JoshC's D30 SFA by CRLCustoms.com

[hvac man]

Well thats cool CoryL that is what makes this 4x4 building stuff so much fun is the differance of opinion and the more diff the more custom stuff between rides. I like it when someone has a custom ride and not just another lift kit. Anyways the flex is pretty good and I can't wait to see it off-road on the trails of tellico. Good luck out there and I hope you don't get too much body damage on that shiny Explorer.

 

[JoshC]

I'll not be getting much body damage, i'll say that right now!

I took my truck to my ford shop here to get it aligned today and they called back and said that every bolt on the front end was hand tight Not good seeing as how i just got off the interstate! So i had to take it over to my parents tonight and tighten every single freakin bolt. I aslo put some medium grade lock tight on them just for back up. Everything has a lock washer too, that's why i couldn't figure out why they were loose. Oh well.

I did get to flex it a little bit with the front drive shaft. It was dark, i took my dad and a flash light and he watched the shaft as i flexed. It never hit, but i never got a good flex out of the front, i'll have to see how does saturday or even tomorrow if i get a chance. I know one thing, i need to do something about the rear end. The ujoint bangs BAD when flexing. I'm going to go over to my local 4x4 shop and see if they'll let me use their RTI ramp and have on of them watch the joints to see what they think.

 

[taxx]

Anytime you install new components or a lift it is a good idea to check all the bolts after the first 100 miles. Even with lock washers as those bolts get stressed they lossen up a bit. I am surprised to hear that all those where that lose though with grade 8 bolts and lock washers. Good lesson for us all I guess!

So ford isn't giving you any **** about aligning it with that SFA?

 

[CoryL]

I want to know what bolts were loose.

I tightened EVERYTHING HARD, including torquing things to spec that called for it.

 

[NOTAJP]

Originally posted by taxxman2k


So ford isn't giving you any **** about aligning it with that SFA?

I would have loved to see the look on their faces when you pulled up. They almost piss their pants when I drive by, and you've got twice the X!

 

[DocVijay]

Originally posted by NOTAJP
I would have loved to see the look on their faces when you pulled up. They almost piss their pants when I drive by, and you've got twice the X!

Same happened to me once. I know there aren't too many lifted fords around here, but mine is not that extreme. Still, a couple of mechanics and salesmen came out to look. Go figure.


EDIT: I can't wait to see what happens when I pull up for an oil change with a supercharged 347 in there! I'll have to videotape it...

 

[Digger196]

the head dude at our ford place made the comment of "It looks like a truck from the jungle" i was standing behind it and was like YES they like it!

 

[JoshC]

I tightened most of the stuff down saturday while i was painting it. So i figured that it was okay. I went up last night and EVERY bolt that you had put on Cory was loose. Even both the back shock mounts. The only ones i didn't get to were the rear control arm mounts where you went vertical through the frame. I'm don't doubt you tightened them Cory, but they are darn tight now!

I have a good friend that is a service advisor over at ford, plus i know alot of the mechanics. They didn't give me any grief. I only got to see my friends face, needless to say he was speechless!

 

[JoshC]

Hey Cory, i noticed last night that there is no engine cross member under the truck. Is there a reason for this?

 

[CoryL]

Originally posted by JoshC
Hey Cory, i noticed last night that there is no engine cross member under the truck. Is there a reason for this?

UCAs would hit it.

 

[JoshC]

Okay, you don't think this will hurt the frame over time?

 

[JoshC]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=642777

 

[CoryL]

Originally posted by JoshC
Okay, you don't think this will hurt the frame over time?

Not really. The engine mounts will hold everything in place fine.

No different than a Jeep.

 

[FAKRWEE]

Hey Josh, congrats on your rig. It looks awesome

Coryl, like always great job.

Josh, the loose bolts is something your gonna have to learn to live with. I check mine weekly, at least with my hand, and tighten them every 2 weeks or as needed. I have all the tools I need in a seperate tool kit. Once you go rad with your rig all kind of strange stuff starts happening. Remember now your running bigger and more agressive tires, you might not notice it much, but your suspension sure does. Just get in the habit of getting under your rig and checking it as much as you can. Small price to pay for an awesome rig.

What I did to improve handling and avoid wandering and swaying as much as I could was to play around with the air pressure in tires and installed double Rancho adjustable shocks in the rear. I finally found just the right combination for both and now I can do 80-85 mph without stress. I don't have any anti-sway bars.

Have fun and again congrat.

 

[JoshC]

Thanks a bunch Tom. Not quite the machine that yours is but, we've gotta start somewhere.

I never thought about the tire pressure. I think they still have like 35 psi in them from the tire shop. I'll adjust that tomorrow. What should i be running on the road?

I understand what your saying about the bolts, i just didn't think it would be that bad. Hopefully the medium locktight will slow it down some. It's just going to be a habit i need to get into, like you said.

I think that the bigger of my sway is from the front. The springs are so soft that it's just floating up there. I had a guy tell me that a set of air shocks up front and i could adjust as needed and disconnect as needed, but that could be more of a hassle then good. I need to see how much i'm going to be driving on the road, and get a better feel for it for a while before i start modding my newly modded truck! Thanks again Tom.

 

[Robb]

What kind of shocks are you running up front Josh? A good set of stiff shocks (or preferably adjustable) should help the soft spring situation onroad.

 

[JoshC]

Yeah, i know what you mean. I'm running Rancho 5000s, a decently stiff shock.

 

[CoryL]

If it gets unbearable with the sway, I'd like to see if I can engineer a Currie Anti-Rock swaybar under there.

 

[JoshC]

Yeah i think you've told me that about a half a dozen time, but i keep forgetting the name, i'll have to check on some prices so i can keep that in the back of my mind. You think the front would work, or should i get both?

 

[CoryL]

I don't think a rear would be neccessary.