I really like your idea and have seriously thought about installing a 20 something gallon tank between the frame rails behind the rear axle but my truck came to me with an OEM type stainless steel tank (15 gallon) so that's what I have. The external pump is only about 2 ft from the tank and about level with the bottom of the tank so it doesn't have to do much work. One thing is for sure, changing it out is a heck of a lot easier than doing a in-tank pump. And I'm hoping the $50 pump will be more durable than the $10 pump was.

 

It sure is, but I think I would throw a spare in the glove box just in case, cheap insurance!

 

And by the way, the rear shocks are Monroe air shocks MA803 and I'm having a dickens of a time getting the air lines so they do not leak. One problem is they lose 10 psi just putting the tire pressure gauge on the shrader valve so I'm going to try adding a pressure gauge but that will add more connects that can potentially leak.

 

Another Oregonian checking in here. Awesome thread!

 

howdy. And yesterday I talked to a neighbor who just got a 56 from an older PO that needs to be completed. Maybe I'll see if he'll let me take some photos and post em here. It's an interesting build.

 

I've not read thru my whole thread and can't remember what I've included but I think that I left this out. The PO of my truck installed tailgate latches but did not have any chains or cables to keep it from dropping on the bumper. I got this idea form someone else here and really like the cable stays.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-57f...ature=youtu.be

 

And, I've been futz'n with this for too long. As mentioned in post 773, the air shocks are giving me fitzs. One was blown out so O'Reilly's replaced both of them. The air gauge adds some fittings but I have more confidence in 1/8" brass pipe threads not leaking than the plastic 1/8" air line fittings so I don't think this added much risk for leakage.

 

Trying to get the interior done. the PO reupholstered the original seat but used a contoured foam base that is off center about 2 inches from the steering wheel and instrument cluster. Is an original seat worth anything?

 

Anyway, got the cab cleaned out and ready to install sound deadener. Then made a frame to attached 2nd row bucket seats from a Honda Odyssey.

 

The bucket seats are the 2nd row seats from a Honda Odyssey. They latch into the base frame so installing them is an easy 3 step process, install base frame, then latch in one seat at a time. The slap belts are from a Ford Windstar.

 

there's another thread about the Explorer 8.8 rear end asking about the parking brake so I thought I'd add this. The Explorer rear (mine is a 1999) had a longer parking brake cable on the right side that crossed to the left side to join with a shorter cable on the left. The stock location for the main cable on our trucks is in the center of the frame rails so I got a second short cable from a wrecking yard and installed it on the right side. Then I fabricated a wishbone shaped link to connect the stock cable to the pair of Explorer cables. You can find a few more photos in my albums.

Explorer left side parking brake cable


back end of the stock parking brake cable.


front half of the wish bone link that I fabricated


back half of the wishbone link that connects the stock parking brake cable to the Explorer cables.


looking forward from the front end of the Explorer parking brake cables.

 

seats were too tall. I'm short but my son is tall and he had to duck to look out the windshield. So back to the drawing board. Revised frame below. And a video.

 

and adding a bit of sound deadener.

 

Just read your entire thread thru- Great Work!! I love the low buck way. That's the way I am trying to do with my 56. But as you know it still gets expensive! It's funny I never looked at your thread before, I saw it but the title made me assume it was only about mounting a Chevy drivetrain in. But it is much more! Thank you so much for all the info. I love what you did for a heater core! I love your truck - good job!