uniden Bearcat 880 CB Radio with hardwired antenna mount on rear hatch
3’ Firestick Antenna
4’ Firestick Antenna
Rugged RRP 660 Intercom – Wired to all 4 seats
2 – RRP H43 Behind the head, headset with push to talk
1 – Icom to Intercom jumper cable
1 – 4 pin CB to Intercom jumper cable
Alpine head unit with CD and USB support
BlueSea auxiliary fuse panel mounted below glove compartment
Auxiliary switch panel located above Alpine head unit
1 – Momentary switch for ONX light bar (dim and strobe)
1 – Lit toggle switch for ONX light bar (on/off)
4 – Lit toggle switches
1 – Bumper HID (on/off)
1 – Rear dust light (on/off)
2 – Blue Sea flush mount USB charging stations (2 ports per station)


Lighting

2 – Baja Designs Sol-Tek 6” HID lights (driving pattern) – wired and mounted to bumper
1 – Baja Designs 7-cell ONX LED light bar (2 outside cells driving pattern, 5 inner cells spot)
wired and mounted above windshield
1 – KC Highlights 2” X 6” 55W Halogen dust light (wired and rear facing)
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Rmc
El Jefe
Posts: 6026
Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:22 pm
Bronco Info: 94 bronco xlt prerunner
Location: IE SoCal
Contact:

Re: The Explorer Experiment

Post by Rmc »

Very nice build.
User avatar
SteveG
Admin
Posts: 6100
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2009 10:25 am
Bronco Info: Wilson: 96, Stretched 17.5", coil-overs / Bypasses, 4-link, a fridge and all the amenities :)
Location: Arroyo Grande, CA

Re: The Explorer Experiment

Post by SteveG »

Daaaaaang! That's bad ass. Well done, sir. I'm going to have to come back and read up on all this. Very, very cool.
User avatar
ESHALLBETTER
Posts: 1579
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:49 am
Bronco Info: 85 class 3, 70's somthing trail bronco.
Location: Minneapolis, MN

The Explorer Experiment

Post by ESHALLBETTER »

I've always liked that thing! Congrats on the buy
cs_drums
Posts: 2912
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2010 10:39 am
Bronco Info: 94 5.8 Bronco w/dreams of being finished

The Explorer Experiment

Post by cs_drums »

Great looking rig!!!
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RyanDS650X
Posts: 1867
Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2009 11:13 am
Bronco Info: Autofab '96 XLT 5.8
Location: Mesa, AZ
Contact:

Post by RyanDS650X »

Nice! I've seen it for sale on CL for awhile.
User avatar
Nick
Founder
Posts: 3965
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2009 12:36 pm
Bronco Info: 1995 bird poop target
Location: La Habra Ca.

Re: The Explorer Experiment

Post by Nick »

Wow! Very nice!
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