New From Michigan

[NintyEight-XLT]

Hey! I'm Matt, and obviously I'm new here. I live in Garden City Michigan. I just heard about this place from my brother. I just got a 1998 Explorer, stock minus the rims, it is really clean. I'm not new to lifting or explorers, my last few trucks were a 90 YJ on 33's, and before that a 98 2wd S10 on 31's. I had a 1st gen for about a week then it got totaled and that was about 2 years ago.

My plans for this truck is to put a small lift on it to make it more capable, but I know how I am so in not too long I'm probably going to lift it bigger than I expect. First off, I am just going to do a TT and a shackle with some 31's hopefully.

Heres the Explorer:

Then my old rides, the Jeep and the S10:

Oh ya, heres the old explorer, they totaled it just because the frame was bent about 4" over (camera phone pic)

 

[Essex4x4]

Welcome to the Forum.

Looks like your 1st Gen died the same way mine did. I drove my 1991 EB into a concrete poll and bent the frame back 6" and BAM!!! Body shop said it would be about $11,000 to fix it so i said bye bye.

Is your 98 a 4x4 or 2wd?

Haha that picture of your S10 reminds me of when my friend got his 2wd ranger stuck in a tiny snow bank.

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome aboard and nice x

 

[Dopler174]

Welcome To Explorer Forum! I would have pulled the expo apart, paid $200 for a frame machine to pull it out, put it back together and rolled on. But then again, This IS me.

 

[NintyEight-XLT]

Thanks.

The 98 explorer is a 4x4.

I wanted to rip the first gen apart but, I needed a car right away. They gave me $500 and left me the Explorer. Thanks to PLPD I lost money on that one.

 

[Essex4x4]

I actually took my EB to a Ford body shop and they put it on machine that was supposed to bend the frame back into its original position but the frame snapped. I was standing right outside the work bay and i heard a noise that sounded like a gunshot come from my baby. It was at that moment that i decided to buy a new car. Just couldn't fork over 11k for repairs on a car only worth $2500 bucks. So i bought a used 1999 Honda Accord. Got rid of that thing in January of this year and spent a little more and got my new to me Ex.


So how much was your rear bumper sticking out??? Thats what told me it was bad.

 

[NintyEight-XLT]

The thing was, I didn't even total it. I let my parents use the x while I was at work and I used their car to go to work, so they were the ones that totaled it. I got a call that they crashed it and I just thought they were joking. I got home once it was dark and found out it was screwed. The front bumper was taken off to be able to turn it while driving. I think the frame was just bent sideways and nothing with the back.

 

[Essex4x4]

Did they at least help you pay for your 1998?

That is surprising that you had no rear damage, my back bumper was sticking out about 5 inches. The concrete poll pushed the frame straight back all the way to the rear bumper.

 

[NintyEight-XLT]

I just got this 98 Explorer. But my 98 S10 was the truck after the first gen. They didnt really help, they paid for the towing $95 and gave me $500. Luckily I had cash saved up to get something new because around here, there isn't anything great you can get for a grand.

 

[Essex4x4]

well that Sucks. Sorry to hear about that. Oh well right! You have a new car that is fantastic. I look forward to seeing your build, and can tell you right now that although i have never done a lift kit, there are people here on the forum who have. So if you have questions about anything feel free to ask. "From Mild to Wild" this forum has it all.

Once again Welcome to the forum NintyEight-XLT

 

[NintyEight-XLT]

Thanks again

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum!

 

[NintyEight-XLT]

Thanks