Newer Explorer rims on an older Explorer?

BigBadWimp · 08-19-2004, 07:23 PM

I've tried searching through the posts because I'm sure someone has asked this already but there are 264 pages of posts that I wasn't about to look through so here we are.

I have a '94 Explorer 4x4 with manual locking hubs and was wondering if there were rims from newer models that would fit. Would I be able to keep the manual locking hubs? Will they basically fit with no problem? What years will fit? See, I don't really care about bling bling 20s so if I can go down to the junkyard and spend a tenth of the price on more updated looking rims from a newer Explorer then Jack's a happy boy.

Thanks in advance for you help!

*Dre* · 08-19-2004, 10:47 PM

IMHO any 2nd generation explorer wheels should fit on 1st generation. There were no real differences in size or setback. Newer ones had 16" also with 265 tires on them.

The only question is if the whole in the middle of the rim would be big enough to fit on the front manual hub as you mentioned.

IMO - it will fit.

Crankcase · 08-19-2004, 11:53 PM

I have seen the teardrop rims on older Exploerers..the rest I am not so sure about.....

*rfuree11* · 08-20-2004, 12:18 AM

im pretty sure that the worst case scenario is that you have to cut a hole in the front center caps

*jimbo74* · 08-20-2004, 12:23 AM

they will physically fit, but the centercaps may not.... as stated above

BigBadWimp · 08-20-2004, 11:17 AM

Thanks so much for the input. How hard do you think it would be to drill out those center holes if need be?

*Joey P* · 08-20-2004, 11:24 AM

I have a set of centercaps with the holes drilled in them already to accept hubs for the teardrop style rims that I will sell you for very cheap.

BigBadWimp · 08-20-2004, 01:41 PM

Well, truth be told, I'm not gonna be ready to buy rims for a while, but thanks.

*XplorerKid* · 08-20-2004, 01:48 PM

Have2goski, has 3rd gen Explorer Rims on his 1st gen, and IMO it looks KILLER!

here are a few pics, in the secodn you cna see how he cut the front center cap to let the hub stick out, but it still looks clean and nice.....

BigBadWimp · 08-20-2004, 01:58 PM

That's what I was thinking. Thanks, XplorerKid.

Pheonixx77 · 08-23-2004, 02:49 AM

nice job, and i'm not knocking it but it reminds me of one of those J***P cherokee( older style)

have2goski · 08-25-2004, 11:00 AM

Quake Guy · 12-30-2004, 01:33 AM

Any updates, I am also thinking about putting 16" rims on a 1994 Explorer and would prefer to buy a later Ford wheelset to save money...

BigBadWimp · 12-30-2004, 08:34 AM

Well, since then I decided I was more concerned with suspension upgrades before wheel upgrades. I might just get some 265/75/15s for the stock wheels (they've actually grown on me). Besides, after finding out that my wife is pregnant I think it's going to be harder to spend money on any part of the truck. It takes alot of begging on my part.

Runnin'OnEmpty · 12-30-2004, 08:51 AM

Here's an alternative to the Ford wheels. They're off a Mazda pick-up (late 90's), and have the exact same specs as Explorer wheels. Wrecking yards should have plenty of them. They only were produced in 15" however. These are for 4x4's, the 4x2's are a different style.

*Makahveli* · 12-30-2004, 11:35 AM

I have 16" 3 spoke rims on my ex. And I wasn't too worry about cutting the center caps as they are a seperate piece of plastic. GOt it from a '98 explorer. And a tip if you don't want to cut center caps, then ghet wheel spacers

Quake Guy · 01-10-2005, 02:48 PM

I will probably stick with 15s and go with 30 by 9.5s. I know I can go to 31s, but my car mechanic highly recommended against it since he had tried it for a customer once and the vehicle never drove right on the street.

Tried to get them from Discount Tire, but they will not install larger than factory on an Explorer due to liability reasons... bunch of BS...

*lbrowne* · 01-16-2005, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XplorerKid

Have2goski, has 3rd gen Explorer Rims on his 1st gen, and IMO it looks KILLER!

here are a few pics, in the secodn you cna see how he cut the front center cap to let the hub stick out, but it still looks clean and nice.....

What the heck does he have underneath the front? I LOVE that!! Its like a front fascia with fog lights....if I could get a beige one for my 93 eddie bauer...

Crankcase · 01-17-2005, 03:19 AM

lbrowne, I think it is made for newer Explorers. It looks like an Honest Charley Airdam.

*XplorerKid* · 01-17-2005, 07:27 AM

actually i thought that was the Ranger AirDamn, its like a stock airdamn that you can make fit....? Maybe PM him and ask....

08-19-2004, 07:23 PM	#1
BigBadWimp Wannabe Elite Explorer Beaver Falls, PA '94 Sport Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 306 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Newer Explorer rims on an older Explorer? I've tried searching through the posts because I'm sure someone has asked this already but there are 264 pages of posts that I wasn't about to look through so here we are. I have a '94 Explorer 4x4 with manual locking hubs and was wondering if there were rims from newer models that would fit. Would I be able to keep the manual locking hubs? Will they basically fit with no problem? What years will fit? See, I don't really care about bling bling 20s so if I can go down to the junkyard and spend a tenth of the price on more updated looking rims from a newer Explorer then Jack's a happy boy. Thanks in advance for you help!

08-19-2004, 10:47 PM	#2
Dre Elite Explorer Chicago 94 Limited Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 4,822 Vehicle Specs	IMHO any 2nd generation explorer wheels should fit on 1st generation. There were no real differences in size or setback. Newer ones had 16" also with 265 tires on them. The only question is if the whole in the middle of the rim would be big enough to fit on the front manual hub as you mentioned. IMO - it will fit. __________________ 4x4 Werks by Dre My Gallery

08-19-2004, 11:53 PM	#3
Crankcase Moderator Emeritus Vancouver B.C, Canada 1992 XL Ex-Police Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 9,543 Vehicle Specs	I have seen the teardrop rims on older Exploerers..the rest I am not so sure about..... __________________ Explorer Family 1992 XL Mine 1992 XL Sisters 1992 XL Dads 1994 XL Moms Ex-Moderator: Modified Explorations Drivelines New Member Forum ***Guest star poster....

08-20-2004, 12:18 AM	#4
rfuree11 Official Bikini Inspector Boston 07 WRX Limited Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,464 Vehicle Specs	im pretty sure that the worst case scenario is that you have to cut a hole in the front center caps __________________ NEW: 07 WRX Limited twisted, shackled, 31's, brown wire diamonds, clears, PIAAs <---sold my cardomain site

08-20-2004, 12:23 AM	#5
jimbo74 Elite Ranger NorCal 98 XLT Supercab 4x2 Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 17,902 Vehicle Specs*	they will physically fit, but the centercaps may not.... as stated above __________________ My Truck

08-20-2004, 11:17 AM	#6
BigBadWimp Wannabe Elite Explorer Beaver Falls, PA '94 Sport Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 306 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Thanks so much for the input. How hard do you think it would be to drill out those center holes if need be?

08-20-2004, 11:24 AM	#7
Joey P On my 5th Explorer Lakewood, CO 1999 Ford Explorer EB 5.0 Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,782 Vehicle Specs	I have a set of centercaps with the holes drilled in them already to accept hubs for the teardrop style rims that I will sell you for very cheap. __________________ There are two types of people in this world: 1.Those who get lemons and make lemonade. 2.Those who get lemons and squirt the juice in their eyes. Updated Mug shot 2/12/09

08-20-2004, 01:41 PM	#8
BigBadWimp Wannabe Elite Explorer Beaver Falls, PA '94 Sport Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 306 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Well, truth be told, I'm not gonna be ready to buy rims for a while, but thanks.

08-20-2004, 01:48 PM	#9
XplorerKid Rolling on 37"s Winter Haven Fl 1997 Xplorer Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 4,715 Vehicle Specs	Have2goski, has 3rd gen Explorer Rims on his 1st gen, and IMO it looks KILLER! here are a few pics, in the secodn you cna see how he cut the front center cap to let the hub stick out, but it still looks clean and nice..... Attached Images __________________ 2008 Honda CBR600RR 1990 Chevy Blazer Check out my Old Explorer

08-20-2004, 01:58 PM	#10
BigBadWimp Wannabe Elite Explorer Beaver Falls, PA '94 Sport Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 306 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	That's what I was thinking. Thanks, XplorerKid.

08-23-2004, 02:49 AM	#11
Pheonixx77 Wannabe Elite Explorer NY 02 sport trac Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 583 Vehicle Specs	nice job, and i'm not knocking it but it reminds me of one of those J***P cherokee( older style) __________________

08-25-2004, 11:00 AM	#12
have2goski Wannabe Elite Explorer Columbus '91 Eddie Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 477 Vehicle Specs	__________________ check out my ride... or over on cardomain....

12-30-2004, 01:33 AM	#13
Quake Guy Wannabe Elite Explorer Phoenix, AZ 1994 XLT Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9 Vehicle Specs	Any updates, I am also thinking about putting 16" rims on a 1994 Explorer and would prefer to buy a later Ford wheelset to save money...

12-30-2004, 08:34 AM	#14
BigBadWimp Wannabe Elite Explorer Beaver Falls, PA '94 Sport Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 306 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Well, since then I decided I was more concerned with suspension upgrades before wheel upgrades. I might just get some 265/75/15s for the stock wheels (they've actually grown on me). Besides, after finding out that my wife is pregnant I think it's going to be harder to spend money on any part of the truck. It takes alot of begging on my part. __________________ So sayeth Brett...... 1994 Sport 31s, Flowmaster Exhaust, KKM Intake, the rest of my $ goes to keepin' her running...

12-30-2004, 08:51 AM	#15
Runnin'OnEmpty Wannabe Elite Explorer Southeast USA 2000 Sport Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,543 Vehicle Specs	Here's an alternative to the Ford wheels. They're off a Mazda pick-up (late 90's), and have the exact same specs as Explorer wheels. Wrecking yards should have plenty of them. They only were produced in 15" however. These are for 4x4's, the 4x2's are a different style. __________________ 2000 Sport 4x2, 4.0 ohv, 5R55E w/Superior shift kit, 3.55 diff, Mazda truck alloys/BFG TAs, RoadMaster Active Suspension, EE anti-sway bar, F&R poly bushings, camber kit, Rancho shocks, Hooker Aero Chamber muffler, Medium Wedgewood Blue..... Bought another 2000 Sport (God help me), 4.0 ohv auto, 60K actual miles, Cragar SS alloys/BFG TAs, AAL, EE anti-sway bar, Gibson cat-back, Harvest Gold, GT leather interior.

12-30-2004, 11:35 AM	#16
Makahveli Elite Explorer Denver, CO '92 Sport and AMG 300CE Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 942 Vehicle Specs	I have 16" 3 spoke rims on my ex. And I wasn't too worry about cutting the center caps as they are a seperate piece of plastic. GOt it from a '98 explorer. And a tip if you don't want to cut center caps, then ghet wheel spacers __________________ 305/40r22 Nittos, KMC Rims, K&N, Granatelli MAF, BBK TB, Borla muffler & headers, Magnaflow Cat, 4" lift (Assorted Parts), 2 15" Eclipse Subs+Amps, 4.56 gear ratios, SCT 5 Program Chip, Warn Hubs, Paxton Supercharger SN2000, Port & Polished 95TM Heads+Lower Intake, 422 Cam, 30lbs Injectors, Snow Water Methanol Kit, Ready to Race!!! IF YOU GOTTA BE A MONKEY BE A GORILLA

01-10-2005, 02:48 PM	#17
Quake Guy Wannabe Elite Explorer Phoenix, AZ 1994 XLT Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9 Vehicle Specs	I will probably stick with 15s and go with 30 by 9.5s. I know I can go to 31s, but my car mechanic highly recommended against it since he had tried it for a customer once and the vehicle never drove right on the street. Tried to get them from Discount Tire, but they will not install larger than factory on an Explorer due to liability reasons... bunch of BS...

01-17-2005, 03:19 AM	#19
Crankcase Moderator Emeritus Vancouver B.C, Canada 1992 XL Ex-Police Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 9,543 Vehicle Specs	lbrowne, I think it is made for newer Explorers. It looks like an Honest Charley Airdam. __________________ Explorer Family 1992 XL Mine 1992 XL Sisters 1992 XL Dads 1994 XL Moms Ex-Moderator: Modified Explorations Drivelines New Member Forum ***Guest star poster....

01-17-2005, 07:27 AM	#20
XplorerKid Rolling on 37"s Winter Haven Fl 1997 Xplorer Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 4,715 Vehicle Specs	actually i thought that was the Ranger AirDamn, its like a stock airdamn that you can make fit....? Maybe PM him and ask.... __________________ 2008 Honda CBR600RR 1990 Chevy Blazer Check out my Old Explorer