Paraphoe's 97 XLT | Page 4 | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

  • Register Today It's free!

Paraphoe's 97 XLT

Hey all, I've been around for a number of years now, had my Explorer for over 10. I'm a '08 Villanova U grad, born and raised in New York City, but currently living and fighting fires in eastern PA. Enough about me though - this is all about the truck:


Current mods:



Tires, rims & suspension

1. 2 inch suspension lift
2. 3’’ Performance Accessories body lift
3. 33x12.50x15 Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires
4. Cragar black 15’’ Soft 8 rims
5. Black Ford powder coated center caps (by Turdle)
6. Rancho RS5000 shocks


Lighting

1. Trail Worthy Fab roof rack 30'' LED light bar
2. PIAA 520 Off-Road auxiliary lights
3. KC 26 series Auxiliary driving lights
4. Tuff LED 2x2 rear-facing auxiliary lights
5. Extreme Tactical Dynamics windshield ET-7 emergency blue light
6. Extreme Tactical Dynamics hidden rear Deck 2 Dual emergency blue lights
7. Whelen Hide-A-Way headlight strobe system
8. Tinted taillights
9. Eagle Eyes diamond black headlights and corners
10. Fire & Ice - Tailgate LED strip
11. Interior lights LED conversion


Exterior/Body Accessories

1. Explorer Express Hood scoop
2. Lund roof rack w/ custom welded mounting platform
3. Custom black painted bumper trim
4. Frame-mounted 10,000 lb tow hooks front and rear
5. Lund black bug guard
6. Go Rhino black taillight guards
7. Black grill center
8. Redline Tuning hood struts
9. Custom red Ford emblems
10. Taillight mounted safety flag
11. Custom painted diff cover


Interior

1. Wet Okole custom front and rear seat covers
2. Aiwa CDC-Z137 head unit
3. Scangauge automotive computer w/ custom display install
4. Auto Electronic reverse sensor w/ custom display install
5. Cobra C19DXIV CB radio with Wilson “lil Wil” magnetic mount antenna
6. Redline goods custom red and black Italian leather armrest cover
7. All-weather rubber mats
8. Interior vents painted black
9. Custom painted door sills & engine cover
9. Axe mounted in rear cargo area
10. Twin fire extinguishers mounted in cargo area – 2.5 H3R HalGuard and MaxOut
11. Custom Radio box mount


Performance

1. KKM CAI adapter with Amsoil EA cone filter
2. Flowmaster 70 series exhaust, 3’’ exit pipes
3. EBC Green Stuff performance brake pads & Ultimax USR slotted rotors
4. Amsoil & Mobil 1 synthetic fluids throughout
5. Magnecor performance plug wires
6. DieHard Platinum Battery
7. Extended breather lines






Next on the mod list...


Superlift 4'' suspension lift [purchased]
RCI Metalworks front Skidplate
Westin Bullbar with blue emergency flashers and possibly winch




Down the road...

Rocker panel rust repair
Complete re-paint
Body-off-frame restoration/rust removal
Henson performance tune
XRC8 Winch






Back when it was fresh, new, and just purchased by me.


New1.jpg




Lift time! A few pictures mid-wrenchfest. What a day that was.

registry4.jpg


registry5.jpg




After the lift, popping off the running boards and getting ready to do the bumpers.

registry3.jpg




How it currently sits:

IMG_1946.jpg




All Lit up:

33.jpg




___________________________________________________________________________




Off-roading and playing around pictures:



From the Jersey Pine Barrens trip, 2/3/08:

DSC_0026.jpg


DSC_0562.jpg


DSC_0051.jpg


DSC_0569.jpg


DSC_0568.jpg


DSC_0565.jpg


DSC_0544.jpg




Pile of gravel in my father's driveway, and of course I couldn't resist crawling up on it. Neighbors think I'm nuts :D

reg2.jpg


reg3.jpg





Some shots from Rausch Creek:


reg1-1.jpg


reg6.jpg


126_515997834102_7096_n.jpg


126_515997864042_9011_n.jpg


126_515997933902_3999_n.jpg


126_515997948872_5349_n.jpg







Pine Barrens Winter Run, 1.29.11:

165301_678061312592_7187409_n.jpg


180475_678061157902_7400699_n.jpg


180468_678061142932_1580381_n.jpg


166625_678061532152_547866_n.jpg


180667_678060993232_6159705_n.jpg




Wharton mud run:

ExMudDesat.jpg


DSCN2058.jpg


DSCN2060.jpg


DSCN2046.jpg


DSC00593.jpg



___________________________________________________________________________



Interior pics (stolen from page 2):


All lit up at night

int8.jpg






Custom Scangauge install:



int2.jpg


int4.jpg






Black painted vents:


int1.jpg



int3.jpg





Console. (Console cover by Redline Leather Goods). The switches are for my off road lights - the two black rockers for my roof rack and the one with the red LED for my PIAAs.


int7.jpg




Hideaway CB radio.


int6.jpg





And finally my reverse sensor with custom display (the guy above the radio):


int5.jpg


int9.jpg




Cargo area interior:


Ext8.jpg





Old girl is growing up...

reg7.jpg






Some helpful links of mine:


Emergency lights install & vid: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250029

Flowmaster with sound clips: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203416

Black headlights: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212249

Bumper and trim painting: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=216871

CB radio install: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187578

Post-seafoam smoke show vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFYXVl4rw5I

Oil pan replacement how-to: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=254729

Taillight tinting how-to: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212944

U-Joint Replacement how-to: www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=279644

Underbody sealing/corrosion protection: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285257

Rattle-can car painting thread: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2534096

Welded roof rack base build thread: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=291714

Idler Pulley replacement how-to: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=316065




I never would have been able to get all of this done without the absurd amount of knowledge and awesome people on this site, thanks a million. I'll see you all on the trails. :thumbsup:


HPIM0447-1edit.jpg
 



Join the Elite Explorers for $20 each year.
Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!
.





Thanks. They're 33x12.50x15.
 



Join the Elite Explorers for $20 each year.
Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!
.





DSC_0565.jpg
[/QUOTE]


Jeez Jason, you could have seen the taillight guards just fine from the ground- no need to flex it up like that just to see the guards better.... :D


Still agree- a definite Gen 2 favorite for me too. Love the mods- functional and tastefully done.
 






Thanks Joe! And that flex wasn't in my plans. :D
 






Its time to start wheeling again just to let you know....:)
 






Jason,
Love that truck-can you post some pics of your front tow hooks? Looks like you have a plate sandwhiched in between the frame and the hooks? Spending way too much time trying to get them installed. Only have 2" BL so body is slightly lower than yours.
Thanks
 






Sure thing GRN. I'll try to take some pictures when I get home from work tonight and post them up for ya.
 






As promised:

IMG_3025.jpg


IMG_3026.jpg


Should have done some sort of support plate, but I didn't it was a big enough challenge getting the nuts on inside of the damn frame rain from the two holes in the front. :rolleyes:
 












Much Appreciated!! Should I even ask how you were able to get bolts in the right spots in the frame? I have tried a few times and the frustration forces me to open golden ale every time. Then a few hours pass and I think, do I really need tow hooks....
 






Definitely a good lookin truck, its functional yet not all beat up.
 






Diggin the truck Jason!

Definitely a good lookin truck, its functional yet not all beat up.

Thanks boys. :thumbsup:

Much Appreciated!! Should I even ask how you were able to get bolts in the right spots in the frame? I have tried a few times and the frustration forces me to open golden ale every time. Then a few hours pass and I think, do I really need tow hooks....

I drilled the frame out from the bottom, and then, if I remember correctly, getting the nuts on the top and secure involved taping the nuts to the socket and sliding them into place from the two small holes in the front of the frame rail. It was a weird and annoying process.
 






Man, your truck is definitely one of my favorites on this board. :thumbsup: Well done.
 






Thanks bcboy. :thumbsup:

Some new fall themed pics I took the other day. Drove past the trees and couldn't resist going back for a few shots.

Autumn3.jpg


Autumn2.jpg
 






Looks stellar Jason!! Thanks to you and gman for front tow hook tips as well. Finally finished them. I would have left my front valance off like yours but it looked really hokey with the stock foglights hanging down. Your 3 foglights in the middle of the bumper looks clean. Looks like you removed the rubber/plastic scoop/air dam? attatched to the bottom of the radiator too.
 






Looks stellar Jason!! Thanks to you and gman for front tow hook tips as well. Finally finished them. I would have left my front valance off like yours but it looked really hokey with the stock foglights hanging down. Your 3 foglights in the middle of the bumper looks clean. Looks like you removed the rubber/plastic scoop/air dam? attatched to the bottom of the radiator too.

Glad you got the hooks in. If you don't need a front plate in Illinois, I'd recommend moving the fogs into that slot and ditching the lower valence. Or do what Vroomzoomboom did and make our own custom fog light holes with some steel piping. And yea, I ditched the air dam on the bottom of the radiator back in '04 and never looked back.
 






Nice pics! :thumbsup:
 






Great pics!!...Ford should take note on what style is and come out with the 2012 Paraphoe!! Bring back the 2nd gen.
 












^ agreed! ^
 



Join the Elite Explorers for $20 each year.
Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!
.





Jason, front plate required by law in Illinois. Already had an issue with that. Would love to do what VroomZoom did, beyond my skills/tools/time right now though. Gonna park Ex for winter and search for a Hood Scoop like yours!
 






Back
Top