My new 99 Ex 4x4

[Tico99]

Here is my new to me 1999 4x4 sport. It has 132,000 miles and is in excellent shape. Thanks to reading all your posts I successfully did the torsion twist this afternoon and will be doing the shackle lift tomorrow. I was going to get the Warriors but the present ones are so badly rusted, I don't feel safe towing my flats boat with it. I'm installing a set of universal ones and might order the others at a later date. Anyways, plans are for torsion twist, shackles, 3 inch body lift and 33 inch Super Swampers. It will be mostly street driven but used for hunting and launching my boat in primitive boat ramps. Here she is before and after the torsion twist...

 

[4rd4life]

very clean looking truck i like the sports in black. looks good congrats

 

[OffTrac]

Nice purchase. I like your plans.

 

[rabbit91]

great looking truck

 

[LONO100]

sweet, keep your plans simple and they will pay off.

 

[Tico99]

Well, now you guys can see why the hurry to change these shackles out. I couldnt believe how bad they were. When my mechanic hit them with the impact gun, they completely fell apart.

And here she is after the new shackles. Im going to give it about 100 miles of driving to see if the front end will settle a bit. If it doesnt, I'm going to take out a few turns and bring it down a tad. Next will hopefully be a body lift and tires.

 

[jakemccarthy]

Nice sport, I wished I lived down south. You dont have to deal with the rust down there.

 

[Tico99]

Nice sport, I wished I lived down south. You dont have to deal with the rust down there.

This one is actually from Maryland. It has very little body rust but the undercarriage has plenty. I didnt really look under it before I purchased it. I wish I would have, but Im on it already and im not slowing down now.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

I Ilive in northern Il, and mine where not even that bad! although I was able to put a hole in mne with a small hammer, when I went over board with rust removall, before I coated the frame.

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

nice sport

 

[Sedition]

Holy hell, It's Rusty Shackelford.

 

[Diamond33]

great looking Explorer, looks like mine! i have tt/shackle lift with 265/75/16 at's. I just ordered cragar soft 8 wheels for mine and i plan on upgrading to 285's (33's) soon!

 

[Joe Dirt]

Just remember- after a TT, you MUST have an alignment done...

 

[2TimingTom]

Nice sport, I wished I lived down south. You dont have to deal with the rust down there.

Actually, you want to live out West. No rust and mountains to off road in. On second thought, STAY OUTTA MY STATE!

And yes, after screwing with TT, you should get it aligned. But if you're going to get new tires, I'd wait until about 50-100 miles after you get the new tires.

 

[Bruces expo]

Wow those Shackles Were pretty bad , Nice Sport It Looks Good , I Want To See The Swampers On there , Best off Road Tires Ive Owned

 

[Tico99]

Well, I went mudding, or attempted to at least, on Sunday and I sank it down to the bumpers. I guess thats what happens when you use street tires for off roading LOL!!! Anyways, I went to the junkyard and picked up a set of 4 door leaves today as well as a rim for a spare tire. I also located a frame mounted trailer hitch on craigslist for a steal. Everything will be installed tomorrow and hopefully getting tires and B/L soon. Here are some pics from sunday and one I took today next to stock sport.


Here she is after getting pulled out

Next to my buddies Jeep

and ready to go home

This is todays pic at the junkyard

 

[sport97]

You will love the 4 door leaf pack swap. It provides a much more controlled ride in my opinion.

 

[Tico99]

You will love the 4 door leaf pack swap. It provides a much more controlled ride in my opinion.

I hope so, im trying to get rid of that soft squishy feeling everytime I hit a bump. How much lift did you get from the add a leaf?

 

[sport97]

I hope so, im trying to get rid of that soft squishy feeling everytime I hit a bump. How much lift did you get from the add a leaf?

Mine sits level with the TT, 4 door leaf packs w/ AAL and shackles. The lift depends on how much the new springs sag to begin with. The AAL did not add all that much lift though. At first it did but it quickly settles in. I have a firm ride now, but I like it, it is very controlled. No more hoppy feeling in the corner when I hit a pothole.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

not sure if you did this, but if you know which leaf spring came from where, take the driver side leaf spring, and put it on the passenger side, and vise versa. there is naturally more weight on the driver side, because of the gas tank, and driver. the best route would be to take 2 passenger from junk yard ones and put those on.

also was your passenger ashamed that you got stuck?