2nd gen explorer build

[4xFoorOffroad]

What do you have for a welder - is it 110V or 220? Could use more wire speed and more voltage and slower movements, do you have any stuff you can practice on? Besides the truck I mean.

 

[Kwoodbury488]

What do you have for a welder - is it 110V or 220? Could use more wire speed and more voltage and slower movements, do you have any stuff you can practice on? Besides the truck I mean.

It’s a 220 I think I was having an issue because I didn’t clean the metal before welding so I’m just going to tack everything and make sure everything cycles correctly and then pull the arms off and weld it with nothing in my way

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

Nice you won’t have any problems welding anything for a passenger vehicle with 220. Cleaning definitely will improve any welding anyone does. I had to teach myself how to weld through the internet so there’s a Rolodex of videos that comes to mind. Weld.com and Weldingtipsandtricks.com are two good platforms that post awesome videos like this one on Youtube

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xod-ByrxHg4

 

[Kwoodbury488]

Got the passenger side tower in and tacked up gonna cycle tomorrow and then move to the driver side get that plates and tower all tacked in as well then cycle if nothing binds I’ll remove all the arms and weld it all in pretty stoked

 

[marcytech]

I think the shock needs to be mounted higher. That bump stop is able to compress a bunch more than what you have it compressed right now. So at bump all your load is gonna be in your shock mount

 

[Bpbuilt]

Just a heads up those bump stops like to explode, it was to the point where I would keep a spare in my truck. The red urethane ones seemed to last a bit longer than the black though.
Looks awesome though, rad to see another second gen

 

[Kwoodbury488]

Just a heads up those bump stops like to explode, it was to the point where I would keep a spare in my truck. The red urethane ones seemed to last a bit longer than the black though.
Looks awesome though, rad to see another second gen

Copy that I’ll look into another set

 

[Kwoodbury488]

I think the shock needs to be mounted higher. That bump stop is able to compress a bunch more than what you have it compressed right now. So at bump all your load is gonna be in your shock mount

Ill check it out good thing everything is just tacked lol

 

[the bodj]

This is @Exploder_M 's truck when I was setting up his BTF kit. Not exactly the same, but pretty similar. You should be able to get more bump travel out of it than you have shown. Remove the bumpstop entirely and bump metal to metal, then set up your shock fully compressed. That way when you reinstall the bumpstop you'll never be able to fully bump the shock, unless the bumpstop explodes like previously stated lol

 

[marcytech]

He’s using the stock spindle rn so his true is goin way higher off the bat. I suggested checking what his ride height is gonna look like with the stock spindle

 

[Kwoodbury488]

Alright boys I took all the great info into consideration and ended up cutting it all out. Set the bump at metal to metal. Took out my windshield wiper fluid and radiator over flow tanks out made a ton more room got about another inch and a half of full bump it raised my tower a whole another inch and a half got it all taked in out the tire one gotta trim some more of the fender well and go from there. Thank you all for the info I’m stoked on how much better it is and having mire up travel now. Couple more things to get this side dialed but pretty much there. Yee yee fukn stoked Al’s was able to do this got some extra hands from my buddy Jake he killed it tonight with me mic love yall!!!!

 

[the bodj]

Looks cool! I wish we got rid of Marshall's wiper fluid bottle - it would have been so much easier haha.

I think you're going to want to add a gusset of some sort to the stub tubes coming off the frame with how far away from the frame you put the shock hoop tube.

 

[Kwoodbury488]

Looks cool! I wish we got rid of Marshall's wiper fluid bottle - it would have been so much easier haha.

I think you're going to want to add a gusset of some sort to the stub tubes coming off the frame with how far away from the frame you put the shock hoop tube.

View attachment 48572

Copy that as soon as I have everything welded up I’ll go through it and see what I should probably put gussets on. Also after the towers are in will be putting in a brace over the engine to support the towers to keep from bowing

 

[the bodj]

Copy that as soon as I have everything welded up I’ll go through it and see what I should probably put gussets on. Also after the towers are in will be putting in a brace over the engine to support the towers to keep from bowing

Another thing that was taught to me, and makes sense, is to add a third leg from somewhere on the upper portion of your shock hoop to the top of the frame. It makes your shock hoop a tripod instead of a bipod and adds a significant amount of strength

 

[Kwoodbury488]

Another thing that was taught to me, and makes sense, is to add a third leg from somewhere on the upper portion of your shock hoop to the top of the frame. It makes your shock hoop a tripod instead of a bipod and adds a significant amount of strength

Copy that dude I’ll try and make that happen as well thanks man

 

[Kwoodbury488]

Another thing that was taught to me, and makes sense, is to add a third leg from somewhere on the upper portion of your shock hoop to the top of the frame. It makes your shock hoop a tripod instead of a bipod and adds a significant amount of strength

I was wondering what if I through in the gussets under the stub outs and some from the back side for the shock tower to the frame? Would that work as well? Of I didn’t have time to throw in a third leg and then down the line put one in? I’m really trying to get this thing ready for koh the 30th-1st? If I don’t make it not a big deal tho.

 

[the bodj]

I was wondering what if I through in the gussets under the stub outs and some from the back side for the shock tower to the frame? Would that work as well? Of I didn’t have time to throw in a third leg and then down the line put one in? I’m really trying to get this thing ready for koh the 30th-1st? If I don’t make it not a big deal tho.

You'll be fine without the third leg for a weekend. Can always add it later.

Having it down low won't help as much. Think of standing with your feet shoulder width apart (the frame mounts of your shock hoops). Someone pushes your shoulders from behind and you have to step forward. Now you have a toddler in front of you holding your shin. Someone pushes your shoulders again. It's a little stronger, but you'll still push past the toddler and take a step forward. Now instead of the toddler, you have a shovel that you've got your hands and chest leaning against, and the blade is dug into the ground. Someone pushes your shoulders, what's gonna happen?

 

[Kwoodbury488]

You'll be fine without the third leg for a weekend. Can always add it later.

Having it down low won't help as much. Think of standing with your feet shoulder width apart (the frame mounts of your shock hoops). Someone pushes your shoulders from behind and you have to step forward. Now you have a toddler in front of you holding your shin. Someone pushes your shoulders again. It's a little stronger, but you'll still push past the toddler and take a step forward. Now instead of the toddler, you have a shovel that you've got your hands and chest leaning against, and the blade is dug into the ground. Someone pushes your shoulders, what's gonna happen?

You'll be fine without the third leg for a weekend. Can always add it later.

Having it down low won't help as much. Think of standing with your feet shoulder width apart (the frame mounts of your shock hoops). Someone pushes your shoulders from behind and you have to step forward. Now you have a toddler in front of you holding your shin. Someone pushes your shoulders again. It's a little stronger, but you'll still push past the toddler and take a step forward. Now instead of the toddler, you have a shovel that you've got your hands and chest leaning against, and the blade is dug into the ground. Someone pushes your shoulders, what's gonna happen?

10/4

 

[Kwoodbury488]

Got the driver side tacked up and marked out where I need my cuts and stub outs. Got all my angles where I want them. Gonna pull it off today tack frame plates and everything else in.

 

[the bodj]

Lookin good dude!