Racing explorer tips?

[mr.frenchy]

This weekend I'll be racing a '96 explorer in an "off-road" competition called full metal mayhem. It's sort of like a cheap truck challenge type event, indoors, so probably tight turns, a couple jumps and who knows what obstacles...
5 timed races over 2 days.

Thing is, I've never had an explorer and It's getting delivered friday night, the night before the races start.
I know it runs, the rear end howls and it has 400k KM's. I'm trying to get the VIN so I atleast know what engine, gears, etc.. are in it.
I might grab a spare rear diff from an auto wreckers if I can find out what gears are in it. The truck is basically getting destroyed this weekend, so don't want to spend any real $$$ on it, but also want it to have a chance at finishing all 5 races if possible.



What I'm after is more specifics about known issues and breakage and/or any tips on easy lifts.
I might just sawzall the fenders and throw in some 31" MT's. Will they rub on tight turns?

Spare driveshafts with u-joints a good idea?
Can I cut some exhaust off or do they need the backpressure?
How would it perform in front wheel drive if I remove the rear driveshaft before the rear end completely blows?

I will probably remove all 5 doors, side glass, running boards and as much interior as time allows...
Any other tips or tricks appreciated!

http://img1.classistatic.com/cps/kj/090906/965r2/187971m_20.jpeg

http://img1.classistatic.com/cps/kj/090906/967r7/1292lia_20.jpeg

[Toyoda]

tires pop, causing a roll over:D

[mr.frenchy]

tires pop, causing a roll over:D

No worries, I can get out and run the rest of the course :D

But good thinking, I'll bring a few spares!

[Totalled]

Yeah, start with a 91-94 that has a front suspension that can actually take that abuse...

[mjlogan88]

Yeah, start with a 91-94 that has a front suspension that can actually take that abuse...

X2

i have never seen a vehicle take abuse like i have a '91-94 exploder

[mr.frenchy]

Agreed.
But truck is getting delivered the night before the event, it's out of town, so I'd have to do a SAS in the parking lot of the event grounds...
1996 IFS it is :D

[LOGANSTANFORTH]

Man if you was in florida I would give you 500 cash for it......Fix the rearend and probably get 1500-2000 out of it at my buddies car lot......

[ken75ranger]

That thing is going to be pretty nose heavy for jumps. I'd at least balance it so it lands somewhat flat. You might want to reinforce the bumpstops too.

[br0nc0xrapt0r]

yeah I would remove all the glass. for safety and to keep the weight down

[JeetYet]

idk bout yall but my 91-94 explorer's front end sucks. i stadium race the truck and after every race, i have to replace the ibeams. no mmatter how easy i take it.

[Danger Ranger]

hope you like instant headaches... jumping a bone stock IFS exploder with all of 2.3" of suspension travel is going to suck... :lmao: make sure there's video proof :flipoff2:

[jeeprolet]

front should be torsion bars right? crank them way up to try and get some better uptravel

[wanderer-RRORC]

hope you like instant headaches... jumping a bone stock IFS exploder with all of 2.3" of suspension travel is going to suck... :lmao: make sure there's video proof :flipoff2:

yea...this...:D

[wahlstrom1]

It'll have a 4.0L, and probably 3.55 gears. Throw some 31's on it, crank the t bars, rip the swapbars off (and the rear diff pinion flange shock if it has one) and go. I'd leave the exhaust ( no real gain in this event) but rip the box apart, helps with throttle repsonse etc. Have fun crashin it.....I'll be there to watch!

[Nor Cal Wheelin]

This isnt really thread worthy, But I may be a tad jealous... Sounds like a fawk load of fun to me.




WE NEED PICS... Better yet, get some video.:smokin:

[arizona-v10]

Remove everything that adds weight, glass, passenger seats, front fenders, hood, airbags, spare tire, cut as much metal off as you can. Think giant sunroof over the backseats (you may be required to have it over your own head). Strap the battery down tight they will break free and fawk things up under the hood. You will be suprised at how much "lift" you get with removing weight. You might spends money on new over the counter shocks? I think fords have a relay that cuts fuel if youv'e been in an accident, I might disable that sensor? Yeah I would cut the exhaust, removes some weight, and I like loud racing on the cheap (makes me think I'm going fast:D). Might leave the sway bars in, if there will be corning at speed. I would take all the doors of and rear hatch, except drivers door, weld that bad boy closed. And add window net? Buy spray paint, have fun add one of these:flipoff2:. Sounds like a lot of fun I'm jealous.
Pics or it didn't happen.
Ray

[mr.frenchy]

It'll have a 4.0L, and probably 3.55 gears. Throw some 31's on it, crank the t bars, rip the swapbars off (and the rear diff pinion flange shock if it has one) and go. I'd leave the exhaust ( no real gain in this event) but rip the box apart, helps with throttle repsonse etc. Have fun crashin it.....I'll be there to watch!

Watching is for women and senior citizens :D
I may need a co-driver though

[mr.frenchy]

I just learned tonight that my camcorder has a "USB stream" feature.

Might be able to connect a laptop on the sidelines somewhere to get this low budget, cheap entertainment event out to the interwebs somehow...

[LOGANSTANFORTH]

Remove everything that adds weight, glass, passenger seats, front fenders, hood, airbags, spare tire, cut as much metal off as you can. Think giant sunroof over the backseats (you may be required to have it over your own head). Strap the battery down tight they will break free and fawk things up under the hood. You will be suprised at how much "lift" you get with removing weight. You might spends money on new over the counter shocks? I think fords have a relay that cuts fuel if youv'e been in an accident, I might disable that sensor? Yeah I would cut the exhaust, removes some weight, and I like loud racing on the cheap (makes me think I'm going fast:D). Might leave the sway bars in, if there will be corning at speed. I would take all the doors of and rear hatch, except drivers door, weld that bad boy closed. And add window net? Buy spray paint, have fun add one of these:flipoff2:. Sounds like a lot of fun I'm jealous.
Pics or it didn't happen.
Ray

Do exactly what this man says and you will have insane fun, and probably do pretty good......

[trail*ridin]

ball joints are the only "crap" part really if it has more than 50k miles on it be prepared for the to fail, other than that i would put the widest tires on it i could to help with the roll over issues...lol

have fun

[mr.frenchy]

if it has more than 50k miles on it be prepared...


:D it's got about 250,000 miles :laughing:

[Danger Ranger]

Good idea about welding the doors... think I'd weld both fronts and *roll* with it :laughing:

[LOGANSTANFORTH]

Put the exhaust through the hood.....Derby car style.....

[wanderer-RRORC]

Good idea about welding the doors... think I'd weld both fronts and *roll* with it :laughing:

:laughing:

[fairlane_68]

Sawzall the fenders and keep the go pedal floored. That's the only way to get any power out of them.

[snh]

Do exactly what this man says and you will have insane fun, and probably do pretty good......

x2:D

[wahlstrom1]

Watching is for women and senior citizens :D
I may need a co-driver though

Well, I think ya got my number.......lemme know!

[HahnsB2]

idk bout yall but my 91-94 explorer's front end sucks. i stadium race the truck and after every race, i have to replace the ibeams. no mmatter how easy i take it.
Whats breaking/bending? Are you running the pinch bolt in the 3rd member?

[Danger Ranger]

Whats breaking/bending? Are you running the pinch bolt in the 3rd member?

I beams = 2wd... so if he's running *stock* I beams... then yeah, they suck :laughing: Look at what the desert kids do and pimp that sheit out :flipoff2:

[HahnsB2]

I beams = 2wd... so if he's running *stock* I beams... then yeah, they suck :laughing: Look at what the desert kids do and pimp that sheit out :flipoff2:
I beams = 2wd... so if he's running *stock* I beams... then yeah, they suck :laughing: Look at what the desert kids do and pimp that sheit out :flipoff2:
Many people call TTB "I beams", like how many people call any kind of LS a "posi".

But after searching through his post's he does indeed have TIB.

Carry on.

[mrboyle]

I've seen the second gen Explorers take some serious abuse. Nothing like the first gens could, but since you don't care about it here's what I'd do. Remove all glass (including windshield), gut interior, pull airbags and air bag fuses/relay, remove rear hatch but leave the rest of the doors. Remove the front bumper (send me the passenger fog light :D ), cut exhaust off behind second cat, trim to fit some 31's and run the piss out of it. I would check the upper ball joints before any air time but other than that I wouldn't sweat the noise in the rear.

[98ZJ]

yeah i want to see this! Aren't the 4.0 supposed to be pretty tough? Obviously check all fluids, thats goes without saying. Maybe change the thermostat as well and put in a low temp one?

[Danger Ranger]

Yes, the 4.0 ohv is tough fawkin motor... everything else will probably break around it first :D

[scott037]

i run the dog poo out of a first gen and the rear end is golden you have no worries on that end. but do what ever it take to get it sitting 2 or more inches nose high. if possible weld up the rear end because the ls in those are unpredictable.

[adrianspeeder]

Nifty, I've been beatin' around a 96 two door in the woods and muck bogs and actually am impressed on what it can do with stock suspension. Picked up two more right before I deployed as well to start bashin' parts together makin' them as good as a FSB.

Adrianspeeder

[fordmonkey]

That thing is going to be pretty nose heavy for jumps. I'd at least balance it so it lands somewhat flat. You might want to reinforce the bumpstops too.

This! If the course has actual jumps rather than bumps, I think I'd lighten up the nose as much as possible and leave the ass end as heavy as possible. (i.e., don't remove rear hatch) After a jump you'd want to land level rather than nose planting; it's the nose plant that is going to f*ck you up...

[PhantomEB]

I believe said comp was last weekend, so Frenchy tell us how this thing did with your crazy head behind it.

[mr.frenchy]

I believe said comp was last weekend, so Frenchy tell us how this thing did with your crazy head behind it.

It was a free truck I was allowed to use for this comp. as there were not enough teams registered, but the show had to go on...

Last minute, plenty of teams signed up and showed up. As an "alternate" I was bumped. They ran over time limit for each show as it was, so I didn't even get a chance to run :(

Maybe a good thing, for my neck :D

Little vid of some of the action
offroad expo (http://blip.tv/file/2603706)