Minor Mods Minor Money?

[Nick C.]

I've done about a million and a half searches and still don't quite have the answer to my questions...or maybe I have an answer it's just not the one I was looking for.

Ok here's what I want.
1. I want to put on a kkm intake
2. I want to do the tt/warrior shackles lift
3. I want to put on some 31's

that's basically the mods I want to do and that's it, I realize that they're nothing serious and that's ok with me. That'll give me a little more height and a little more ground clearance. I only do minor wheelin just enough to show up my friend with a cherokee.

To be honest I want the intake for a little noise and hopefully I can improve my gas mileage if even a little.

so here's my questions and hopefully someone can help me.

1. My x has 97k on it are these mods a waste of my time and money? I've always had high mileage vehicles and forsee myself with this vehicle for a long time.
2. When I get the intake if I never get exhaust to go with it am I wasting my money if I'm looking for increased performance?
3. To run 31's to I need to worry about the rear diff or gears? tranny?
4. What strain is the lift going to put on everything?
5. What are some potential problems with any of this stuff?
6. Do you have any idea the extra money it's going to cost me?

I'm in the works to get everyone of these mods for Christmas so they'll be free for me it's just maintaining that I'm wondering about costing me extra.

This is my daily driver but I'm not looking for incredible gas mileage or a performance vehicle, just one I like the looks of and can get a little dirty.

 

[Black Magic]

The KKM is great by it's self and every better with an Exhaust!

The mods you are listing here are common, no real big deal. You should be fine for and not cause any problems.

Just doing what you listed here will put your head above the croud and make your X even better. I buy new and drive untill they are in the ground and 97k is just getting started! My last X had 380k! And I am fast approaching 80k in my 01 now.

 

[justin's_94]

Sounds like you have a fine plan. That KKM will increase performance. Paired with a new catback exhaust, or just cut the cat off and put in a flowmaster or magnaflow muffler and you will have a nice perfomance increase with some increased gas mileage. The lift will be fine, and with 31's, there is no need to worry about driveshaft angles, or ring and pinion ratios. Youre all set. Good luck with the mods.

 

[Alec]

You're speedometer will be off a little though. Without a diff gear change, you'll need to get a speedometer gear that has one tooth less than the stocker. There are many threads on speedo calibration. As for diff gears, if you have 3.27 or 3.55 gears stock you will notice some power loss; lower gears and you should not notice it as much.

KKM: $100
Lift: $55
Tires: ~$500

I also suggest doing your catback exhaust. For $200 you can get a great custom aftermarket system which will improve sound, performance, and mileage. There is a sticky thread in the Need For Speed forum with my exhaust recommendations.

Good luck!

 

[Nick C.]

thanks for the responses. Alec, Do I have to do the rear diff or can I live with my speedo off a little. I was reading up on the diff gears and heard about it messing up tranmission gears and when it shifts. I basically want to know if I don't do it what will it hurt? I have enough tranny problems right now I don't need to add more.

 

[xfreak]

Magic,its good to hear that you get that much from an explorer, cause I got 101,000 on my 99 and in a very brief moment of darkness, I almost got nervous. I Feel better knowing that if you take care of it that it will take care of you.

 

[Alec]

I think we're mixing some things up:

Differential gears &
The Speedo gear

Differential gears are big metal pieces that determine your axle's final drive ratio. You go to lower gears (numerically higher) with larger tires to offset the diameter change and added weight of the tires. This raises your engine RPM at relative speeds to provide more power. Thus higher gears (numerically lower), if matched properly, are better for highway drivers who want to keep low RPMs for economy. Too low RPMs though and your engine will not be very efficient and mileage and reliability will suffer.

The speedo gear resides in your tranny (2wd) or transfer case (4wd) and drives the speedo electronics (95-97) or speedo cable (91-94). It's a small $7 plastic gear. 98+ Xs don't have this gear and use another sensor (VSS). Changing either tire size and/or diff gears necessitates changing the speedo gear to keep your speedo accurate.

 

[ldspartan]

Originally posted by Alec
98+ Xs don't have this gear and use another sensor (VSS).

On a 98+ X, if you change tire size you must need to recalibrate the VSS somehow; how is it done?

 

[ldspartan]

Originally posted by Alec
98+ Xs don't have this gear and use another sensor (VSS).

On a 98+ X, if you change tire size you must need to recalibrate the VSS somehow; how is it done?

Edit: Well crap, I hit enter one too many times. Its way too early for me to be interacting with technology.