97 expo mid travel

[Buzzard79]

I'm new to this forum. I'm from so cal and have a 97 expo with a ton of work, mods. Hrs, love etc. Into it. Started with camburg edge a arms and spindles. King 3.0 remote reservoir, sway away bump stops, limiting straps up front. On the Rear I swapped to 410 hearing for 33s. Deavers leafs and sway away 3.o remote reservoirs, new shackles. The body has fiberglass front end and rear bedsides as well. Custom bumpers front and rear with hid lighting. 4.0 motor with built automatic trans. Flowmaster Exhaust with turn downs. K&N intake, bamachips tuner, upgraded alternator and red top battery to support fosgate power 13 inch 4,ooo watt Max/2,000 rms sub, 2 fosgate amps, o Guage big 3 upgrade, 6volt pioneer deck, focal components front and rear doors, fully dyna matted interior. I Love my rig

 

[RangerX]

Looks fun, how’s it do off-road?

 

[Buzzard79]

Looks fun, how’s it do off-roa

 

[Buzzard79]

Check it out for yourself this is an older article but the first one at the top when you Google search prerunner explorer... Here's the link: The Versatile Prerunner Ford Explorer - Dirt Life Magazine

 

[Buzzard79]

Looks fun, how’s it do off-road?

Here's an old article with some highlights off road The Versatile Prerunner Ford Explorer - Dirt Life Magazine

 

[mounty71]

I remember that thing from the original build up, and it was one of the explorers that inspired mine. Cool that it’s still around being used.

 

[410Fortune]

Wicked nice sploder! Thanks for sharing

Love the 96-97 trucks so tough

How has the sohc engine treated you? Is that still a 97 engine?
What steps have you taken to keep the trans cool?I was surprised to see a front sway bar!!

 

[RangerX]

Here's an old article with some highlights off road The Versatile Prerunner Ford Explorer - Dirt Life Magazine

Nice!
I’ve dealt with Richer Racing when I used to live in Oceanside.

 

[mounty71]

Wicked nice sploder! Thanks for sharing

Love the 96-97 trucks so tough

How has the sohc engine treated you? Is that still a 97 engine?
What steps have you taken to keep the trans cool?I was surprised to see a front sway bar!!

Funny you mentioned the sway bar, because I noticed it too and had no idea until now that the early 2nd gens had the sway bar mounted to the front of the crossmember vs. the bottom of the frame rails forward of the crossmember. When I had A-arms still I got rid of the sway bar and loved how that improved the ride quality.

 

[Buzzard79]

Funny you mentioned the sway bar, because I noticed it too and had no idea until now that the early 2nd gens had the sway bar mounted to the front of the crossmember vs. the bottom of the frame rails forward of the crossmember. When I had A-arms still I got rid of the sway bar and loved how that improved the ride quality.

 

[Buzzard79]

It definitely improves ride quality and definitely travel off-road but on road I feel the truck leaning hard into any turn on road at any speed. So I keep it on riding on the highway. It's 4 bolts easily removed and the two links no big deal before I hit the dirt. The back sway bar is gone you probably noticed. That one is gone gone.

 

[Buzzard79]

Funny you mentioned the sway bar, because I noticed it too and had no idea until now that the early 2nd gens had the sway bar mounted to the front of the crossmember vs. the bottom of the frame rails forward of the crossmember. When I had A-arms still I got rid of the sway bar and loved how that improved the ride quality.

Thanks for the compliments mounty71 And rangerx

 

[EB4X]

Hey Buzzard... I'm just 10-15 minutes from you....might have to drop off my mostly stock rig when you get bored and want to upgrade another 2nd gen

 

[obaja]

Bamachips tune eh? Iv heard of a couple people that used to tune these sohc back in the day to increase the redline and tune in some more power. Welcome