Justin's 97 Sport -- "Sue"

Hey all,

I've been around for maybe a year, looking at various things to do, but i figured i might as well put what i've done so far out there and what i hope to do.

I have Christened her Sue.

97 sport
4wd
leather interior
premium sound
sun roof
4.0 SOHC
4.10 Gears w/ "towing Package"

I got my explorer in February of 2007 for 7000 with a one year bumper to bumper warranty with 90098 miles.

This isn't mine, but it's about as stock as i could find a picture of a sport.


Anyways, current and previous mods are:
Sony Explod head Unit 52WX4 ($243 w/ install)
2 12" Sony 1000W peak @ 4ohm subs ($130 with box)
Sony explod 1200W 2way amp ($199.99)
3way pioneers 6X8 in the back ($70)
4way pioneers 6x8 in the front ($30)
LED's in Cup holders, underside of the doors( $10, 100LEDs)
Stock 16s painted Black with Chrome center caps ($20 Krylon ultra flat camo (X3))
Removed Nerf Bars (Freebie)
Painted Vents black (Freebie)
Painted Speaker Grills black (Freebie)
Cobra 12 band (Freebie)
Magellen Roadmate 1200 ($170)
Fog Light Mod (Freebie)
Brown Wire Mod (Freebie)
8000k Bi-xenon HID's (110 shipped)
Custom Intake ($70)
Fuel Rail Magnets ( $30)
Tornado ($8.95)(Don't flame... willing to try anything to get more out of this poor ex)
Throttle Body Screws dremeled down (Freebie)
Shift Glow Digital vacuum Gauge ($65)
8k HID 800 series ($60 w/ shipping)
Blue/Red LED bars w/ Controller (23.99 w/ shipping)
desert bar w/ hella ($125) from Joshuaj
2 inch lift shackles ($20) From joshuaj
Sony explod 600w peak box ($130)
black out Headlights ($80) 410Fortune
dual xdvd8183 ($320)
Transmission Rebuilt with Trans-go Shift kit ($1300)
Transfer Case ($250)
Krylon bed liner X6 ($45)
Expedition Tow Hooks X2 ($20)


Current Total: $10,575.93

Repairs from 2 deer: $125(thank you E-bay)

As She sits now

Intake

Blacked Vents

installed

Black Speaker Grills

LED's

Hit 107,000 over the weekend, still running strong

Sound System

And the HIDs

Future Plans

4dr springs + helper springs
TT + either bulging the fenders or buying fiberglass fenders
v8 swap
Manual t-case
285s or 33s
98+ hatch conversion


Let me know what you think

You've all be very informative and helpful

Thanks,

Justin

 

[joshuaj0214]

Yea It really sets it off! I found one online I think imgoing to pickup its for a 95-96 but im shure it will work. http://www.offroadwarehouse.com/products/sfID1/61/sfID2/278/sfID3/17/productID/3717

be careful! i have seen some of these bars in person and they are cheaply made and thin material. the bar on justins rig is a fabtech bar off of a toyota tacoma. it is heavy and very sturdy! i believe they go for a little over $300 thou.

 

[97sprt4x4]

Things i should probably do...

Some maintenance stuff that I've been neglecting that i should probably do...

- Passenger side CV axle
- Spark plugs (pull and see if they're fouled)
- Spark plug wires (Factory original at 120k)
- Coil Pack -- also factory at 120k
- Clean up Engine bay wiring


Things i want to do:

- TT
I attempted this the other day, and it settled back down to level, so i'm assuming i should probably get new T-bars :-/ i guess from a sport track or a 4dr explorer what would have the heaviest bar code and EB?
- 4dr leaves
- center console swap
I have all the pieces i just haven't brought myself to disassemble the entire dash to rerun all my wires.... it's just daunting.
-Paint the Passenger side trim
-Re-do exhaust for a single 2.5 in/out

 

[Glen4X4]

Just curious why would you need to rerun wires for a center console swap? And don't know if this may help as an easier solution t to the t-bars but maybe getting 2 longer bolts for the bars would help because you could then crank them more to get it to where you want. There are a couple threads on getting new torsion bar bolts from Fastenel.

 

[97sprt4x4]

Just curious why would you need to rerun wires for a center console swap? And don't know if this may help as an easier solution t to the t-bars but maybe getting 2 longer bolts for the bars would help because you could then crank them more to get it to where you want. There are a couple threads on getting new torsion bar bolts from Fastenel.

I thought about getting longer bolts, but the passenger side is hardly in and the drivers side is bottomed out, so i don't think i could get two inches out of mine... :-/

And the wiring, I have switches in my console already, so i have to extend the wires that extra 3 inches so instead of hack jobbing it, i'm going to just re run the wires, i purchased a console off electrohacker and i'm planning on doing the James Bond console, so to move everything from the cubbies to the ashtray will need like 3-6 inches of wire.

 

[97sprt4x4]

i Failed inspection Tuesday. I went through everything and the lady inspecting it looked extremely confused about pretty much everything on my car. I failed for an exhaust leak, however when i went to get it fixed same day, there wasn't one. So i'm assuming they failed me for the fact that my truck is loud. They spent literally 10 minutes with the mirrors under my truck looking for i'm guessing cats, or this supposed "leak" and when they couldn't find one failed me anyway. i mean at least i don't have to fix anything, but c'mon i mean you don't have anything better to do?

 

[Nixthebomb]

Yeah inspectoins suck, glad we don't have them in Oklahoma

 

[Glen4X4]

That sucks, if you're sure there isn't an exhaust leak I would take it somewhere else. Most smaller places around here let stuff like that go and just tell you to get it taken care of.

 

[97sprt4x4]

I took it back through inspection today, and apparently in the 20 minutes they spent under my car, they missed the fact that there were two tail pipes or the woman didn't realize that you can't pressure test only one... So, i've got a nice shiny inspection sticker and i'm good for another two years.

YAY!

 

[Glen4X4]

Two years? That's cool we have to do it every year.

 

[97sprt4x4]

Two years? That's cool we have to do it every year.

every year? owch, it used to be that way in jersey like 5 or 10 years ago, and now the new laws are changing that the only thing you have to pass is emissions there is no safety check.

 

[Glen4X4]

That'd be nice but I guess round here its good they do safety because I'm sure some people would be running without breaks and bad parts if they could.

 

[97sprt4x4]

The end is near

It really pains me to say it but i think the end to sue is coming. She's recently started leaking power steering fluid like crazy and it's coming from the rack. The cheapest place i've found is 500 for everything. and on top of that, reverse gear let go on me today, i put it in reverse, and i pressed the pedal and she started going then the rpms just spiked, now i have to floor it to get the truck to move at all, and it won't make it up hills. and i can't afford to replace the trans now as well, the cheapest place last time i did it was 1500 for that.

I dunno what i'm gonna do...

 

[Glen4X4]

Sorry to hear about your issues, are you sure its not the speed sensor that's causing the problems with the trans? I know a local guy that it happened to on his 96 sport that it would barely make it up a hill then I think replaced that sensor and it cured the problem, just something to maybe look into.

 

[97sprt4x4]

Sorry to hear about your issues, are you sure its not the speed sensor that's causing the problems with the trans? I know a local guy that it happened to on his 96 sport that it would barely make it up a hill then I think replaced that sensor and it cured the problem, just something to maybe look into.

positive it's not unfortunately. i think my post was unclear, forward movement is fine, reverse is gone. i have 1, 2, and drive, but if i put it in reverse i may as well be in neutral

 

[Glen4X4]

Oh ok...that really sucks...

 

[97sprt4x4]

it's final. I'm getting rid of my ex. The bands or drum inside the trans cracked and will require a rebuild. with that on top of the steering rack, i can't afford to keep the truck. If there's anything on the truck that anyone would want let me know in a pm.

 

[BrianDye]

it's final. I'm getting rid of my ex. The bands or drum inside the trans cracked and will require a rebuild. with that on top of the steering rack, i can't afford to keep the truck. If there's anything on the truck that anyone would want let me know in a pm.

Sorry to hear that man, it really sucks. What are you gonna get to replace her?

 

[97sprt4x4]

Sorry to hear that man, it really sucks. What are you gonna get to replace her?

i'm not really sure... i don't think another explorer unfortunately. I think it'll be something my parents deem "practical" I think something like a subaru may be a possibility. We'll see how it goes.

nothing i can do about it...

 

[Glen4X4]

That sucks man, sorry to hear that.

 

[celly]

i'm not really sure... i don't think another explorer unfortunately. I think it'll be something my parents deem "practical" I think something like a subaru may be a possibility. We'll see how it goes.

nothing i can do about it...

Sorry to hear. FWIW, my `99 EB shares the garage with my wife`s `00 Outback and it`s been a great car. Subies are good cars, IMHO.