Lifting my X

[5.0L96Exp]

Well its about that time I started modding my X.

First up I would like to lift the body. From what I have read the Ford Ranger PA883 kit should work fine (less the bumper mounts). If I understand correclty this kit comes with 16 spacers however I will only need 10. Although this will not improve ground clearance I hope it will get me over those rocks my running boards keep getting hung up on. And no I cant remove the running boards (strick orders from the girlfriend). I was initially thinking a 1" lift since i could reuse all the stock hardware but then I figured what the hell. I know its gonna look goofey with my stock tires but I dont mind. That having been said does anyone know how I can get 2" or 3" real cheap (I am a poor poor student with more time than money).

Next up are warrior shackles #153. I seem to suffer from spring sag and hopefully this will bring me back up to original ride hieght. If need be I will do the TT to level me off.

Last but not least.. New muffler. From what I have read most users are very happy with the flowie 50 SUV. This is my dream muffler but I think I may end up jerry rigging something until I can afford to spend 230 (CDN).

Anyhow I'll post some picks when I get er done.

 

[xj220]

Shackles: http://www.tellico4x4.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/6362

 

[dman726749]

you will want pa853 for the correct steering extension, not 883 if you do indeed have a 96 explorer....as for bumper brackets there are templates on this site to have some made, not hard to do at all.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

I think more people are happier with a 40 series Flowmaster than the 50!

-Drew

 

[Explodersport]

I did the same things you did, being a poor engineering student, graduating this year I might add!!!!, I did everything you did. I might suggest a different order of operation though. Go with the shackles first, a little bit of clearance to start off with. Then go to the body lift. I put mine on with the stock tires for a couple months, yeah it looks goofy, but not as bad as some others I have seen before. Then get your new wheels and tires, but make sure you have the wheels and tires coming before you put the body lift IMO, this keeps you from spending critical money for parts on something else, :cough: girlfriend :cough:. As for the exhaust, I did just an intake and I am happy with the sound. Not much for me other than a new tip to com out the side of the ex rather than the back. Listen to the guys around here though, they know their stuff.

 

[enyego]

Have you considered pre-runner front fenders? The only useful lift is that which you get from the tires. A body lift just ***ks your handling.

 

[5.0L96Exp]

Thanks for the tips on the body kit... Saved me from ordering the wrong one. As for tellico4x4 yes they do have the shackles, but when i called they do not have thier own brokerage firm.. ie by the time I pay, US tax, Canadian Tax, Duty Fees, Brokerage Fees and shipping $44US is now $150US. I can get them through Canadian Tire for $100CDN which is damn expensive for $15 worth of metal. I would make them but the landlord freaked out the last time I used the chop saw in the appartment.

enyego Im not sure if your speaking from experince with regards to body roll. I dont belive that 2 or 3" is going to make a considerable difference in handling. I drive it like a truck and not a race car. Plus, with the rancho9000s installed and in the in cab control set to 9 + the B torsion bars the truck handles corners better then a lot of cars. Can anyone with a 3" lift tell me if im going to roll when I jump across 4 lanes of traffic and then back at 170mk/h.


ExplorerDMB.. Which will it be the 40 or 50.. I want it to sound real deep and mellow. When I hit the gas I want to hear it, when Im driving 16 hours I want to be able to hear the radio. I have thought about the 40 with the stock resonator, but then so many people have the 50 SUV. I wish I could hear a clip of the 50 SUV, Super40, Standard 40, 40 Delta and stock from a 5.0L X. Also, if I use a 40 then I need a Y collector. I dont think there is anyway I could fit two 40's in the same location. Then again I dont want to end up with a 50 SUV only to find out its just a "little" louder than the stock setup.

So many decisions.......

 

[dman726749]

the body lift wont make it that bad, its deffinetly not stock handeling, but its a lifted truck and its not suposed to handle like a race car, just drive it smart and you will be fine.

 

[slravene]

Why dont you have someone on the board that lives up north, buy the shackles for you and ship them to you? (of course you would need to paypal them the money) That would deal with the brokerage issue right? Sure shipping might cost a bit more...but no where near 100$. Just my .02

 

[5.0L96Exp]

slravene that’s not a half bad idea. Anyone in the US willing to be my parts gofer. The shackles would have to be less than $60-70 US shipped to my door to make it really worth the extra effort. I'm not sure if that’s practical or not.

 

[96limitedX]

Have you considered pre-runner front fenders? The only useful lift is that which you get from the tires. A body lift just ***ks your handling.

umm...i have a 2" body lift and it handles exactly the same as it did with just the torsion twist. no differance

 

[slravene]

youve still got your swaybars attached though

 

[96limitedX]

youve still got your swaybars attached though

thats true...but if you have yours dis-connected and your truck is a daily driver. i think your asking to have a problem most people will have theres attached when drving on the road/highway.

 

[dman726749]

i have drove mine with my b/l and without the rear atached and didnt notice a a diffrence....

 

[slravene]

my truck is a DD, but i dont drive it on the road without the front connected....ive done it once and it is SCARY. The front dives hard into turns, which i can only see as being magnified when your COG is raised. But the rear wouldnt have a huge impact on full body sway.

 

[AspenX]

Have you considered pre-runner front fenders? The only useful lift is that which you get from the tires. A body lift just ***ks your handling.

Poor student needs cheap lift. How does $1000 fiberglass fenders raise his running boards for clearing rocks. Maybe he should just do a SAS while he is at it.

 

[HappyGilmore]

Although this will not improve ground clearance I hope it will get me over those rocks my running boards keep getting hung up on.

dont the running boards stay in the same spot since they are connected to the frame and you are lifting the body? correct me if im wrong please.....

 

[slravene]

they arent connected to the frame...unless they are tube nerf bars.

 

[96limitedX]

yeah the factory running boards are bolted to the body.

 

[5.0L96Exp]

ya a little bit of a poor design as well.. Anyone that has taken the running boards of will notice that the area directly in front of the rear wheel wells will have rotted away. I think the snow/salt gets in there and just sits.

Nerf bars... I thought thats what the running boards were on thier for. My girfriend explained to me that they were there for getting in and out of the car.. is that true? haha