'99 EB Explorer Official Build Thread

[superds]

And yes...it IS the XLS trim that I was thinking about. Thanks for pointing that out

No problem. It can get confusing keeping all these trim levels and options straight through the years.

I think the worst you will encounter is when you take off the fender flares, I think there's holes in that sheetmetal as well, much harder to hide than the rocker panels.

 

['99 EB Explorer]

Yes, and that would be the point of the XLS trim....to hid the holes and rid myself of the side-step all while keeping the dashing good looks

 

[kevinsranger]

Yes, and that would be the point of the XLS trim....to hid the holes and rid myself of the side-step all while keeping the dashing good looks

what kind of condition is your xls stock bumper ?

 

[02RangerXLT]

I thought you got yer shackles installed? Where are the pics man!?!?!?

 

['99 EB Explorer]

what kind of condition is your xls stock bumper ?

It's already in the scrap yard....sorry.

I thought you got yer shackles installed? Where are the pics man!?!?!?

Due to sudden lack of funding (lost my job) and the fact that the shackles aren't as long as I pictured them (only about 1" longer than stock) they've been put on the back burner until further notice. I have to talk to my fabricator guy and see how much he'd want to extend them another 1.5-2" once I start working again.

Stay tuned!

 

[bilzy7]

That sucks. I had $3500 and so far I have only bought me some belltech shackles I'm currently installing. If I made a build thread it'd be like, a lugnut a week and people would start shooting my truck up in anger to make me build faster... I just hate saving to 3 grand and blowing it all at once. Hope your job search turns out good, nothing like the economy. I'm trying to get a job at TSA...

 

['99 EB Explorer]

Allllrighty then...Got a new job lined up. I'll be getting a quote to have my shackles extended later this week.

 

['99 EB Explorer]

LIFT UPDATE!!


Finally got around to getting 'er lifted!

Went out and bought a set of F-150 leaf packs for the rear. My original plan was to keep the main leaf from the X and swap the rest, but as it turns out, the other leaf pack wasn't as thick and was shorter.

So I came up with a plan B and added leafs 3 and 4 from the F-150 pack to my own where they'd fit.

So now I'm running around with 6 leafs per side including the overload leaf.

Still rides surprisingly smooth to be honest.

Anyway, enough with the chit chat and on to the pix.


Here it is before...with measurements. Rear first then front.

A pic of the F-150 leaf packs

You can see they came with 5 leafs

This little sucker had to go. Cut-off wheel made quick work of it.

Here it is with the main leaf separated from the rest

I didn't bother taking pix while I was working because it was all rusty and pissing me off beyond measure.

Here's what the driver's side looked like after completion.

New measurement, rear then front

I could only lift the front 1" due to the drivers side torsion adjuster bolt bottoming out. So I'll have to go see if I can get a longer bolt that'll fit.

After pic.

Also had someone spying on me while I was working....

Keep your eyes on this page tomorrow for the Pro Comp wheel install!

Thanks for lookin!

 

[GoodOld85BlueBalls]

I give you a two thumbs up rating!
Good job!

 

[superds]

Looks good! Can't wait to see the new wheels. What size tires were you going with?

 

['99 EB Explorer]

I'm going to be using the stock 255/70R16's(so basically 30"s) for now. They're brand new(only one season on 'em). They'll do the job for now. I'll be looking into 33's once I do the body lift. But that may not come until next summer now.

 

[robertc1024]

Nice - I can't believe the rust you northern guys have to deal with - uggh.

 

[lethal-threat-b288]

Nice.

 

[superds]

I'm going to be using the stock 255/70R16's(so basically 30"s) for now.

Now that you say that, I think I remember reading that on another thread somewhere. That's the same size I have on my Explorer, I think I'm going to step up to 265/75R16s in the future. I take it you'll be using 285/75R16s when you upgrade?

 

['99 EB Explorer]

Now that you say that, I think I remember reading that on another thread somewhere. That's the same size I have on my Explorer, I think I'm going to step up to 265/75R16s in the future. I take it you'll be using 285/75R16s when you upgrade?

Yep...that's exactly what I'm looking at.

The Hercules Trail Diggers have my attention in that department. We'll see when the time comes