TT, Shackles, Bilsteins!

[97SHOgt]

My first major mod to my Sport! I've been doing a lot of research on here and realized that this route would give just the right set up I'm looking for. The shackles and Bilsteins are on the way and I'm looking forward to getting this done. I may wait to do the torsion twist until I see what the shackles do to level out the squat in the back. Just wanted to thank everybody for all the great write ups!

Here she is in as of now. The only thing I have done mod wise is 17% tint to match the rears (not in the pictures)...

 

[wisekise]

nice sport. as they say, once you get high you just wanna get higher, i am learning this expensive lesson with my sport. hey you're kinda local, do you go wheelin' alot?

 

[Gator Jeff]

Shackles won't help the squat much. You need to go to a 4-door leaf pack. I just did it to my Sport and there are a lot of threads regarding them. Same for the twists and wheel sizes and everything else.

While I was replacing my leafs, I had the truck on jackstands and the body in what would be a 3" lift in relation to the wheels. Looked REALLY good. Needless to say, I got the truck down ASAP so I didn't get any ideas that my wallet couldn't back up.

Nice looking Sport. Good luck with your project!

 

[97SHOgt]

I bought it last November and drove it through the winter. It has all the goodies, leather, mach sound, 4.10's. I still don't like the Auto 4x4 in it though. It would be nice to be able switch to 2wd like my familys '96 XLT. Oh well. It's parked right now and I'm driving my SHO. I'm bringing it back out in a month. I guess I'm going to try not to get too carried away with mods on it since I have an '03 Mustang GT as my other project.

Wisekise, I've actually never been off-roading in anything other than my four-wheeler. I think I'd be too pissed off if I messed up the pretty paint If I had a beater I'd love to go wheelin' sometime. Where at in KY are you?

 

[Gator Jeff]

I still don't like the Auto 4x4 in it though. It would be nice to be able switch to 2wd like my familys '96 XLT.

Your wish is our command... it's a pretty easy afternoon project....

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149388&highlight=brown+wire+mod

 

[97SHOgt]

Shackles won't help the squat much. You need to go to a 4-door leaf pack. I just did it to my Sport and there are a lot of threads regarding them. Same for the twists and wheel sizes and everything else.

Yeah. Well I don't think it squats too much but I figure it will eventually. Not trying to be lazy but where did you get your AAL from?

Your wish is our command... it's a pretty easy afternoon project....

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149388&highlight=brown+wire+mod

Electrical stuff scares me. I'll tear into just about anything on a car but electrical work worries me. I'll read that thread all the way through later and see if I want to attempt it or not. Thanks for posting it though!

 

[trj360]

Great looking truck, that's my favorite color scheme. Adding to Jeff's post, the Brown Wire Mod is amazing. Just an idea for where to put your switch when you do this:

 

[Gator Jeff]

Yeah. Well I don't think it squats too much but I figure it will eventually. Not trying to be lazy but where did you get your AAL from?

Well, I was lazy and just got new leaf packs from the dealership as I may keep her for another 5 -10 years. 4 door leaf packs are exact fits. I got the "F" rated springs. A lot of peeps around here have also gone to a you-pull-it and gotten theirs that way.

Electrical stuff scares me. I'll tear into just about anything on a car but electrical work worries me. I'll read that thread all the way through later and see if I want to attempt it or not. Thanks for posting it though!

I'd say on a scale from 1-10 of electrical projects with 10 being the hardest, I'd rate this at around a 3 or 4. TRJ360 accessed the brown wire from the loom near the door jam and hence his switch placement. Others like myself went behind the dash right near the GEM (computer) and accessed the wire there and installed it in the dash. Still others put it in their center console. It's all up to you. You can read the pros and cons of each in that thread and feel free to ask questions if you need a clarification. It's not a tough mod to do.

 

[wisekise]

I bought it last November and drove it through the winter. It has all the goodies, leather, mach sound, 4.10's. I still don't like the Auto 4x4 in it though. It would be nice to be able switch to 2wd like my familys '96 XLT. Oh well. It's parked right now and I'm driving my SHO. I'm bringing it back out in a month. I guess I'm going to try not to get too carried away with mods on it since I have an '03 Mustang GT as my other project.

Wisekise, I've actually never been off-roading in anything other than my four-wheeler. I think I'd be too pissed off if I messed up the pretty paint If I had a beater I'd love to go wheelin' sometime. Where at in KY are you?

i work in lexington lexington, and live in winchester. i felt the same way about the paint untill i scratched mine a few times, plus working construction its hard to keep anything clean

 

[Charlie]

as they say, once you get high you just wanna get higher

I'm hoping you are talking about ride height:shifty_ey

Sure is true though, mine isn't much higher than stock, but I still want to go higher....

 

[btimm86]

I don't know if the bilstein's will do anything for you. once you do a TT you basically have no travel up front anyways

 

[97SHOgt]

I don't know if the bilstein's will do anything for you. once you do a TT you basically have no travel up front anyways

I need to replace the shocks anyways. I've read those and the Rancho's are the best you can get.

 

[97SHOgt]

i work in lexington lexington, and live in winchester. i felt the same way about the paint untill i scratched mine a few times, plus working construction its hard to keep anything clean

Thats pretty funny. I'm a student at the University of Cincinnati studying Construction Management, third year. I actually work for a subcontractor named Spectrum Interiors in Erlanger, KY. I think we have an office in Lexington. Ever hear of them. I mostly do estimating out of the office but go to jobsites regularly to assist Project Managers. Between that and wanting something good in the snow, thats why I got the Explorer. I didn't like taking my SHO to the jobsites.

 

[wisekise]

Thats pretty funny. I'm a student at the University of Cincinnati studying Construction Management, third year. I actually work for a subcontractor named Spectrum Interiors in Erlanger, KY. I think we have an office in Lexington. Ever hear of them. I mostly do estimating out of the office but go to jobsites regularly to assist Project Managers. Between that and wanting something good in the snow, thats why I got the Explorer. I didn't like taking my SHO to the jobsites.

I think i have seen some of those trucks driving around town. I am an electrical foreman currently on a big renovation\addition which btw is the hateful reason i cant find time to put on my body lift ive had for a month ;(