1991 Explorer

[LoganB]

I’ve had my explorer for 5 years now and figured why not post a “build” thread.

I found this gem on OfferUp with such a bland ad but wanted to go check it out since it was down the street.

1991 Ford Explorer 5 speed trans and manual t case. 32” bfg, ar-23, 2.5” rancho drop down kit, 2” body lift.

 

[LoganB]

Got it home and stripped it down for a good ole paint and prep session since everything was blown the fuck out. Removed the add a leaf as well to better suit the “visual” part.

 

[LoganB]

I took it out almost every day for a month after that. Just enjoying it and finding new local spots!
Everything was cool until I decided one day to drive it to work 50+ miles on the freeway. Cruising 70mph the trans decided to have permanent neutrals by separating the input shaft (lack of fluid) my fault for not looking. #facepalm

 

[LoganB]

Ar-23s with 32s went into another vehicle I bought while the explorer waited for a trans. Came up on these 35s with wheels for 200$ so I stuffed those under it. This was probably the last time this thing was this clean and body in great shape. Also, I ran it out of gas.

 

[LoganB]

Got rid of the black wheels, not a fan at all. Mounted a roof rack and some Baja designs in the grille. Went to a spot out here in Az called China Dam during the day. Decided to go wheeling later that night and left with some body damage, I was super bummed since this thing was clean until now.

September 2022 we went on a trip for my bachelor party. We did the Diablo trail section which runs from the Gila Bend area to Yuma. We got off in Yuma and jammed up to Blythe to end the trip at the river. I had a nasty blowout on the way to the river and ended up losing control and almost taking a semi head on by mere inches. A definite wake up call to anyone who runs the km2 to throw that tire in the trash.

 

[LoganB]

After my tire mishap, Kanati tires sent me some tires as a wedding gift. I got those on in time for thanksgiving at the river! My favorite photo is me sitting at the top of the sand dunes with a 1,000$ explorer surrounded by tons of financed toys.

 

[LoganB]

The main theme behind this awesome vehicle is to get parts hand me downs, or trade labor, minimal cash out of pocket. So with that theme, I came up on some Solo radius arms for free since the ears were bent. I just bolted the ear to the table at the shop and bent on em till they straightened out. SCORE!

Perfect timing since I had bent the original bushing style mounts. I used the existing holes from the bracket and made my own style bracket for the solo arms. Got it done just in time to go run Phoenix to Crown King the back way with some friends.

 

[LoganB]

At this point I’ve logged over 2,000 dirt miles in it and it needed a once over.

So this has a 2.5” drop bracket opposed to a cut and turn and over the course of 30 years of beating on, the kit had scene better days. I noticed a crack so I pulled it to weld it up, and noticed that it had already been welded by the previous owner. I ground down the cracks and weldedd them back up, also decided to box in the bracket.

 

[LoganB]

After running the 2.5” springs up front and stock rear springs, this thing was starting to sag up front and leafs were sitting with a horrible lean/ broken spring. Keeping up with the traded/ hand me down theme, I traded some labor for new deavers in the rear, and a homie gave me some 4” springs up front. I had some Alcoa’s laying around that I decided to throw on as well.

 

[LoganB]

Took my ranger to koh 2025 and broke it second day. I was fortunate enough to have my homie Lance had an open spot on his trailer so he hauled this hoopty out for me. Since I wasn’t expecting to take it, it wasn’t quite ready so it showed up needing some work before even really leaving the trailer. U bolts came loose and wallowed out the center pin hole on the plate and the front spring had rotated somehow and was about to eject out of the side. I was fairly impressed with how much it flexed on the trailer. Once it was fixed I put 100s of dirt miles the rest of the week I was there, without a hiccup.

 

[LoganB]

Got home from koh and kept adding up the dirt miles. I came up on a smokin deal on an awning, so I am on my way to becoming an overlander. In April my dad came out with his Baja bug and we went and did a local trail out here in Az to Sheep’s crossing on the verde river.

This is my absolute favorite off-road vehicle I’ve ever had. The small amount of dollars invested is far outweighed by the fun and memories this thing has created. If I were to guess, we’re cresting the 3000 dirt miles and i am looking forward to many many more years and miles.

It’s over 100 degrees for the next few months so I don’t plan on using it too much, so maybe I’ll update this with smaller things I do to it. Honestly though, it’s too damn fun as is!

 

[UR_Mawm69]

psh. gayeee

 

[85Yota]

psh. gayeee

Take's one to know one.....

 

[troysladeck]

Sheep's bridge is awesome. Did a 3 day camping trip out there last month and was a blast. Did you do the water crossing?

Lmk if you want to come down to Tucson this summer and do some 4lo activites!

 

[BATTEN]

This site was pretty sick until you started this thread

 

[gascapkevin]

@troysladeck why do you always post jeep stuff in explorer related areas? First it was the facebook group and now it's this poor guys EXPLORER thread

 

[LoganB]

This site was pretty sick until you started this thread

Because of your actions, I like Tristan more now.

 

[LoganB]

5 years no prep has caught up to this hoopty. I went to check wheel bearings, which resulted in me pulling wheels to do them. At that point the driver side was loose enough that the retainer nut somehow seized onto the snout, I just used my special socket and cut it off.

Since the snout was now fucked I had to replace it, and I noticed at this point ball joints were smoked, and the diff seal had DNF’d. So the whole spindle and diff came out to clean and replace the seal. Since the diff had been leaking for a long time everything was covered in oil/grime/mud, so the only way to clean it right was to pull the beam too, which needed the pivot bushing replaced too.



Cleaned the front end up and ready for everything to show up so I can re assemble it, and log a few more thousand miles this season.



Also cut and buffed and spit shined it before parking it for the front end overhaul. Front fender is untouched in this photo.



Not so much truck related, but been prepping all my shit, including my house.

Had some serious stucco failure, so I decided to just rip the house to the studs and have it redone. Was able to insulate the garage since it was never done, and added more insulation around the house. Being a homeowner is sick haha.

 

[85Yota]

Ditch the TTB and do tons and 4D's with the doubler you haven't bought from Mikey yet.

 

[LoganB]

I’m probably gonna make you pick the doubler and store it at your junkyard until koh. 4 deez and sas is still on the horizon for this one.