It just followed me home (version 2)!

[96Green]

I feel like i am a responsible user of my big ####-off lights. Although I will use them on-road, I will only do so on stupid-dark back country roads, and only if there is absolutely noone else on said road (pretty common when you live in the sticks). And even then, not all at once. Has saved me from hitting deer on a few occasions, and once, from hitting a cow.*

I cannot stand people who run obnoxious lights when sharing the road with other traffic.

*Cows are amazingly stupid and stubborn, and will lie down in the middle of the road for seemingly no reason. They also will not listen when you politely explain that you need to get to the airport to catch a flight and that they are blocking the only road.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

it's all about on-road vs off-road. Off-road it's a good idea. On road it's usually not only a problem but illegal.

It's not illegal unless you get caught (kidding)

 

[toypaseo]

You should swap to a Limited grill.

I scored one from a junkyard for $17. I hope to install it this year

:bsnicker: I have to paint it due to it being Barney purple right now...

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Coming along nice. Congrats on the new ride!

 

[96Green]

I got a bit bored this past Sunday, and I found a bit of leftover red Lamin-x film lying about in the garage.

Went from this:

To this:

... and I quite like the way it looks!

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Its too bad that a more contemporary rear light that actually flows with the style of our trucks is not available. I guess something of an evolution if they kept the body style to say 2006 or later.

 

[96Green]

Meh... Any 20 year old truck is going to look a bit dated. That said, I actually prefer the look of the 2nd gens to the newer Explorers... My uncle has a 2014, and to me it looks... lumpy. ::shrug::

 

[96Green]

I did a couple of cheap and simple projects over the past couple of days.

I trimmed these two small bits out of the lower bumper trim, so I could put it back on and have it clear the driving lights:

Needs a lick of paint, but, even in it's faded grey-ness it's a big improvement over not being on there, I think.

I also added a small task light and elastic storage organizer to the rear cargo area. I've had it in there fore a couple days and it's super useful for small tools, pens, computer cables, etc...

I might do a separate how-to thread on that, as it really is a handy spot to secure small items, especially with the right side pocket taken up with premium-audio subwoofer-ness.

 

[chefduane]

Yep, handy place to mount things....

 

[toypaseo]

@Zealous Interiors is where I got my replacement console lid cover from. A Willow Green one in fact. That eBay link is him.

It's not a 100% match, but it is pry as close as an aftermarket cover could get.

Click on image for larger view...

 

[96Green]

Wow... It's been near a year since I last updated this thread.

So, in the past year, a few things have changed:

• I re-repainted my front and rear bumpers from black to OD Green
• Did the same with the grill as well.
• I settled on an auxiliary lighting configuration I am Quite Pleased with
• Painted my front aux lights to match the bumpers
• Painted the wheel centercaps
• Replaced the headlights with projectors
  • One of my headlights got smashed in a Home Depot parking lot. Excuse to upgrade.
  • These halogen projectors are, in my opinion, quite a bit better than factory (even if they do look a bit rice)

Here's what she currently looks like, and will likely keep on looking like for a good while.

She's approaching 170,000 miles, and still going strong. I've put 8 new spark plugs, and new plug wires in, as well as a new water pump and thermostat.

This board has been an invaluable source of knowledge (and entertainment).

Cheers!
- 96 Green

 

[RandomNerd2000]

I bet that water pump was atrocious, and those headlights look rice, I go with the crystal clear ones in my trucks, I have a set of clear ones and soon blacked out ones, they're nice, obvious mod but no rice.

 

[sirdigalot]

so clean, i wish mine looked as nice as that, however compared to most of the trucks i know that people tend to buy down here for way more than i paid, it goes, ( mine actually pulled a lifted POS "something" from kissimmee (one and a half hours south of me) the other day no complaints not bad for a quarter million miles (though it did throw the upper serpentine pully a week later) though they still have not got their "baby" going and mine still trudges to work everyday.

i really gotta get the crappy grill the previous owners put on it off and put stock on it looks so much better!