Project Advice please!

[Dylansav]

I have a 98 4.0 SOHC and I really want to turn it into my project truck. I'll have the funds coming up here and hopefully the time. Here's what I want to do:

4" Lift (body or suspension...?) hopefully get a few inches with a TT and shackles

Bigger tires and rims- Best size (diameter and width) with a 4" lift

Engine mods- Cold air intake, auxiliary battery

Exhaust mod- Flowmaster 40 or 70

4x4- Hubs: this is what confuses me. Anyone with any info would be much appreciated. The stock Hubs are automatic right? Is it a good idea to convert them to manual or should I just keep them auto?
Lockers: I've heard people talk about these. What are they and should I get them lol?

Suspension- replace the stock with Rs5000s shocks.

*Body- If I install wider tires, would it be wise to somehow rig up wider fenders? I've seen a picture on this site of a red explorer from iceland that had on nice wide mud tires with fenders that came out to fit it. It kind of reminded me of an old Durango but a hell of a lot nicer...How could I get these?

I know this is a lot but I have the time, hopefully the funds, and a brand new engine in my 98' so I hope it will work out. I've taken my truck out on a few trails with it being stock right now and I love how it handles! Now I want to make it a beast.

Thanks for any help!

 

[lwrdxsport]

you could do a 2 inch suspension and 2 inch body and look for some glass fenders if you like the pre runner look. im not sure of the axles because mine is a 2wd so not sure about that

 

[Dylansav]

what is the prerunner look?

 

[lwrdxsport]

wide front suspension that is wider than it would be stock and they have wide fiberglass front fenders to cover the wider trac width, usually there lifted in the front more than the back,

just type pre runner in on google and look at a picture

 

[Donner]

The prerunner look... arg! I don't think Dylansav wants that look...

What first? What costs most... etc... Consider Minnesota snow... LIGHTS! What kinda lighting you plan? Any music?

Put a pic of your vehicle as your screen saver, and look at what changes you want... or just look at some of the vehicles here and go with their look -

 

[Ray Lobato]

I have a 98 4.0 SOHC and I really want to turn it into my project truck. I'll have the funds coming up here and hopefully the time. Here's what I want to do:

4" Lift (body or suspension...?) hopefully get a few inches with a TT and shackles

Bigger tires and rims- Best size (diameter and width) with a 4" lift

Engine mods- Cold air intake, auxiliary battery

Exhaust mod- Flowmaster 40 or 70

4x4- Hubs: this is what confuses me. Anyone with any info would be much appreciated. The stock Hubs are automatic right? Is it a good idea to convert them to manual or should I just keep them auto?
Lockers: I've heard people talk about these. What are they and should I get them lol?

Suspension- replace the stock with Rs5000s shocks.

*Body- If I install wider tires, would it be wise to somehow rig up wider fenders? I've seen a picture on this site of a red explorer from iceland that had on nice wide mud tires with fenders that came out to fit it. It kind of reminded me of an old Durango but a hell of a lot nicer...How could I get these?

I know this is a lot but I have the time, hopefully the funds, and a brand new engine in my 98' so I hope it will work out. I've taken my truck out on a few trails with it being stock right now and I love how it handles! Now I want to make it a beast.

Thanks for any help!

Well it sounds like you are wanting to take your truck off road.
The most useful thing to do would be to put a locker in your rear differential.
This would give you the most traction for off-roading. You can not use manual hubs, as your hub assembly and bearings are all one piece. Only the pre 95's can have manual hubs.
You can have big tires and a big lift, but they won't do anything for you if you have open differentials.

 

[Dylansav]

Thanks for the replies guys-I love this site

I googled "prerunner explorer" and yea...that's a little too fancy for my tastes. I was looking around on the forums and I came to this pic that almost made me cry. You guys gotta take a look at ExIce's Explorer on this page...

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145744&highlight=show+lifted+explorer&page=10

That's the look I want. The lift with the big tires and the flaring fenders.

For the lighting, I'm just thinking of upgrading the stock fogs and putting on a brushguard with a few lights in the middle.

 

[sjr033]

Lockers: I've heard people talk about these. What are they and should I get them lol?

Siimpily, lockers are a part of you axle that let both tires turn at the same time. An "open" axle will only turn 1 tire. The question if you should get them or not is based on home much offroading you will be doing and how big you budget is.

Alot of you your questions have been answered many times before. Just use the search feature and you will be amazed on how much info is on this site.