What are your truck plans for 2015?

[68Mercury250]

Well my 2001 ST will be receiving a 5.0 conversion, was planning on a 5spd behind it, but one of my 2 donor vehicles has a rebuilt trans in it so maybe an auto trans first time up.
the wife will be much happier.................the 5spd manual was going to be a deterent for her to drive it

good thing I got my ST with a blown up 4.0 or I might be tempted to play as it is. have seen some cool STs with only a body lift

when finally done the way I want it...... 5.8 stroked /ZF 5spd/D60 locked/Dana 70 locked. some lift to make fullsizes fit and 35-37" radials.
not in 2015

 

[TGtrac05]

Everyone's got some pretty nice plans so far. I feel like by the time I get my truck to look exactly how I want though I'll be out of college and finally get a full-size truck that I'll just restart the mod process. Sometimes I wish I was one of those people who are completely satisfied with being stock. Nevermind the motorcycle addiction too. I need cheaper hobbies

 

[01STrunner]

Everyone's got some pretty nice plans so far. I feel like by the time I get my truck to look exactly how I want though I'll be out of college and finally get a full-size truck that I'll just restart the mod process. Sometimes I wish I was one of those people who are completely satisfied with being stock. Nevermind the motorcycle addiction too. I need cheaper hobbies

Man I feel ya. I picked up a 6.4L power stroke I said was going to stay stock and be my tow rig/ work rig. Well we all know what "it'll stay stock" means.... And because of it the Trac has gotten a little less love lately.

 

[theluke19]

Body lift - kit is sitting the garage, just need a good weekend to do it.
For wheels & tires, want to go with 15" x 8" steel wheels (probably the soft 8's), and some beefy 33" x 12.5" tires.
Make a heavy duty set of front swar bar end links. I seem to have a knack for destroying them. I saw on the forum that Moog K7275 hardware and ES 9.8103G bushings are a good combo.
Also kind of toying with the idea of making a carputer. A while ago I spliced an auxiliary jack into the head unit's CD speaker output. That way, if a cd is in and playing, an mp3 player can hijack the feed and be played out to the speakers. And, now the cd player is dying. Could probably take it all apart and re-solder it somewhere that doesn't rely on the cd player, but the idea of having a hard-drive with the music inside there is tempting. Getting OBD II integrated somehow is too. Still at the researching phase though.

Android tablet // Bluetooth OBD // a bit of custom fiberglass work, and you'll be lookin and feelin' like a Tesla!!!
j/k.. but seriously.

 

[Chugg-A-Lugg]

Keep it Running, and on the road - Priority #1

Maybe some good seat-covers
Replace the bull-bar, mine has a hole and rust forming.
TIRES, i need new Winter, and pry summer tires.

That's it for now, pretty happy with it, as long as i don't linger around here too long in one sitting.....

 

[JimInRadfordVA]

I want to replace the factory unit with something that has an auxiliary input and Bluetooth. I'd also like to lower the truck about 2" (I'm partially paralyzed and getting is difficult at times.) The running boards need to be replaced. I'm probably going to lay a couple coats of bumper black on the rocker cladding and bumpers.

 

[Topper604]

I finally upgraded the stereo.

I was in my wife's Murano and she has some BOSE stereo jobby that made me realize that I was really missing out. I went cheap and spent about $300 and got 4 6x8's, a 10 inch sub which fits perfectly under rear seats, a new head unit, a 1100 watt amp and some cable. My god, I feel like a kid again.

What I really really want to do before winter is figure out a way to get heated seats like she has....

 

[01STrunner]

How's everyone's plans coming???

I've gotten the lockers installed and fixed my driver door latch!

 

[KajunBndit]

LOL, I hope to get my radio bezel and console done before the end
of the year.

 

[Kjhadfield]

Maybe wishful thinking but some bigger things on the long list

Body mount bushings, shocks, tires, repair rocker panel, projector retrofit and do work on the truck cap (repaint exterior maybe paint interior, led dome strip, maybe custom 3rd brake light, roof rack/basket)

Still have the body mount bushings in the box and still need to order the dorman replacements (for the shells and hardware). I did install new shocks & tires (rs9000xl & 265x75r16) but that was awhile ago.

Rockers still need it bad along with 1 body mount location. I started cutting it up but don't know how much I can safely cut off and still drive until I can get new pieces welded. And the retrofit is still wishful thinking as in it won't be happening for awhile. Valve cover gaskets have been added to the need done, in line with the rockers.

I could probably do the topper but that would mean removing it to prep but I have decided to paint the topper the same as what ill do the rockers and lower 1/3 of the truck- a mild texture bedliner (diy) when I figure what that is.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

Still have the body mount bushings in the box and still need to order the dorman replacements (for the shells and hardware). I did install new shocks & tires (rs9000xl & 265x75r16) but that was awhile ago.

Rockers still need it bad along with 1 body mount location. I started cutting it up but don't know how much I can safely cut off and still drive until I can get new pieces welded. And the retrofit is still wishful thinking as in it won't be happening for awhile. Valve cover gaskets have been added to the need done, in line with the rockers.

I could probably do the topper but that would mean removing it to prep but I have decided to paint the topper the same as what ill do the rockers and lower 1/3 of the truck- a mild texture bedliner (diy) when I figure what that is.

I'll be interested to see how your topper turns out. I doubt I'll paint my topper, but the clear coat is peeling on the fiberglass lid on my black '01 and I'm wondering how it would look done in a fairly smooth bedliner (diy, of course).

Regarding your rockers - since the body is not part of the frame you should be able to take off as much as you need or want to and still drive it without any problems. For one thing, they're already rusted so how much strength is there now? I used to wonder how much the rockers could rust on Explorers before the body was weakened too much, but as long as the rust isn't into the door jams, it's mostly a cosmetic problem.

 

[N2FORD]

My sons white ST is on its 4th set of wheels and tires since this thread started. He said he didn't like as tall with the 33's. I have taken some out of the TT and put 265/75/16's on stock directional wheels. Its doing well and he likes it better.

The red V8 ST is running much better after a broken egr vacuum line was found and fixed. Still feel it should run a little better and have a few ideas. The door wiring is on the back burner.

 

[Kjhadfield]

I'll be interested to see how your topper turns out. I doubt I'll paint my topper, but the clear coat is peeling on the fiberglass lid on my black '01 and I'm wondering how it would look done in a fairly smooth bedliner (diy, of course).

Regarding your rockers - since the body is not part of the frame you should be able to take off as much as you need or want to and still drive it without any problems. For one thing, they're already rusted so how much strength is there now? I used to wonder how much the rockers could rust on Explorers before the body was weakened too much, but as long as the rust isn't into the door jams, it's mostly a cosmetic problem.

I know I have a white st but I have grown to love the black topper and really can't see having it white- and liking it. I have seen a few pictures, not of a st, w/ the lower third and topper painted in, like you said, a somewhat smooth texture bedliner and it looked good. I don't want to roughness and extreme rugged look but just enough to hide tiny imperfections and give a mild rugged look. I think it was with the old duplicolor bed spray not their newest armour or whatever it's called.

The only part I need to still cut back on the rockers are the inner- up a couple inches, but wasn't sure. I'll go ahead and do that and start trying to find metal to fab and get ready to weld in. Is the metal sheets at lowes/Home Depot suitable for auto metal? I read something about cold or hot and couldn't find out what type the box stores sell