How do I start Fixing up my Explorer?

[noodler1716]

I have just gotten my 01' 2 door Explorer Sport and I love it, but I want more than just a street car. I would like to be able to do some off-roading while still driving to and from work. My goal is to be able to sit on some 33's, but I am not sure what kind of lift or tweaks I would need for that. Also I was wondering if anyone had tips on what kind of tires, exhaust, and lifts etc. I would need. My budget isn't to great, with college coming up at all, but any advice would help. Thanks

 

[410Fortune]

Start fixing the things that break thats how I started, 11 years ago with the BII.....

No seriously first since it is an 01 it has miles on it. Miles = parts wear out.
Repair/replace those parts first and get it in a good state of tune, then start spending $$$ on modifications.

You can search for fitting big tires on your sport, in fact before I posted in this thread I jsut got dnoe responding in another second Gen 2wd lifting for big tires thread....

 

[stunnin20s17]

I'm in the same boat that noodler1716 is in. I have a 2001 Explorer Sport with 49,500 miles on it. I have already replaced most of the things that break easily after that many miles. I've been looking to do a 3" body lift but I'm not sure which one to get. I also plan on 2" shackles and a torsion twist. What body lift do you guys think I should get or any other advice you might have. Thanks for the help.

 

[410Fortune]

Well it all starts with what you are trying to accomplish? 33" tires?
remember 33's and larger will kill your performance unless you also re-gear the rear axle.
later model trucks also need to have the PCM calibrated for the larger tires to put the speedo back to accurate.

My vote is a 2" body lift and 3" torsion twist, stuff 33's, regear to 4.10 or 4.56 and calibrate the computer.
Why 2" BL and 3" TT you say?
2" body lift puts less strain on things like wiring harness, hoses, steering, things that get extended with 3". Easier to re-locate the bumpers, keeps the fan more centered on the radiator, etc.

With a 2wd front end you can get 3"+ from a torsion twist. shackles and/or leaf springs (even the dreadded add a leaf I hate) will match it in the back.

If you are serious about lifting the truck check out 2wd suspension kits on the market from people like Camburg and Dixon Brothers, there are ALOT of suspension options for a 2wd because you are not limited by the CV axleshafts, just by your ball joints, torsion bars, and steering.

 

[jayhawkexplorer]

I have just gotten my 01' 2 door Explorer Sport and I love it, but I want more than just a street car. I would like to be able to do some off-roading while still driving to and from work. My goal is to be able to sit on some 33's, but I am not sure what kind of lift or tweaks I would need for that. Also I was wondering if anyone had tips on what kind of tires, exhaust, and lifts etc. I would need. My budget isn't to great, with college coming up at all, but any advice would help. Thanks

Welcome to the site noodler - try out the search feature and you'll find a ton of info on lifting, lowering, any mod you could possibly want.

 

[stunnin20s17]

I just wanted to say thanks to 410Fortune for all the info you gave me. I do have the 4X4 sport so I can't really do the 2wd lift. The only suspension lift that I know about that would work is by superlift. I don't yet know what kit for the ranger I might be able to use instead.

 

[410Fortune]

Search for Dixon Brothers, and RCD as well, they both make kits for your truck, and better yet both those kits eliminate the torsion bars and replace them with coilovers.

You can still do a torsion twist on a 4x4 for about 2" of lift. Also the body lift is available for all gen I and Gen II Explorer's

Search and you will find!

 

[fordX302]

2wd belongs on the street, just DROP it and make it fast. give it sum switches and just watch the ladies crawl to ya. trust me on that

 

[gavin]

if it's 2wd.. get some lift spindles (~3"), torsion twist (additional ~2.5"), and then for the rear relocate the leafspring to the top of the axle (SOA = Spring Over Axle) for ~5.5" in the rear.

I know there's a few people on the board with a 2wd running atleast 35s, if not bigger.

 

[noodler1716]

i have four wheel drive on it, though.

 

[stunnin20s17]

Looking around I've seen that the 3" PA Body Lift (part #883) is the best bet for my X... but seeing as how it was made for the ranger does anybody know what types of modifications I would have to make to the kit so it works?

 

[410Fortune]

Again Search, the BL install has been covered a couple million times

 

[gavin]

the only "modifications" would be to replace a couple of the shortest bolts, with longer bolts.
It has been covered MANY times, and there's a couple of threads in the "Threads of Reference" (I think it's called?) section.
you're pretty much stuck with... torsion twist, add-a-leaf, shackles, and body lift.
There are a few dif suspension lifts, but look at spending at least $1500 on the kit alone