Be sure to check out my summer ride!

Finally inspected.  Just took it for a long ride today (about 2 hour drive) and i discovered that I was spraying crap ouf of my rear transfer case.  I think it could just be a bad gasket or something, but I cannot get the drain plug off. It has rusted on. ....the hits just keep on coming.

Chose to go with Goodyear Wrangler Radials (despite the bad reviews I've seen.)  They were cheap tires from Wal-Mart.  Can't complain about that.

Here is my 1997 Ford Explorer XLT.  I just bought it for $250 a few months ago.  I needed a winter vehicle, because my Paseo doesn't do well in Erie, PA's winters (considering it s 2 inches off the ground, and plows the snow instead of driving through it)

Anyhow, the reason it was so cheap is because it needs a lot of work.  It was parked outside for the past four years. However, there is NO rust on the body and the interior is immaculate.

UPDATE: I HAVE PASSED INSPECTION!!!!!!!!
At least the mechanic who inspected it adknowledged the fact that I put a lot of work into it, and that it is in remarkable condition despite the fact that it sat under a tree for years.

While working on this Explorer, I am reminded of how much of a pain domestic cars can be to work on.  It seems that everywhere I turn, I need a special tool in order to disconnect a fitting and whatnot.  I ran into this problem while disconnecting some gas lines for the tank.  Needless to say, those lines were cut, and fuel injection hoses along with clamps, were used to reconnect everything- MUCH EASIER.