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BPlein's 97 XLT

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Latest Update: March 6, 2006: Powertrax Locker and BTF diff protection
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04-26-2006:
I've not been that active on this board for a while, but I decided to set up a page here before I start doing any real modifications, which start tomorrow (read on!)

My name is Bill Plein, and after my day job, I also run Squad Engine , a site that specializes in hosting home pages for online teams/squads. It doesn't pay, but it's fun. I also run PerfectUnion.com, a site for firearms enthusiasts. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and you can reach me for runs via webmaster@perfectunion.com

My Explorer started out life as my wifes grocery-getter. I took it over and put a bunch of miles on it, and since October it's been our 3rd vehicle (I bought a 2005 Mustang GT, hoooah!)

1997 Explorer XLT
4.0 SOHC V6 4WD
Automatic, 3.73 limited slip

Here it is, dirty and starting to get some surface rust on the roof, in my front yard today:
Picture_180.sized.jpg


The truck was 100 percent stock and driven primarily by my wife until 2001, when we got her a new car and I sold my daily driver and took over the Explorer. I always had a desire to use it, and I didn't care that it had about 70K miles on it. Oh, yeah, we did put ART front rotors on it, because after running through a set of rotors every 35K miles, you sort of get tired of it. I have 75K miles on the ART rotors right now, no sign of warping.

Late that year, in October 2001, we went to Yosemite and during that trip, the driveline started acting up. I had eaten the tranny and damaged the transfer case (actually, probably in the reverse order). I had to get both rebuilt at a cost of about $2500 installed.

Early 2002 I decided "What the heck, enjoy life" and swapped out the stock sized tires for 31x10.5-15 Goodyear MT/Rs. What an improvement offroad! For the 2nd Gen Explorers, 31's are great, don't sweat the upgrade.

I put a bunch of miles on the MTRs and after about 50K on them, I could no longer just rotate them to cut down on the noise. With my long-ordered Mustang soon to arrive, we thought the wife was going to take the truck back, so I put on some Big-O A/T's (still 31's, though) for running around town, Costco and Home Depot runs, going up to Tahoe, etc.

By time the Mustang arrived, we decided to keep the wife's Sable! So this truck sits, ignored mostly, in my front yard.

BUT NO MORE!

Aside from my day job and a few sites I run, I keep the servers running for Pirate4x4 BBS. I'm Lance's geeky sysadmin.

We're going to do a product review of the Superlift 4", complete kit, including rear springs (SUA), shocks, front lift, and optional skid plate and front drive shaft. Installation is schedule for tomorrow, and an initial product review should be posted on Pirate4x4 (and here as well) shortly thereafter.

After that, we're going to try and review a number of other modifications.

The 2nd Gen explorers are plentiful, and cheap, and while the aftermarket parts aren't what they should be, people on this board have shown that you CAN make a capable off road vehicle from an Explorer. At PBB, we're hoping to run a series of articles, a build-up if you will, over the course of the coming year.

Most of what I'm doing to this vehicle I researched HERE. I'll give back to the board by posting as much about this as I can back here.


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Edited May 30th
Superlift 4" Suspension Kit

I will do a full write-up and post it here and on Pirate4x4.com, but for a taste of it prior, here are some pictures.

Below: Before lift, with 31's
Picture_182.sized.jpg


Below: After Superlift 4:" Suspension lift
IMG_0909.sized.jpg


Below: Before lift, with 31's
Picture_180.sized.jpg


Below: After Superlift 4:" Suspension lift
IMG_0910.sized.jpg


I got the truck back from the installers, but I discovered a new vibration in the front end that wasn't there prior. It is subtle at low speeds, and increases under power and with speed. It's pretty bad at 70mph.

Turns out it was a loose hub cover! Kicked it back into place, I'm back in good shape.

A quick and dirty (very dirty) glance at my front suspension. You'll see that the angle of the steerting rod isn't that bad. If you take a picture of it at full extension, when it's up on a lift, it ;ooks worse.
IMG_0914.sized.jpg


Here is a shot of the left side torsion bar drop bracket. My torsion bars are dirty but you will have a clear idea of the drop bracket, and you can also see the Superlift double-carden drive shaft. The torsion bars are very exposed with the setup, it's the nature of a lift on a torsion bar suspension.
IMG_0915.sized.jpg



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Edited July 1st
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Update: March 6, 2006

Powertrax for Explorer with L/S carrier installation:

(Complete writeup at Pirate4x4 )

I needed to replace my 8.8", it was dying a slow death from a bad pinion bearing (symptom: whining from 35-75mph, very loud!). I sourced a used 8.8 with the same 3.73 gears on this site, it happened to be a limited slip as well. I wasn't 100% sure at the time that I bought it that I'd upgrade it with a locker.

When I got the axle, it was initially very ugly looking. It had lots of surface rust from Washington State winter road conditions. But it looked to be "dry", no leaks, so I was hopeful. It was also advertised as a pull from a wrecked fleet vehicle, I was hopeful it had been well maintained. Sorry, I forgot to take pictures of this very red rusty axle.

I took the bulk of the rust down with a wire wheel and my Ryobi electric drill. It really did a good job cleaning up the pumpkin and the axle tubes. I further neutralized the rust with Loctite Extend Rust Neutralizer. This turns the rust black, so it must be acid-based (I guess?), but it also has a paint component that locks in the acid, reducing or eliminating the need for you to seal it with a primer before painting.

I then painted it with Hammerite Rust Cap hammertone finish in black, which is really a dark graphite gray. This product warns against use with an acid-based neutralizer, but I tested it and it seemed to be fine.

The results were fantastic!

IMG_1731.sized.jpg

IMG_1729.sized.jpg

IMG_1730.sized.jpg


With that complete, a couple of weeks or so later I was invited to haul it up to Placerville and we had an installation party.

First we put it up the "new" axle on a couple of tall stands so I could work on it while my buddies tore out the old axle. Here is what a trac-loc looks like while it's draining:
pic_033.jpg


Then I took out the pinion shaft, C-clips clutch spring, clutches, and gears. The Powertrax comes with excellent documentation, there is no need to know much about axles at all when attempting this, you just need common sense, you need to know how to use your tools, and having someone near by to help from time to time is good too (never know when you will need help grabbing tools, rags, etc.)

pic_038.jpg


Old parts out, new parts ready to go in:

pic_045.jpg


After much work (see full write up for details), I finally got it together and could check it for proper clearances with a small piece of bar stock they give you:
pic_058.jpg


We put the cover back on, put it under the Explorer, and function checked it and added some Redline 75W/145 gear oil. It was a shame, my Blue Torch Fab cover hadn't come in yet.

I got the new diff cover a few days later, and had to R&R the old cover.

The BTF cover is designed to protect your diff, not cool it or make it shiny. It comes unfinished:

IMG_1757.sized.jpg
and is made of 1/4" plate steel with a 3/8" ring, this isn't going to break!

I painted it with a gray hammertone paint, and it contrasts nicely to the dark axle.

IMG_1783.sized.jpg


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next upgrade: 33" Interco TrXus on some killer wheels..... (soon, I have them in hand!)
 



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Thank you, BPlein! I've been looking into a Superlift for my 99 XLT and eagerly await your results. I'm looking forward to seeing how your install goes and how you enjoy the ride after the install...please keep us Gen 2'ers posted! :thumbsup:
 






Thanks.

Update as of today. I shipped the knuckles back to Superlift. I didn't pay for a cross ship (they will allow you to pay for the parts in order to ship early, with a credit upon receipt of the returned item), so it will be a couple of weeks. Speaking of which, I better check my FedEx Ground tracker....
 






I also have a 97xlt that is all stock. Like you, I also get a lot of ideas from this board that I would like to do to the 97. I like the 31's you put on. I guess that will be my next set. I will keep watching your progress, GOOD LUCK!!!!! I'm going to check out your firearms site.
 






Thanks bplein for your info. It looks like you have a nice project in your driveway!!!!!
I will check out Pirate4x4 and see whats happening!!!!
 






I absolutely LOVED my MT/R's I used to have on them, and I recommend them even for daily drivers. They look much more agressive than these simple Big-O tires (but these are functional and do OK).

After the lift, I'll be looking for 32's or 33's, will either get BFG AT/KOs or Goodyear MT/Rs.
 






bplein,
How's the install going? Any problems? Did you install yourself, or have someone do it? I'm a little worried about doing it alone unless it's fairly straightforward. How's the ride compare?
 






Castees-

I had to ship some incorrect parts back to Superlift, that delayed us 2 weeks.

I bring the truck back to the shop today.


I'm obviously not doing this myself. I wanted an expert to take care of it all so I don't lose a spring on the trail (grin).
 






;) Yeah, I can understand that. Let us know how you like it on and off the road!
 






nice looking x u got there bplein keep up the goodwork

do you got more pics of ur gt at all
 












nice job, cant wait to see final pics. My aunt lives in pleasanton, we go there about once a year. ITs a nice area, they live on pleaston ave I think, but looks familiar in teh background, area looks simialr i bet, but the thing I like most is that collectors car museum thing there, thats where i first saw muscle cars a long time ago and started to like cars.
 






nice looking gt you got there bplein

i bet ur gt sounds bad ass with the flowmasters
 






Flowmasters are gone. They cost 2HP. Flowmaster now has a kit that makes HP.

I was the first of 2 guinea pigs for Flowmaster on the 2005 GT
 






Updated original post, check out the before/after pictures above. Will have a full writeup at a later date.
 






Looks great. 33's coming soon?
 






looks a billion times better great job!
 






33's?

$$ permitting, yes, but I might run my old 31's for a while. They don't look too stupid on it (grin).

I'd really like to go back to Goodyear MT/Rs, probably 33x12.5-15 on a 15x8, and the oft-recommended 3.75" backspace.
 









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I saw that yesterday, great job.
 






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