About to install the 3" body lift....

[FMExplorer]

Hey guys,
In reading the posts here it sounds like the bumpers are the hardest part of the job! Besides dealing with the bumpers, what else should I look for and what else do I need? Will sockets, breaker bars and a jack be sufficient to get the job done? Will I be able to do it in a weekend without help? Thanks guys...

JonM

 

[rock883]

Well, you're not the only one putting a body lift on your explorer this weekend. I am too. I got mine yesterday, and am going to do it on saturday, and if needed part of sunday. Anyways, I have heard that the front bushing sleeve is hard to remove, but couldn't you just drill the hole with it still in there?? Lets see here...I am trying to figure out what everyone has said about them, but the only thing that comes to mind is the bumpers. Oh, about the bumpers. I heard to make them work, you just simply cut some of the bumper out to keep it from hitting the frame. Or you could notch the frame instead of the bumpoer, but either way it'll do the trick. I may do that one of these days during the week just to get that out of the way, ya know?? Also, anything special to be done (exceot the shifter extension) to the maual tranny, like electrical stuff?? Also, are there a lot of wires connected to the body and frame?? I thik that sockets a breaker and a jack should be enough, althoguh I am just gonna bring my whole tool box so I don't have to make runs for the tools. Oh and I got my 12V impact wrench which (I did a test the other day) will take the body mount bolts out, for the most part, in like 7 impacts, the rest I can get by hand, hopefully that'll take some of the hard part out of it. I hope it isn't too hot here, and I hope it doesn't rain like it has been the past few weekends here in ole' humid Tennessee. Another thing, I think you should probably be able to do it in a day without help, I have heard about 6-7 hours total with the bumpers which takes the longest. I am gonna start after I work in the morning (about 10:00 AM) and hopefully finish at around 5:00 PM, but I think I can do it before 5:00.

 

[FMExplorer]

Rock,
Let me know how it goes. I think I may go for it on Wednesday this coming week. I don't think I need anything besides the crude tools I have (breaker bar, sockets and stock jack - aloong with a bunch of bricks )
It should be a fun project!

JonM

 

[2001ExpSport]

LOL! I use bricks too, but I put precut pieces of 2x4 on top of the bricks so they won't shatter.

Good Luck

 

[Isles4evr]

Haha. It is a fun project... except when you get stuck on the damn front bushing for 3 hours! All you need is a good basic tool box, w/ big sockets and a breaker bad. A jack w/ a couple of blocks of wood (or bricks ) too. I notched out the frame, as that seemed to be easier to do. The only thing i have let to do it the parking brake relocator and fix the pitch of my front bumper.

Good luck
chris

 

[JYoung]

3" Bodylift

I did my lift in one night by my self,it took about 5 to 6 hr.The only other tools where large drill and bit forget what size for the front bushings.A torch is nice for the bumper brackets.Good luck!

[Edited by JYoung on 08-11-2000 at 05:30 AM]

 

[Isles4evr]

You need a 1/2" bit for the front bushings, and a 1/4" bit for the parking brake relocator. A dremel is very helpful when notching out the bumper/frame. I got my pictures back today, I'll scan them and post them to let you guys see 'em.

Chris

 

[rock883]

Chris, please say you got pics of the bumper relocations!!! I am realy pissed about these things, they are really hard to deal with. I am not exactly sure how to get the fornt bumper on. I am just gonna leave the rear bumper down, but get a gap filler thing for it. I need this to be done by tomorrow, but I can let it go till sunday, but REALLY want it to be done by tomorrow. I love the way it looks now though, except the bumpers are off. I forgot to take before pics though, doh!! I had all the mounts in place and I realized I forgot to take pics. Oh well, I think everyone knows what a stocker looks like though. I have the parking brake left to do also. I also had to move the front seats forward (had to take the bolts off) and they were a pain in the ass the put back in, they all wouldn't line up till I got the hammer in there . Oh well, please post those pics!! I don't wanna drive around with the front bumper hanging down.

 

[2001ExpSport]

I wonder how hard it would be to do mine? The rear bumper is same as the earlier models. Because of the new grill, the front bumper is the big problem. What about the fan shroud for the radiator? Was that a pain in the ass to do? Looks like the shroud is attached to the body on mine, but the fan is on the motor? What is involved with that?

What kit did you guys buy?

Also, sounds like the bumper deal is a 2 man job eh?

What about spot welds?

P.S. Only the body was changed for '01, not the frame. I think I have a good chance.

 

[rock883]

Got the bumpers to work!! Here's what I did. There are brackets that bolt onto the bumper (these are the ones that bolt to the bumper and to the frame) that if you loosen the bolts will allow the brackets to slide back and forth, after I loosened them, I put the relocation brackets on, and then put the bumper up, slid the brackets all the way out, and then with just a little force, the bumper went on!! It kind of slants down, but I can live with it, as long as the bumper is on I am not gonna mess with it. As for the rear, that is another story!! I smacked the crap pout of that thing to try and get it in place, but I never got it in right, so I left it down, it doesn;'t look too bad, and whne I get the gap fixed it will look even better. Well, this project hasn't been all that bad, and the bumpers, if you do it like i did, shouldn't be too bad. Oh did I mention, I didn't have to cut or modify the frame, bumper, or relocation brackets, except maybe bend the brakcets a little bit. I can't wait to go test out the explorer and get some pics of it. But now, I gotta do the hardest part...putting away everyhitng!!

 

[-=DaemoN=-]

DAMN STEERING ANGLE....

O.K. the steering angle is just messed up on mine. I didn't install the extension because it wasn't needed. But, today I decided to put it on even though I thought the angle would get worse. Just to try it, I put it on today(steering extension). OH MAN! sure did...it got worse.

Does anybody else have this problem after installing the 3" bodylift? and what did you do to fix it. I read the EXPLORER TIPS on bodylift installation but I want to hear a suggestion on somebody else that had this problem.

 

[Isles4evr]

The front bumper will hang down a bit because of the bolt for the bracket. they rest against the frame not allowing the bumper to straighten out. I am trying to firgure out how to fix that problem. Let you know when I do. I didn't need to notch out anything for thefront, but the rear I did. You know when you were pushing it and it wouldn't go it? That's cause the frame was in the way. So I cut the frame. I have a really cool pic of it being cut witha dremel and spark are flying all over the place. And yes the bumpers are a 2 person job... need one person to hold it up while the other tightens it.

The fan shroud was a big pain in the ass. First it got stuck on some coolent lines and when I got it free it took like 30 more minutes to get it straight. If you take a look under there it is pretty easy when you figure out what you are doing.

No welding here, the bumpers (I think) are stronger than stock w/out welding. I got the performance accessories 3" kit.

Hope this helps a bit. Remember to check those bolts after 500 miles or 1 off road trip. I'll get the pic on ASAP.

Chris

 

[98 Xplorer]

Fan Shroud

I saw an Xplorer in Nags Head NC, which had a 2" lift on it. While driving on the beach he had to stop and let the engine cool from time to time do to the fact that the fan shroud was 2" lower on the radiator do to the lift. Is a custom shroud the only way to correct this problem?

It was a 93 Xplorer with a 2" body lift and a 2" suspension lift with 32's on it looked good! He had no clue who manufactured either lift, "he bought it that way". Can you believe that he also had not heard of this site!!! WOW

Thanks,
Alan
98 Xplorer

 

[JayR]

Isles4ever, hey man with the performance acc body lift, it doesnt come with the steering extender, and other things, parking brake relocator?

 

[Isles4evr]

yeah, it comes with 2 sets of bumper brackets, parking brake reloactor, steering shaft extender, fan shround drop down brackets, plus all the needed extened bolts and the body blocks.

Hope this helps
Chris

 

[JayR]

And Chris, where did you purchase the lift? i was looking at 4 wheel parts wholesalers? can u tell me where u got it form, thanks

 

[Isles4evr]

I purchased mine fom 4wheelparts.com . They had the cheepest price around, even with shipping. I think it came to $98w/ shipping, and the cheepest place around here was $120.

Chris

 

[rock883]

Well, I got mine from 4wheelparts.com (the Performance Accessories lift) for a total of $80. I did order the Trailmaster lift, but Trailmaster wasn't shipping the lifts for like 4 months, so the guy at 4wheelparts told me he would give it to me for the price of the Trailmaster kit.