Home
What's new
Latest activity
Authors
Store
Latest reviews
Search products
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New listings
New products
New profile posts
Latest activity
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
Cart
Cart
Loading…
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Search titles only
By:
Menu
Log in
Register
Navigation
Install the app
Install
More options
Change style
Contact us
Close Menu
Forums
Cobra Forums
SVT Shelby GT500
Modifying an Explorer aluminum cover to fit any 8.8
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Tob" data-source="post: 9130531" data-attributes="member: 83412"><p>I had some time this afternoon so I decided to go ahead and fit the cover. As mentioned previously, clearance between the FRPP cover and my MM panhard bar were just under 1/4".</p><p></p><p><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88e73ca672600000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>If you look closely at the above photo, you can also see some gear lube that had weeped from the load bolts. This took place even though I used a Teflon sealant on them. Anyway, I drained the lube and removed the cover. Of note, none of the Permatex bonded to the FRPP cover face. It came off clean, with the RTV sticking to the axle cover face only. I wondered about the extra smooth finish on the face of the FRPP cover when I put it on...</p><p></p><p>Anyway, before I could bolt on the Explorer cover I had to make up my mind on the vent hole, located at about one o'clock. I decided to tap and plug it. Later, I can always switch to a barbed fitting and use it as a vent to a catch can, etc. Either way, all it took was a quick reaming and then running a pipe tap through it.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88e7840a60100000030O10AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>You only need to cut about 3/4" of thread</p><p></p><p><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88fbed8078600000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f8a14075000000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f891ac6f700000030O10AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f7cae86a100000030O10AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>I then spread some Permatex on the new cover and gave it some time to start to set up. While waiting, I put the Explorer cover above the FRPP cover for a comparison shot. The Explorer cover is deeper (which surprised me a bit) which will allow for more lube than the FRPP unit.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88eb412a63500000030O10AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Something else I noticed. The Explorer cover is actually ~1/8" 'taller' than the FRPP cover. It is approximate because it all depends on how much of the ribs you sand off. I could have matched the FRPP cover with more sanding, but I did it another way (more later). Once on, the clearance looked as such</p><p></p><p><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88e82bda68100000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f94df079400000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Keep in mind that the Maximum Motorsports panhard bar I'm using has a larger diameter than stock, which reduces clearances with any cover. I failed to make note dimensionally of the Explorer cover vs stock.:sleeping:</p><p></p><p>I snapped off a few shots</p><p></p><p><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f2dc8c67700000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88e774fe69100000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f0c89078e00000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Regarding what I did for additional clearance, I offset ground one of the spacers used on the rod end. I then used a galvanized washer that matched what I had ground off and added it to the opposite side of the rod end. This in effect moved the bar closer to the rear bumper, allowing for more room between the bar and the cover. There is still plenty of room for bar articulation with the suspension either under full compression or extension. Look closely at the chassis bracket and you'll see what I did (look at the lower right hand corner, washer on left side of spacer stack, ground spacer is on the right).</p><p></p><p><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f4ef207d400000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>I didn't add fluid yet, as it was pretty cold out and I am going to give the RTV some time to cure first. I'll then fill the axle with lube and let you know how much it took to fill this larger cover.</p><p></p><p>Tob</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tob, post: 9130531, member: 83412"] I had some time this afternoon so I decided to go ahead and fit the cover. As mentioned previously, clearance between the FRPP cover and my MM panhard bar were just under 1/4". [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88e73ca672600000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/[/img] If you look closely at the above photo, you can also see some gear lube that had weeped from the load bolts. This took place even though I used a Teflon sealant on them. Anyway, I drained the lube and removed the cover. Of note, none of the Permatex bonded to the FRPP cover face. It came off clean, with the RTV sticking to the axle cover face only. I wondered about the extra smooth finish on the face of the FRPP cover when I put it on... Anyway, before I could bolt on the Explorer cover I had to make up my mind on the vent hole, located at about one o'clock. I decided to tap and plug it. Later, I can always switch to a barbed fitting and use it as a vent to a catch can, etc. Either way, all it took was a quick reaming and then running a pipe tap through it. [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88e7840a60100000030O10AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/[/img] You only need to cut about 3/4" of thread [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88fbed8078600000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/[/img] [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f8a14075000000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/[/img] [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f891ac6f700000030O10AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/[/img] [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f7cae86a100000030O10AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/[/img] I then spread some Permatex on the new cover and gave it some time to start to set up. While waiting, I put the Explorer cover above the FRPP cover for a comparison shot. The Explorer cover is deeper (which surprised me a bit) which will allow for more lube than the FRPP unit. [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88eb412a63500000030O10AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D1/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/[/img] Something else I noticed. The Explorer cover is actually ~1/8" 'taller' than the FRPP cover. It is approximate because it all depends on how much of the ribs you sand off. I could have matched the FRPP cover with more sanding, but I did it another way (more later). Once on, the clearance looked as such [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88e82bda68100000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/[/img] [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f94df079400000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/[/img] Keep in mind that the Maximum Motorsports panhard bar I'm using has a larger diameter than stock, which reduces clearances with any cover. I failed to make note dimensionally of the Explorer cover vs stock.:sleeping: I snapped off a few shots [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f2dc8c67700000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/[/img] [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88e774fe69100000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/[/img] [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f0c89078e00000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/[/img] Regarding what I did for additional clearance, I offset ground one of the spacers used on the rod end. I then used a galvanized washer that matched what I had ground off and added it to the opposite side of the rod end. This in effect moved the bar closer to the rear bumper, allowing for more room between the bar and the cover. There is still plenty of room for bar articulation with the suspension either under full compression or extension. Look closely at the chassis bracket and you'll see what I did (look at the lower right hand corner, washer on left side of spacer stack, ground spacer is on the right). [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88f4ef207d400000030O00AbNmbhq2aNWQPbz4Q/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/[/img] I didn't add fluid yet, as it was pretty cold out and I am going to give the RTV some time to cure first. I'll then fill the axle with lube and let you know how much it took to fill this larger cover. Tob [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Cobra Forums
SVT Shelby GT500
Modifying an Explorer aluminum cover to fit any 8.8
Top