My '96 XLT 4x4

[jwade]

Before the lift I had Goodyear AT/X 30x9.50's. It looked o.k. until I put on the Rhino step guard and then I had to lift it.

After

Other shots:

I think all explorers should come stock this way.

Clark

'96 XLT 4x4--62,000 miles
Rhino front step guard. "No need for the rear guards unless you plan to do alot of backing up."
PIAA 55watt lamps
Maxed out torsion bars
WAR153 Shackles
31x10.50's
Rancho RS5000's
10 disc Sony
JBL audio
"legal tinted front windows"
K40 in dash radar system. "A must for my lead foot!!"

Love my Explorer!!!!

 

[Trckmagik]

Looks great J! Plan on going any higher w/ it? You godda love the warrior shackles dont you?

 

[yob_yeknom]

SWEET!!

That looks great. I'm going to be doing the same to mine in the near future. (I love tax returns!!!)
One question.. How do you get that thing to shine so well!? Especially the wheels! My Explorer looks dull no matter what I do to it. Very depressing.

 

[jwade]

Re: SWEET!!

Originally posted by yob_yeknom
That looks great. I'm going to be doing the same to mine in the near future. (I love tax returns!!!)
One question.. How do you get that thing to shine so well!? Especially the wheels! My Explorer looks dull no matter what I do to it. Very depressing.

I grew up loving and reading about sports cars. Ten years ago, I had my own car detailing business. I was in high school and my architect dad knew a bunch of doctors, lawyers, and other business people that didn't care to turn over their exotics to me for a day or so. I detailed some of the coolest cars at the time from Benz's to even a ZR-1 vette. I loved driving tose cars and appreciated the time it took to get them absolutely "polish perfect." You could literally eat off them after I was done. Looking back on it, I only charged anywhere between 50 and 75 bucks a job depending on the size of the vehicle. I'm sure I lost money on each job but loved every second of it. I have used every wax and cleaning product known to man, and have learned many things in the process. I usually do a three-step process on the wax job. After it's done it's like a mirror. I only use Meguires products. They are worth every penny spent on them. I like to keep my truck spotless, but it drives me crazy in the winter months because it's too cold to wash it and do it "right." Mabye we will have an early spring this year.

Clark

 

[DarkFox1]

looks great man... I've been looking at getting some shackles and stuff myself.. I've heard that whatever size tire you go up to.. you gain half the diff. in lift? (IE a 31" tire coming off a 28" is 3", so oyu would gain 1.5" from this?) if so.. then a 1.5" lift from shackles+1.5" lift from the tires=3" total?

I've been trying to hold back from doing this until my michelins burn out, but I'm having some trouble, I would really like to get a set of BFG ATs and some shackles, maybe some edlebrok IAS shocks to stabalize the whole thing..

I'm 2wd.. how much do you supose the shackles and all would cost? any other materials I need to lift it? (btw, if you know the web page for this warrior place it would be of great help.. I cannot find it )

 

[Rob Slade]

Great job! It really looks good with those 31's on there and the lift. Just wondering, how much do the warrior shackles cost? Also I noticed your OBX sticker, are you from North Carolina? I am and live in Wilmington, just wondering if there was another NC person out there.

 

[donkey boy]

Very nice ride.

Specially the Outerbanks sticker makes a HUGE difference Seriously, very good an clean looking vehicle, congratulations.

 

[jwade]

As far as the shackles go, I posted a thread on the suspension and lift section entitled WAR153 SHACKLES. It will have alot of information on them. I got them from JCWhitney Co. Look at that thread for the phone number. I have since deleted it from outlook. They run about 40 bucks. I paid an additional $40 for two mechanics to do the surgury. All in all, I lifted the thing for under $100. Small price to pay, but it's worth every penny.....

About the OBX sticker. I was born in '74 and raised in Clarksville, TN. I spent from '92 to '99 in Knoxville, TN, but I have been going to Naggs Head every summer for a long time now. I really love it down there. If you ever have the opportunity to go then don't let it go by. I especially love Oregon Inlet. For those of you that don't know about Oregon Inlet, you would love it. It is pure unadulterated fun and you had better have 4x4 (preferably a god lift too) to get around in it. I'm talking deep sand and dunes. Very Cool!!!!

Later,

Clark

 

[ilikedellcomputers]

I definitely like that new and improved look, next thing you have to get is rims (LOL

What (legal) tint did you get on your front windows, I am looking at front tint for my windows, just afraid that the cops will nab me.

I really, really, really, really, really, really like the look of your brush guard, black looks so nice on any vehicle, goes perfectly with the tires, trim, etc!! As you can tell, I really like your brush guard!!

Regards,

ilikedellcomputers

Peter

 

[LaXplorer]

Awesome

Super looking explorer, i especially love the Giant "T" on the back of the explorer, i got one myself but it is just above the handle on the glass.

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS RULE!!!!!!!

 

[maxxus]

Torsion Spring Ups and Downs

How is your ride after the torsion adjustment? and are the cv-axle angles ok? Whenever you turn up torson bars that much...you also increase the angle on the front cv-axles...causeing potentials problems with the axle joints and the boots around them. Let me know how it's working out, I have the exact same 96 XLT explorer, color and all! I too have thought about doing a torsion spring up....but I had done this to a Z-71 that i previously owned and had a lot of CV axle problems throughout the years. See ya

 

[DarkFox1]

under $100.. sweeet.. I've got a few other vehicles to blow my money on.. but I'm not putting this on the "back burner" I'll put it 2 burners back

its hard to organize your priorities when you have so many

 

[jwade]

Re: Torsion Spring Ups and Downs

I too have thought about doing a torsion spring up....but I had done this to a Z-71 that i previously owned and had a lot of CV axle problems throughout the years. See ya [/B]

See what happens when you buy Chevy......No pun intended. All joking aside, I think the thing actually rides better with the lift on it. Before I could get the shackles on it, it had a pretty good rake. It drove funny, but luckily my shackles got here within a couple of days after the torsion modification took place. I Think a 4x4 looks best when the front end sits just a hair higher than the rear. Too bad I didn't take any photos "in process." I do not advise anyone to do torsion twist without putting shackles on immediately. When driving without the shackles you could actually feel it straining those CV's. I think alot of the ride also comes from the rancho shocks too. They do a pretty good job. Another thing I failed to mention is that when I added the larger tires, I added cam bolts to maintain proper camber on the tires, atleast as good as your going to get. Even the stock Goodyear rt/s's wore out the inside track relatively quick. I think all ford cars and trucks have similar problems with the front end alignment. I had a '91 Mustang GT convertible and even on that car, the front tires swung out slightly. Oh well, you can't expect perfection for 30 grand....

GO VOLS!!!

Clark

 

[Xplor]

K40 question

Jwade, nice ride man! I know how it to keep the Explorer clean, since I was in the detailing business too. I always keep the Quick Detailer and the Car Duster in handy just about every day. Anyways, I know notice you have the K40 radar, is it the remote type? If so..how do ou like it? I am looking to get one for my '00 EB. I have a Alpine CD player single-DIN type. The adapter that holds it has a small pocket above the CD player. I was thinking to maybe custom fit a K40 remote radar display in there. How is yours set up? I know K40 ain't cheap, so I'll probably just get a base model(radar sensor on front)and maybe laser too. But Where did you mount the sensor for the front? I heard most of them are mounted behind the grill, but I am probably going to get a billet grill.

 

[jwade]

Re: K40 question

Can you see the microprocessor case mounted to the front grill. The control unit is hardwired throught the battery and it is mounted with velcro to the outside of my storage bin. See pictures. I actually transplanted the unit when i sold my '91 Mustang Gt convertible in '96. Anyone out there that reads this; K40 is the SUPREME detector. Nothing even comes close. I could be going 135 mph in the gt on the way to knoxville and that thing would beep, I would have more than enough time to stop. K40 is so ****y, they will pay your speeding tickets if you ever get one. That sold me on it and I trully have tested that statement...It has a 2 mile front range and 1/2 mile range on sides and rear. They now make an even better detector. It has 2 microprocessors that attach via velcro to front and rear of vehicle. They are about $500 for the system, but I have had mine since '91 and have never been issued a ticket while using it. You trully get what you pay for in this world. INVEST K40!!!!

Clark

 

[maxxus]

Re: Re: Torsion Spring Ups and Downs

did ya look at your Cv-axle angle before& after the lift? maybe you could take a photo of it from the front for members of the forum to see. I'd like to compare it to a stock explorer...this way we could all see if it's worth it.

 

[jf26]

Jwade, looks good, I'm comparing because I had add-a-leafs put on. I'm wondering do you know if you get the same amount of lift in the rear with add-a-leafs as you do with the shackles? Other than the lift what function do the shackles serve? I noticed the part that attaches your leafs to the rear (name?) has significantly more angle to it. Is this a result of the lift or is there a mechanical purpose for it? Mine is presently still in the stock position. I have also been holding out on the torsion adjustment partially because of confidence issues with who I'll have to pay to do it. It's intresting someone at ford did that for you. Usually when I approach them with stuff their responce is, "Huuugh, you want to do what?"

jeff

 

[jwade]

RE: Jeff

Take a look at the shackle picture. Yes, the extended shackle gives you the lift. When I gave them to my mechanic, he said "Your not going to get a lift from those." He ate those words. Once they were put on and the truck was lowered from the rack, you could see a dramatic difference in height. He said he was shocked. These shackles as you can see are very heavy duty. If you do any off road driving, they are highly recomended. It would be pretty tough to fail them. Stock shackles are pretty weak in my opinion. With the add-a-leafs and shackles you will definately sit higher than with shackles alone. As your truck sits right now, is the rear much higher than the front? If you know a mechanic, I would highly suggest doing the torsion lift. Hell man, you could even do it yourself if you want. Just turn the bolts. Do a search on the "TORSION TWIST PROCEDURE." You do not have to put it up on racks to do it. Just measure the distance from the top of your wheel well to the ground before you start and don't feel like something is wrong if after you do the initial measurement, that one side of your truck sits higher than the other. It's normal.....Mine had an inch difference between driver and passenger side. One thing though, you will want bigger tires once it's done. 31x10.50's fit nicely.

Clark

 

[maxxus]

Re: RE: Jeff

great photo of the war153 shackle lift! Can you get us a photo of the front end A-arms and CV-axles? Im wondering how this lift works...did you lose any downtravel in your front wheels after the lift? thankx

 

[jwade]

Re: Re: RE: Jeff

Originally posted by maxxus
great photo of the war153 shackle lift! Can you get us a photo of the front end A-arms and CV-axles? Im wondering how this lift works...did you lose any downtravel in your front wheels after the lift? thankx

When you say "DOWNTRAVEL", what do you mean? I don't understand the vocabulary. Call me dumb... I will get the pictures of CV axles and A arms posted tomorrow morning if it's fairly sunny outside. It's pretty easy to route all these picts. through photopoint. I have a fairly high res. sony mavica so whenever I can help out, I surely will. Mabye someday, I could take some time off work to go on one of these outings I read about on the site. They sound really cool. Sounds like some of them require more lift and braun than I've got. Within 2 years, I hope to have sold my explorer and get one f the new ones getting ready to come out. I will not buy one unless I can get a lift for it and do roughly the same thing I have done to my current one. I even want to go higher with it. I figure it will take aftermarket companies atleast a year to come out with the right off-road accessories. If anyone hears of any, please post them.

Clark