2002 Sport Trac

[dvdswan]

This evening I tore off the intake again... for the 3rd time. Apparently, when I was installing the fuel rail I must have nicked an injector O-ring because I've been smelling fuel while driving. Sure enough, #2 injector was nicked. (sigh) Thinking that earlier in the week I ordered new O-rings for the injectors. I also had extra sleeves. So injectors #1 and #2 received new O-rings and sleeves. Everything went back together nice and smooth. Last time I must have installed the radiator drain plug too tight because the head popped off when I went to loosen it to drain the radiator. I used a stubby flathead and was able to loosen to drain and re-tighten to fill. Found a new one on amazon with a Ford part number. When I do an upcoming radiator flush I will swap it out. The new coolant I installed last time is completely brown so that will be done when the next oil change.

Just one of those silly things that manufacturer's do to save money.

 

[dvdswan]

Nothing much today. Wife searching CL for stuff and found free bricks...

Made the truck look lowered.

 

[dvdswan]

Did another quick fix. Had the hardware in the junk drawer kind of thing. I fixed the tonneau cover rubber cap. I got the idea off another site. Used 1/4-20, 2 flat washers, and nylocs.

Before:

And now its flat. I'll have to take a picture of it. Thought I did.

 

[410Fortune]

That’s a lot of weight for a sport trac! Bricks are heavy

I use Vaseline on injector bits when putting things back together it works wonders for making o rings slide

 

[dvdswan]

That’s a lot of weight for a sport trac! Bricks are heavy

I use Vaseline on injector bits when putting things back together it works wonders for making o rings slide

438 bricks @ approx. 4.5 lbs. ea. well 400 is about 1800 lbs. oops. It wasn't riding on the stops and the front end wasn't bouncing. Did great for the 60 mile ride home. Would I do it again. Nope. Too many self-righteous people out there that get mad at you for doing the speed limit with no load.

 

[410Fortune]

I helped a neighbor haul some bricks a few years back, about a 3 hour tow. There was a town dismantling their old gymnasium and they had already palletized the bricks. We loaded 3 pallets on my trailer (24’ deckover equipment trailer) and one on my truck. In the way home my trailer brakes stopped working and the brakes on my truck faded… I was barely able to pull over and come to a stop…At a truck pullout. When I did my right front brake was on fire
I am lucky to be alive after that, I was heading downhill and the pullout was just before all the switchbacks….. hauling heavy loads can be very dangerous!
Friggin 25 cent fuse almost cost me everything

People always ask “can I pull it” the question should always be “can I stop it?”

 

[429CJ-3X2]

I know I've posted this somewhere before, but it's been awhile. My dad drove his '70 F250 to the gravel pit for a load of gravel for our long driveway. He'd done this before and both he and the loader operator knew how much it took to fill the truck. The operator scooped up the right amount and dumped it into the bed. Surprised that the truck didn't sag at all, the operator added a little more. Still no sag, so he added a bit more. He and Dad both knew something was wrong, so they stopped. As Dad pulled forward, the truck dropped big time! The heavy duty trailer hitch was on a large rock when the bed was loaded. He had 6,000 lbs in an F-250! Fortunately, it was only 8 miles home on lightly traveled back roads that were mostly somewhat level. I'll bet going down the 1 big hill and back up the next one was a little hairy!

 

[dvdswan]

Please delete post.

 

[dvdswan]

Got to spend some quality time with the ST today.
Replaced dash lights with LEDs. Found out the 4WD quit working again. No lights on dash again. Fat electron doesn't seem to be the problem this time, at least at the switch like last time. Time to test the motor and control module.
I installed the BOSS radio I got a while back.

Hooked and installed the Charger and ApplePlay port also.

Put tape on the bottom port so I knew which one would be the ApplePlay or Charging port...

Finished installing the backup camera... punched a hole in the center plate and drilled a hole at the bottom of the tailgate...

Pulled wires through...

Ran tape around the wires to protect them from chaffing...

I bought some grommets to seal the bottom of tailgate....

cut a hole and fed the wires through and installed into tailgate...

installed a weatherproof connector...

ran the cable along the side of the cab...

and cleaned up the rest of the glass from the broken driver's window drama...

Drilled a hole by the rear body mount, then fed through an existing hole ( I believe the is factory)...

All connected up... I need to power it with reverse still.

I also fixed my connections for the topper for a cleaner look...

When I get a back glass and side glass for the topper, I'll hook up the connector to it...

 

[410Fortune]

Well done! I have that same tailgate handle camera I need to install

Love the topper connector

 

[dvdswan]

No pictures tonight, but I installed the window vents on the dr. side since it was missing on the dr. rear door and broke when I dug out broken glass from the window fiasco. Now I just need to find one for the back glass.

 

[dvdswan]

Changed the oil/filter on both the Explorer and ST on Saturday. I drained the coolant, flushed, refilled, and installed the new petcock I broke a while back. Nothing too big or exciting but I'm hoping to change the bodymounts this weekend.

 

[dvdswan]

Question time. Apologize as this is long....

When doing the oil change I noticed the left front inner tire was almost bald, obviously the alignment is needing done. I was looking at doing the ball joints, TREs, and shocks. Since I don't have a press and UCAs and LCAs are cheap, I'll just get those.

As for the TREs, Do I really need to get new inners since they are just rods into the steering rack?

I noticed a suspension kit More Information for MEVOTECH KIT111 and looked at the items sold separately and found the kit is 80.00 more than sold individually and if I don't need the inner TREs it will be 100.00 less.

As usual, I got sidetracked and went down a rabbit hole. Started looking at lift kits again.

I've been toying the idea of doing a TT and shackle then started looking at actual kits, 4" - 6" kits. Knowing the ST is basically a Ranger drivetrain I started searching all the threads. I found this thread Ranger lift kits can be used on Explorers? and @410Fortune post #18 explained everything I needed to know.

98-11 Torsion spring rangers use the sla ifs suspension, exactly the same as 96-01 explorers,02-04 sport and 02-05 sport trac

The 98-99 rangers had power vacuum hubs
2000-11 did not
06+ rangers have the larger front brake rotors, same as 02-04 sports and tracs

As bill pointed out above only the front of the superlift or rough country lift will work on the explorer

1995 explorer do indeed have a welded crossmember for the torsio bars, if putting ranger front brackets and drop brackets onto a 95 all that will get cut off

The 4 cyl and small v6 coil spring rangers are rwd, these lift kits do not work, not the same suspension

The rough country and superlift 5” lift kits come with 3.5” actual drop brackets. The other 1.5” of “lift” they are expecting you to crank your torsion-bars to achieve

Any explorers that install the front drop bracket kit and do a spring over axle conversion in the rear will end up with 4-6” of lift in the rear depending on which spring perches are used on the axle. You will need to crank the t bars quite a bit to level the truck. Some trucks will need longer t bar bolts, torsion keys, v8 torsion bars or a combo of all 3

5 Inch Lift Kit | Multiple Makes & Models (Ford/Mazda) $1099.95

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/maxtrac-5-6-lift-kit-k883053c/_/R-FRFC-K883053C $850.14

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/superlift-4-lift-kit-k358/_/R-BGFG-K358 $1719.96

https://www.amazon.com/TORCH-Leveling-compatible-1998-2011-Ranger/dp/B07S5GDYD5?tag=seriouexplor-20 $119.95

I still plan on doing the TT for about an 1-1/2" in the front and 1" shackle in the rear and fit 32s or 33s under it.

I guessing this will be November timeframe for front suspension, shocks, and possibly the TORCH kit as well as new tires. But I need to get the body mounts done first, hoping next weekend.

 

[410Fortune]

That max track kit I think is for rwd rangers only (even torsion spring yes)

The superlift is not available

You may need to find a 6” rough country suspension system for 2000-2011 ranger 4wd it will fit your sport trax and accommodate the 02 brake rotors

The rear shocks may or may not work, they for sure won’t bolt up like factory. However we make them work by mounting them to the sway bar bracket on the 8.8. To lift the rear of your sport trax you will have to go spring over axle

There is a 05 trac in my thread belongs to my daughter in law, I helped them superlift it and v8, also 4406 t case
It’s a badass truck!

 

[dvdswan]

There is a 05 trac in my thread belongs to my daughter in law, I helped them superlift it and v8, also 4406 t case
It’s a badass truck!

Any pictures? What size tires?

 

[410Fortune]

33” tires yes I have pics let’s me post them

 

[410Fortune]

Only pics I have I can get more she’s parked outside

05 trac 5.0 4r70w 4406m, 5.5 superlift from a ranger, custom exhaust, fuel system and instrument cluster