Bandit Customs Famous rig rebuild

[Kris Guilbeaux]

So the current owner (Justin K.) of this Explorer has hired Bandit Customs for the rebuild of his Rig. When it arrived to us the Explorer body was gone and bare Ranger cab was in place. The choice was made to move a completely different direction. Now a motor and transmission swap are now involved.



The short list includes

99 Mountaineer body
4.0 SOHC swap
5R55E Auto (rebuild)
Doubler installed between trans and 1354
Restore frame.
Fill in welds do to missed location when SAS was installed (this happens when the motor/body is in the way while we have it apart it will be cleaned up)
Modify Trans cross-member to be removable and clearance for drive shaft with doubler in place.
Hyrdo assist install.
rework the exhaust.

Im currently looking at Monday to get the paint for the frame, most if it has been stripped and primer has been applied.

[KF5ZXT]

What kind of paint are you using on the frame?

[Kris Guilbeaux]

I wont know till Monday. I will be going to the paint shop that day to select what I plan to use.

[KF5ZXT]

So what did you get?

[Kris Guilbeaux]

Havnt chose a paint yet we have done more work to the frame. We welded all the joints together to give the frame and cap mounts more strength.

[Kris Guilbeaux]

Guess no one is following this thread

[BigTim55]

I'm following. Quick question tho...
Why is this one famous? Was it in a movie?

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

[Kris Guilbeaux]

It's been around since the beginning of demon and been owned by three demon members.

[8am8am]

I'm hurr too, & i bet creepy ol'man magic mike from down the way is watching too.

just hadn't seen/had reason to comment, was wondering about 'famous' too, but figured it was the rig name.

[MrQ]

I'm following just not commenting, till now.

[Kris Guilbeaux]

Ok cool. I just felt like I was talking to myself on this one.

[Kris Guilbeaux]

Over the weekend I painted the frame and we swapped the new body onto the frame.

Here is photo updates from the weekend:

[KF5ZXT]

Nice. IIRC, the front frame horns are different. What are you going to have to do about that?

[MrQ]

Actually the front body mount locations are different between 1st and 2nd gen and thats one of the major reasons Red doesn't have a first gen frame. The frame horns are merely cut and weld if i remember correctly.

[TxPlates]

Very nice. Love that the frames not all rusty. We'll have to finish mine that way if it ever comes back lol.

[Kris Guilbeaux]

Yes there will be some modification to the front body mounts and the core support from the donor mountaineer is all bent to hell. We plan to cut out the core support and weld in all the metal to fix that. We will also have to modify the mounts at the core support.

[Idleone]

Looks sweet! My HOA would kill me however

[TxPlates]

You're hoa shits over shit.

[KF5ZXT]

Are you modifying the shock towers? Or is there another reason they weren't painted?

[8am8am]

I vote since nothing is painted forward the rear shock tower arm, it's just a big 'steer clear' area given all the front modding/welding/grinding etc.....

but what i hope is it was done just to irritate you.

it's looking good tho, almost good enuff to make me want a sploder.

[Kris Guilbeaux]

First of all I live in a neighborhood with out an hoa (did this on purpose) my neighbors are cool with it since we fix their cars. It surprises me how many people get homes with an hoa just to be told how to live it's like gun control for houses.

Now second on the painting in front of the shock towers I haven't painted that because I plan to remove the coilovers and I have to cut and weld a few things in this area not going to paint till fabrication is complete

[MrQ]

W00t can hardly wait till its finished.

[KF5ZXT]

Updates?

[mr. everyman]

Are you guys using a TIG welder on those joints?