Upcoming Plans

[tonyroc14]

Hey everybody, I want to start a thread on my upcoming plans for my explorer, so I can get some inputs, ideas, advice, and opinions. Everything is purely on the drawing table right now until I figure everything out. I'll have a couple questions along the way, and I hope to turn this into a build thread.

The vehicle in question: 1998 XLT, 4.0 SOHC, Auto, 2wd, 130,000 miles, stock.
The plan: Throw on a mild lift for light desert use, mud use, and light trail use, until I can afford (maybe) a long travel kit.

Here is my idea. I want to install a spindle lift, and some larger tires. My spindle lift in question is only a 3 inch lift. I am almost certain that will be plenty, as a small amount of lift on these things look good. Question here is, should I touch the back? Having a spindle lift will really give me no performance benefits other than larger tires, and looks, and I kind of like the look of the front being higher.

Anyways, I have only found a few spindle lifts, all priced around the same. Any lifts I should look at in particular?

I want to replace my shocks, Bilstien 5150's? I do not know what size I should get

I am going to be purchasing some wheels, Cragar soft 8's to be exact. I love the look, and they are cheap as hell. The size I'm looking at is 15x7, 5x4.5 ET3 1/2 I know the stock offset is 3 3/4, but I'm thinking of having the tires come out a little more, what do you think?

I'm thinking 33x10.5's right now, unless I can fit 12.5's, but those seem kind of wide for me, I am still concerned about on road manners. If I were to get 12.5's what size wheels should I get?

Anyways, once I am all done with this, I will throw in an Aussie locker, and some bumpers (probably just the front) and some off-road lights, and finish my custom console for my CB radio.

The hardest part of this build is the tires. Tires are so damn expensive, the wheels and spindles will account for 5-600 bucks, the tires will be nearly double that I want to get BFG MT's, but I am very open to what's out there. I had some Toyo Open Country A/T's on my Bronco and loved them. I might go that route. I am also considering smaller tires, such as 32's. I don't want to touch my gears yet, because I can't afford it Anyways, thanks for reading and thanks for any input.

 

[sport97]

With 3 inch lift up front you should atleast consider shackles for the back, if not a 4 door leaf pack swap with an AAL as well. I don't think you should have to spend 1000 bucks for 33"s either. Wouldn't be a bad idea to watch craigslist for tires either. Sometimes you can pick up a pretty nice set of tires dirt cheap.

 

[tonyroc14]

With 3 inch lift up front you should atleast consider shackles for the back, if not a 4 door leaf pack swap with an AAL as well. I don't think you should have to spend 1000 bucks for 33"s either. Wouldn't be a bad idea to watch craigslist for tires either. Sometimes you can pick up a pretty nice set of tires dirt cheap.

I've been on cl forever, nothing that catches my eye and I have a four door right now, I was thinking shackles or AAL but I do like the look of the back being lower. I guess I'll have to lif the front first and then determine the rear from there. Too bad my work week doesn't move fast enough, I want to do this already

 

[tonyroc14]

http://www.offroadwarehouse.com/products/sfID1/4/sfID2/960/sfID3/963/productID/40558

These spindles any good?

 

[tonyroc14]

Also these are the closest size wheels I could find

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/CRR-3975712

Will they work?
15x7 5x4 1/2 and 4" backspace.

 

[sport97]

I have 4 wheel drive, no i have no input on the spindles. Those wheels will work. I'm eying that up in a 15x8, a 7 inch rim is a little narrow to run a 33x12.50 if those are ever in the future.

 

[tonyroc14]

I believe I am going to go with the 8 inch wheel, because that wheel has -13mm offset as well, and that will help with keeping the wheel closer to the stock location. The wheel will come out a little more actually and I am good with that

 

[tonyroc14]

Alright, I got my wheels today. If I can't get them mounted tomorrow, I will get them mounted on saturday. Up next, tires. Ive been looking at all the the lifted explorers on the 2nd gen lift thread, and I am stuck between 32s11.5's and 33's. I am afraid 33's will be too big, even with 3 inch spindles. I am almost certain that 32's will look right, but the problem is I haven't seen 32's on a spindle truck, just BL, and that might look diffrent. So I am reaching out to you, what size tire?

Thanks guys

 

[tonyroc14]

picked up my tires today, 33x12.5x15 Firestone Destination M/T's. These things are a lot bigger than I was expecting, I hope they fit well. I also got my spindles in the mail today. I was reading the instructions, and I didn't realize I had to modify anything, I am not really nervous about messing it up, I've done it before, it just worries me because I only have one day to do the work and I can't afford to screw anything up.

Anyways, heres some photos

 

[4rd4life]

damn those are nice tires. kinda wish i saved up for 33's lol look alot better when there mounted

 

[tonyroc14]

Firestone credit card with 6 months no intrest 828.57

 

[2TimingTom]

When I think of Firestones, I certainly don't think of kick ass tires like those. I think of boring run-of-the-mill tires. Those are nice.

 

[tonyroc14]

When I think of Firestones, I certainly don't think of kick ass tires like those. I think of boring run-of-the-mill tires. Those are nice.

These are supposed to be stronger and perform better than the bfg m/t's so we'll see. They are nice tires tho  I won't be able to install then for three weeks tho because I have no time