Ecoboost Performance Forum

Builds and Swaps => Vehicle Builds => Topic started by: JimiJak on May 07, 2014, 03:14:41 AM

Title: XSposé - The tale of Black Betty - (...wambalam)
Post by: JimiJak on May 07, 2014, 03:14:41 AM
I think it's been past due to start my build thread...especially with some cool changes / additions on the horizon.
PS. Enjoy the "old people" font size...it's my story, and I'll tell it loud if I want! :D

2014 Explorer Sport - XSport for short
Code Name: Black Betty (...wambalam)


Conceived in Chicago January 8, 2014 she was birthed on February 4. However, due to driveline vibration complications, she was held in the NICU until March 10. It was pretty touch and go...the most worrisome part was how little we heard from the docs over those 5 weeks.
BUT...then we got great news. She was feeding well...mostly small imports and tuners. She had an outstanding temperament, although she still didn't get along with Prius's...Priuses...Priii?  ...and we went to pick her up.

She was a beautiful 400A, Second Row Bucket-having, 4,921 lb. girl, with black and sienna leather interior. She had her mom's suspension, and her dad's displacement.
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ywFuqdJ_t2A/Uyk2eXlzjNI/AAAAAAAACmA/GF5ZO3yYhGw/w820-h615-no/IMG_1090.JPG)

...and she was ready to come home!
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-seRRvj6lXlY/Uyk2lB2f_tI/AAAAAAAACmY/53Y3jeMGdnk/w820-h615-no/IMG_1092.JPG)

Home sweet home.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aeX-E7_8ABs/Uyk2p74aJvI/AAAAAAAACwo/9YroSbeJL6g/w958-h399-no/IMG_1106+%25282%2529.JPG)

Due to the delays at the hospital, Betty had outgrown her new baby-shoes before she made it home. Oh well...there's always next winter
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 245/60R-18 on Kazera 18x8's
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bqlnxWrMAj0/U2nb4me6ldI/AAAAAAAAEMg/U8gWHQBPxxw/w640-h480-no/14+-+1)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Wqx7WoaBYIU/U2nb4kcdMQI/AAAAAAAAEMg/1-73flpOT5Q/w640-h480-no/14+-+2)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yxgL4hXP_FQ/U2nb4sPMpUI/AAAAAAAAEMo/ZZPx5ayBo78/w382-h509-no/14+-+3)

Buuuuut...she didn't stay long...an early infection caused by one of the docs at the hospital in Chicago forgetting to tighten down the nut to the Pos. alternator terminal resulted in a charging system malfunction. New Alternator, battery, and alt. power harness, and she was back on her feet.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a3-TQG3bsD8/UyIw-4Qy9fI/AAAAAAAACYI/XBNq9UjLKAg/w288-h509-no/alt+cable+EX.JPG)

She took to a spot in the garage right away. Like it was meant to be.
...then it was time for her to start growing up. I took her out and got her oriented to the ways of the "noisy pedal" after fitting some Husky Weatherbeater floor liners.
She got her first wax, polish, and couldn't have looked happier!
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ijihfdwV1bg/UzShpYa3msI/AAAAAAAACvQ/2B4n0_JrYNk/w820-h615-no/IMG_1184.JPG)

After a little break-in-acquaintance she was ready for her first mod.
A smoked license plate cover!! (adds 25hp! (baby steps))
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-77gikcYt31k/UzShvC-BptI/AAAAAAAACvs/mNSO0VMMxeA/w820-h615-no/IMG_1187.JPG)

Next was an oil catch can and clean side separator from RevXtreme and eBOV VTA while she was 'under the knife'
...my baby was growing up so fast! {How-To write-up & Results Page} (http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php?topic=2536.0)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n2B3sjg8EoY/U0CW_KLhuSI/AAAAAAAADY8/1Y2LgiwRIxM/w925-h615-no/DSC_0099.JPG)

Her and her older sister would run and play for hours...and loved getting baths!
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1uJOq2mNbSE/U0Gq-iUXL3I/AAAAAAAADMY/36ScK3xObww/w925-h615-no/DSC_0158.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-D0zWAJQW6vs/U0Gqg6NRVoI/AAAAAAAADNE/cV-IjW1hpyY/w828-h509-no/DSC_0130.JPG)

It was time for her first oil change...that's where she got the Fumoto Valve installed to keep things neat and tidy!
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4mLIkrd3CcY/U1Apo3QSTUI/AAAAAAAADdM/_wQJ32ANo-4/w409-h615-no/DSC_0183.JPG)

A little re-arranging...moved the OCC behind the front bumper.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BI3k26mTAzg/U1SI0Baod2I/AAAAAAAADjc/QD3qip2Ztdw/w925-h615-no/DSC_0253.JPG)

This left more room to get the engine cover back on. She was starting to grow up and is feeling more modest and refined. She started wearing a K&N Panel filter too.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t6RWhEW2Pqk/U1SJZTbYSEI/AAAAAAAADk0/BD_Gtg_jEH0/w925-h615-no/DSC_0264.JPG)

My little girl was becoming a fierce little lady and the time for make-up had begun.
She got the clear portion of the tail lights tinted to match the smoked back-up lights. (2 Coats VHT Nightshades (1 light, 1 wet), 3 Coats Duplicolor Clear (1 Light, 1 Wet, 1 Heavy), with Meguiar's Clear Coat Safe Rubbing Compound after to smooth out what orange peel was left)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NANgGXTFTSw/U16GI8uRpLI/AAAAAAAADq0/hQsNqgODlVE/w461-h615-no/IMG_1263.JPG)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_Wh_kralGrc/U16GLAu7AKI/AAAAAAAADrA/qUE_Y9Q1AHM/w461-h615-no/IMG_1264.JPG)

She got the same treatment to the in-mirror LED turn indicators too.
(3 coats Nightshades, 3 coats clear, clear coat safe rubbing compound)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r58BVH-Ta_Q/U2aEmBi7BAI/AAAAAAAAEFM/nxgxYcjh0mA/w765-h509-no/DSC_0235.JPG)

The make-up continued with 3M gloss-vinyl wrapping her door handles and 15% front window / brow tint to match her rear
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HrpivqreEyA/U2aEm_Fb4II/AAAAAAAAEFU/L3tgO0sYmHs/w765-h509-no/DSC_0236.JPG)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ARQhZEBzkJE/U2aDVcADDmI/AAAAAAAAEBg/kVFtdSeGWVw/w765-h509-no/DSC_0207.JPG)

...and a full LED conversion.
Red Map / glove box lights
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AprznyLXGj0/U2RXsQ005UI/AAAAAAAAD4U/j4POylEjDz0/w339-h509-no/DSC_0302.JPG)

Puddle lights (never mind the dirty-girl...she needed a bath!)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cz_9CLxsruI/U2RgJf7m3RI/AAAAAAAAD-w/ewa5_lVNPpk/w679-h509-no/IMG_1297.JPG)

Lic Plate Lights
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7WxPNrFi644/U2RgLggR-EI/AAAAAAAAD-8/oz3mkTjfSpI/w679-h509-no/IMG_1298.JPG)

Also, rear cargo light (white), rear indicator bulbs (red instead of amber...pic upcoming), reverse lights (white...and wicked bright).

Some new specs to help her see at night
(Morimoto 5000K 55w headlamps)
(DDM 3000K 55w foglamps)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XZBk6kxP67A/U2by3SoMh4I/AAAAAAAAEGE/5UUXMD_PmQY/w679-h509-no/IMG_1299.JPG)

Still a little out of the typical order of modding, but a great idea for an exhaust presented itself, and the opportunity to sport a prototype couldn't be passed on.
So here we are; my baby-girl's starting to develop her own personality and find her adult voice.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XuwGk_8zdz4/U2rg5z726RI/AAAAAAAAEmA/jXYhI9D5oJE/w693-h520-no/IMG_1335.JPG)

MDesigns (Spartn27) - Final Prototype {Full Write-Up w/ VIDEO} (http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php?topic=2854.0;topicseen)
Full Custom Exhaust
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JY_BnKzLGG8/U2q3qNMrQfI/AAAAAAAAEZ8/d1gPwod5bQU/w782-h520-no/DSC_0103.JPG)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_ppkkOrREW4/U2q3Tkj5NkI/AAAAAAAAEY8/-EUEvA78JBA/w782-h520-no/DSC_0095.JPG)

Her drive to be unique has not only landed her a one-of-a-kind exhaust, but fostered a sense of creativity that has driven her to further pursue what she's playfully-nicknamed; "The Top Secret Aesthetics Project"...not sure what that means, but I think we'll have an idea soon!


Stay Tuned!
Title: Re: XSposé - The tale of Black Betty - (...wambalam)
Post by: SHOdded on May 07, 2014, 04:03:57 AM
Don't be surprised if many suitors show up for her prom :D  Had a ball reading this, and look forward to more!
Title: Re: XSposé - The tale of Black Betty - (...wambalam)
Post by: panther427 on May 07, 2014, 04:42:10 AM
Wonderful story. It's gonna make her very popular at finishing school. 

Can't wait to read the next instalment of black Betty. Will she be learning to sing?

Or will she have had another international incident with a priiis.
Title: Re: XSposé - The tale of Black Betty - (...wambalam)
Post by: bigmoneycloser on May 07, 2014, 06:04:18 AM
This was awesome... She looks great!!
Title: Re: XSposé - The tale of Black Betty - (...wambalam)
Post by: donky4444 on May 07, 2014, 10:52:54 AM
Can't wait to see her Saturday.
Title: Re: XSposé - The tale of Black Betty - (...wambalam)
Post by: QuickSilver on May 07, 2014, 01:33:16 PM
Jak, judging by the quality of the pics in your write up of the catch can install and now this build thread, you have waaaaay too much time ;D
Title: Re: XSposé - The tale of Black Betty - (...wambalam)
Post by: JimiJak on May 07, 2014, 01:35:04 PM
Quote from: QuickSilver on May 07, 2014, 01:33:16 PM
Jak, judging by the quality of the pics in your write up of the catch can install and now this build thread, you have waaaaay too much time ;D

I wish that we're true!
Only at work my friends...only at work. ;D
Title: Re: XSposé - The tale of Black Betty - (...wambalam)
Post by: SHOdded on May 07, 2014, 02:16:44 PM
JimiJak's a modern sharpshooter ;)
Title: Re: XSposé - The tale of Black Betty - (...wambalam)
Post by: bigmoneycloser on May 07, 2014, 02:39:51 PM
I really like the turn and reverse light tint...
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