Moab 2007 May 19-20 Chat Thread

[MountaineerGreen]

I am running 32's (265/75 16) with a 4" superlift now. I ran them with a TT and shackles on mine, rubbed a little, but did pretty good. These tires you can run with or without the lift, they don' look too awful small with the lift and fit snugly without.

 

[FlyBoyCoe]

Take a look at Gerrald Garret's rig on this forum, he is an example of what a torsion twist, gears, and lockers are capable of off road in an otherwise stockish Explorer...

Actually, Garret's rig was my original inspiration to beef up my X and go wheeling. I'll take it slow and get more experience before dropping the big bucks. Can't wait to get out there.

 

[410Fortune]

He inspired alot of Gen II owners I am sure, just make sure you pee before you go messing with undercoatings

 

[FlyBoyCoe]

Ah, the infamous herculiner! Great story.

 

[Tilt168]

hootus

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Oh, and what 410 suggests is a good idea- drop bracket lifts are expensive and don't really gain a whole lot of clearance. I only have mine because I got it extremely cheap.

I haven't been to Moab yet, but its going to be a blast in May.

 

[Jefe]

He inspired alot of Gen II owners I am sure. . .

I'm one of them. But somewhere along the line I past him up.

 

[Premier]

Oh, and what 410 suggests is a good idea- drop bracket lifts are expensive and don't really gain a whole lot of clearance. I only have mine because I got it extremely cheap.

I haven't been to Moab yet, but its going to be a blast in May.

Im curious how well the drop brackets hold up in moab and whether or not they get hit a ton.. and how careful you actually have to be.

 

[Premier]

Here is Rays "fix"

 

[410Fortune]

I spy Atlas t case

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Im curious how well the drop brackets hold up in moab and whether or not they get hit a ton.. and how careful you actually have to be.

I am going to find out in May I am going to try to find/buy a rear crossmember to trans crossmember skid plate like Ray has before I go though.

 

[becker69]

FlyBoy... I agree with your assessment to go the TT & Warrior route... I think you'll be stoked with that setup for awhile (while growing interest on that $$ for your forthcoming SAS ). This is the current situation I am in; I want some more lift and rubber, but I think I'll settle with armor and a locker in the rear... then reassess after I trail like that for a bit.
Gerald has been an inspiration for us Sport Trac's as well; given how many things are directly interchangable. (not to mention he's a heck of a nice guy!)

Premier- Thanks a ton for Posting those Pics of Rays SP!!! You saved me a ton of time as that is what I originally had in mind for front end armor

 

[FlyBoyCoe]

So I just ordered my schackles from 4WP this afternoon, and they should be in by Tues. I'll start my search of leafs now, not sure what I should be looking for tho. Lift and 32's, here I come!

 

[becker69]

You really shouldn't need leafs... the shackles should be good for 1.25-1.75" or so of lift in the rear... and it doesn't take much time at all. Do a search (on this site) for 'Shackle install' or something similar and you'll find pics of where to set your jackstands, hints on how to remove the stock shackle bolts, etc (just don't over tighten the new bolts with the Warriors - my shackles are kind of ( ) because I overtightened mine ).

And in the front all you should need is a search on TT or 'Torsion Twist' and you'll get pics of where the torsion adjustment bolts are, how to measure your before and after measurements on each side, etc. MAKE SURE YOU RE-Align your Ex when you are done with the TT and Shackle install or you'll hose the wear patterns on your tires!! Expect a significantly stiffer ride in the front depending on how far you crank them up, what the rating of your Torsion bars are, and what kind of shocks you are running. Have fun you'll be stoked.

I'm not the most mechanically inclined but I easily did these myself and if you need a hand at all, PM me and we can see about getting together.

 

[410Fortune]

Bingo, warriors in the back torsion twist up front you can stuff 32's with minor trimming/bending

 

[Msupertek]

Make sure you bring a case of transmission fluid. If you havn't, go buy a gigantic transmission cooler from the autoparts store before you head out and install it.

My first trip to Arizona I drove in my X (it is automatic and had 35 inch tires with 4.10 gears) all they way from Arlington, Texas. I didn't get to wheel much because after my second trail (the first I broke a hub and had to turn back to get parts at phoenix) my tranny started pooring fluid out of the converter seal from overheating. Thnx to Jefe and Marty they gave me enough tranny fluid to make it back to a gas station where I purchased 12 more qts which it took to get me home (tranny leaking and slipping the whole way). It was an experience...

After getting back I overhauled it at my shop and installed a trans cooler that is about 8 times larger then the factory and since then no matter how much I beat the tranny up it seem to be fine. Heat kills the a4ld quickly....

 

[410Fortune]

B&M transmission coolers have worked very very well for me
I get the biggest one I can find and replace the factory aux cooler with it
My trans rarely sees 150 degrees

 

[Spas]

Heat kills the a4ld quickly....

Breathing on an A4Ld will kill it I swear, those are the 'Pinto' of Ford transmissions

 

[GJarrett]

I'm one of them. But somewhere along the line I past him up.

By a long shot, LOL.

However I AM still keeping mine! ~ that should count for extra credit

Gerald has been an inspiration for us Sport Trac's as well.... (not to mention he's a heck of a nice guy!)

Thankyewverymuch for that plug. Your media co-op revenue is in the mail

 

[FlyBoyCoe]

Well, chalk up one more newbie on the list, I just officially signed up for the Moab run.