Forever build thread

Figured I'd make one of these and just add as I go. I'd upload photos but my iPhone won't let me to this site and apps for forums doesn't work for this site due to needed updating of certain software.
Ok here we go, belltech 6400 going on now. Soon I'll have 63-64 chevy leaves, and exhaust rebuilt cause it's welded in the way. Photos will come when I sync phone to comp n upload em to here. Nothin special. Need to get front end lift components to equal what I'm doing to rear, all I am able to do for now is crank torsion bars. Redbeard metal and fabrication near me only does 97 and prior rangers.... So mad. Photos and random add ons will come.

So far ive done:
Belltech 6400 Shackles
Sprayed Grille+Front Bumper
Miscellaneous Fixes in engine bay
Throttle Cable Mod
Shifter Mod(Mine was Horrrrrrible)
Explorer Power Seat(second soon), Dome Light

front view don't have many before photos.







my awesome jack

brother inlaw and some kid down the street. i was watching my son while they got hanger bolts off.


rusty frame before i sprayed it.
Prying down leaf spring to attach shackle.

rear frame sprayed with rubberized undercoating. later i have plans of sanding and putting a real coat on but this will do for now.

Passenger side hanger also showing tail pipe cut.

driver side hanger.

had the kid down the street bring his sawzall and cut my tail pipe as it was stopping me from rearing last bolt hole on shackle.

It is alot higher in rear now.

All in all it took me 2 hours of work spread over 2 days as i had time. main problem was bed bolts which required a breaker bar which i didnt have. so i went through 5-6 socket wrenches as the teeth broke slowly with each bolt. i put my jack handle over the wrench and got bolts off. its sad when my 345 ft/lb torque impact wrench wasnt enough for the bolts. I will get a good photo showing difference from front to rear lift. but for now here are my messed up torsion bar bolts... so mad at previous owner for doing this....

Drivers side bolt, good condition.


passenger side bolt, looks sideways and is protruding alot more then other. I tried to correct this side only to snap my bit, it takes a 13mm bit. to think a 13mm bit could take this much force to turn is ridiculous. and yes i did lift vehicle before trying this. my passenger side is 1 inch lower then drivers side, causing my drivers side tire to wear quicker. im trying to fix this before i get an alignment as ill just have to get another after i fix anyways.

BTW, i bought 2 sets of shackles by accident. also i have stock shackles should someone want, they are new as of 3 months ago, still have Ford Genuine Parts sticker on them. Dont want to sell and ship as my paypal doesnt work right now, I would rather someone in MA buy them. 30 for belltech 6400s' still in box, and 20 for stock shackles.

of course i write for 5 mins about stuff i plan on doing and bam, logged out and didnt copy the writing before hand. whatever.
any ideas for front end not being so low id appreciate. I am saving towards a v8 and long travel from dixon bros... till then i hate being a low front end truck. looks weird. specially when im not running big rears, small tires upfront, and dont have a massive engine lol.

be alot cheaper to do a sas, but f that, i like front end suspension style.

Somehow link broke so here.

I don't understand why these photos won't post... Ugh. Maybe it's my phone... I'll have to hop on comp after and look.
In the meantime I sprayed silver grille with Rust-Oleum truck bedcoating spray. It looks good wet. Waiting to dry and I'll take photos; of it and truck from sideview to show difference in lift front-back.

On the first I'm going hunting for a 9.75 f150 axle. Wish someone had a destroyed truck to sell around me... Junkyards rape your wallet nowadays...

sprayed grille and changed light assembly, thinking of spraying both bumpers same color. Bolts are so rusted I'll have to buy new bolts before I do or just tape and spray... I'd rather remove so I can spray it correctly.

Wish I knew how to bend pipe, I hate the way stock shocks are setup in back.

Just took off and sprayed stock bumper same as grille, photos to follow. wow my radiator mount is basically held on only by top mounts. The ones that attach to frame are completely rusted off, though frame is ok, the mounts are not.

You have a good start there, The DB kit is pretty sweet, but really expensive

thanks. yes it is and its killing me knowing i have the money for it but all the required shocks ect will run me alot higher. well see, im about to have to make a decision, 3400 bucks to invest... just wanna make sure i go the right direction, my last 3500 i wasted and only truly put 500 into truck. 500 on tools so i can do most work myself long as no wielding. wish i had welder for a friend.

Just some photos so when I do whatever the hell I'm doing it shows. I painted the bumper just to see how it looks same as grille.
My next thing is new radiator core support as it's rotted off theframe, frames fine but the radiator hangs loose, so I have a whole new support for lights also and new lights and grille for 50 bucks. My big decision Is buy this 177k mile explorer, or get a long travel. I'd rather suspension but then again I did just put on new pro comp es9000's but no photos.

Here is a lovely problem I recently fixed.

It was causing my rear end to hop to the side over bumps on highway, not a fun time.