94 xlt project

Just started working on getting my 94 Explorer off-road ready, so I'll be visiting the site a lot for questions and opinions.

So far I'm on 31x10.5/15 Goodyear Wrangler Authorities and Pro Comp wheels. The tires hum when you get up to speed but it don't bother me none. They do rub when making a sharp turn, but a little trimming should fix that. Soon to come is a 4" lift and maybe 33s. In the meantime I'm gonna run a 2" lift with shackles and coil spacers. I'm hoping to get a flowmaster and some fog lights when I can. Also my KKM intake should arrive tomorrow.
Plenty more to be done, but I think I'm off to a good start.

 

[james t]

Awesome. I'm on winter break and I finally have a chance to do the gear swap. Is it ok to temporarily drive with 4.10s in the rear and 3.27s up front, as long as I don't engage 4x4?

You can safely drive it that way forever... so long as you stay out of 4 wheel drive.

 

[Explorin'VA]

Ok, my old axle is off and my new axle is sitting behind the truck waiting to be put in. To anyone who has done an 95-01 rearend swap on a 1st gen, how did you connect the brake lines? All the 1994 lines are on the truck, except I cut the passenger side e-brake and took off the hardline. All the 2000 disk brake lines are on the axle.

 

[Xeek]

brake lines go right on. so does ebrake

 

[Explorin'VA]

Added some 55w auxiliary lights onto the bumper. $10 on the walmart clearance shelf.

 

[Explorin'VA]

Just bought this 93 for cheap. It's got a 6"lift/SOA, 4.10s, and a 5 speed swap that shifts like butter. Needs some work though. I can't decide whether to part it out and into my 94, or keep it, SAS it and make it a straight wheelin truck.

 

[1996xlt]

Good looking 94 (just looked through your hold thread) and that 93 looks very similar to one a friend of mine had, did you find it locally?

 

[Xeek]

Damn it. I was about to buy that truck hahaha

 

[Explorin'VA]

Lol I couldn't pass it up.

 

[Xeek]

You must've got it Wednesday after midnight or early morning. Cause I just missed it lol

 

[Explorin'VA]

I installed some official brian1 u-bolt skid plates over the weekend. These things rule. The added ground clearance from the shock relocation is visible noticeable. The only problem I ran into was with the shocks, which brian stated might be an issue. I have skyjacker 2" lift shocks, so my up-travel is limited. If I throw some stock length shocks on I should have full up/down travel back. I also had to grind down the bushing to fit in the eye of the new skid plates. While I was working on the rear I installed new 3/8" center bolts in the leaf packs. The skid plates are beefy and strong. This is a good upgrade to anyone who is spring under and wants some more ground clearance plus u-bolt protection.

Here's a little hill climb video. Notice at the top my drivers side rear wheel comes off the ground quite a bit. That's because my passenger side rear shock is fully compressed but too long.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7s_STlcmsQ&feature=youtu.be

 

[Explorin'VA]

How it sits now with clear headlights, RLC rear bumper, custom shackles from brian1, and the M5OD swap.

 

[RockRanger]

Looks good.

 

[Explorin'VA]

These just arrived. Gonna start the new lift soon. I still need front shocks and bump stops.

 

[Explorin'VA]

I finally have a matching full size spare tire. It's mounted on a heep wheel but I'm planning on getting a matching deer hoof wheel for it.

I also put on a set of 2nd gen roof racks. They are much more sturdy than the worn out racks that were on there. As a bonus they came with a set of ski holders which I plan on using to carry fishing poles.

 

[Explorin'VA]

New 33/10.50 ko2's white letters in or out? I'm a fan of all black sidewalls but my buddy is convinced It would be cool to keep the white letters out.

 

[RockRanger]

Blackwalls out.

 

[boominXplorer]

Black out. In my career, anything over a 32" tire goes black wall. White walls look good on stock trucks with stock or slightly larger than stock tires.

 

[Explorin'VA]

Good to know. Getting them mounted tomorrow black walls out.

Edit:

Here they are mounted. They don't rub but I'd like more clearance. As I mentioned before I have a 6" skyjacker kit that I haven't had the time to install but it will be on soon enough.

 

[mr cribb]

I dig the rear bumper. What is it from?

 

[Explorin'VA]

The rear bumper is an RLC bumper originally made my jamscal. It has been on a few members ex's and now I own it.