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79 SWB Explorer Build Project

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Old Feb 1, 2020 | 01:46 PM
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79 SWB Explorer Build Project

Say hello to my beautiful little ugly duckling. 1979 SWB 4x4 F-150. I learned to drive on Grandpa's old Explorer, so that's the inspiration/direction I'm going to go with this build. I have all the original paperwork and a complete history of the truck. She runs and drives great and I'm a bit of an Audiophile so the first set of parts ordered where replacement speakers, and a new stereo. I will be updating this thread with progress pics, links to any parts used, and if I do anything unusual I'll post descriptions of work performed. If anyone has recomendations or sources in NWA or Central AR please feel free to share.




 
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Old Feb 1, 2020 | 01:50 PM
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Looks decent. What are you wanting to do to it?
 
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Old Feb 1, 2020 | 01:54 PM
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And welcome to FTE. Also consider joining the state chapter.
 
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Old Feb 1, 2020 | 02:26 PM
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Nice truck!
Welcome to FTE! hope you post tons of pics!
like to see the progress.
 
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Old Feb 1, 2020 | 02:29 PM
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Welcome to the insanity!
 
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Old Feb 1, 2020 | 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by smle
Looks decent. What are you wanting to do to it?
I'll be doing a mostly factory restore. I'll be using a modern stereo. This truck is/was a custom, but I will be making it a Explorer. She needs a little bit of body work, paint, trim, all the normal things you would expect, but all in all she really is in great shape.

Originally Posted by smle
And welcome to FTE. Also consider joining the state chapter.
I didn't realize there was one will do!
 
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Old Feb 1, 2020 | 02:54 PM
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Originally Posted by i-w
Nice truck!
Welcome to FTE! hope you post tons of pics!
like to see the progress.
Thanks, and will do.
 
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Old Feb 1, 2020 | 02:56 PM
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Originally Posted by 73 hi-boy 428 fe
Welcome to the insanity!
Thank you, happy to be here.
 
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Old Feb 8, 2020 | 11:34 AM
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I've got roughly a hour for the first phase of epoxy to cure, so I thought I would go ahead and post some info and progress pics.

Materials:
1 Pioneer DMH-C2550NEX
1 double din mounting kit (GMK422)
Sheet Styrene (hobby lobby)
Epoxy Putty
Masking tape







 
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Old Feb 8, 2020 | 11:57 AM
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As you can see I've still got a ways to go. I've got at least 1 more round of Epoxy and styrene work to go before I can sand and paint. But so far everything is working out exactly as planned. I used the styrene cut into strips to reinforce the mounting kit bezel. Multiple layers gave me a good snug fit around the stereo display, allowing me to do away with the mounting brackets that came in the kit. Masking tape and epoxy will allow me to flesh out the modified bezel, which will serve the dual purpose of making mounting the screen much easier and giving me a much more polished/professional looking install. And because I am building it this way, when I replace the instument cluster bezel swapping the screen over will only require a couple screws, no cutting will be required.
 
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