"The Beast" - Explorer 5.0/ZF/NP203/NP205 is ALIVE!

[BroncKrawler]

I'm rolling a '68, don't worry about it Shawn. I appreciate the offer, but I'll just be sure to wear lots of clothing. Kyle wants me to run my tube doors so I'll probably end up running those.

 

[Mtn Gote]

Nice man!! Awesome work!
Cory,

 

[Tito]

Took it for its first road test to get the wife some food from Gustav's
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
It was fun, definitely have to get used to the SUPER SOFT suspension but I can tell it is going to be insane out on the trails Sunday. I also took the empty lot next door for a spin with my 2 year old strapped in...do it again daddy, do it again!!! Brakes feel awesome, gearing is perfect, gear banger was flawless. I'm a little jazzed, can you tell?

 

[BroncKrawler]

SWEEEEET! Looks awesome Josh, I'm excited to see it wheel this Sunday. Any word on when you'll be getting your soft top?

 

[Tito]

Cage and top should happen within the next 2 weeks. Nate has the cage all done and is waiting for the welder to finish it up, here is a pic, I also had him add a few gussets in the rear, handles in the front, a tailgate support and a front seat kit too.
Rick is pretty close to having my soft top done too.

 

[regshawn]

That is going to be really nice when everything gets installed (its nice now, just will be safer, & more water tight). I was thinking you better keep that painted a color that Jocelyn doesn't care for or you will end up with the soon to be pink '76.;D . I am looking forward to going willing with it, and see all that hard work out on the trails flexing. Soon I will have you over helping me (just need to find that tree that money grows on). Sunday should be a good time,

Shawn

 

[Tito]

Alright here are a few pics from the first trip out on Sunday to Tillamook Forest. It did very very very well, extremely happy with the suspension, np435, tires, lockers, gears, everything!!! Cant wait to get the cage in next week that way I can take some of the tougher trails. Gear Banger coupler broke so I gotta fix that but otherwise everything did as it should.

 

[Tito]

Here are a few more

 

[sprdv1]

Kick A$$... Looks like a good time.. I'm jealous... Very well worth all the effort once you get to go test her out...

 

[Tito]

And if you were wondering, yes I took the top off after a little while, it was a beautiful day and that half cab top (which is rusted thru almost the whole way around) wasnt going to do much in a rollover anyways. And yes the top was off when we hit the mud hole (we hit 4 of them with the top off). Now that was fun! Here is a pic of Kyle after one of them.

 

[sprdv1]

LOL.. My little ones *11 & 12* are looking forward to the day I take them wheelin.. And the Beast rolls on..

 

[Big One]

Its great to have the kids jazzed to. It makes it alot more fun when everyones invloved

 

[bronko69er]

Is that how yer supposed to break in new gears Josh?

 

[Tito]

Ah come on Jesse, I had 5 or 6 miles before I took it out. I took it pretty easy on the trails, nothing crazy but yeah it isnt the recommended technique :-X
I did vary my rpm level as recommended. I need to figure out a few things before too much more on the street, its got a case of some death wobble. Not sure what it is but I will start eliminating things. No bump steer though.
At about 35 the wobble sets in, not sure what it is, I need to throw on some street tires to check if it is the tires or the steering and then go from there.

 

[bronko69er]

I'm just pokin fun, mainly cause I'm jealous that I couldn't come.
I thought they recommend at least 7 miles of road driving for break in
Isn't you entire front end new or rebuilt?
Gotta be alignment or tire imbalance????

 

[Tito]

It is ALL new. I took it off the trailer today and started feeling around, my track bar has the threaded ends (welded bung inserts) and was loose (jam nuts not tight) so that may contribute but I am sure not totally since there really isnt any give. I will throw some street tires on tonight and test it out.

 

[broncotime]

That's the first GearBanger breakage I've heard of. How did it break? What spare parts should I carry for mine (newly installed and have not yet hit the trails with it).

Thanks

 

[Tito]

One of the bolts on that coupler that holds onto the 435 stub stripped out and disappeared on the trail, I didnt notice it till the second one bent in half and let go of the stub. We used a hose clamp and vice grips, wheeled over half the day with the trail fix, couldnt get into 1st or 3rd (too loosy goosy) but I had a trailer. I would suggest carrying a spare 435 shifter with you, they are easy to pop in and out. I have been trying to find a spare one since before I went out just in case. I plan to weld that coupler to the 435 stub so it WONT ever break.

 

[regshawn]

Make sure you use lock-tight on the bolts. We used a hose clamp (same size as heater hose) and some vise grips to firm it up. I don't think Josh used any lock-tight at the time and believe one of the screws backed out. But then again the threads were pretty trashed, almost all gone. I would just check it from time to time, others have had no trouble at all, could of been a fluke thing.

Shawn

 

[regshawn]

:-X Never mind mine Josh beat me to it.