1999 awd conversion, and modified grill guard

[j8346]

well hello all,

since i have been here a little while and not posted any pics or such... thought i would give it a try..

i have a 99 awd, v8 ex.

have done the tt, and cheap shackles ,

have swapped the awd case for a 4406 e with tod,,

modified tod, brown wire,, to give me 4wd hi by flip of switch..

have not , figured out how to make a way to switch from 2wd to 4low, with out shift motor... from in the cab.. did not have to install shorter fuel tank for my swap..

used a 1998 expedition case, that has 2wd, 4wd hi, 4wd low, and tod.
use the driveshafts from same truck..

cut the front drive shaft splines down by 2-1/2 inches.. all fits
and functions..

and group 31 secondary battery mounted behind grill guard.. for extended camping power

 

[j8346]

need help

ok,,, some help please..

i think my springs and torsion bars are weak..

i have tt my front and shackled lifted the rear,,

can someone with the same truck,, get me some measurments..

from bottom of running board to the ground...
and center of wheel arches all the way around..

i am maxed out on my bolts on the tt
and have 8inches of shackle on rear..

my current wheel height to center of arches is 33.75 inches on front and 33 inches on rear..

 

[obie]

That grille guard is beastly. Did you make it?

 

[j8346]

yes and no,,, modified a guard for a 1998 chevy 1500,, cut 5 inches out of the center..

i wanted something that would take abuse.. the entire guard is heavy steel,, prob. weighs about 150 # by itself.

 

[Dave 1955]

ok,,, some help please..

i think my springs and torsion bars are weak..

i have tt my front and shackled lifted the rear,,

can someone with the same truck,, get me some measurments..

from bottom of running board to the ground...
and center of wheel arches all the way around..

i am maxed out on my bolts on the tt
and have 8inches of shackle on rear..

my current wheel height to center of arches is 33.75 inches on front and 33 inches on rear..

What size tires?

I'm not a fan of longer shackles but to each their own.
I raised my rear over a inch and a half with monroe coil over shocks,I really like them.
I did the tt for at least a inch lift.
I have 31-10.50-15's.
The rear like you measured is 34.5 and the front is 35.25..know that the front wells are cut higher then the rear.
I have a slight rake (rear higher) that I'm happy with.

 

[j8346]

i dont get it,, i look at you alls pics, and mine looks lower.. ?

do you have a body lift?
ill get a side view pic and post,, to compare..

 

[Dave 1955]

Oh and if you want to add something neat to your extra battery setup put a continuous duty solenoid inline with the trigger wire going to a fuse that is hot in the run only position.
That way when you are drawing power from it camping you will not draw down the starting battery.
Of course whatever 12 volt power you are drawing camping would have to come directly from the aux battery.
Both batts would charge when the car is running.

 

[Dave 1955]

i dont get it,, i look at you alls pics, and mine looks lower.. ?

do you have a body lift?
ill get a side view pic and post,, to compare..

No body lift.
Your rear springs could be really weak.
How many miles on your ride?
Tire size?
I'm telling you those Monroe coil overs would make a diff if you added those.
That all said the Explorer will always ride like a truck..lol.

 

[j8346]

..

 

[j8346]

tire size 255/70/16

250,000 miles +,-

 

[Dave 1955]

In the pic you posted you can see that the back end of your leafs are leveled right out,not good imo.
Go back and look at mine.
Put the coil overs on and you will see a big diff.
Cheapest and fastest way out.or should I say up lol. imo.

 

[Dave 1955]

tire size 255/70/16

250,000 miles +,-

Ok.
I would just add the coil over shocks then..I guess you could get some new springs or have those re-curved or go the add a leaf route.
Depends on how much money and time you want to throw at it.

 

[j8346]

i seen that,, make me think my rear springs are dead....!!
jy trip tomar, i may pic up a set of lower miles springs..

coil overs are a good investment, and are on my list,, as i have a busted ear on one rear shock all ready..

 

[j8346]

is it possible to get a pic , of your lower a-arms in relation to the ground? as mine are almost parallel to the ground.

and do you have the part# for your rear shocks??

* i am determined to get this truck to the same height as everyone elses..
after all i went to the beach last week and the frame hitting sand is what stopped me from going tofar ***

 

[Dave 1955]

i seen that,, make me think my rear springs are dead....!!
jy trip tomar, i may pic up a set of lower miles springs..

coil overs are a good investment, and are on my list,, as i have a busted ear on one rear shock all ready..

Another option would be air shocks for the rear..I'm not a big fan of those either but have done that on diff rides.
It's all about the money and time ..the ride is always going to be truck like imo.
Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[Dave 1955]

is it possible to get a pic , of your lower a-arms in relation to the ground? as mine are almost parallel to the ground.

Hang on.

 

[Dave 1955]

..

 

[j8346]

yeah that is a huge diff. looks almost 3 inches higher from ball joint to lower a-arm mounting,, than mine... i think my suspension is dead all togeather..

 

[j8346]

mine set so low when i got it, the tires rubbed the fenders in the front... (same size tires as now )

fyi you have been a big help....

 

[Dave 1955]

mine set so low when i got it, the tires rubbed the fenders in the front... (same size tires as now )

fyi you have been a big help....

I had to trim my bumper sides some to get the 31's not to hit but the stock had plenty of room.