03 explorer (once again)

[Macdaddy71]

i forgot to mention before, i am a tech at a Ford dealership, and i have worked on many old and new explorers. Anyway, i have examined the suspensions on the 02 and up explorers and still think that a slight suspension lift is possible, not anything bigger than 2 inches, but on top of that a body kit would work. If you look at the side of the new explorers they lean a little forward, so if a leveling kit for the front was used and something minor done to the rear to increase lift was used it might work. I just think it would be such a shame for even the slightest lift kit to not be made available for these much improved explorers. The frame is extremely strong, the ground clearance is good already due to the rear suspension, and these trucks have better approach and departure angles. I'm not trying to argue that these are better offroad then the older ones, so don't hate me. You just have to see it from a tech's point of view that Ford really went the right way with these new Explorers (except for the SOHC V6, shame on them). P.S. What size tires you think could be stuffed under one of these without a lift?

 

[Crankcase]

Originally posted by Macdaddy71
i You just have to see it from a tech's point of view that Ford really went the right way with these new Explorers (except for the SOHC V6, shame on them).

P.S.What size tires you think could be stuffed under one of these without a lift?

What is wrong with the 4.0 SOHC in your opinion?

I would certainly hope 31X10.50" tires would fit stock, as they have for 11 years previous....

 

[soupbone]

Save your money trying to lift a 03. Get a used EX heck even a old sami or j33p..... for wheeling. Use the V8 03 as a tow rig. Tow your boat/jet ski/4x4 easy in comfort....

oh but mabye you could use coil spacers? coils are at all 4 corners no?

 

[Xplodor]

I need to crawl under one to verify, BUT I think I've figuered out a way to lift them. Couldn't take it to the Rock Crawling Championships, but I think there is a way to lift it 2 - 4"s. It won't be cheap, but it will be less expensive then a SAS, and touch enough to handle some 4wheeling and retain a good ride. There is a lot of fab and custom machining parts that would need to be made. Does anyone have one I can work on? I wonder if I can pick up a totalled one somewhere...

 

[410Fortune]

hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!! wHY?

 

[Xplodor]

Well as a business owner, it is best to find a niche. I think there will be a decent market in the 3rd Gens to pursue a lift design in the next few years. Imagine what people were thinking when Independent Suspension came out. Anything is possible, there will always be limits, but it's possible. The question is not "why?", that's a given, business opportunity. The question is "how?"

This is just my opinion, and there is a huge possiblity I'm wrong, but hey, it's worth a try.

 

[Macdaddy71]

SOHC V6

The SOHC V6 is not a good motor in my opinion because they are not durable, and in certain situations it doesn't matter how well you maintain them, they could still potentially go apeshit at about 80K, (don't flip out at me if you have a SOHC motor with more than that, their are always exceptions.) The main reason for this is that the timing chain tensioners are a terrible design, they do not hold tension once oil pressure is lost i.e. when you turn off the engine. Then once you restart the engine (i mean after a good amount of time) the chains slap against the timing covers, and jerks around until the oil pressure tensions the chains again. Now obviously this process happens pretty quick, but can be heard on these engines if listen to closely (maybe not on all though) Anyway.... this constant abuse to the timing chains weaken the chains until one day when you are stepping on the engine and a chain breaks, then say goodbye to your engine. There are a few other reasons why i do not like these engines but they are minor compared to this one ( plastic intake manifold, not that great mileage, etc.)

 

[Jason_25]

I agree Macdaddy, the SOHC WILL NOT last as long as an OHV. How many people on this site do you see with an SOHC engine with high miles? Almost none.

Also, they appear to be about impossible to work on. Heck, just to change the FPR, you have to pull the intake manifold!

 

[Macdaddy71]

easiest way

i think that the easiest way would be coil spacers to lift the 02 and above explorers, a good sized spacer for the fronts because the car is slightly lower up front, and a smaller on for the rears, because i looked today and found that while on a lift the 02's have about an inch of clearance between the bottom of the "porthole" and the axles. but this is in toward the diff. so for example you put a one inch spacer on the rears, the axles won't be moved down the full inch obviously, sorta like a lever.

 

[Macdaddy71]

then also sway bar disconnects might be able to be put on, looks like it could be done.

 

[jobunn]

Isn't the timing chain tensioner recall on the SOHC just for that reason, to avoid that chain slap?

And on the lack of high mileage SOHC engines, that is true but the reason can also be attributed to tha fact that they are a higher performance engine, there are a lot fewer of them overall (more expensive and not been around as long) and they were not an option on the early model TTB models, which are the easiest to modify for off road, and thus found more often on this site.

 

[soupbone]

Maybe these will work...
Dead Link Removed

adjustable from 1.25 to 3.00"

Oh and dont remind me of the sohc horror..... when i had my recall work done the mechanic left SOME wire pinched under the manifold. while wheeling one day the engine just cut out! i couldnt figure it out but a differnt dealer did days later. They asked me if I was fooling around with the truck engine . I told them heck no another friggen FORD dealer!

 

[Macdaddy71]

coil overs

i forgot to meantion, the 02's have coilovers at all four corners. so i don't think that the adjustable jeep coil spacers will work.

 

[briantf]

I agree, the new Ex's are nice trucks

I've driven a V8 XLT 02 and was very impressed with the truck. Great handling and ride, a LOT more room inside, feels smaller driving it, lots of power. I thought it was a real crock that Motor Trendy gave the TrailBlazer the TOTY - the power of ad dollars, I guess. I've already seen more lowered TB's than I've ever seen lowered Ex's *yeesh*

As for the argument that you should buy a Jeep for wheeling instead of an 03 - well, that's what they said about 91 Explorers, and 95's, and 98's.....that's the whole point of this website!

I really like the SOHC V-6 in my wife's 98. It's strong, it does great on and off road, and it's never let us down (though dealers certainly have). I run full synthetics in all our vehicles, so I'm confident in a long life. However, the new Ex's are significantly heavier and that doesn't help the smaller engine.

At any rate, my old objection to V8 Explorers is now done away with - last month I was looking up specs on 03's and the V8 can be had with the 5spd auto and 4x4 - not AWD. You can still get skidplates, too!

Lifts for offroading are for a single purpose - putting larger tires on. Getting the largest tire with the least amount of lift is always the goal.

Lifts for looks are for street wheelers. We crack up when a 12" lifted Chevy/Dodge drives by with 35-36" tires. The mental image of something like that offroad is hilarious (roll, roll, roll your truck, gently down the hill!).

The suspension on the new Ex is IFS/IRS - guess what, so is the Hummer H-1 and the Mercedes ML. Ford didn't pu$$y out and make it unibody with no lo-range, when they very well could have. In fact, they even have a neat FX4 package for the 03 Expedition.

If even a moderate lift is possible, swapping to 31's would give the new Ex's MORE clearance than older Ex's. Crawl underneath one and see how much clearance they have!! It's great! There's a lot less hanging down than on the old trucks.

If you want a purpose built trail rig, so be it, but then *any* Explorer is a waste of time. The whole point of the Explorer is getting to unbelievable places with family-compatible comfort, and I think the 03's are a strong player in that arena.

Best,
Brian in CA

PS Unfortunately, my wife wants an H2, which pretty much blows the Ex's out of the water. Too bad, never drove a Chevy before in my life.