My journey with my Explorer

Hey how's it going guys. Been with the forums since 2010 I believe and I've never taken the time to do a b&a with my explorer. I have a 1997 Ford Explorer XLT with the V6 Sohc. I currently reside in Southern California. Truck was a gift from my dad, who got it from his previous boss for free. When we got, the truck didn't turn on and the hood did not open. Changed out the fuel pump and it ran like a champ. I got it completely stock but I never thought of taking pictures of it till i started messing with it a little..

This pic was from when I was in HS with my friends solara..I just had HIDs and aftermarket sound system

After HS, I bought 15x8 D window wheels..no pics from that time

 

[jimster502]

I moved out to Vegas in 2014 for a year..my explorer saw major improvements that year.. I upgraded my front and rear bumpers to 1998 and newer mountaineer bumpers and also the rear tailgate and tail lights of course..there was no reason to change them besides the fact that I was tired of the chrome bumpers and squared tailgate...and well also because I scored all of this for less than $100 lol

 

[jimster502]

Then came new paint..the sample look cool/weird..but once on the truck, it came out darker since we didn't primer it

Very little body work was done..but once painted, we noticed a lot of small dings and what not lol but oh well better than nothing..and best of all the paint job was free!

 

[jimster502]

Later on while still at Vegas, I bought a cluster and a cup holder center piece from a newer explorer..I believe it was from an explorer sport...? I had a blue light theme going on but I never realized that the gauge covers had a green colored back for the numbers, unlike my 97s original blue..so there went my blue theme lol

A pics from earlier this year after moving back to cali..took a pic to try and capture the different color from Sun shinning on it, although it's dirty a.f. lol

Some pics of when I went to Burro Canyon for my bday 3/23 turned 21!

And my most recent pic, from yesterday 4/10, after lowering the rear 3 inches (more to come after I lower the front)

And Some random skid marks produced by yours truly lol

I do have many other little mods that I don't have pics of, but are listed on my signature thingy ma Bob lol will update as I go thanks for looking

 

[Rick]

Great looking Explorer. Nice work!!

 

[jimster502]

Thanks

 

[jimster502]

Thought I'd post some new pics of the new ride!...well new to me

 

[jimster502]

I thought long and hard about selling/trading the explorer and getting a Honda for gas reasons (of course lol)..but I couldn't picture myself driving one so..I scrapped the idea of selling it..so afterwards I was thinking of lifting it and putting bigger tires on it, but I just couldn't get rid of that drop and how it,looked so I also scrapped that idea lol now I want lower the lightning and lower the explorer more, too lol

So onto the lightning, it's a 2000MY salvage, sadly, hence the competition orange paint job..I'm the 4th owner( my friend being the 3rd) and its pretty much stock besides an obx catback, a k&n drop in filter, and a punisher valve body.