- Joined
- Apr 13, 2009
- Messages
- 205
- Reaction score
- 45
- Points
- 28
- Location
- Red Deer, Canada
- Vehicle Year
- '91, '93, '98
- Vehicle
- Various
- Engine Size
- 4.0, 4.0, 4.6
- Suspension Style
- 4wd
I've been pondering what I'm going to do with some of my junk, and I haven't particularly liked the stock performance in the rbv vehicles I've owned, so I've come up with a plan for two [maybe four] of the many parts vehicles I've been collecting over the last year and a half....
1]
Take the lift from the red '85 b-II I recently acquired and stuff it into the tan rust-bucket '85 b-II that is currently running and insured. This will keep me a play toy until I've finished one of the two following;
2]
I'm going to combine the almost pristine body of the blue '85 b-II [it has an almost complete interior too]I have with the frame and running gear of a rolled, still running, 1991 Explorer. This should give me a good looking general purpose rig for driving around, gathering parts, camping and mall-crawling. I'm hoping it's slightly easier than my original idea of swapping all the axles and drive train over to the '85's frame. I haven't actually checked the frames as yet to see how close the body mounts are to each other but since I planned on raising the body I don't see any insurmountable problems anyway. If I can I'll center the b-II on the Ex's frame, which should be the same as moving the axles towards the bumpers 5" each [If I remember my frame lengths correctly]. Some of the things I'll have to think about are extending the steering shaft, moving the motor/trans/t.c. back the same as the body, shortening/lengthening drive-shafts, the wiring inside the cab.
or
3]
Combine a different, also good red '85 body [no interior] with the frame and running gear of a 1980 full size Bronco with a carbed 351/c-6/9". This would be built with mud bogs and trail running in mind, and a 460 would be put in eventually. Basically the same plan of attack as above but minus the computer wiring.
Both would have to be built with vehicle inspections and insurance in mind because no one can run trails in Alberta without plates and insurance.
Help me make up my mind,
Richard
1]
Take the lift from the red '85 b-II I recently acquired and stuff it into the tan rust-bucket '85 b-II that is currently running and insured. This will keep me a play toy until I've finished one of the two following;
2]
I'm going to combine the almost pristine body of the blue '85 b-II [it has an almost complete interior too]I have with the frame and running gear of a rolled, still running, 1991 Explorer. This should give me a good looking general purpose rig for driving around, gathering parts, camping and mall-crawling. I'm hoping it's slightly easier than my original idea of swapping all the axles and drive train over to the '85's frame. I haven't actually checked the frames as yet to see how close the body mounts are to each other but since I planned on raising the body I don't see any insurmountable problems anyway. If I can I'll center the b-II on the Ex's frame, which should be the same as moving the axles towards the bumpers 5" each [If I remember my frame lengths correctly]. Some of the things I'll have to think about are extending the steering shaft, moving the motor/trans/t.c. back the same as the body, shortening/lengthening drive-shafts, the wiring inside the cab.
or
3]
Combine a different, also good red '85 body [no interior] with the frame and running gear of a 1980 full size Bronco with a carbed 351/c-6/9". This would be built with mud bogs and trail running in mind, and a 460 would be put in eventually. Basically the same plan of attack as above but minus the computer wiring.
Both would have to be built with vehicle inspections and insurance in mind because no one can run trails in Alberta without plates and insurance.
Help me make up my mind,
Richard
. That made my mind up for me as I will probably need the 4.0 from the exploder to replace the 4.0 in my race truck with a cracked block! The race truck has been sitting outside since the race and has been at -20C to -35C for the last week. OOOPS! So it's the b-II body on the F.S.Bronco. I will be starting a new build thread,