$800 98 Expedition XLT 4X4 budget build

[frito-bandito]

I already posted this on Member's Rides, but I wanted to go ahead and start a build thread on my 98 Expy XLT 4X4. The story starts when my mother in law borrowed her neighbor's Expy and it broke down in my yard. I let it sit there for a couple weeks then the owner said he'd take $800 for it, without hesitation, I paid him and was the proud owner of a new to us Expy.



Well it wouldn't go in park and the shifter was loose, so naturally I figured the bolts under the column were loose, and they were. I tightend them up and went and test drove it and discovered that it was stuck in low range. Of course my suspect was the T Case motor...so I unbolted the motor and manually switched it to 2 HI. Test drive #2- it started off perfect, then all of a sudden I had nothing, like I was in neutral, I managed to get it back in 4 LO and limp back home.
Next idea was to change the T Case fluid, I pulled the plug and about a teaspoon of black fluid dripped out. Then I realized the T Case was junk, and that's where I'm at now.

 

[frito-bandito]

So I start cleaning the severely neglected Expy out, three 30 gallon bags of trash later, I'm left with some carpet stains and a ridiculous amount of M&Ms and Skittles on the floor. I cleaned every interior panel untill I got it looking good, Tough Stuff is amazing!

 

[rburch]

Congrats on the great steal!

 

[frito-bandito]

I'm currently in the process of removing the old T Case (first time working on a 4WD). So anways, here's a couple of pics as she sits now....



My slow progress so far, yes I'm embarrassed!!


Quite a few miles on the clock....

 

[frito-bandito]

Anyways, as I'm on a budget, I scored four gently used 285's for $75!!!! Definitely an upgrade over the existing bald tires!!!

 

[frito-bandito]

Congrats on the great steal!

Thanks!!

 

[panda24619]

idk if thats an upgrade... those bfgs are pretty bald. but yes better then what you have on there now. haha congrats on that steel. not too bad for $800. get a junkyard t-case same year or a 97 and youll be all set. just bolts right up. reason why i say 97 or 98 is because of the out put shaft. on the 99+ they dont have a VSS gear. you wont be able to drive with out it. it tells how fast you are going and the computer how fast the truck is going. so a 97 or 98 t-case will work. just an fyi. other than that take some pics of everything you can. sounds like you have a funn project ahead of you!

 

[toms89]

So I start cleaning the severely neglected Expy out, three 30 gallon bags of trash later, I'm left with some carpet stains and a ridiculous amount of M&Ms and Skittles on the floor. I cleaned every interior panel untill I got it looking good, Tough Stuff is amazing!

LOL..... Sounds like fun. Interesting story and thread.

Good luck with your restoration?!

 

[walnuts4x4]

 

[SourMashII]

I crushed a perfect one from our 1998 6 months ago... Hindsight....

Congrats on the score, my kinda rig at my kinda pricepoint.

Curious to see how the 285's look on there, as I almost went there when I re-shod the wife's...

 

[frito-bandito]

Yeah the 285's ain't the best but at least I'll feel a little safer when I actually get to drive it to a tire shop, the existing tires have the cords showing. But I'm off tomorrow... or today actually, so I plan on making some real progress!

 

[frito-bandito]

So I did work on the Expy Thursday, at the advice of a local mechanic, I removed the transmission crossmember and unbolted the t case believing that I could squeeze it between the exhaust and the torsion bar crossmember....WRONG!!! The tailshaft of the t case is up against the floor of the truck and won't allow it to pivot down and come out, it don't lack much though. I'm dreading messing with the torsion bars, so before I do that, I'm gonna see what happens if I unbolt the tailshaft housing since tbhis t case is shot anyways. I'll add pics of my progress after I get off work. If y'all have any suggestions please let me know!

 

[SourMashII]

IIRC I had to drop the exhaust. It was a *****.

 

[timberwoof]

I'm subscribing to this. I always like to watch builds like this. Good luck man, and keep up the work.

 

[dgalvin66]

Ok, it has been 8 days and no update? You must have had some progress. At least gotten the transfer case out. We are gonna run out of popcorn!!!!!!

 

[sgtowing]

 

[frito-bandito]

Well no, I suck, I been kinda busy, but I squeezed in a little wrenching yesterday. I had the bright idea of trying to remove the tailshaft housing to try and get some clearence, I got all of the bolts out but one, and of course that one stripped out. So I'm gonna go back with a hacksaw and cut the exhaust crossover pipe and see if it will come out. Of course I'm trying to avoid messing with the torsion bars, but that will be my last resort. Thanks for the comments and support and ill update more often.

 

[Expeditionary]

wow youve got me thinking maybe i should change my tcase fluid...
and my tranny fluid, and my diff fluids, coolant flush, fix my broken washer hose that goes to the back wiper and spews washer fluid all over the ground, get new sway bar end links, new wheels bearings, fix my shifter linkage that says N when im in reverse and R when im in park, new coil pack for some cylinder, probably needs new plugs soon, OMG! why did I start talking?!?!?!

 

[workman8505]

lol @ expeditionary i know exactly how you feel man its all the little sh** thad adds up.
and great work so far frito. sounds like your having fun bet your wishing it was 4x2 now would be easier to deal with.

 

[Expeditionary]

lol @ expeditionary i know exactly how you feel man its all the little sh** thad adds up.
and great work so far frito. sounds like your having fun bet your wishing it was 4x2 now would be easier to deal with.

Its the little things that get you, and im one who will Mod before he repairs, which I know is bad but the important stuff is all good, its just the little things...
id take the headache and the work of a 4x4 over a 2wd anyday.
4x4>4x2 lol
My dad used to have a 98 EB 4x4 that he got rid of at 250k, bought an 03 EB 4x2 in 06, put 100k on that since he bought it. I Was talking to him the other day and he said "I think im just going to go for it and get a new(er) f150 this year, and there's no way I'm buying another 4x2" LOL!
He said he hates having to worry about getting stuck in the most simple and easy offroad places like sand, little mud, or wet grass. (no BS i got his truck stuck in wet grass one time lol)
Ill own 4x4s the rest of my life, I just love them idk what it is