Please Help , Explorer Lift And Gears

[Rhett]

With 35's I recommend 4.56's. And get some good quality bearings like Timkins...

 

[sk1er17]

And get some good quality bearings like Timkins...

ours have bearing/hub assemblies.. i dont think theres a good quality aftermarket for that part.

 

[blueagletalon]

u would would want to get one for a 98 ranger but u will have to modify the bumber brackets. at lease that was what i was told to do. good luck

 

[off-road97Xplor]

yea i love camelback, I have season passes to it

Is the ranger body lift conversation hard to do? I heard some states wont do it for you cause of safety reasons

 

[sk1er17]

body lift can be a pain but its worth it. You're basically buying the 883 kit just for the bushings, since you cant use most of the bolts i just drilled out all the bushings with a 1/2" bit and bought new bolts with lock nuts.

yea im pretty sure there isnt a shop around here that would install that body lift for anyone... let alone any lift for an explorer.



looks like we'll be doing some skiing

 

[off-road97Xplor]

did you install a ranger body lift on yours?

 

[off-road97Xplor]

any way i can buy just what i need?

 

[sk1er17]

i bought the kit for a 94 explorer, and the bumper brackets from a 98+ ford ranger 3" body lift (for the front).. i made my own brackets for the rear out of the ones that came with the explorer kit.

 

[off-road97Xplor]

is that hard to do

 

[sk1er17]

It took me 27 straight hours my first time. And that was working by myself (which i dont recommend for doing a body lift) and includes time running to stores trying to find metric bolts that are long enough and then finally deciding to just drill out the bushings and make my own.

The second one i did was on my friends 97 sport. That took us 8 hours and included replacing his radiator.

So i can't really define it as hard or not... im not sure what your skill level is. The "hardest" part is probably getting the old bolts out cause sometimes the bushings spin (especially with living in your area from all the salt during the winter...)

There are some guys on here that can have a body lift done in an afternoon cause they've done it so many times..

 

[off-road97Xplor]

Me and my dad have been restoring and taking care of muscle cars ever since i was born, so does that help any in this situation?

 

[off-road97Xplor]

is the only thing i need to do tool wise is drill out the brackets?> I dont think running to the store would be a problem since i live right by AA Auto. And how did you make your own brackets, what machines did you use? By the way, you been a great help man.

 

[sk1er17]

Ok from my two installs:

-You need to drill out most of the bushings.
-You can use some bolts stock bolts
Take all the bolts out of 1 side and compare. If 1 bolt is 2" (or 3" depending on which BL) longer than another bolt, than you can swap them and only need to buy 4 new bolts (per side)- understand?
-For the ones that need to be drilled- take the stock bolts to the store and buy 1/2" grade 5 bolts that are 2.5-3" longer (leaving extra room for using heavy duty washers/lock washers.
-Any questions about the bushing process?
------------------------------------------------------
Front Bumper:
-You get the 3" bumper brackets from a 98+ ranger kit.
-Call PA and tell them you were in an accident with the ranger and need to brackets.
-I had to space my bumper out about 1/2" to get it to sit right (plastic spacers from Lowes).
-The brackets are cheap, dont overtighten the bolts because the welded studs break loose; i did that and had to put a nut/bolt in place. hence i had to use a 1/2" spacer because the bolt head was hitting the frame and causeing my bumper to tilt.
-Any questions about the front?
___________________________________________________-
Rear Bumper:
-I havent perfect mine, still sits on an angle..
-I have perfected my friends.. but we want to get some of it welded for strength
-Rear bumper is different for every truck.. First we elongated the wholes in the brackets that come with the 94 Explorer kit.
-You then have to cut a notch in the bumper (not visible once on) otherwise the bumper metal hits the frame and wont sit straight.
-You then have to notch the frame because the bolt in the bumper bracket will hit it, and cause the bumper to sit on an angle.
-Its confusing, just expect to take your rear bumper on and off at least 5 times (each time cutting something away or modifying)
-Mine isnt perfect because my hitch made it harder, but still looks good. My buddy doesnt have a hitch, so i drilled a new hole in the frame and it sits perfect.
-Any questions? (it all makes more sense while doing the lift, trust me)
____________________________________________________
Brush guard: totally custom
______________________________________________
Spare tire:
- I used that long 1/2" drill bit, eyed up where it looked like the adapter would now have to go through the bumper, and drilled. Luckily my first attempt was right on. And the whole isnt visible when my hatch is closed.

 

[off-road97Xplor]

thanx for everything man I understand

 

[off-road97Xplor]

Ok heres what I came up with . If i need to add or remove something let me know....
*1997 Stock Black Explorer*
Mods to come:
Lunar hood scoop
Flomaster 40 series(duel out so theres duel exhaust)
3 inch ranger body lift
2 inch warrior shackles
2 inch TT
Mickey Thompson M/T Classicll size: 15/10
BF GoodRich Mud Terrains size: 35's
4.56 D44 Gears
Alton performance chip
K&N Intake
New front Drive shaft
New Bumpers
Perry Fenders
Muffler Tips


BTW Skier , you work in an auto body shop right? When I eventually get all these parts together want me to come down and we'll work on some of the hard stuff together in the shop you work in. Theres no good auto shops around here that i trust. I also went on mapquest and found out your only 1hour and 45 minutes away. Anyway get back to me sometime. I also saw your elite X registry and you really did a nice job. GReat EXPLOER!

 

[sk1er17]

BTW Skier , you work in an auto body shop right? When I eventually get all these parts together want me to come down and we'll work on some of the hard stuff together in the shop you work in. Theres no good auto shops around here that i trust. I also went on mapquest and found out your only 1hour and 45 minutes away. Anyway get back to me sometime. I also saw your elite X registry and you really did a nice job. GReat EXPLOER![/QUOTE]

Well you wont need a new driveshaft or bumpers. Unless you're getting custom bumpers made. If you're going to re-gear i would recommend tossing in a locker as well.

**And im not sure of your money situtation, but since you're going all out i recommend ARB air lockers. They're controlled by an air pump and you can hook up an auxilary tank to use as OBA.. cause there's really no place to store a 35" tires. I have on-board-air and i also have a flat repair kit in my truck...so hopefully if it happens i can plug the tire and re-air it till i get to the shop and patch it good.

The only hard stuff on that list is going to be the body lift and the gears. And truthfully ive never done gears before. And im not sure how cool my boss would be with doing another body lift in the shop. He wasnt too happy with the last one but let me cause it was my best friends..

!!!! oh yea, you dont have a D44. you have a ford 8.8 rear end and a D35 front end.

 

[off-road97Xplor]

haha might aswell not make the boss mad and fire you huh
I am going to get custom front bumpers though and I dont know if im gonna have money for lockers right away. Maybe I'll wait alittle while so I'll have enough money to do it all at once. BTW i read that with the lift kits and bigger tires the front drive shaft goes after 20-30,000 miles, and you should just replace it... maybe it was a rumor but i dont know. Thanks alot and after this this long long thread will probally die .....Until my X is all done!!!

 

[off-road97Xplor]

btw with out the help of all you guys (mostly you skier) This would have never been possible and my dream Explorer would have never become real ... Thanks GUYS!!!!

 

[sk1er17]

ive had my tuck lifted with the TT? Shackle now for around 40 somthing thousand miles... not a problem.

I think what you read is that if you do the 4" superlift you need a new front driveshaft- but not with the TT.

And bumpers can always come later- lets get this thing lifted and locked and hit some trails!

 

[off-road97Xplor]

i double that bro