THE "EXPLODER"

MY 2004 EXPLODER... WELL EXPLORER SPORT TRAC

I GOT THIS TINY TRUCK BACK IN CALIFORNIA TO HELP SAVE MONEY AND MILES RATHER THAN COMMUTING IN THE MUSTANG.

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THE ENGINE WAS THE 4.0 SOHC THAT WAS THE SAME AS THE PREVIOUS GENERATION V6 IN THE 2005-2010 MUSTANG.
IT WAS GUTLESS BUT HAD ENOUGH TORQUE TO POWER THE 35 INCH TIRES I PUT ON THE REAR.

THE TRUCK WAS THE OPPOSITE OF A CAROLINA LIFT AND LOOKED LIKE A STICK BUG, BUT SURPRISINGLY IT HANDLED REALLY PREDICTABLY.  I TOOK THIS TRUCK WAY TOO FAST THROUGH TWISTY MOUNTAIN ROADS JUST LIKE THE MUSTANG, AND IT NEVER LET ME DOWN!

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I HAVE TONS OF GREAT MEMORIES IN THIS TRUCK EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE GAVE ME A HARD TIME FOR IT.

THERE WAS THE TIME I WAS PULLING A CRASHED CAR OUT OF THE DITCH IN TOWN, AND GOT TO DO A ONE WHEEL BURN OUT INFRONT OF THE COPS!
MY MOTHER ACTUALLY SENT ME A MESSAGE DURING THIS ENDAVOR TO WARN ME ABOUT THE ACCIDENT, BUT SHE DIDNT REALIZE I WAS IN THE PICTURE SHE SAW ON HER FEED!

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I CANT EVEN COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES I WOULD DO DONUTS IN THE DIRT LOT WHERE MY SISTERS HOUSE IS NOW, AND THE RAGER WE THROUGH WITH 10 OR 12 OFFROADERS TRYING TO DO SEQUENCED DRIFTS.

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THIS TRUCK WAS ALSO THE WORK HORSE THAT MOVED ALL MY FURNATURE AND PROJECT RX7 TO ARIZONA, CONSTANTLY ABUSED AND OVER WORKED.

THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY GAVE OUT AROUND 230K MILES, AND THATS WHEN THE REAL FUN STARTED.

MY 2004 SPORT TRAC NOW HAS THE SAME 300HP ENGINE AS MY MUSTANG, AND IS INDEPENDENTLY RUN BY A HALTECH ECU WITH SOME OF THE MESSIEST WIRING KNOWN TO MAN!
I ALSO SWITCHED THE TRUCK TO BE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHICH LEAD TO ALOT OF EXTRA CUTTING, MOUNTING, WELDING, AND PURCHASING OF UNNEEDED PARTS... I DONT WANT TO KNOW THE TOTAL WASTED.

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MY GOALS FOR THIS TRUCK ARE TO GET A FEW MORE YEARS OF USEFULNESS AS A DAILY BEFORE TURNING IT INTO A FULL ON OFFROADER!