Would TC's lift work for a 1997?

[Rick]

I've had those kind of moments myself Ryan Dead Link Removed

Anyway, I spoke to Anthony tonight. He works at the same place as TC. Anthony told me that it would make sense to start with an early model Explorer body lift. That way you have the right number of lift blocks.

TC needed to buy new bolts 3" longer than stock. There were no problems with the steering shaft binding up. However on the 4.0 SOHC the lower A/C line had to be repositioned so it wouldn't rub on one of the pulleys.

TC removed the front bumper cut the frame rails and welded the bumper back solid to the frame stub. For the rear bumper he drilled holes higher in the frame to remount the bumper to.

The fan shroud was dropped like most other body lift kits, it was lowered using steel straps.

I have TC's number and will be calling him for any more info he may have. He wasn't available tonight.

Hey Dave, Anthony told me that you and TC were messing around and his rear springs got messed up and his steering knuckle broke. He also said you had some photos. Where can we see them??

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Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
Editor
www.4x4central.com

 

[rpenner54]

Well I hope I don't let the cat out of the bag here, but David and Trace are working on Trace's truck right now. http://bart.is-s.com/~explorers/jamestown10_99/
This is the directory of images from that run. There is one that shows the Front tires basically pointing in opposite directions. The one with the leaf sprint is a little harder to see, but one of the leafs kinda formed a weird looking M. It looked like a fun run, I am sorry I missed it.



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Ryan Penner
1992 Explorer Sport

 

[Rick]

Cool photos, that did look like a good run. Who had the swivel shackles in one of the photos?



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Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
Editor
www.4x4central.com

 

[Arch-Willy]

SO it makes sense to start with an early model lift???

Hey Rick or Anthony, could yall please find out for sure if TC used body lift for a 94? I don't to be halfway throught the install to find out that it won't work. I've been told by the guys at Dick Cepek that mounts between a late and early model Explorer are totally different. Doesn't the kit come with the bolts tha tare 3 inches longer?? Or is that 3 inches longer than come with the kit??

Thanks a lot guys.

 

[rpenner54]

So Dave when are we gonna make your Explorer into a softtop again? Dead Link Removed I too belive that the only way anybody will find out if a body lift from a Ranger will work is to just try it. It can't hurt anything! If anything you will gain some knowledge about how things work down there. My next major mod on my truck is going to be putting a Dana 44 from a 60's-70's Bronco up in the front of my Explorer. This is after seeing that the TTB just isn't "cool" enough to be lifted. Plus I think the Dana 44 will get rid of those shakes I get over 65, and add some amount of stability due to its somewhat wider stance.

Anyways getting back to the body lift. I would just go under your truck and check out everything that connects the body to the frame and then buy a Ranger body lift and start wrenching away!



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Ryan Penner
1992 Explorer Sport

 

[rpenner54]

The swivel shackles were on some Toyota that they ran into up there I guess.



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Ryan Penner
1992 Explorer Sport

 

[dmeis]

TC used lift blocks from some other application. The lift blocks from Ford and Chevy vehicles are the same so it doesnt really matter. I am sure others will work too.

Well Ryan did let the cat out of the bag. I thought I would hold onto these pictures until TC fixed it all up. I think we worked his truck pretty hard and gave him a chance to work out some of the off-road bugs from his new suspension setup.

This picture really shows what happens when you don't install the overload spring...I am glad to have learned this at someone elses expense. http://bart.is-s.com/~explorers/jamestown10_99/jamestown22.jpg
This picture shows how much of the lift he lost with the bent leafs...at 55MPH Dead Link Removed http://bart.is-s.com/~explorers/jamestown10_99/jamestown33.jpg

This picture shows the problem with the drivers side camber and maybe more...I havnt talked to TC lately to see how he fixed it. He may have to cut and reweld the upper A-arm mount further outside of the frame. This was more of a problem with the alingment as nothing actually broke. http://bart.is-s.com/~explorers/jamestown10_99/jamestown27.jpg

 

[Arch-Willy]

So If i bought a lift for an early model, I would have to have to get some bolts that are 3 inches longer than stock. The bumper mounts i can take care of. What about the fan shroud, and the linkage for my tranny. I have an automatic.
Am I missign anything??

sorry to keep bugging yall. I have never lifted a car b4, and i really don'tr want to be half into the job and realize that i bought the wrong crap. Just trying to be careful i guess.

 

[HATECHEVYS]

BOY! Am I glad I asked about the LIFT he did. I am asking about the suspension lift, not the body lift (original thread question), nor some M shaped spring of another truck. Please e-mail someone with your personalized comments. Thanks to those of you who accually helped answer my question.

 

[Rick]

The M shaped spring IS on TC's '98. As Dave said it's like that because he removed his overload spring which caused the spring to deflect to far,in turn that bent the spring permanantly.

TC's lift was an experiment. He tried something no one else had. Now we can learn from his trial and error.

Hatechevys, you started a thread which asks whether TC's lift will work on a '97 and it has stayed on that topic. The body lift is part of the deal, even though you may not be interested in it yourself obviously others are.

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Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
Editor
www.4x4central.com