What's first?

[sooperxtool]

Cliffs: want to build up an explorer sport for some mild trail and camping duties. What's my first step?

So I am probably going to pick up a 95 explorer sport tomorrow, looks good from the pictures etc. But of course will fo over it thoroughly with my buddy tomorrow. He has it posted for 1850 obo which would leave me well under my budget for a truck. So I'm thinking a lift/tires first but am having a little trouble figuring out exactly what I need to put a lift together. I'd like to do a decent lift with extended radius arms and leafs instead of blocks. I think I'd like to shoot for 33s. I also haven't picked out a specific brand, what are you guys and gals running? Happy with it?

 

[screw'd up]

I'm having a similar issue with lift and tires too but I heard that the Rough Country suspension lift is a good one and it has a lifetime guarantee. The 3'' should clear 33's and comes with everything needed to do it.

 

[country0001]

Read the sticky in the main B2 forum area first.

 

[Shran]

I'm having a similar issue with lift and tires too but I heard that the Rough Country suspension lift is a good one and it has a lifetime guarantee. The 3'' should clear 33's and comes with everything needed to do it.

Ha! Maybe with a bunch of cutting, speaking from experience, a 6" Skyjacker lift still results in rubbing, I am sure the other brands are the same.

Here is what you need for a bitchin rig - no lift, cut the fenders to fit your tire of choice. Then extend your factory radius arms, get longer shocks and softer, taller coils that will keep you at stock height but give you more down travel.

All that equals a truck that has a low center of gravity, handles well with the TTB and is easy to get into while being 98% as capable as something with a huge lift.

 

[brinker88]

Ha! Maybe with a bunch of cutting, speaking from experience, a 6" Skyjacker lift still results in rubbing, I am sure the other brands are the same.

Here is what you need for a bitchin rig - no lift, cut the fenders to fit your tire of choice. Then extend your factory radius arms, get longer shocks and softer, taller coils that will keep you at stock height but give you more down travel.

All that equals a truck that has a low center of gravity, handles well with the TTB and is easy to get into while being 98% as capable as something with a huge lift.

That's great information...If the OP was looking at a vehicle with TTB. 95+ expo's have IFS.

 

[Shran]

That's great information...If the OP was looking at a vehicle with TTB. 95+ expo's have IFS.

Oh, my bad, guess I missed that.

So cut the fenders, run shackles in the rear. No lifts out there for 95 Explorers.

 

[adsm08]

I would like to see a 95+ Explorer with extended radius arms.

Also: http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33934

 

[sooperxtool]

Well after searching high and low, bought a 93 4.0 extended 4x4 "Stranger". I think my first order of business is to add the coil spacers to level the front end. Just need to compile some more cheap mods I can do right off the bat

 

[sooperxtool]

I think one of the first things I will be adding is the "leveling kit" from the tech library. Also starting my sound system install the "danger" was lined up to receive. Sound deadening will come first I think.

 

[Blue88]

Look into f-150 coils and shocks for the front. There's a write up in the tech library. You can find them in any junk yard and it's really cheap to do. Did it to my 88 BII and it gave me about 2" of lift. handles good. I still need some longer radius arms or drop brackets cause I got a little toe going on. Other than that, shackles in the rear, explorer leafs, warn hubs, and some good tires, you'll be set to go.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Don't do 150 coils. They are too stiff and don't fit right. You are better off with a few washers under th coil to level it out.

Polly spacers are only 60 bucks on EBay.

-PlumCrazy

 

[sooperxtool]

Don't do 150 coils. They are too stiff and don't fit right. You are better off with a few washers under th coil to level it out.

Polly spacers are only 60 bucks on EBay.

-PlumCrazy

Thanks plum, that's the method I was leaning towards. How thick though? Like 1.5"?

 

[Mudhound]

I would get RID of the stupid autoshred hubs if the the Ranger has them. Stupid plastic POS design tends to quit when you need them to work.

 

[sooperxtool]

I've been eyeing a set of WARN manual hubs....

What dimensions of the poly spacers should I look into? I'd like to get something as close to the Daystar leveling kit I can ie 2" of lift up front.

Got me a shell btw, needs a little work like paint, and some holes from a previous roof rack filled, but I think it looks pretty decent for $100. Just trying to put together everything I need to wire it up. Also bought a Painless Products "cirkit boss".

Picking up a grill guard this weekend, so I'll have something to mount my Hella fogs on. More on that later.

I need to get started on my sound deadening project, one of the many steps of my midrange audiophile system. First will be CLD on the doors, and wherever else I have enough for. I should have enough for most of the cab.

Anyways, here is "the Stranger" as it sits

 

[sooperxtool]

Are there any issues or drawbacks to using this http://www.ebay.com/itm/1983-1996-F...fits=Model:Ranger&hash=item3a7e6a82f2&vxp=mtr as opposed to poly spacers? For $40 it seems like a great deal