Goddamn I Wanna Find A Clean Explorer Bumper

"Denver Is Stuck In The 90s" (denver80222)
02/16/2016 at 15:45 • Filed to: None

I just did a photoshop rendering of my truck in its proposed final form. HNNNG it looks good.

Here’s my drawing of it for reference:

And this is how it sits now:

Modifications that have already been done:

Fold In Mirrors

Diamond Clear Headlights

Blacked out Grille

Black Steelies

1999-2003 Ranger/Explorer Hubcaps

Modifications left to do:

Blacked out Grille Bezel

1999-2001 Explorer front bumper

Replace miscolored shell with black tonneau

5.0/T5 Swap??

DISCUSSION (39)

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 15:54

That does look pretty great. And bump the 5.0 swap way up the list, though you could go turbo 2.3, that would be pretty fitting.

EL_ULY > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 15:54

That would look pretty dang rad dude. Keep hunting for it!

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
02/16/2016 at 15:56

Im also thinking of replacing my 4.0 with a turbo 3.5 out of a new F150. I’d expect there to be a bunch of wrecked, low miles ones on copart. #expensive_to_fix_aluminum_trucks

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 15:57

Now you’re talking. That 3.5 is a really great engine, pricier than a 5.0 (a ham sandwich with just mustard is pricier than a 5.0), but so smooth and so powerful.

deprecated account > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 16:02

a last-gen escape bumper might look good.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 16:03

I’ve seen one with a 351 in it if you really wanna get wild.

Looks great btw.

Oh, don’t be afraid to look for Sport Trac’s they had the black patch in the middle available too

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > deprecated account
02/16/2016 at 16:04

Except the Escape is Focus based, while the 1992-2001 Explorer is Ranger based. The Explorer bumper swap is borderline bolt on

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > EL_ULY
02/16/2016 at 16:12

I havent really been looking. My engine needs a Big service in May. I need to pull the engine and replace:

Motor Mounts

PCV Valve and elbow

Valve cover gaskets

Timing cover gaskets

Front Main Seal

Timing gears

Timing guides

Timing Chain

Water pump

Fan Clutch

Cam Seals

I need to save up for that before I do any more Visual upgrades. Its difficult though, I cant stop thinking about getting all my mods in.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 16:14

Looks awesome, keep it up.

Also, Ford has had some fantastic engines. The 5.0/T5 is probably the cheapest and easiest. A 2.3 Turbo would be an awesome swap as well, and a bit more unconventional. And I mean the old 2.3 SOHC from the Mustang SVO, etc. My understanding is that engine, in it’s N/A form, was the base engine in the Ranger for a long time, so it shouldn’t be too hard to convert over, I would think.

Another engine that might be cool is the newer 3.7L V6 out of the V6 Mustangs. From what I understand it makes about 315HP, which is probably more than your run of the mill 5.0 (unless you throw some mods at it). I don’t know how much of a PITA it would be, but its different.

Tareim - V8 powered > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 16:24

surely with that amount to swap/replace you are better off doing the engine swap now?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Tareim - V8 powered
02/16/2016 at 16:25

Yeah, It would if Colorado wasnt a Nazi emmissions state. It may be worth it to do the work and swap, but at this point in time, Its not worth the re-registration headache

Tareim - V8 powered > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 16:26

that’s a shame :/

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Tareim - V8 powered
02/16/2016 at 16:27

It can be done, but its a PiTA

MonkeePuzzle > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 16:28

if its same year or newer, from similar type of vehicle (trucks get truck engines, etc.) and preferably from same make, you’ll have literally zero questions asked.

PorkchoPlissken > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 16:29

I’ve only been an oppo for a few days, but I’ve read up on your truck for nearly as long as I’ve stalked you guys. And I like what you’re doing with the Ranger. Long live the lost small truck!

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > MonkeePuzzle
02/16/2016 at 16:29

Yeah I know, but Im more worried about there being 2 extra cylinders raising a few eyebrows

Tareim - V8 powered > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 16:31

would it be worth it in the long run though?

OPPOsaurus WRX > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 16:33

you should get/repaint the shell. its not a common look. The fibgerglass toneaus are a nightmare. People would drive with them up and come back cuz they get cracked. The vinyl ones are better but offer no security. If you do go that route get a velcro one. The snap ones are a nightmare in the winter and often rip out in the cold with people trying to stretch it to snap it closed

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Tareim - V8 powered
02/16/2016 at 16:33

Considering 4.0s have been known to surpass 250k miles and mine is only at 122k, yeah it most likely would

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > OPPOsaurus WRX
02/16/2016 at 16:36

The shell is pretty beat up, it needs more than paint. I literally only keep it on there in the winter to keep snow out of the bed. And for the tonneau, I was looking at something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Fold-Tonneau-C…

MonkeePuzzle > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 16:46

CO shouldn’t care two hoots if it passes emissions. And the technical rules don’t say anything about displacement changes. Even better if it’s OBD2, and it just plugs in and happily shows no faults.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 16:48

i think this was the top seller. its been a while since I was really ontop of this stuff tho

http://www.amazon.com/Ranger-TruXedo…

deprecated account > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 16:58

The last-gen is neither Ranger based nor Focus based. I’m referrring to this:

Kinja'd!!!

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > deprecated account
02/16/2016 at 17:01

I see what you mean, but that would be a Fabrication nightmare

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > MonkeePuzzle
02/16/2016 at 17:03

My truck is OBD1. I’ll have to pick your brain about this stuff at some point

uofime-2 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 17:07

That 5L T5 sure sounds tempting, but until you have a second car a motor swap is crazy sauce.

If you can do all that maintenance yourself, you’ll gain a lot of good experience that will help with the swap if you do it later anyway.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > PorkchoPlissken
02/16/2016 at 17:08

Thanks

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > uofime-2
02/16/2016 at 17:09

Thats what Im thinking. My parents are giving me access to Our Odyssey while Im pulling my engine, But Id rather have the experience first before I get too crazy

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > OPPOsaurus WRX
02/16/2016 at 17:19

Ive seen those, I like em. But Ive also seen them warp in the sun. Im worried about longevity with those

EL_ULY > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 17:20

Gravy work!!!! You don’t have to pull the engine for any of those easy things dude :]

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > EL_ULY
02/16/2016 at 17:20

For the cam seals I do, one is in the rear

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > EL_ULY
02/16/2016 at 17:31

True, but it is easier, and his engine bay needs a good cleaning. We’re also doing an r134a conversion. It’s not much extra work.

EL_ULY > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car
02/16/2016 at 17:41

fittings and a new drier?

deprecated account > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 17:51

yeah, true.

uofime-2 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/16/2016 at 17:58

if you want to do the swap and keep the emissions and OBD2 working like monkeypuzzle suggested to keep CO happy. Its gonna take some serious research, but depending on your mindset that might be fun to do!

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > uofime-2
02/16/2016 at 21:58

Ford didnt go to OBD2 till 95 and my truck is a 1993 so If I finda a 1993 or 1994 V8 explorer I wouldnt need to convert to obd2. So that would probably be ideal

uofime-2 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/17/2016 at 10:02

Nice! I’m betting your state just uses sniffers to test obd 1 cars since the system was so problematic. That absolutely makes it easier!

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > EL_ULY
02/17/2016 at 20:45

Yep.

Now he’s decided to just do a full rebuild. Love makes you do stupid stuff.

See : Him rebuilding his ranger engine

See: Me and my alfa.

Nothing > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/18/2016 at 14:22

Drive by the sniffers. Get two readings within 6 months of renewal and you're good. When I had to go in to the office, there was always one on the Park Ave/38th/I-25 on ramp. The only time I had to go "in person" was when I first bought the Miata. Thankfully, the Cougar is emissions exempt.