Suggestions on my Ex' Please

[Eman30]

Ok, Im pretty new to this site. Prior to coming across this Amazing site I began slightly modifying my 94' Ex's performance with what I thought it needed for my personal use. But after my recent discovery my mind has not stopped running full of ideas. I have been semi satisfied with my Ex's performance off road and on but I know it is capable of Sooo much more! Cosmetics are another story

I added a throttle body spacer, 2.1/2in Dual Exahust, 4" superLift with 32x11.50, quick release pins for the sways, front tow hooks, Micky Thompson 8" rims for play. Chromys for show I have a brushguard but dont like it on unless im out playin since this is my D.D. I have stock 3.27; gears. I am looking to lift another 2'' at least but am curious of what route to take with my existing lift. I am not willing to do a body lift. My body mounts are already on there way to disaster. I am also wating to remove the a/c but im not so sure what all i can and can not remove.

I would like to know some things to be aware of or things i could have done differently and really just any support I can get I feel shy about my truck because I have nothing to compare to but whats on here and I just dont know if Im headed In the right direction. I have done plenty of reasearching on here and TONS of learning on here and am VERY open to more mods on my explorer. Any response would be great! Thanx..
E-man



BEFORE:

AFTER:

2/10/10:

 

[SPORTEXP]

If you don't mind me saying and it's been said here before is the auto locking hubs. Warn makes a good manual locking hub that is pretty reliable.

 

[tom_mcmullen006]

Get an LMC truck catalog. theyre free. they have aftermarket lights, exhaust, manual locking hubs and most of what you need.

 

[FROADER]

Save the cosmetic stuff for last. I'd much rather have a truck that worked good, before it looked good. You don't want a truck that looks like it will go anywhere, but gets stuck in a parking lot.

What size tires do you want to run with the 6" lift?
First save your money to regear.

For the front, since you already have the Superlift Kit, check your drop brackets to see if they look like the middle pair in this pic:

-If they do, then you can get new 6" springs, shocks and move your beams to the lower holes to get the +2" you're looking for.

-If they don't and they look like the top pair, then you will need a new lift kit to get the +2" you want.

For the rear, you can either get shackles to add to your existing 4" leaf packs, get new 6" leaf packs or do the Spring Over Axle (SOA) to get the 5.5-6" lift to match the front.

SOA thread - http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46236




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[Eman30]

Hmm...I stripped the lift off a rolled explorer. The guy said it was a 4in but my beams are already in the lower holes and ive already done the SOA to mach the front using the Superlift perch adapter. So maby ive already got a 6in.?

I would like to run 35's. Im sure I could fit 33's now but when im flexed and turning I rub just a but already with the 32's. I am planning in the next few weeks to swap to disk in the rear with 3.73's and switch my front pig aswell.

I did most of my cosmetics when i first got the truck when I was 16. Now im 18 and realizing how much more important and fun performance is. Piece by piece paycheck by paycheck i have been running through replacing anything that i think can and will give me potential problems.

 

[Freshmeat]

Here's what I'd do:

1.) Fix your A/C. If this is your daily driver, you need A/C if you ever plan to pick up women. If she's willing to ride without A/C, you don't want her to take off her shirt. I promise. Whether you want to say I know from experience is your decision. I simply beg that you trust me. It may cost a bit to get the A/C going well, but I'm telling you- it makes everything 100x better. Especially on those stupid hot trail days when the Jeep guys think it's cool to go topless... until that muggy air smothers them just after lunch time. In the meanwhile, you're pressing your hands against the glass just to warm them up from your ice cold air conditioning.

2.) http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=270374

3.) Definitely regear, but honestly, 3.73s aren't going to help you enough if you're going to 35s. Unless you can get it all completed for under $400, don't waste your time. Save some cash and go to something like a 4.56 or a 4.88. I'm on 34s with 3.73s and I'm winding out every gear just to hang with traffic. I plan to go to 4.56s SOON.

4.) Well... I think you've done pretty well so far. You definitely do not want to go any taller- that lift is HUGE as it is. Personally, I'd come down to a 4" lift and trim the fenders for 35s, but everyone has an opinion. The design of the sheet metal on the fenders is killing you up front. Take a close look at #2- it doesn't look shoddy and it's the only way you'll clear big boy tires without having to worry about rubbing. I'm on 34s with a 2" lift and I rub MAYBE once per outing in extreme articulation.

 

[FROADER]

Hmm.. It could be possible you have 4" springs with the beams in the bottom holes I guess, but I'm not 100% sure about that. Was the (4") on there when you bought it? I'm not positive on how to find out which it is. If you're rubbing with 32s, it's most likely a 4".

Don't waste your time or money on 3.73s. Even with 32s those are too low. I'd go with at least 4.56.

 

[Eman30]

I live in Michigan and we only really need a/c maby 2 months out of the year. Im actually in the process of removing it now to make more room under the hood. Im just trying to find a heater box from an 82-89 ranger at this point.

Regearing to at least 4.10;s would be a savior to me. Im stuck stretching my gears to keep up with traffic aswell. Im between wether I want 34's or 35's havnt got that far yet. But regardless FENDER TRIMMING IT IS!!! great write up btw..


Im the only lifted Explorer ive seen in MI so its hard to talk to people that have had experiences with explorers so i just went with what I thought would be good for this trucks peformance and now I wish I would have done things A LOT differently! I just wanted to out do the fancy jeeps that are EVERYWHERE around here with something unique to the area and to suit my personal driving needs

any other suggestions would be great! thanx!!

 

[Eman30]

I bought the truck bone stock barly running and together. I bought the rolling chassis of a rolled explorer supposibly with this "four inch" lift.

Should I consider a locker with the new gears? I would think so being my daily driver but idk what the pro's and con's of that would be. Not to mention $$$

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

I bought the truck bone stock barly running and together. I bought the rolling chassis of a rolled explorer supposibly with this "four inch" lift.

Should I consider a locker with the new gears? I would think so being my daily driver but idk what the pro's and con's of that would be. Not to mention $$$

i would say yes. because while you have your diffys out and being worked on you might as well throw a locker or 2 in there. or at least thats what im doing.

it makes more sense to have them installed while the diffs are out...rather then have gears put in....few months go by, then end up pulling your diffs back off and in stalling lockers.
my $ .02

 

[Freshmeat]

Okay- for some reason I was thinking you were in northern Texas. Up in Michigan you can surely get by without A/C.

The 4" lift is good, if that's where you are. Please try to get some pictures of your brackets so we can figure out just what brackets you have. Also, measure from the center of your hub to the fender lip. Straight up, don't let the tape bend. That way we can figure out roughly how much taller you are over stock and guide you better suspension-wise from there. If you have two sets of holes and you're on the higher ones but only have a 4" lift you may want to consider sliding them up and using the lower holes, just to help keep things straighter. Don't come down, though- just don't go higher to go bigger. Like I said, the front fender design sucks on these things and restricts us too badly. My Explorer looks very stock in person (except for the new front bumper) but I've been on trail rides that Rubicons were getting stuck in the only places I hung up. Personally, I plan to go to a 4" lift by the end of the year, likely with 35x12.50s. I just need some more belly clearance from what I have (which was also the problems the Rubicons were having) for the trails around here.

Don't feel bad, man- you're young. At least you have this board to help you get things done properly. I WISH I had boards like this when I was 18. In fact, my station wagon is my second attempt- I hacked one together several years back because I didn't have access to the information I needed to do it right. Ever since, I've wondered how I'd do it now that I know what I know... and when I had the chance to get this one, I figured it's my turn to do it the right way. Haha!

My Ex was a pile when I got it, too. My wife gave it to me for my birthday early in our relationship. It had a blown transmission, shot A/C, busted window, FUBAR window motors, bad battery, filthy door panels, and it generally smelled like ass. I've gone through basically all the random bits that were bad, including converting it to a manual transmission. You'll get it RIGHT where you want it with the help from the guys here. Just be patient and don't hack stuff together just to say you did something; you'll regret it. It's going to take some time to get it there, but after all, that just gives you more time to enjoy each modification between sessions!

Good luck with it and feel free to ask questions- you seem to be mechanically inclined, as well as know how to search for the information you need... you'll fit in just fine here.

 

[tom_mcmullen006]

my explorer when i got it was pretty much pulled outta a mud pit. nothing worked on it. barely ran to get it home. Now about 95 percent of it works.

 

[Eman30]

Ill get as many pics as I can tomorow to show a little more what im woking with. I want just a touch more clearance because the ruts on some of the trails here are HUGE, so bigger tires are a definate need. I about ripped my gas tank right out of the straps because of those damn JEEPS with there fancy solid axles and 35's


Say I do have a 6" lift. What would be some things I can

Being young sucks!!! Most people look at me like im a typical ****y young kid with this nice truck mommy and daddy got for me, which is TOTALY WRONG!! I have worked for every dime of this truck and I have put hundreds of hours of my time and my own skills to build MY own unique toy. Finding this site has opened a whole new door of possibilities to further my knowledge, skills, and performance of my Ex and others. Theres two things I have learned from working on vehicles and those are to 1: do things right the first time. And 2: Work smarter Not Harder. Even if things take a bit longer to do or maby even are harder at first it always seems to work out better in the long run. No only with time but with over-all performance. and the $$ of course. Thank you sooo much for the support i cant even tell you how much better it makes me feel about my progress.I love walking out to my truck everyday and saying "wow I did this all myself". Thanks again! It helps a lot.

 

[yostyexplorer94]

I can relate to you. My explorer was my first vehicle. I had it all through high school and have modified it myself, with exception of the gears. I paid a mechanic to gear my axles up, but I took the axles out from under the truck and installed them back in myself. I am now 20 years old. I wouldn't know at least 75% of my explorer knowledge if it wasn't for this forum. Now I am going to try to setup gears in my 1 ton axles I have myself and swap them onto a bronco II frame with a ranger extended cab body (probably) LOL.

3.73 gears and 33" tires was enough to get by when I ran that setup for 2 months at the most. I could feel it straining the tranny though so I regeared. I wouldn't do 35's and 3.73 with an auto tranny.... just thinking about it frightens me!

I surprised my jeep and yota friends many of times with my 33's and lockers front and rear. They have more lift, solid axles, and bigger tires too!

Nice explorer man!

 

[Eman30]

haha WOW thats a hell of a project you got on your hands. I just saw an ex' body on an F-250 frame. Idk how they did it but that thing was HUGE!!!

I figured getting the disk rear end with 3.73's would be better then my 3.27's im stuck with now. Im fortunate enough to have a manual trans (thank god!) so that shoud benifit me at least a little but regearing is a definate want/need for the rest of my mods. Im going to try and regear them myself, Ive had a few axles apart including my current one to replace the c-clips (I had a half inch of play side to side inside my axle)

I also got some pics of the front end today and I can take more if needed. Hopefully it will help me figure out what lift im actually running so I know what I need to do to accomplish the performance im looking for. I hate this things flex! I feel like i twist the frame more thaan anything even without sways. Maby taller coil buckets and shocks?
Sorry For the huge pics I cant figure out how to downsize them yet.

center of hub to fender.

front end

rear

 

[Freshmeat]

Man, get rid of all that white crap all over the ground.

 

[Eman30]

I would love too! It keeps restricting me from working on my truck! TOO COLD!!

 

[Freshmeat]

I wouldn't have even gone outside to take pictures. I've been *****ing about it being 32* in the mornings this week before it warms up to about 55* around lunch time. Screw all that cold nonsense.

Do you know anyone with a stock 4x4 Explorer? There's a guy near me who randomly stops and checks out mine, but you'll need to get the same hub center to fender measurement to get an idea on how much lift you're running.

 

[Eman30]

Ive actually got one in my backyard I bout just to strip for parts when needed. Ill go check on that one but im sure the shocks are totally hit tho so idk how correct it will be.

 

[Eman30]

were actually up to 36* today and it feels like Florida compared to the last few months