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Charlie's Elite Registry

To start out, my name is Charlie and I am from Eau Claire Wisconsin. I am also a student at UW-Stout majoring in mechanical design. I have been elite for some time and think it is about time to create a registry.


Originally I had wanted to lower my X and make it performancy, but then I realized that that won't happen, and I have always loved big trucks. So, that is what I will slowly go for.

I have a 1996 Explorer Sport, which I have been driving for several years now. There are no major changes, due to lack of funds. Therefore, for now most all that I can do are cheap/free mods that are for appearance sake.
Back when I got it it looked something like this:
front.jpg

I will try to dig up some better pictures to show later, but I am on my laptop, not my main computer with pictures.
Some point about a year ago, I decided I wanted a roof rack for many reasons. I think SUV's look better with them, plus then it is a spot for me to mount some lights (eventually) and also then I can use it to carry stuff.
IMG_0704.jpg

Magically, a beautiful roof rack from Jtsmith's truck appeared on mine.

At some point, I also decided that I needed an overhead console. I now have one of those and I can tell you the temperature, and the direction I am heading.

I have additionally upgraded the audio, with a Sony head unit and alpine r's in the front doors. I also have an assortment of subs that I am constantly changing out for one reason or another. To also effect the interior sound, I have put down sound deadener on the whole floor and door panels. It really reduces road noise, along with making it nicer to go camping in (feels a little softer)

As for exhaust, I thought I wanted it loud. After experimenting with many exhaust setups, I realized that I have the v6 and nothing will sound really good and not drone. I am now running a near stock sounding muffler. It is slightly louder.

I also recently painted the grill black to break up the mass of white on the vehicle. I also removed the orange corner reflectors. Along with that, I am also running 35% tint all around.
IMG_0752.jpg

Also, to change the look up I also painted my wheels a dark gunmetal color.
IMGP2966.jpg

IMGP2964.jpg


Soon I will be installing shackles, cranking the torsion bars up in front, and hopefully AAL. Then, after that maybe I can find some way to get around another inch of lift, but I have not decided how yet. Then hopefully in the summer of 08 some bigger tires will be in sight. After all, the ones I have now need to be replaced...so it is a great reason to upgrade size.

Current list of modifications:

Interior:
*Overhead console installed, pulled from a junker
*Speakers, and a Sony headunit
*Center console & vents black
*Uniden 510xl CB
*Sound deadener
*A-Pillar handles
*Rear seat bottoms removed, because when I fold down the rear seats they stick up and it's a pain
*White gauges
Here is a contemplation of the interior put together with Autostitch

pano.jpg


Interior again...after changing some things black and mounting the A-Pillar handles
IMGP3331.jpg

(no CB mounted in this one)

Exterior:
*35% tint all around
*31x10.5 A/T tires
*TT/Shackles lift
*Bumper valence removed
*Lights on bumper
*Mounty roof rack
*Stock deerhoofs painted gloss black
*Clear corners, orange reflector removed from stock lamps

Adding more pictures..some are new, some are old. Just throwing in some of my favorites.

When I drove into a field covered in long grass, unkowing there was a tall drop off with a creek because the grass covered it
n1595520155_30151269_5086.jpg


Before going through big mud pits, I hook up my tow strap, so I won't need to climb out in the deep water and try and hook up in case I get stuck
n1595520155_30151588_6486.jpg


Now some mud...
n1595520155_30151592_7949.jpg


Dang, I need to park by civics. My explorer looks tiny by this huge F-150
loose.jpg


Little flex on a trail
IMG_1169.jpg


Parked in a park (heh. Nothing cool about this one, I just like it.)
2-8.jpg
 



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09-11-08_1728.jpg


She's getting old. Turned 175 on 9/11.
I had to slow down to get the needle out of the way:p::D
 



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Update time

Been back to black wheels for a little bit now..I missed them:p:
22-2.jpg




Also added tint. Before, I had 35% on the front windows and the middle half windows, with stock tint on the back. Now I ran 20% over the stock tint on the back windows. It's pretty dark.
IMG_1291.jpg

Middle half window is 35% in this picture, just to have something to compare against..
IMG_1293.jpg



You can see in..a little bit, if you put your head up to the window, and block the light with your hands. Not very well, but you can see general shapes of stuff in back. I put the camera up close to the window for this picture. Since the stock tint is slightly reflective, the 20% added on the inside just makes the rear windows like mirrors.
IMG_1292.jpg


I think I might make the middle half windows this dark too, I like it.
 












hhmmm i was thinking the other day that Charlie had been awful quiet lately. hope everything is goin alright for him.
 






hhmmm i was thinking the other day that Charlie had been awful quiet lately. hope everything is goin alright for him.

Last Activity: 11-13-2008 10:10 AM

:(
 






Yeah, I've been wondering also..

My best guess is the holidays and maybe school are tieing him down.
 






Woah, sorry about this. Storlied, you are the closest.

Long story short..a while back, I decided to take a break from the forums for a week or so, for several reasons, because I had been spending too much time on them, and wanted to take a break for a week or so, and also so I could concentrate on school and work a little more. Well, since I had wanted to be away for a week or so, I stopped checking my email, as I thought the notifications would bring me back. Well, I ended up putting the forums out of my mind..and needless to say I ended up being gone for much longer than I planned.....

Had I been going to be gone for this long, I would have said something. I hadn't considered that people on the forum here would begin to worry..so, I appologize for that.

Anyway, I'm back now, and it seems I have quite a bit of reading to catch up on...hah.

-Charlie
 






Welcome back!
 






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