Its not funny anymore.......

[Kial]

OKAY NOT FUNNY AT ALL

Roberts truck is still stock, Thursday was the set date for the lift oh but the brake lines were a pain in the ass so we had Daughters Auto put them on. Then robert and I went to justins to get it lifted today. Oh but justin only has crapy jacks for my car and when we unbolt the front coil springs b/c
of the 14 inch long screw at the bottom of the spring and after we unbolt it all the front diff and tanss falls we dont have proper suppport for it and we dont have anything that would raise the car up high enough so we could squeeze the 5.5 inch springs in. Is there a trick to this because jusin and his dad looked at it and said it was such a pain in the ass becuase its a 4x4 and theres so much more stuff thats in teh equation. Now robert is going to have to go to full-tilt or truck toys and get it installed for like alot of money, and to think we were so close. This superlift 5.5 inch is a pain in the ass, I dont know why all of you said it was so easy. We have to lift the car up on hydolic stuff now and have some guy do it for like 4 500 bux. Fun stuff just thought I would tell you all who claimed to have done it in like a couple hours with just your hands and a wood stick, the install has become a two month chore now.

-Kial-

 

[rpenner54]

I don't think anyone has said the install for this lift is easy. This lift will easily take two days by any good shop. It can take two days to a week to do in your own garage depending on how many friends you have. I don't know how they could charge your $4,500 to install the lift unless they charge a ton an hour. I know that when I installed my lift it took two weekends and one week of working on it in the evening. Its not a quick proccess but it shouldn't be that tough with the correct tools.



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Ryan Penner
1992 Explorer Sport Modified

 

[Kial]

NO NO NO

four to five hundred dollars, I dont even think his car is worth 4,500 Dead Link Removed Anyways read my last post and everyone is like the lift is pretty easy to do, it shouldnt be too hard, my @$$ its easy dude. Ahhh everyone is so frusterated cause we have came so far and now we have to all wait longer, too bad we dont have huge pocket books. Anyways thanks for the replie, latez

Kial

 

[Rick]

When someone decides to change the entire suspension on their vehicle it would be normal to assume that they already have some mechanical abilities and access to basic tools.

I've had a "real" hydraulic jack since I was 16 years old. It's a 2 1/2 ton Craftsman. And I also have a good set of jack stands to go with it.

I don't have any problems lifting my Explorer high enough to install 5 1/2" coils in my garage.

I read all the tips which people sent you in the other thread and they were right on base. They pointed out the difficult parts of the lift, the stuff that you might not think would be difficult when reading the instructions. If you guys are already aggravated with just lifting the truck off the ground, you would be well advised to have a competent shop finish the job for you.

IMHO
RICK

------------------
Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
www.4x4central.com

 

[Kial]

Sorry Rick that were so aggraviated with 'just lifting it off the groud,' maybe if we had someone with as much talent and experience as you then things would go SO much smoother. Unfortunatly were going to have to take the route you did and have a shop work on our truck. I really wanted to do it myself, so I could have something tangable that would reflect my effort, but Im going to have to take the easy way out as you did. Funny thing was though, Justins dad who was a thirty year mechanic said he didnt want to do it because he didnt have the proper lifts/supports to properly and safely execute the lift kit. Thanks for all your help, your the greatest.

 

[Rick]

What I have learned through experience is that I can make more money in 8 hours than it costs me to have a shop work on my truck for 8 hours.

Still, I have had my trucks suspension completely pulled apart in my garage. Not for the initial install, but for maintenance amd for changing springs.

A 30 year mechanic is probably spoiled by having the proper tools available to him at work.

I know I was certainly spoiled by having a shop full of tools available to me when I worked as a mechanic. Even though I used to rebuild transmissions every day I wouldn't attempt to do it in my garage, because I don't have access to the tools that make the job go so much smoother.

You want to know what the "trick" is to raising the truck? Lift it with a 2 1/2 ton hyraulic floor jack from under the front axle housing centering the jacks "cup" under the spring bolt. Lift that mother up. Place a good heavy duty jack stand under the frame rail behind the radius arm mount. Let the jack down and voila' the wheel will be at full droop. Now disconnect the shock absorber which will let the axle hang free. Unscrew the bolt which holds the spring retainer in place and pull the spring out.

Sounds easy? It is.

The hard part as others have mentioned is removing the rivets from the radius arm brackets. Now THAT's a real mother and THAT's something to ***** about.

"I really wanted to do it myself, so I could have something tangable that would reflect my effort, but Im going to have to take the easy way out as you did."

Hey BTW Kial, why didn't you watch the shop install your lift kit, or better yet why didn't you install your lift yourself so you would feel like you had done something "tangible" to your own truck. After all aren't we talking about lifting "Roberts" truck.

Man it's deep in here...

All this talk about old times made me pull out this old photo from 18 years ago. It was taken in my parents garage. I made that old Dodge Dart into an 11 second street car in that garage with just the bare essentials. Drop a tranny? You bet right on my chest! God! Look at all that HAIR!! The guys who have met me will probably get a good chuckle out of that!

Dead Link Removed

------------------
Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
www.4x4central.com

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 03-05-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 03-05-2000).]

 

[Todd]

Kial,
To begin with, please take it easy here. This board is intended to learn and, as you have done, express your opinions. However, there is definitely a right and wrong way of doing this. If you feel as though the people of this board are lying to you or falsely leading you on, then please let them know this, but do it in a proper and mature manner. Take me for example, I am not perfect by any means, but I disagree with your deliverence of opinions here and I am telling you this in a very civilized and appropriate fashion.
Also, remember, you stated that your friend Justin had installed or helped to install a Superlift on a 97 or 98 model year Ranger. If he performed this lift, which is not exactly an easy lift to perform, he should own or have access to the appropriate tools for lifting a vehicle. These same tools would be all that is needed to install Robert's lift. You do not have to use a "rickety" jack or jackstand. Ask Justin to use his tools or to get some for you.
Finally, these lifts, in my opinion, are easy. However, if you do not have a large amount of mechanical experience, it will be very time consuming. Remember, not difficult, but time consuming. Then, if you do happen to run into problems, as you stated above happened, use this board to help cure them. Don't use this board as a whipping post to lash out at. There are many people here that would be more than happy to help you out with any problems. All that needs to be done is to ask a question rather than attack first. If they lie to you then, then let them know how you feel.
I apologize here if I have put words into people's mouths or have overstepped my boundaries here, but it is the way I feel and see things. I am a very opinionated person Dead Link Removed
Well everyone, please take care and happy exploring!

Addition: Rick, I have yet to meet you in person, which I hope to some day cure. However, that is definitely an 11 second hair cut, sorry, I mean motor. Dead Link Removed

------------------
Todd Metzger
tmetz@umr.edu
'Off-Road and More!'
93 "Ford X 4" XLT



[This message has been edited by Todd (edited 03-05-2000).]

 

[GJarrett]

OHMYGOSH!!!!!!!
Dead Link Removed
That Hair!!!
Dead Link Removed

(not that I ever in my life sported longer hair than that in the 70's and any resemblance to that picture and anything my Mom might show you otherwise would be purely a reflection of the state of her elderly confusion between me and an imaginary playmate)

PS/ you seem to weigh a little more than that now, don't you?

[This message has been edited by GJarrett (edited 03-05-2000).]

 

[Rick]

Yeah, sure you had to mention that part Dead Link Removed I now weigh about 50lbs more than I did in that shot. I was surprised to see by the date on the photo that my hair was still that long in '82. I thought I had chopped it by then, but I guess not!

"Those were the days my friend..."

------------------
Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
www.4x4central.com

 

[Paul Gagnon]

Kial,

Like Todd said, on a scale of difficulty the lift is not hard. It is time consuming. But just think about all you are learning. You can learn more from one tough job than ten easy ones. Take this as an opportunity to learn. In time you will look back and realize what went wrong and how to avoid it next time. It takes a lot of practice to get good at wrenching. Count this as practice time.

Rick,

Wicked 'fro dude! Dead Link Removed That is some awsome hair! Dead Link Removed Nice Dart too!!! Dead Link Removed

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Paul Gagnon
Calgary, Alberta
"No Brain, No Pain"
Dead Link Removed

 

[Tom Wilk]

Well, now you did it. Dead Link Removed I was going to stay out of this one, until I saw those pics. Dead Link Removed

I remember those days of having long hair. I remember the days of having hair period. Dead Link Removed

It looks like your garage was a pretty decent setup. I've had the displeasure of doing quite a bit of my repair work on the cold driveway cement, so a garage like that would have been welcome. And, unlike yourself, most of my experience comes from just getting my older cars to run, not go fast.

Geeze, that motor looks clean as all getout. And, look at the size of that carb!! It's almost as big as your hair. Dead Link Removed

Seriously, it's good to see some of the background of people in this forum. I would never have guessed that you had been involved in racing. Just looking at that engine makes me wish that I had had the background that you did. Experience is a great teacher, and you've had quite a bit, it looks like. Maybe we should all show a little of our past here.

------------------
Tom
99 Sport 4x4
SOHC
Auburn Rear & Gerald's old Shackles

 

[Rick]

You should have seen the beaters that I used as dailey drivers! My 1966 Delmont 88 with a 455 2bbl was my "favorite". That thing was huge!. I guess the 2bbl was there to help the 5000 lb car get better gas mileage!

I bought a '74 F250 Supercab with 300,000 miles for my tow vehicle. I called it the Flintstone mobile, because when I bought it I cut out the rusted through floorbaords and could stand on the ground from inside the truck!

I also had a Type 4 VW which had no heat. I used to drive it in the Chicago winter wearing my down jacket and blankets.

------------------
Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
www.4x4central.com

 

[Tom Wilk]

Ahhh, Beaters. I know that this is going away from the topic of the thread, but here's a list of vehicles I've owned pretty much in the order I had them:

71 Maverick (beater, rust bucket)
70 Maverick (parts for 71)
78 Pinto Wagon (hot cam, revved nicely; blew the rear end and 1st gear with one drop of the clutch while trying to show up a Camaro)
74 Torino (beater, 351 2bbl, burned rubber once, burned oil always)
70 Catalina convertible (beater, 400 2bbl, slow, but the top worked)
76 Cutlass (decent body, 350 4bbl, 2.50 rear end, no acceleration below 25 mph)
83 Ranger (4 cyl, 1 bbl carb, ran forever)
86 Escort GT (kind of quick for an Escort)
79 Dodge 3/4 ton (Beater, Manual steering, stick, towed boat)
78 Dodge 1/2 ton (Beater, 110K miles, towed boat, no compression, couldn't tow over 50 mph with it)
90 Mustang LX 5.0 (What can I say Dead Link Removed )
77 Chevy 4x4 short bed (had great plans for this one, never materialized)
95 Contour (sluggish 4 cyl, handled well, would have been a great car with a little more engine and better styling)
92 Ranger (3.0, 5 speed, clean)
99 Explorer (Great vehicle, will be even greater)

OK, so I've had a few beaters myself. Most of them had heaters, though.

I spent quite a bit of time jerry rigging some of those cars to keep them running. The 71 Maverick kept me particularly busy, changing transmissions, radiators, and various other parts. Went through points every 2 months, probably 'cause I was too lazy to change the condenser. Adjusted the carb float at the side of the road one day after it went dry while cornering. Changed the radiator in 15 minutes after I ran into a tree the night before. Also took the Mav off road quite a bit. Dead Link Removed

Maybe we need to start a "Beaters I've owned" thread.

------------------
Tom
99 Sport 4x4
SOHC
Auburn Rear & Gerald's old Shackles

 

[JJW]

Just goes to show you, ageing(older)gearheads don't fade away,they go offroad Dead Link Removed
For some reason, I thought this board was more on the younger Dead Link Removed side. Not that 40 something is old Dead Link Removed or is that 30 something?

Nice hair Rick! Was that on purpose? Dead Link Removed



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JJW, 92 xlt,4x4

 

[Gopher]

JJW,
Alzheimers already? I'm on the younger side 20 soon 21. Dead Link Removed I love the site, because young guys like me can learn from the older more extinguished wise ones. I hate listening to my dad talk about all the cars he had growing up. I want a classic. My friend has a 53 studebaker commander that he drives everyday. I love that thing. Has a 350 c@*#&$vy in it though. My dream car is 57 ford fairlane 500. Dark blue on the bottom and the top a white with a blue pearl in it. Ahh...think i wet myself...LoL..one day i'll have the car...until then its me and my explorer.
Rick is that really you? i wasnt sure white people could grow the fro that big =P j/k
Tom,
think your right on the cars everyone has had in their past. We should start a thread for the cars.



------------------
Brian
94 2wd
4" Fabtech Lift
265/75/16
Flowmaster 2 chamber 2.25"
KKM intake
Clears all the way around

 

[Ray Lobato]

Hi Kial,
This is not to belittle you, but to help you out. I take it you are still in High school. It would help to sign up for Auto shop. First It would teach you how to use tools, and what tools to use for what job, then you could take your truck to school and have the lift done there, where they have the big lifts and all the right tools. I built my first hot rod in auto shop. It was a 55 Chevy, powered by a 327. It was all torn down and rebuilt right there in school.
The second thing you have to remember, is you need patience. Rome wasn't built in a day, and putting in a lift won't happen in a day either, so don't be discuraged by things not going correctly right away. In the real world, most things don't. If you feel yourself getting angry. Take a break! get something to eat, or drink. Relax awhile, then go back and try it again. If you get stuck on something, come here and post it. Many of us here have done what your are trying to accomplish. Give us as much detail as you can, and we could probably tell you how to go about fixing it. Hope this helps. Dead Link Removed

Rick,
Love the Do! It's a good thing that gas was cheap back then, cause you were probably only getting 8MPG with that engine. Dead Link Removed

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Happy Wheelin'
Ray L.
97 XLT 4X4 4.0L SOHC



[This message has been edited by Ray Lobato (edited 03-06-2000).]

 

[rpenner54]

Rick I just have to make a coment on the hair! Dead Link Removed I have never accually known anyone who had hair like that before so I have been snickering on and off all day! Dead Link Removed Course this is from one of them youngin Explorer owners! I wish I had that kind of garage to work in though! Plus an engine like that sure would've been fun!



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Ryan Penner
1992 Explorer Sport Modified

 

[Gopher]

Rick,
I'm sorry on this one, but i have to put in one more thing..That pic of you looks like Weird Al Yankavic..LoL..sorrry i couldnt resist.
My day is coming....
Brian

 

[GJarrett]

While we're bringing up age;

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICK!!!

 

[Rick]

Thanks for the birthday wishes. I just realized that I probably dug out the old photos cuz I'm feelin' old!! 38 Years tomorrow. Man, I'm about over the hill!


------------------
Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
www.4x4central.com