New to the scene, but not to the game.

[Fix4Dirt]

OEM car manuals and brochures are very very often full of incorrect information. The earliest 2nd gens had a rear reclining seat option. But don't get your hopes up, they existed but the amount of recline was maybe 3", and super rare if you ever see one.

Don't believe books, listen to people and assume they know more, which is why we are here.

woah i never even hesrd of recline in a 2g! yeah i wasnt doubting 410, i was just curious as to why it was in the book.

 

[CDW6212R]

We the old guys have seen some crazy things printed in all kinds of books and manuals etc. That's a reason why we avoid shop manuals from Chilton for example. They have some good information in them no doubt, but we get the impression that some of it is written by people who aren't really experts at car work.

 

[Mbrooks420]

show me one that is not 3.73 I've been looking at 5.0 trucks for years
I had 19 of them at my house at one time

Agreed. I looked at over 100 in person looking for my replacement Mounty. Every one was 3.73. Members here have claimed other gear ratios, but no one was ever able to provide a door jam pic. Just because it’s in the manual doesn’t mean it was a real world option.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

We the old guys have seen some crazy things printed in all kinds of books and manuals etc. That's a reason why we avoid shop manuals from Chilton for example. They have some good information in them no doubt, but we get the impression that some of it is written by people who aren't really experts at car work.

interesting yeah, ive only seen a few v8s in my time, so figured it wasnt enough to come to any good conclusion. but i saw that so i assumed maybe it was an option? good to know it isnt!!! ive been looking at the v8s at the local jy for 355s but havent seen any, but theres only say about 10 ive checked

i learn somethin new everyday!

 

[CDW6212R]

interesting yeah, ive only seen a few v8s in my time, so figured it wasnt enough to come to any good conclusion. but i saw that so i assumed maybe it was an option? good to know it isnt!!! ive been looking at the v8s at the local jy for 355s but havent seen any, but theres only say about 10 ive checked

i learn somethin new everyday!

You know more than most people who come and join here, because you are looking and learning. Keep going and share the knowledge.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

You know more than most people who come and join here, because you are looking and learning. Keep going and share the knowledge.

thanks yeah, i try! wont hide it im wrong sometimes, lesrn by doing and from others!

 

[PoweredByMB]

Well boys I've hit a bit of a road block, and wanted to see if anyone else might know the answer to this. I've done weeks worth of research as well as trying to find a good solution, but its proving difficult.

I'm getting ready to order the RC 5" suspension lift, but the website says this lift REQUIRES a minimum of a 17" wheel. My original plan was for 15" steel wheels, but it appears that's not an option. I don't want to spend several hundred dollars per wheel for a set, but in the 17" range I can't seem to find any that fit what I'm looking for without breaking the bank.

I wanted to run something like a 17x9 with -19mm offset (or similar), but its proving difficult to find. I didn't want to have to rely on my offset coming from spacers, but this size of wheel with a negative offset doesn't seem to exist without spending like $300 per wheel.

My question is this; does anyone know first hand if this lift genuinely requires a minimum of a 17" wheel? If so, does anyone have any recommendations for a wheel? Steel is not a requirement for me, but the offset if highly desired. My original plan was to grab a set of the super common 15x9 steel wheels that cost like $70-$90 per wheel. I intend on really using this truck, and I don't want expensive wheels that I'm afraid to mess up, or cringe at replacing.

If I'm totally off base with the direction I'm heading I'm all ears as well. Just trying to get a good functional setup. As we all know our trucks have a very narrow stance, and when lifted as high as I'm going it seems like it would become a bit of a problem. Ideally the 17" wheel requirement isn't actually necessary so I can go back to my 15" wheel setup, but if not it is what it is.

Thanks in advance guys! Hope you all are doing well!

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Well boys I've hit a bit of a road block, and wanted to see if anyone else might know the answer to this. I've done weeks worth of research as well as trying to find a good solution, but its proving difficult.

I'm getting ready to order the RC 5" suspension lift, but the website says this lift REQUIRES a minimum of a 17" wheel. My original plan was for 15" steel wheels, but it appears that's not an option. I don't want to spend several hundred dollars per wheel for a set, but in the 17" range I can't seem to find any that fit what I'm looking for without breaking the bank.

I wanted to run something like a 17x9 with -19mm offset (or similar), but its proving difficult to find. I didn't want to have to rely on my offset coming from spacers, but this size of wheel with a negative offset doesn't seem to exist without spending like $300 per wheel.

My question is this; does anyone know first hand if this lift genuinely requires a minimum of a 17" wheel? If so, does anyone have any recommendations for a wheel? Steel is not a requirement for me, but the offset if highly desired. My original plan was to grab a set of the super common 15x9 steel wheels that cost like $70-$90 per wheel. I intend on really using this truck, and I don't want expensive wheels that I'm afraid to mess up, or cringe at replacing.

If I'm totally off base with the direction I'm heading I'm all ears as well. Just trying to get a good functional setup. As we all know our trucks have a very narrow stance, and when lifted as high as I'm going it seems like it would become a bit of a problem. Ideally the 17" wheel requirement isn't actually necessary so I can go back to my 15" wheel setup, but if not it is what it is.

Thanks in advance guys! Hope you all are doing well!

i have heard some 16s fit, but 15s for sure will not. its the spindle design they are designed for the bigger sport trac front brakes back brakes can fit a 15 still but the fronts take a bigger rotor. as such, some 16 or any 17s im aware of

 

[410Fortune]

BINGO

It greatly depends on the wheel chosen
16-17, you will not get a 15 to fit they usually hit the backside of the brake caliper

Most 16" off road wheels will fit, factory wheels on the 02+ sport, sport trac and ranger were all 16" because the brake rotor is larger
@Fix4Dirt is accurate and nailed it
I have a ranger in the garage with a Superlift (late model drop bracket lift) similar to the RC is uses the larger 02+ rotors and the factory 07 Ranger wheels fit just fine, they are 16"

 

[CDW6212R]

Ditto, the bigger OEM 12" rotor of 2001+ Sports(2nd gen 2dr) and 2001+ Sport Tracs requires at least a 16" wheel. I managed to find one old 15" Ford wheel that barely cleared just as a roller junk tire etc. Also I tried many OEM Ford 16" wheels on my 99 that has the bigger 12" rotors, and just one didn't work, I think that was a Ranger wheel, and the Sport Trac wheels were the tightest besides the one.

You need to decide on the track width you want for the truck, how far outward you need the wheels to be. That's what the offset does, the stock Explorer and Ranger wheels will place the tires just inside the wheel wells. If you want them outward some, add what you want to the offset, in negative number.

Stock offset is around 20mm, those being 7" wide. So to push that wheel out 2", would need about -30mm offset, or 2" spacers. When you change to a wider wheel, the offset doesn't change, it defines the same inside and outside wheel lip location. So a 9" wheel will be outward 1" more than the OEM 7" wheel, plus 1" inboard more too.

 

[joney]

Welcome to ef fellow gearhead! If you can fix Mercedes these fords should be a snap lol and parts far cheaper!!

I really and I mean really like that 96! I had one exactly like it for many years

You really need to consider ditching the awd t case and installing a bw4406m transfer case and drivelines. You can research that here on ef. I did a thread many years ago about putting that case into my old 96, “410fortune goes
Low range”

410Fortune 96 AWD Ex - goes low range

I picked up my transfer case last night. Two t cases were included in the deal, one is strictly for parts. The t case I will be using in my 96 5.0L AWD explorer is a 2001 F-150 BW 4406 manual shift :) this makes me very happy. I will no longer have full time AWD, instead I will have 2wd, 4hi...

www.explorerforum.com

Dont you just love the wedge wood blue interior? Mine came with blue leather seats too! Eventually I swapped the entire interior over to charcoal grey from a 01 mountaineer it was a wicked nice upgrade with that body color

A 96 5.0 with only 142k on it is just a baby! Cannot wait to see what you do to it!!

Welcome

That is my favorite paint color they did not make many In 96-97 w that color

410Fortune - 96 5.0L XLT refurbish (making 1 great Ex from 2)

Okay here we go 09/13/05 In march of 05 I rolled my new to me 96 5.0L AWD 86K miles, just after driving it back to CO from OR and putting $1000 into it. You see I bought this truck from my brother with 86K miles on the clock, it would not pass emissions for him and he drove it into the...

www.explorerforum.com

View attachment 428607

Not sure of my monitor colors - is that a pale ice blue? Haven't seen that color Explorer!

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Not sure of my monitor colors - is that a pale ice blue? Haven't seen that color Explorer!

ive seen a few online with that color before- see my thread on lo mile v8. the one that iirc olds commented on, thats the pale one too

 

[PoweredByMB]

Thanks for the info guys. I already have an idea in mind, and am ver familiar with both offset and backspacing. I'd like to get the width increased by 2" at least, maybe 3" if possible, but I didn't want to rely exclusively on spacers to do that. I may be wrong, but from everything I've read the stock 15" wheels are +12mm offset. I can't seem to find wheels with enough offset to achieve 2" exclusively with the wheel, but was hoping for maybe a -19mm offset and 1" spacer. I may just have to settle with larger spacers. If so, it is what it is.

Many of you have mentioned the reason for the wheel size increase is due to the size of the brake calipers and rotors. This brings up another concern I had not taken into consideration. Do you have to swap your explorers stock brake calipers, rotors etc for one's from a ranger to fit on the lift? I just tried searching around, but didn't come up with a clear answer for that. I'll try to find a build/swap/install thread for this lift on the explorers.

 

[CDW6212R]

The calipers of the 1995-2001 Explorers are equivalent to the later Sport Trac and Rangers, same size pads though not the same part numbers. I have had them in hand to compare them. I kept my 99 calipers when I installed the larger spindles(the caliper mounting holes are moved out 1/2" for the bigger rotor).

Buy the heavy duty OEM Ford pads, there is a more severe duty version of front and rear, Rock Auto has had them for years.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

you need sport trac rotors, but the rest iirc is the same. as don mentioned the ford super duty pads are great

 

[PoweredByMB]

I'm glad yall told me that. I cannot for the life of me seem to find an install thread for the RC 5" ranger lift on an explorer. During my search I found that a few members have this installed, but no build treads, or info on necessary modifications to install it. I know the rear needs to be SOA swapped, and I'll need to modify the brake lines. Now I know of the Sport Trac front calipers and rotors. Is there anything else that must be done to install this kit? I only ask due to my inability to find any info on this install. Also is there a specific year range or type of sport trac I need to source from?

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I'm glad yall told me that. I cannot for the life of me seem to find an install thread for the RC 5" ranger lift on an explorer. During my search I found that a few members have this installed, but no build treads, or info on necessary modifications to install it. I know the rear needs to be SOA swapped, and I'll need to modify the brake lines. Now I know of the Sport Trac front calipers and rotors. Is there anything else that must be done to install this kit? I only ask due to my inability to find any info on this install. Also is there a specific year range or type of sport trac I need to source from?

the RC is relatively new to the lift game. however, it is quite a similiar one to the superlift. it is largely not well documented, as its still new. afaik, i believe that is it. and i do believe its the 01-04(?) trac. i do believe maybe extended brake lines are necessary, but not sure if the ones supplied work?

 

[PoweredByMB]

the RC is relatively new to the lift game. however, it is quite a similiar one to the superlift. it is largely not well documented, as its still new. afaik, i believe that is it. and i do believe its the 01-04(?) trac. i do believe maybe extended brake lines are necessary, but not sure if the ones supplied work?

Thats very peculiar that we would use a sport trac setup rather than a ranger setup since it's a lift for a ranger. Is there a difference between the two or a reason for that? Just curious honestly. I'm already getting the Sport Trac setup priced out.

I just need to get all my ducks in a row before starting. While there are many advantages to having access to a shop the way I do. It also comes with its disadvantages. I can't have a personal vehicle disabled in a stall during normal working hours. Everything I do must be done over Friday night through Saturday, and out of the shop before Monday morning. Doesn't need to run, just be able to roll at least lol.

Good news is I got a free set of 33" BFG AT tires from a jeep that got traded in. Still got like 6mm tread on them. Not brand new, but will work for the time being. They will be temporary until I get around to buying my 35s.

 

[DannyW]

Thanks for the info guys. I already have an idea in mind, and am ver familiar with both offset and backspacing. I'd like to get the width increased by 2" at least, maybe 3" if possible, but I didn't want to rely exclusively on spacers to do that. I may be wrong, but from everything I've read the stock 15" wheels are +12mm offset. I can't seem to find wheels with enough offset to achieve 2" exclusively with the wheel, but was hoping for maybe a -19mm offset and 1" spacer. I may just have to settle with larger spacers. If so, it is what it is.

Many of you have mentioned the reason for the wheel size increase is due to the size of the brake calipers and rotors. This brings up another concern I had not taken into consideration. Do you have to swap your explorers stock brake calipers, rotors etc for one's from a ranger to fit on the lift? I just tried searching around, but didn't come up with a clear answer for that. I'll try to find a build/swap/install thread for this lift on the explorers.

Not sure if you've settled on anything yet, but Raceline makes a -19mm offset, 16" steel wheel. I have the beadlocks installed with 3/4" spacers. Nitto 35x12.5 Trail Grapplers. Hope that gives you some perspective.

 

[PoweredByMB]

Not sure if you've settled on anything yet, but Raceline makes a -19mm offset, 16" steel wheel. I have the beadlocks installed with 3/4" spacers. Nitto 35x12.5 Trail Grapplers. Hope that gives you some perspective.

View attachment 436020 View attachment 436021

That is exactly what I want, but I'm unsure if those will fit with the RC 5" suspension lift installed. RC website says a minimum of 17" wheels are required, but a few of the guys mentioned that 16s might fit. I would buy that exact set right now if I knew for a fact that they would fit with the lift as well as the larger calipers and rotors I'll have to swap. There's only a 1/2" difference between the radius of a 16" and a 17" wheel, so I suppose it's possible. I'd just feel better with a definite answer before purchasing them.