lift and tires? true 4WD?

[LOCOprobe]

you guys prob. know what would fit better then me, since I am pretty new to the lifted truck thing. Ive always build low fast cars, so its a bit of a change haha.

Well right now I have 31x10.50's on it and wanna move up. I wanna put 33x12.50s on it. I heard that you guys use a 3" body lift from a ranger (for the life of me I cant remember what kit and where to get it from though) but would that lift able me to clear 33's?

also another question. I have the AWD model, which is not all that great offroad, although it has been awsome in the snow. But my question is, how hard would it be to make it true 4WD?

I figured it wouldnt be THAT much work since it already has a transfer case and such. maybe a tranny and transfer case out of a 4wd explorer? comp. wireing and such?

thanks alot guys for helping the "new to trucks" idiot haha

 

[Paraphoe]

You can fit 33's under with a 3'' body lift and a 2'' suspension lift but you might have to do some trimming.

 

[Paraphoe]

By the way, that's assuming you have a 2nd gen. It would help people answer your questions if you would list what Explorer you have.

 

[LOCOprobe]

By the way, that's assuming you have a 2nd gen. It would help people answer your questions if you would list what Explorer you have.

my fault, i thought I had said that.

I have a 2000 AWD 5.0

I fit 31's on it stock height. I cant fit 33's with just a 3" body lift?

 

[sparkyXplorer]

33's with a 3" BL would be TIGHT to say the least...I have a 99' 5.0L lifted using TT,AAL, Shackles, and a 2" Bl and I still trimmed quite a bit..it only rubs now when the wheel is turned pretty far and compressed by a bump or something similar...

I'll get some pics up on my photobucket link tonight just so you can see, otherwise there are a few on the Myspace link in my sig also...

Right now I am switching my to true 4x4 (have all the stuff just need time to do it)...All you need is to put in a BW 4406 T-case (search for 4406, many threads on it) when I say all you need to do is that it includes new front driveshaft, new rear, need a manual shifter unless you go the electric version then you need a smaller gas tank...but no new trans needed, no computer...

 

[Paraphoe]

my fault, i thought I had said that.

I have a 2000 AWD 5.0

I fit 31's on it stock height. I cant fit 33's with just a 3" body lift?

You can try, but like sparky said, it's going to be tight to say the least. I have a 2'' suspension and 3'' body, and I still had to trim sheet metal with my 33s.

 

[LOCOprobe]

awsome thanks guys.

I havent had too much luck finding any suspension lifts though. what 2" lift are you using and where can I find one?

also with the true 4x4 what rear end are you using? it sounds like a very simple swap though. I dont wanna go electric, so whats the best way to go on doing the shifter?

 

[trj360]

You can try, but like sparky said, it's going to be tight to say the least. I have a 2'' suspension and 3'' body, and I still had to trim sheet metal with my 33s.

are there any pics anywhere of how and where exactly the sheet metal was trimmed? also, i've got the body molding on mine and im wondering if i have to take that off as well.

 

[sparkyXplorer]

I am using just the stock 8.8" Ford rear end with the stock 3.73 Limited slip gears, You can find lots of info for the 4406 just by searching ethier " BW 4406" "4406 swap", something like that...some good threads with info are 410fortune's, flybycoe's, MountaneerGreen's, 97 V8's, and Hokie's are all manual 4406 swaps...I have one going, but lots more info in those sincee those are many of the threads I got my info from...

U can do a Tortion twist, Add-A-Leaf, Shackles for aprox. 2" up front and 2-3" in back...

I have a 99 limited so I have the fender flares and the running boards....I just used a dremal with a small cuttig disk for the plastic and the a sanding bit on it so I could get it smooth...then I used a "BFH" on some of the metal on the inside of the wheel well...

The shifter for the 4406 T-case is usually left attached to a 4r70w tranny out of a 4x4 F150, at a junkyard...or else you can go the route I did and buy one from a dealer for around $120 or so.. and then you just have to make a hole for the shifter to go through...

 

[Paraphoe]

are there any pics anywhere of how and where exactly the sheet metal was trimmed? also, i've got the body molding on mine and im wondering if i have to take that off as well.

Check here:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1130384&postcount=29


I can also get pics of mine up too, if you would like.

 

[LOCOprobe]

i am new to the truck suspension thing. so how does the tortion twist and shackles thing work? like what parts do i need to buy and such? and if I do that with the BL on top of that all ill need to do is some trimming to make them fit?
I dont have fender flares but I do have running boards. what if I just rolled the fenders?

I am using just the stock 8.8" Ford rear end with the stock 3.73 Limited slip gears, You can find lots of info for the 4406 just by searching ethier " BW 4406" "4406 swap", something like that...some good threads with info are 410fortune's, flybycoe's, MountaneerGreen's, 97 V8's, and Hokie's are all manual 4406 swaps...I have one going, but lots more info in those sincee those are many of the threads I got my info from...

U can do a Tortion twist, Add-A-Leaf, Shackles for aprox. 2" up front and 2-3" in back...

I have a 99 limited so I have the fender flares and the running boards....I just used a dremal with a small cuttig disk for the plastic and the a sanding bit on it so I could get it smooth...then I used a "BFH" on some of the metal on the inside of the wheel well...

The shifter for the 4406 T-case is usually left attached to a 4r70w tranny out of a 4x4 F150, at a junkyard...or else you can go the route I did and buy one from a dealer for around $120 or so.. and then you just have to make a hole for the shifter to go through...

 

[sparkyXplorer]

Your suspension on the front of your car a is a torsion bar setup, you can crank the bolts on these tortion bars to make them tighter and therefore given you lift. How-to-thread (http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196965&highlight=dummies)
The shackles are what connects the back of your leaf spring to your frame, you can pick some cheap ones up at autozone, if you have some good metal fab skillz you could make your own, or you could order a set of warrior part# 153 from (http://www.tellico4x4.com/product_info.php/products_id/6362) with a How-To-Thread on shackles (Dead Link Removed)

If you wanted to put an Add-a-Leaf in the leaf pack then you can pick that up from summitracing.com for like $40


Between the TT, Shackles, and a 3" BL you may/or may not need to...all tires and all trucks are different but I would say that you may end up needing Light trimming like some of the running boards...

 

[LOCOprobe]

awsome man, that sounds like its a pretty checp way to get a few more inches out of the truck too.

thanks alot though, youve been alot of help. i see trucks that have done this, and they are also using diff. shocks, why and should I go that way also?

sorry im just use to coilovers, struts and slamming a car haha

 

[FlyBoyCoe]

I would only change up the shocks if you're unhappy with the way your truck rides. TT and shackles don't lift you enough to require new shocks. Real 4x4 rocks, too. It can be quite a bit of work if you don't plan it out well. And even if you do, you can run into problems (ie, my driveshafts weren't the right length). Good luck with the build though, making your truck bigger is always fun.

 

[LOCOprobe]

i shouldnt need a new rear driveshaft should I? and where should I get the front DS from?

 

[FlyBoyCoe]

You will if you get the BW 4406, the transfercase has different inputs and outputs that the AWD case. Read up on my thread in my signature. The first post has some links to other threads with all the information you need for this swap. Do your homework, cause it's not just a quick and painless swap (unless you've done it before), the 4406 is a bigger t-case and may require altering some things to make it fit.

I got my driveshafts (front and rear) from local truck parts stores. '97-'01 Expedition 4x4 shafts should work out for you. Also, you can get the front from the same years of F-150. Hope that helps, you're off to a good start to making a great rig.

 

[sparkyXplorer]

Man, Jeff I started my thread on my 4406 a while ago and still haven't gotten it put in yet...you just talking to him about it is making me crazy lol...

 

[LOCOprobe]

I cant tell you guys how helpfull you have been. I feel in love with the truck when I got it and after getting out of the car scene I have been itching to start building another car/truck.

Time to start doing the research and collecting parts. Im gonna order the shackles and add a leaf thing this week and start from there

 

[FlyBoyCoe]

I think that's where most of us started. I was able to squeeze 32's with TT and shackles and minimal trimming (inside corner of the bumper that isn't visible anyway). After that I put in the 4406 and went to MOAB and had the time of my life. Just be warned that the bug bites hard and deep.

 

[The_Driller]

what kind of lift would I need to fit 35's under my truck?