whoops into a project

[exploder619]

ok so today i rear ended someone hard enough to basically trash my bumper and grille. So this just gave me the opportunity to start modding it. here are the pics from today.

my plans are just as follows:
2 inch skyjacker springs
maybe shackles in the rear
cb radio and antenna
30 or 31's
maybe 2 inch body lift
idk right now more will come later

please give feedback!!!

 

[pope_face]

Sounds awesome... sucks for the truck, but I know how you feel about modding a good-condition stock truck... I feel the same way...

Everything sounds good, although if you're going to raise the front then either do the AAL or Warrior shackles in the rear... or get the F-150 coil seats...

Personally I would recommend against a body lift, but that's just my view... I think it's a little impractical as it involves quite a bit of work without giving you too much in return. If you want to do any offroading, you won't really get any more clearance. You'll be able to fit larger tires, but your suspension travel will stay the same.

Have you considered a SOA in the rear and either 4" springs/longer struts in the front, or shackles/AAL in the rear and 2" springs/F-150 coil seats in the front? I don't think it'd be quite as high, but I think it might cost roughly the same as a body lift and you'd get more travel... the only thing is (like I just learnt last night) that you'll need drop brackets for the radius arms and longer brake lines and something else...

Just a thought... good luck with whatever you do though!

Fil

 

[FROADER]

Sorry to hear it.

My suggestion is not to buy the tires until you know if you're going to get the body lift or not. With the ~4" that you'll get with the springs and body lift, you'll be able to fit 33s. Plus 31s might fit the way it is right now.

 

[exploder619]

so you guys are not reccomending a body lift? Also how much smoother are the warrior shackles than the stock ride?

 

[pope_face]

I don't think Warrior shackles will change the ride quality... they'll just change the height. I just called North Shore Offroad to ask about the shackles and lift kits... they have a 2" Skyjacker lift for just over $600, including taxes... it's a little steep for me at the moment, but I'm considering it because it includes four Skyjacker shocks as well... it's front coils, front and rear shocks, and rear AAL...

They told me that I can go with just AAL or shackles and coils, but the stock shocks won't be as good for offroading... So right now I'm debating between front coil seats and rear shackles/shocks or a full kit... <Sigh> Money...

Fil

Edit: Forgot the body lift... I would recommend against it, but that's just me. There are people here that have a BL and are perfectly happy with it... it really depends on how much you want to spend and what your ultimate goal is. IIRC, you might have to get drop brackets for the radiator with a BL... Not sure though...

 

[pughman]

600.00 for a 2in. sky is WAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY !!!!!! to hi ! at the most 300.00, shocks and all.

and sky shocks are junk from what im told.

just do what i did, cost me like 120.00 for a 2in lift, and you can do it cheeper with the f150 spacers.

 

[exploder619]

i am getting the lift springs for 50 bucks, then i think i will be buying shackles idk yet maybe an aal. i haven't decided. i will be getting a brush guard and another stock grille though. i really want the springs for better articulation. maybe i will cut the side off the bumper and make it a short straight piece.

 

[pope_face]

600.00 for a 2in. sky is WAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY !!!!!! to hi ! at the most 300.00, shocks and all.

and sky shocks are junk from what im told.

just do what i did, cost me like 120.00 for a 2in lift, and you can do it cheeper with the f150 spacers.

Hahaha... it's $600 CAD... but, I suppose that still could be too high... What did you do?

I think I will just go with coil seats and shackles in the rear... they have to order the parts in though, so I might just get stuff online... Would you recommend getting the 2" coils or the coil seats? And what are some decent shocks that I could use to match the lift that won't break the bank? They quoted me like $57 a shock for the Skyjacker ones... and for the lift I'd need 4... unless I went with the shackles and coil seats now, then picked up an AAL, 2" coils, and 4" shocks later...

Ugh, so many options...

Fil

 

[exploder619]

so i went to look for a ranger bumper today but came up with nothing. what years exactly fit the explorer? I am extremly interested in getting this project up and running. i will be ordering a new grille from lmctruck for 50 bucks. Any other ideas?

 

[FROADER]

It will be the 89-92 rangers.

 

[exploder619]

also i am seriously thinking about doing the body lift and springs. Will 31's look too small for it?

 

[FROADER]

So 4" with 31, IMO yes it will look funny.

This si 4" with 33s

 

[exploder619]

ok, so origionaly i wanted to go with the 2 inch lift because i have open 3.27's. but now looking at everybody's lifts and everything i want to go a little bigger. I was think of doing a 4 inch drop bracket lift with a soa in the back. My springs are kinda worn so i figure that would be like a 5 inch lift. here are some pics of what my x looks like right now.

 

[pope_face]

Hahahaha... you're getting the same feeling as I am... I was going to go with a 2" as well, but now I'm considering going larger...

As for the SOA... I think the wear on your springs doesn't matter... your lift doesn't come from the springs, it comes from moving the axle from on top of the springs to underneath... The stock axle has only one diameter, regardless of which truck it's from... and the thickness of the leaf pack shouldn't change at the midpoint, as far as I know... because they're pieces of metal, their elasticity can change, causing less of an arc over a certain length, but the thickness of the pieces should not change. So, regardless of if your leafs are brand new, or if they're sagging enough to let your bumper drag, doing an SOA should always lift your rear end 5.5" (IIRC)... Hope that made sense...

 

[pughman]

3in. body, 2in. sl, 33 12.50's......

 

[exploder619]

maybe i will do the suspension lift, or the springs and a 2 inch body lift. it will be going to the desert but no jumping. the most it will be doing is some light trail riding until i get some new tires. I am getting a grille guard too with some lights for cheap. still no luck finding a bumper though.

 

[pope_face]

I agree with you on the bumpers... I can't find any decent ones I like for reasonably priced... and I'm not willing to pay almost $200 on a brushguard... I want to make my own... I kept thinking I'd make some massive ones, but I remember in my dream last night that I had this awesome tube bumper... it was just a single oval shaped tube... So, I think a tube bumper is it. I want it pretty high though... I want the frame rails to be covered in the center, but on the sides I want it to be just under the body panels. I'll probably just have a straight-across front piece. That'd give me some nice angle on the front wheels... I'm actually entirely tempted to just hack off the entire lower parking lamps on both sides all the way from the grille to the wheelwells... I could wire the turn signals to act as both parking/turn lamps... That would certainly give me a nice attack angle for each wheel... I'd need the flex and lift to go with it though...

 

[exploder619]

yeah, a brand new bumper is like 90, then you have to buy all of the brakets which is around 100, plus hardware. If i can find a cheapo used bumper i will be perfectly fine. i think i am going to rhinoline the bumper aswell.

 

[pope_face]

Ok... maybe I'm being an idiot, but what are the bumper mounts like? I've never removed my front bumper... are they a part of the bumper itself, or do they bolt onto the frame and bumper?

I'm just wondering if I can reuse my stock brackets for my truck, or if I have to get a new set...

 

[exploder619]

yes, they bolt onto the frame and bumper. I beleive that they are bolted to the bumper by 8 bolts and the frame by 4. if your bumper is not damaged then yes i would re-use them.