I know someone's probably already asked about a push bar...

[Prince_Polaris]

...But here I am asking again! I have a 2 door 4WD 98 explorer, and I want to customize it! I'll be honest, I've been a car owner for a couple months, and I know next to nothing about working on them except how to make sure it's got oil and good wipers and good tire pressure and I managed to de-haze the headlights too, from yellow to clearish green oddly enough. Oh and I completely fixed the infamous rear wiper issues, mine works 100%.

Anyway, do any of you know where I can find a good pushbar for the front? I really like this one here, but wouldn't those bars in front of the headlight block its beams or something? (it looks just like mine too, just a little newer and a different color) http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/4581/221/23950110130_large.jpg

I just love the way they look, and I'd also love the added protection in case I ever hit something. And better yet, since my foglights are too far yellow to really save, I could have some lights on it for those dark nights up here in the mountains when I gotta drive home in the snow! Heh, and I might just be a little paranoid about damaging my car, it's not like I recently knocked out our old trash heap of a van's rear window by hitting a tree or anything... Hah, and if either of our two minivans get stuck in the snow, I could slap a winch on it too and get it out!

 

[CorbinDallas]

There are varieties of that bar that don't have the light covers; it's just the centre piece.

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/480/1969/38698484008_medium.jpg

And there's the smaller ones like this:

http://b.cdnbrm.com/images/products...ultimate_bull_bar_with_skid_plate_33-0975.jpg

Honestly, if you're thinking about doing up a truck, i'd dump the 4.0L and get a 5.0L

 

[Prince_Polaris]

There are varieties of that bar that don't have the light covers; it's just the centre piece.

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/480/1969/38698484008_medium.jpg

And there's the smaller ones like this:

http://b.cdnbrm.com/images/products...ultimate_bull_bar_with_skid_plate_33-0975.jpg

Honestly, if you're thinking about doing up a truck, i'd dump the 4.0L and get a 5.0L

Well it's my first car and I don't want to dump it... my main question was where can I find either of those?

 

[Afrojoe]

But if he went 5.0 He'd lose 4wd and be stuck with AWD. Brush guards made for our Gen 2 Explorers are expensive. I've seen cheaper Chinese ones run about 250. Black Horse makes one that's about 380 I believe. The better brands like Westin and Aries no longer produce Gen 2 brush guards. Sooooo. My opinion and what I'll be doing eventually is have custom tube bumpers made for the front and back. I had a prerunner front and basic tube back priced out in my area and it was only going to cost 400 dollars. That's 2 heavy duty bumpers for slightly more and you can still mount lights and a winch. Just my opinion, but that's what I'll likely do. Or buy any brush guard that'll fit between the front two frame extensions and just make your own brackets to attach it

 

[CorbinDallas]

Sorry Afrojoe, you're wrong about the 4wd. The AWD to 4wd conversion is well documented on this site. He should be more worried about the timing chain issues on the 4.0.

Here's are some options:
https://www.carid.com/1998-ford-explorer-grill-guards/

Or check out the user Turdle's truck. He's got a great aftermarket steel bumper.

I think you're probably a younger guy tho, so finding something used on ebay might be the best way to go.

 

[Afrojoe]

You mean swapping in an F150 transmission and T-case? Personally I just feel like that's extreme modification when you compare the somewhat minimal difference in power between the SOHC and the 5.0. But that's my opinion and on the basis that you mean swapping in F150 components. Regardless, on the 5.0 topic if that's something you might consider this is the place to find all the info so feel free to use the Search Function.

Edit: You're right Corbin no transmission work, I got that from where I was looking into swapping in a 5.0 and would have to get a transmission and T-case anyways. All he'd need to do is sell his explorer, purchase a 5.0 X, and the aquire all of this

Much easier and worth the swap. But yeah it's a non-issue, and keep an eye on that timing chain it's pretty much the biggest problem with the SOHC.

 

[CorbinDallas]

It's a non-starter for Prince_Polaris, but anyways, the AWD to 4wd conversion has nothing to do with the transmission.

Prince_Polaris, the first thing I would personally do with your truck is to swap all your fluids to synthetics. Oil, front diff, rear diff, transfer case, and transmission if you really get into it. It is a good opportunity to get under the truck and start learning about it. I would scrap your headlight assemblies for a set from the wrecker if yours are UV damaged. There were hundreds of thousands of these trucks built, so parts are cheap. The morimoto HID retrofits are a great option but i suspect out of your budget.

 

[Blk2kXLT]

I just found a mountaineer brush guard on CL. Does not quite fit the explorer so I need to cut away some of the material. Just a FYI in case you go that route.

 

[Prince_Polaris]

Well, I do think this one looks nice! https://www.carid.com/1998-ford-explorer-grill-guards/black-horse-grille-guard-63380048.html

And about the fluids.. well, I just had an oil change so I'm not sure if now would be a nice time to switch it, and I just plumb don't know how to change those other ones, heh, I know how to drive and take care of some small things but while I do know some mechanical aspects of a car (the basics of how each part works) I'm not sure how to do these things... and you mentioned UV damage, that's yellowing right? And, heh, I like the idea of brighter headlights but ain't HIDs illegal unless the car comes with them factory? Haha and yeah, I'm 18, my little 2 door exploder is my first car.