Quote:
Originally Posted by oldiron73
I had a Question about using a S-10 frame and what to look for, has anyone used a 2wd explorer frame with IFS. Older style Ranger would be nice(Many out there) but the twin I beam concept I am not to fond of. I know some of you will not agree but that is my 2 cents. I know some of the Ford Purist out there disagree with using an S-10 frame. The 2wd explorer in my area are not as abundant. Just let me know if any of you have any other ideas that worked for you. Thanks Mark....... 
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Hi Mark,
First of all, before we get into this, go to your profile and finsh filling out all those pesky questions so we will know more about you. For instance, it helps to know your location. You might be living next to some of us and we would never know it. Just take a look at some of the other profiles and you will see what I mean. We need a description of your truck and pictures.
Now, about the frame thing... As for being a Ford purist, I do tend to lean that way. That said, I also think it just makes sense to go with what works best for you. As for frames, Ford, GM and Mopar get the majority of them from the same place, A.O. Smith manufacturing. The same company that makes water tanks, storage silos and water heaters. Even though I'm a Ford guy, I have to admit that the S-10 is a well built frame and chassis.
Before you make a purchase I would do some measuring. The three big areas are frame width, length and wheelbase. The explorer chassis from circa '91-'93 is pretty well matched to the '53-'56 F-100s. But here again, you need to give us more info. Your post says nothing about what truck you want to put it under. I am thinking that you are going for the dropped street rod look if you are avoiding the Ford twin I-beam front suspension. If so, you need to consider that both the S-10, Ranger and Explorer chassis are all going to sit high and it will take alot of money and/or time to get them low. Unfortunately, there are no
out of the box solutions.
If the low rider thing is not what you are going for I am wondering why you would not consider using a 4WD chassis. Here again, we don't know where you are so it may just be that you have no use or desire for a 4WD. You did say the 2WD is scarace where you are, so that hints that you might be living in an area where 4WD is useful. That is much the case here where I live but down in Atlanta where my son lives, the 2WD Explorers are quite common. He has a new one.
Back to the mod... No mater what you do, a frame swap is going to require extensive modification to the frame and body mounting. I think this is one factor that leads a lot of people toward modifying the existing frames by boxing them and a replacing the front suspension to an IFS as well as going with a four link in the back.. Here again, we don't know much about you, you skill level, you facility and equipment. In order to do this right and safe you need a lot time, money and skill plus the equipment to do the job. Of course if you have lots of money, you can hire everything done, but if that's the case, there isn't much of a point to hanging around this forum. Since you are here I doubt that is the case.
I'm guessing you are new here. If so, welcome. Post often and keep us up to date on your project. You will probably get a hundred different opinions on what to do and they are probably all right answers for the most part. I'm sure that when we see what you are doing and where you want to go with it, you will get a lot of help. Now, get that profile filled out and get us some pictures. Good luck with your project.
Later Man...
There was a thread on here a few months back about using an explorer frame under one of our trucks. The cat did a great job on it and it looked like it belonged. This topic stirs up alot of unhappy campers on here. I take the side of frame swaps, but I'm a professional and I do this all the time. I've got several frame swaps out there on the road and driving. The problem with most folks is they get in the middle and dont have any direction to go and STOP. Then the project gets sold or crushed?????
