whoops into a project

[UKExploder]

Get you a good welder and have them make you some 'nerf bars'. They used to be used for a cool look effect.

 

[exploder619]

ao pretty much my plans are shot today for getting the shackles on. I went down to go buy a air hammer and forgot my wallet and had to drive all the way home. I plan on checking next time! Here is what i have "accomplished". When i am completly done with the shackle swap i will make another thread to show how to do just the shackles.

here are the shackles, they were 15.99 and also the last box at the autozone near me. They came with grade 5 hardware, but i plan on added grade 8.

here are pics of my stock shackles. left and right sides

 

[exploder619]

I learned this the hard way the first time, always block your wheels off. If you do not have any wheel blocks you could always just use wood like me.

stock shackles

 

[exploder619]

i worked 3 hours on one shackle and didn't even get it off, this is the progression of things.

yes and here is the frustration, and yes here comes the sawzala.

and this is where i stand today. one head cut off and the other head almost cut all the way through. I still woll not budge even with a 1/4 hole drilled in it.

 

[exploder619]

ok the results are in!! i am getting 17.56 miles to the gallon now with the open cone filter. I was getting 15.23 witht the stock airbox.

 

[Black Goblin]

ok the results are in!! i am getting 17.56 miles to the gallon now with the open cone filter. I was getting 15.23 witht the stock airbox.

Hey exploder619 I have 3 31x10.50 spares for you for you if you want them. One has a nail in it but I am gonna try and find my plug kit and fix that one. It has the most tread. I got some 31x11.50's right before work what is now yesterday lol. Had to stay up late and get my tax returns done. Maybe I will be able to get a DD for work with my returns....We will see. I can't afford to drive my rig everyday. I am lucky to get 15mpg. I sually get like 13mpg most of the time. Well I also have the radus arms you were asking about. not sure if you still wanted those. I was hoping to atleast get $10 for the tires. They still have some life in them. A lil cracked but perfect for spares. Not sure how much for the radius arms though. Let me know. You have my number I PMed it to you not too long ago. If you don't then just ask. I just need to get them out of here before I get reamed for having tem on the side of the house. I used one for my spare cause I only had the "original" spare and I meen the original. I only used it once and it still had the nubs on it lol.

I also have the rear leafs if anyone wants them. They didn't have any droop in them at all. I need to get some longer shocks for the rear and a longer brake line if I can figure out how long I need it hehe. I ended up jumping my truck tonight and I blew out the rear shocks because they didn't have enough travel to be able to extend all the way and they are the onse that came with the lift. LOL It was a real sooth landing though A lot smoother than when I jumped my last explorer. lol Well I gotta get going. Have a lot of things to do tomorrow.

 

[exploder619]

ok cool, yeah i will give 10 for the tires no problem. I am not sure on the radius arms right now. Will those rear leaves give me any lift what so ever? I have a mono leaf right now and yours is a four door so wouldn't that lift it?

 

[Black Goblin]

ok cool, yeah i will give 10 for the tires no problem. I am not sure on the radius arms right now. Will those rear leaves give me any lift what so ever? I have a mono leaf right now and yours is a four door so wouldn't that lift it?

Te only way to tell would be to mesure the distance from one side to the other on the leafs. It has 4 leafs in it and my new ones have 6 but they are not as long as the old ones so it gave me 4.5" of lift.

Do you have any sag in your rear spring s that you have now?

 

[exploder619]

yea i think they have a little bit of sag, i plan on using other leaf packs to make one complete one. Probably one from a f-150.

 

[Black Goblin]

yea i think they have a little bit of sag, i plan on using other leaf packs to make one complete one. Probably one from a f-150.

Yeah the reason I was asking is because mine didn't have any sag in mine except when fully loaded. I also saw how much truble you were having with te leaf bolts and I know my leafs are in really good shape. My truck just turned over 73k on the dometer. If you want just let me know. In fact I can meete up with you somewhere if you want. Then you can get the tires from me.

 

[exploder619]

yea, i have work till 5 today, then i think i am free monday or tuesday. Those leaf springs bolts are a pita. I was getting so frustrated, i think i am going to head down to harbor freight and get a air hammer and pound the living crap out of the bolts. That should work right? Yea my truck turned over 168 not that long ago.

 

[Black Goblin]

yea, i have work till 5 today, then i think i am free monday or tuesday. Those leaf springs bolts are a pita. I was getting so frustrated, i think i am going to head down to harbor freight and get a air hammer and pound the living crap out of the bolts. That should work right? Yea my truck turned over 168 not that long ago.

Ok. Well I don't work till 2:30 today so just give me a heads up. I just wanted to get the tires out of here before my gramps decided to go off on me for buying tires again lol. If I didn't bring them home he wouldn't even know lol.

Well on those bolts I didn't have too much of a probelm with them but then again I am a pretty big guy and just put my wieght into it . You could always heat up the bolts after really soaking them with some penetrating oil.

I was wondering.....You weld right? I was thinking about later making a rear bumper for my truck that had a tire carier on it so I don't have to have the spare under my truck. The 31 barely fits under there with like a MM to spare lol. I also just want a nice strong steel bumper anyway. Just like I have up front. Maybe even integrate the brushguard into a new steel bumper up fron't depending on how much materials are and if you can do it.

 

[Black Goblin]

on monday I have class at 11am and work at 2:30 but I don't work tuesday. I just have class from 8-9:20am and from 1-5:15pm.

 

[exploder619]

i can maybe do it, i mean the welder i have is a flux-core, it is not a gassed mig. The welds will not look pretty at all. you are better off renting a mig with the gas bottle. but if you needed help yea i could come over. i did soak the bolts with penatration oil and they are still in there. here is my plan of attack, i am going to cut off both sides of the bolt and take the air hammer(that i dont have) and punch it through. I dont really know how long this is going to take, i will probably try doing it sometime next week.

 

[Black Goblin]

i can maybe do it, i mean the welder i have is a flux-core, it is not a gassed mig. The welds will not look pretty at all. you are better off renting a mig with the gas bottle. but if you needed help yea i could come over. i did soak the bolts with penatration oil and they are still in there. here is my plan of attack, i am going to cut off both sides of the bolt and take the air hammer(that i dont have) and punch it through. I dont really know how long this is going to take, i will probably try doing it sometime next week.

Well let me know. I might be able to help you get it out with out using an air hammer. I could be wrong though but I know I can try and I have been able to break loose some tight bolts by hand. I broke loose the spring perch studs on my truck with a BFH and a wrench and then I wrenched it off the rest of the way by hand. I will tell ya it was not the easiest lol. I had a lot of shiznit caked on those studs from driving on the beach and from my powersteering pump. I am willing to help out if you would like. Just let me know and I will try to make it out there. Things usually go better when you have two heads working at it.

 

[Black Goblin]

if anything I usually end up breaking the heads off bolts hehe. I did that on my last car.

 

[exploder619]

ok i just got off work, then i am going to the gym with my girl at 6:30 so if you wanted to meet up tonight it would have to be a little later, probably around 8:00.

 

[Black Goblin]

ok i just got off work, then i am going to the gym with my girl at 6:30 so if you wanted to meet up tonight it would have to be a little later, probably around 8:00.

Well I get off work tnight at 10:30. I work on Imperial Ave. right off the 805.
I live in Mira Mesa so it is up to you if you want to get those things tonight. If so just give me a pm and I will get right back at you.

 

[bikeboarder]

when removing the shackels take off the spair tire that gives you a lot more room to swing a hammer.

 

[Black Goblin]

when removing the shackels take off the spair tire that gives you a lot more room to swing a hammer.

Your right....that is what I did when I changed my leafs.

OH Explore619 I found some tow hooks today.....They afre at ORW for $10.

Bolt on with retaner clips to hold the strap in. They also have the clevis hooks there that slip into the tow reciever on the truck.

Most of the stuff they have is for JEEPs but you can make some of the things work for the EX. I went there to find out how much it would be for new shocks for the truck and the cheapest ones for the travel I need are like $200 for 4 of them. The bilstiens are like $400+tax for 4 of them. They told me I was gonna have to get ahold of some company in santee for my brake line because it had to be custom made. Damn custom people don't make anything for our trucks. He also said that he doesn't know anyone that would be able to make a bumper for me and that I would have to make one myself which I will probably do. I just need a welder and materials+funds lol.