2001 Before and After

[2001ExpSport]

I don't have any good before pictures when it was bone stock so this is what I have so far. Opinions would be greatly appreciated, I am fairly new to this stuff and I am trying to feel around to see what looks and works best.
Here it is with and add-a-leaf and slight torsion twist.

Here it is with WP Shackles, add-a-leaf and full twist.
31x10.5R15 BFG MT's on AR 767 wheels.

The tires look a little small to me, I think I will upgrade to 32's when it's time for new tires.

I painted the Ford plackard above the license plate black to match the truck. It used to be gray like the bumper and I thought it looked a little lost up there in the middle of the tailgate.

And finally the interior, no big deal, just had extra film.

[Edited by 2001ExpSport on 09-10-2000 at 11:49 AM]

 

[ChaoticRacer]

Do you think it would be possible to run 33s with your set up? I am getting a explorer sport trac, and i am planning on doing the 2 inch shackel lift, plus a 2 inch add a leaf, the 2 inch torsion bar lift. Thats the same setup you have right? Thanks, Matt

 

[2001ExpSport]

Originally posted by ChaoticRacer
I am getting a explorer sport trac, and i am planning on doing the 2 inch shackel lift, plus a 2 inch add a leaf, the 2 inch torsion bar lift. Thats the same setup you have right?

This is what I have:
1.5"-Warrior Product Shackles #WAR-153(grey) Desert Rat
1.5"-Explorer Pro Comp Add-a-leaf kit #EXP-13120 Dead Link Removed
1.75-Torsion bar twist(full)

I have heard that the Trac has harder springs than the Sport, but you will have to check that out. Look on your driver door and it will tell you. Look for SP and below it will have a spring code. Mine is D3, D is the front bar hardness code and the 3 is your rear spring code.

To be honest, I don't think 33's will fit without some bit of rubbing. I was affraid 32's wouldn't fit so I bought 31's. Now that I have them on I know for a fact that 32's will fit with out rubbing with my tire/wheel combination. The AR 767 wheels bring the tire out an extra inch so that adds to the steering clearence lock to lock. I have to learn as I go because the vehicle is so new and not many have modified 01's yet.

 

[riffman]

i tell ya matt(s), bfg makes a KO now with the size 33x10.50....so you might look into those....i think you will be ok as far as height goes, its just the width that i would worry about....

matt (2001expsport), did i tell you that i actually fit those 33x12.50 superswapmers on for the mud race? well, with a 2" body lift, they didn't rub on any of the fenders at all! they just rubbed at full lock on the sway bar. and that was just the big lugs that were sticking out, not even the sidewall!! so i definately think that you could fit 33's

 

[FlyAU]

Niiiiiiiiiccccccccccceeeeeeeee...I especially like the way the black AR wheels coordinate with your black paint. Looks slick, Matt!

 

[Seth]

Rig looks great. How much did those wheels cost ya? I love the look and I'm thinking about getting a pair for a larger set of tires when I go "playing in the mud".

 

[2001ExpSport]

Seth, the AR767's are $40 each.

Riff, I am not sure if you told me or not. If you did when we talked on the phone, I had already ordered the tires. Yes, BFG makes up to 35" I believe in the KO. I just might go with the KO next year or in about 40k.(I go though 10k in about 6 months)

FlyAU, I decided to get the black wheels for that exact reason. I wanted that look, but I still need bigger tires now. LOL, I think I will ALWAYS want bigger tires no matter what size I have.

Thanks for the compliments and suggestions guys.

 

[Tom Wilk]

Looks Great

I like the black wheels as well. The lift gives you a much better look; the tires don't look like they're stuffed into the wheel wells now. Sits a bit better as well. It almost looked like it sagged in the back (don't they all?) before you raised it. Take off the step bars and it'll really look tall, plus you won't bang them up on the trail.

I also like the white-faced gauges. At least they look white in the picture.

 

[2001ExpSport]

Re: Looks Great

Originally posted by Tom Wilk
Take off the step bars and it'll really look tall, plus you won't bang them up on the trail.

I also like the white-faced gauges. At least they look white in the picture.

Tom, I have had mixed opinions about those nerf bars. Some say to leave them on to protect the rocker panels and some say to take them off so they won't get wrecked. Either way, something is going to get wrecked right? I like to tinker around so I might take them off one sunday to see how it looks. I do find them a bit annoying, I have to step over them to get out. I am 6'3" and I don't need them. Thanks for the idea though!

The guages are white, standard in the Sport and Trac. With the lights on everything is reversed with green.

P.S. Your right about the back, it was lower than the front since the day I bought it. Very annoying, but the shackles and leaf fixed that.

[Edited by 2001ExpSport on 09-10-2000 at 05:42 PM]

 

[RichSport94]

Hey Matt where did you take those pictures at? Looks familiar. Anyways your rig looks great! Can't wait to see it in person.

 

[2001ExpSport]

On the lake in Evanston, north of Chicago. The "door" picture is at a local lumber yard. I am going to take off the nerf bars for the run too, should look bad ass.

 

[GRNMACHINE]

Originally posted by 2001ExpSport

Originally posted by ChaoticRacer
I am getting a explorer sport trac, and i am planning on doing the 2 inch shackel lift, plus a 2 inch add a leaf, the 2 inch torsion bar lift. Thats the same setup you have right?

This is what I have:
1.5"-Warrior Product Shackles #WAR-153(grey) Desert Rat
1.5"-Explorer Pro Comp Add-a-leaf kit #EXP-13120 Dead Link Removed
1.75-Torsion bar twist(full)


your truck looks great!! would u know if those add-a-leafs will fit a 95 sport? before i found this site i spent lots of time reading 4x4 magazines and they had nothing for explorer sports. so i ended up purchasing hellwig leaf-helpers which only added about .5 inches. the summit racing site doesnt show an add-a-leaf for 95 sport. with the warrior shackles and torsion twist, an add-a-leaf would give even more height in the back which is what i am looking for. im running 31x11.50 goodyear a/t's on 15x8.5 inch centerlines and they stick out of the wheelwells.

[Edited by GRNMACHINE on 09-19-2000 at 09:33 AM]

 

[2001ExpSport]

Thanks for the compliments. Unfortunately, if you have a monoleaf(one long leaf spring) in the back you can't use an add-a-leaf. My sport has the XLT spring pack which is usually on a 4dr, but stock for a '01 sport. If you have a monoleaf I suggest you get the Old Man Emu spring kit whichs runs about $200.

Here is a thread about the OME Springs.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=17613

If you have a spring pack(3 springs and a helper) then you can use the add a leaf #EXP-13120 at Summit. Currently they are out of stock on that item.

 

[ilikedellcomputers]

Hey man, your Explorer kicks ass! I kinda like the look of the Explorer sports, they are a lot more, well, "sporty", hense the name; Explorer Sport.

Hey, did those white gauges come with come standard, or is that a mod?

Again, nice truck man!

 

[RFR2212]

2001

2001- I'd probably stay with the 31's and at no more than 32's...Sure ya may be able to stuff 33's under there but I wouldn't think you'd have much articulation with how the pics look....I guess I'll have to see first hand on the second Attack on Attica....Then see how well your whole set up works....Pete

 

[2001ExpSport]

Sport

Dell-Thanks, the new body style takes a bit getting used too. I liked it at first and then I didn't because it was so different than the other explorers. Now I really like it now that I have done some stuff to it. The white guages are standard equipment.

RFR- I know what you mean, but I know 32's with definitely fit, my wheel wells are larger than the old explorers by a small amount. You are right about the 33's, definitely won't fit without a body lift and more suspension work. They would even need more backspace on the wheels to to keep from rubbing side to side. The wheels I have now have a larger backspace than the stock wheels so a larger tire will fit, bit only up to 32". As for Attica I should do fairly well, I did some warm up runs south of here by midway and it has good ground clearance even with the nerf bars on. First time out 4 wheelin in this one so it was fun.

 

[withers]

Have you thought of running the tires with the black side out(BSO)? I can't determine if it would look better in your case, but I like them that way on my brown 4-door. The white letters really stand out. Another thing you can do is get those headlight and taillight covers that black out your lens'. I don't know if they are available yet for 2001 or if they are legal in your state, but if you wanted to go for the Night Rider look.

I have the same size tires and they look big on my rig. I think that your black rims and larger wheel wells is what makes your 31's look small.

Overall, looks great. my $.02.

you could add a gnarly front bumper and some custom rocker panel guards(low profile) to add some more meaness, if that is where you want to take it.

 

[Trckmagik]

I think the 2001 looks mean with a little lift on it. They are selling some bad a$& grill guards for the 2001 already. Truck looks great.

 

[2001ExpSport]

GRILL GUARDS!!!?!?!?!??!?

Where are these grill guards?! I want one!!

Withers-I have been thinking about going BSO. I just ordered a set of Baja rims and another tire for the spare. I will leave one of the black rim and wheel combos for the spare and ride on the new one to break it in.

This is the Baja I ordered. The black ones suck and won't seat right.

Thanks for the compliments guys.

 

[n2knee]

2001ExpSport, you have a nice looking Explorer! The paint matches your rims and tires.