My 97 ex: LETS GO!

[jake1018291]

yeah mine has 176k but since my accident with the x i have an f150 as my daily driver, it gets pretty cold here in the winter it was about -8 degrees out and one of my stock cv joints went out and i started to work on replacing it and i have no heat in my garage so i got cold i had the old one disconnected but not removed and my very ignorant self decided to just leave it there and drive to school the next morning, i figured as long as i didn't kick it into 4 or the tires didn't slip the cv joint wouldn't turn but little did i know transfer cases are "posi-trac" if one wheel is spinning so is the cv joint on the other side, so i was driving down the highway at about 75 mph and the cv joint finally decided to grind a bolt off and SNAP, the rim, tire, brakes, hub, caliper, lines, and rotor fly down the road in my rearview bouncing to god knows where and sense it ripped off my brake caliper the fluid leaked out soooo no breaks i kinda just grinded to a stop from 75 mph to zero on 3 wheels not a fun experience. but it was a learning experience, don't procrastinate or be ignorant, you will feel and look like an idiot in the end. but not to bad of a fix all the parts are gonna cost 250 and then after that i am buying the add a leaf, and the 3 inch body lift and then to find tires and rims, might keep the stock ex rims idk yet

[feared100]

That's one hello of a story dude. Sorry to hear about it. Iv got 173k on mine. Replaced a bunch of stuff. ($3000) worth. But I don't have money for a newer explorer. So I want to just get the new tires. BUT if your looking at tires you will most likely have to get new rims. Since explorer rims are thin. Most off road ready tires are for a 15x8 rim. Not stock. I'm getting cragar rims. $57 a piece. Just go to jegs and look at their wheels. Cheap dude. But that's what im doing. New rims. New tires. Just put a lightbar on it. And painted it. That's basically my plan. Because if i got to another explorer. I cam just swap out the rims and tires due to the same bolt pattern, take off the lightbar, and paint it with Plasti Dip if I want.

[feared100]

Ok so i have done a lot of thinking. I am most likely going to get a new daily driver to save some money on gas...While i build this up. (Hopefully) Now the thing issss. I am not sure as to what to do to it.

DEFINITE}}} Will be a TT, AAL, Shackles, PA883 Body Lift with some 33's
Living on Long Island idk what is better. A dedicated crawler/ mudder? Or a pre runner that has the best of both worlds?!
Now for the future... way future that is...

OPTION 1}}} I am thinking of an SOA + a dixonbrosracing long travel suspension in the front.
Now the reason for this is. I love the prerunner look, and I would not mind having it. Especially this setup, because it is still a 4x4. Now the price tag on the front is a little ridiculous. Which is $3500.00 OUCH... But 14" of suspension travel in the front?! Pretty awesome. AND it flexes fairly well. I am also interested in trying to take on some sand dunes. IF i get this front end, with the General Grabbers that I want.

OPTION 2}}} SOA in the back with an SAS in the front. Why? Because I live in New York. On Long Island though. So would an SAS/SOA on 35's be a better choice? Long Island does have a lot of sand. But all of the places to wheel near me are either MUD, ROCK, or just DIRT roads. I am not looking for a crawler. But i wouldn't mind being able to flex in the front of my explorer.

THIS???


OR THIS???

[bats]

I vote option A, the dixon brothers setup. We really don't have much to flex on out here and I bet most of your driving is sand since we're all pine barrens. If you ever make it out to Raush you don't need insane amounts of flex to have a good time.

On the plus side, sticking with IFS will ride sooo much better than SAS. Mmmm coilovers. (Skip the giganto light bar setup though. It looks ridiculous.)

The first major upgrade should be gearing and a locker. 33's with stock gears is a dog.

I have a body lift from the Bronco that will probably work with your Ex if you're interested. 2 inches.

[feared100]

That's what I was thinking. On Li there's not much flexing stuff. And I thought rausch has a lot of flexing stuff. But if I can still have fun WITH the dixonbrosracing. Well. That's it.

I'm gna need help. Due to the fact that I'm still a novice I'm the world of mechanics. I am an aspiring artist. Who wants to have the sickest prerunner on Long Island lol. And I net the ride would be amazing. Also i would prob do the best on the beach lol.

Also how much for the body lift?!

[jake1018291]

its sooooo expensive though lol thats why im doing option b myself but if i had the money id do option a look up pump my prerunner on youtube

[bats]

Originally Posted by feared100

Also how much for the body lift?!

Say 40$. I need the room for another transfer case.

This is why I like first gens so much. You can build up a TTB to be super beefy/flexy for just under a grand if you're extreme or a mild lift for less than my weekend bar tab.

AND if you want to go SAS, you have your work cut out for you. First gen frames were MEANT for SAS and it really is a shame Ford went with IFS.

[jake1018291]

Originally Posted by bats

it really is a shame Ford went with IFS.

it truely is

[feared100]

Yea. But the prerunner thing is awesome. And I know its a shot load of money. But I see it as being worth it. So I'm gna take Tht route. It's not gna be for a while though. I will do the body lift and shackles with lockers and 33sAnd for the body lift. I'm interested for 40 bucks lol. Is it a good body lift?

[Rick]

I don't think there is anything that you can't do with a SAS that you could do with the pre-runner in the terrain you are talking about wheeling in. I drive my SAS fast... too fast for most to keep up with.

[feared100]

Not saying I couldn't go fast in the SAS. Just I would like to try and get into the sand dune offroading. And say I go with the SAS. Ik that it will flex.

But! Will it have a good travel? Like a prerunner. Ik that with the SAS I can do springs, or leafs.

[01STrunner]

I haven't quite gotten around to fully cycling my SAS. It's still in the works but I'm looking at about 12-14" of travel hopefully. And I have leaf springs all the way around.

[bats]

Originally Posted by Rick

I don't think there is anything that you can't do with a SAS that you could do with the pre-runner in the terrain you are talking about wheeling in. I drive my SAS fast... too fast for most to keep up with.

The man himself has spoken!

The body lift is PA # 382430 which should fit most RBV's. I'll take a look at the instructions and confirm.

[jake1018291]

me and my friend put a body lift on his f150 7700 series (light duty f250) lol it has 7 lugs but that's besides the point it was a PA something or other but it turned out great, it was a pain in the ass to install though it was both our first time doing a body lift and its true what they say for body lift installations, get some friends and a 30 pack of cold ones and go to work. but definetly worth it so far so good and really sturdy definetly feels way different with the high center of gravity.

[feared100]

Originally Posted by bats

The man himself has spoken!.

I know right! Lol. But if you find out more on the body lift PLEASEEEEE let me know. And I want to do springs in the front. But is there a big difference with it?

[feared100]

sorry for the super big pictures... and the blurryness.

LIGHTBAR OFF



LIGHTBAR ON

[01STrunner]

Wow that's bright!

[feared100]

Ik I love it. Soo satisfied. I want some more

[feared100]

taking off my lower valance and running boards today. I think that's what it is called.

[feared100]

took off the lower valance. I love the look of it!