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Photos 3rd gen pic's
- Thread starter 86EXPLORER86
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CALDWELL
Explorer Addict
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- September 1, 2008
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- 1,892
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- 1
- City, State
- Philadelphia Airport, PA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2005 V6 Silver XLT
recently purchased a 2004 ford explorer limited v8. Mod's so far include blacked out headlights, black oem grill (stock was chrome) and 16x8 cragar soft 8's wrapped with bf goodrich all terrain t/a ko2's.
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this is exactly what i want...
blackbeauty84
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- December 2, 2015
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- 2
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- 0
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2004 Ford Explorer
this is exactly what i want...
Thank you. When I found my black Explorer I knew exactly what I wanted to do to it. Nothing fancy like a lift, but just a hint of attitude with slightly bigger tires a better stance and blacking out some of the chrome. I think the headlights, the black grill and the cragars set it off just right. I'm biased though.

mrnextel
Active Member
- Joined
- September 5, 2007
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- 55
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- 2
- City, State
- PITTSBURGH
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 03 XLT/NBX 4.6
Yeh I attest to Weathertech floor liners! First thing I buy with a new car! Lil expensive for the ease of production, you should see then make these, literally a plastic sheet fed into a hot vacuum moulder, slap on stickers, box and ship. But they are great! Will save your interior.
Jmedina613
Member
- Joined
- January 29, 2015
- Messages
- 40
- Reaction score
- 2
- City, State
- Clermont Florida
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2002 Ford Explorer XLT
285s 3" eBay spacer lift in front only and 2" wheel spacers also in front
Bulletslinger
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- Joined
- January 28, 2016
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- Temecula, CA
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- '02 Eddie Bauer 4.0
Hello everybody!
Been on here for a little while trying to figure this explorer stuff out. Just got mine on labor day weekend last year and I love it! I got a 2002 Eddie Bauer 4.0. The main purpose for needing it was the practicality of having a child; so much room for the baby and all the stuff you need to carry with you.
I initially made a post (without searching ) about lifting and the various ways to achieve that based on the use of the vehicle. I greatly appreciate not only the responses I got, but also to the majority that didn't respond. After a little looking around, I found the sticky on lifts and I did a good bit of looking through the 3rd gen pics thread, and found my answers.
So far, I haven't really done much of anything to the rig since the purchase. I came from owning a BMW so I had a whole new world (Aladdin!) to figure out mechanically.
I started to have an overheat problem that would begin with a strange whine, then the needle would start going up, I would pull off to the side of the road, stop, then it would go back to normal. That's when I searched for thermostat situations on here. I ended up replacing the entire thing, Upper/lower housing, by-pass hose, thermostat (fail-safe). I found that one of the black plastic flanges? on the lower housing had broken off, I hope that isn't bad
Other than Spark plugs and a few oil changes, she's bone stock.
Here are a few things I'd like to do:
On the way:
Moog K80008's
MANN Fuel Filter
Would Love to do:
Vinyl Wrap the window pillars
16" MB Razor wheels (spray painted matte black, thanks [MENTION=169276]rangermidtn[/MENTION])
265/75 Hankook Dynapro ATm's (feel free to suggest a different AT tire)
1.5" Body Lift (Just love the way [MENTION=16158]Ronin8002[/MENTION] had his 3rd gen lookin'!)
And here she is:
Been on here for a little while trying to figure this explorer stuff out. Just got mine on labor day weekend last year and I love it! I got a 2002 Eddie Bauer 4.0. The main purpose for needing it was the practicality of having a child; so much room for the baby and all the stuff you need to carry with you.
I initially made a post (without searching ) about lifting and the various ways to achieve that based on the use of the vehicle. I greatly appreciate not only the responses I got, but also to the majority that didn't respond. After a little looking around, I found the sticky on lifts and I did a good bit of looking through the 3rd gen pics thread, and found my answers.
So far, I haven't really done much of anything to the rig since the purchase. I came from owning a BMW so I had a whole new world (Aladdin!) to figure out mechanically.
I started to have an overheat problem that would begin with a strange whine, then the needle would start going up, I would pull off to the side of the road, stop, then it would go back to normal. That's when I searched for thermostat situations on here. I ended up replacing the entire thing, Upper/lower housing, by-pass hose, thermostat (fail-safe). I found that one of the black plastic flanges? on the lower housing had broken off, I hope that isn't bad
Other than Spark plugs and a few oil changes, she's bone stock.
Here are a few things I'd like to do:
On the way:
Moog K80008's
MANN Fuel Filter
Would Love to do:
Vinyl Wrap the window pillars
16" MB Razor wheels (spray painted matte black, thanks [MENTION=169276]rangermidtn[/MENTION])
265/75 Hankook Dynapro ATm's (feel free to suggest a different AT tire)
1.5" Body Lift (Just love the way [MENTION=16158]Ronin8002[/MENTION] had his 3rd gen lookin'!)
And here she is:
151proof
Member
- Joined
- August 31, 2015
- Messages
- 40
- Reaction score
- 26
- City, State
- San Diego
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 04 Explorer XLT 4x4
Your rig looks great with those 285s! Are you rubbing anywhere at all? Did you have to trim anything?
285s 3" eBay spacer lift in front only and 2" wheel spacers also in front
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Jmedina613
Member
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- January 29, 2015
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2002 Ford Explorer XLT
Yup I rubbed a lot and had to cut quite abit too but it's all good now, only probably is I couldn't cut on the inner right side because that's were the fuel lines and ac lines are placed
BlakeWinstel
Member
- Joined
- October 21, 2013
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- 35
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- 1
- City, State
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2003 Ford Explorer
Ebay Spacers
Quick question. Does anybody run those goofy triangle spacers seen here?
I ordered some but could not figure out how to get them to mount on the front. Any pointers? I found the bushing on the front struts doesn't clear once you turn the strut to mount it.
Quick question. Does anybody run those goofy triangle spacers seen here?
I ordered some but could not figure out how to get them to mount on the front. Any pointers? I found the bushing on the front struts doesn't clear once you turn the strut to mount it.
KAS-PA
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- 2003 Ford Explorer
It's a pain in the butt but you will have to press those bushings out on the bottom of the shock and turn them around. If you don't then the shock will rub on the front axel. Press it out using vice while slightly heating up the metal part of the shock with a torch, be sure not to melt it. Use grease when pressing it back in.
BlakeWinstel
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- 2003 Ford Explorer
It's a pain in the butt but you will have to press those bushings out on the bottom of the shock and turn them around. If you don't then the shock will rub on the front axel. Press it out using vice while slightly heating up the metal part of the shock with a torch, be sure not to melt it. Use grease when pressing it back in.
That's what I was afraid of. Is it not possible to shave a hair off the bushing with a table saw or something? My truck is from michigan and nothing moves. EVER. I'm currently dropping in engine .
Anyway, is there anyone who sells the spacers that are made right to begin with and aren't an arm and a leg?
KAS-PA
Member
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So, when you install the shock spacer you need to rotate the shock 180 degrees to make the new studs line up with the holes on the frame. The bushing on the bottom part of the shock sticks out about 2" on the right to stop the shock from rubbing on the axel and about an inch on the left. if you cut it you will be right back where you started and the shock will rub on the axel, you will also have a gap from what you cut out.
The right way to do it would be to press out that bushing, turn it around and press it back in. It sucks but at youll be glad you did it the right way later.
The right way to do it would be to press out that bushing, turn it around and press it back in. It sucks but at youll be glad you did it the right way later.
BlakeWinstel
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- 2003 Ford Explorer
I know this does not belong here, but I am posting it here because I know it is the most active thread. I blew my 4.0 and have been walking to my 2 jobs for about 3 months now. I need to find another motor and don't want to pay out the ass for one. Does anyone have one for sale?
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Mrooney322
Well-Known Member
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- October 15, 2012
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- City, State
- White plains
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2006ford explorer
blake look for a 4.0 v6 ranger motor, they are worlds cheaper. you just have to keep your original intake and maybe your accessories
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