Exploring New Paths.

[Camarofan]

I guess I give the back story right? Well, this was going to be lifted, turned into some Midwest Redneck mini-truck/SUV/Thing, then my dad got a different job and i traded my - brand new to me - '94 Escort for it. It was a pretty clean little car, and got pretty good MPG. Anyway, Now i have this '97 Explorer, this was how she looked when i got 'er.




I got tired of the ugly trim color, so i plasti-dipped the trim and rims black.



So now, Wednesday i'm ordering 2 inch blocks and longer u-bolts to accommodate them.
This is going to be a slow mini-build.

[projecthoarder]

Welcome to Stance Works. Always good to see another ford on here.

[Camarofan]

Thanks, i've actually been here, just lurking. I've seen a bunch of Rangers, so i guess you could say i've gotten some inspiration from them.

[bennkishh]

Fuck yeah! I have an '00 XLT lifted on 33's, mine sucks but yours looks pretty clean! Can't wait to see this get some lows.

[TeckniX]

I think your title should've been: "Exploring New Lows"

I like the new ones when lowered...


It'll be interesting to see what you do with this.

[Camarofan]

Fuck yeah! I have an '00 XLT lifted on 33's, mine sucks but yours looks pretty clean! Can't wait to see this get some lows.

Lol, Nice man, my dad wanted to do that. A week after he got it he called me and was all excited because he could fit 33's without any lift. Mine's got some rust, the corners in the lift gate jambs, the lower portion of the passenger door, and the lip of both quarters.

I think your title should've been: "Exploring New Lows"

I like the new ones when lowered...


It'll be interesting to see what you do with this.

Eh, i've seen some slammed Explorers, typically 2wd, and on bags, so i figured the title fit since it was going to be static, and 4wd..and not on 20+ inch rims.

The only update i have is i took the plasti-dip off the rims. Now i know why i did it in the first place.

[tohoopty]

please tell me this thing has a 302 in it.

[Camarofan]

Nope. It wouldn't be so bad if it was a manual, or if i could get a t-case for 2wd.

[bennkishh]

Lol, Nice man, my dad wanted to do that. A week after he got it he called me and was all excited because he could fit 33's without any lift. Mine's got some rust, the corners in the lift gate jambs, the lower portion of the passenger door, and the lip of both quarters.

Yeah I've got all of the same rust. Mines honestly a bag of dicks, but it runs and does car related things. I've put it in two seperate ditches, hit a tree, lost a wheel at 55mph. Idk man, it still works. I hope to see yours on the ground

[Camarofan]

The spots seem pretty normal, I've seen a few 2nd gens with no rust, most are a lost cause. I've only got 132k on mine, which is low for my area. And damn, when my dad had it he tried crawling a steep gravel hill with it when he got it..didn't work so well, he tried doing donuts in the gravel with it, took it through a ditch, and almost wrapped it around a tree last winter. I'm surprised it survived his abuse... I'm surprised it's survived mine, but i won't go into that

And i dunno if i'll go frame layin' it's my only vehicle, and our snow is usually thick, but i will for sure go at least 2 inches lower. I'm also continuing to look for the best deal in fiber glass fenders and rear quarters, then i don't have to worry about the rust.

*Update*



Got tired of the police truck so i took the plasti-dip off. Ended up seeing someone fucked with the bumper so i had to touch it up.
Ordering the blocks today, hopefully next Friday i can lower it.

[Camarofan]

So a small update. I removed my front bump stops last week, I was almost an inch from sitting on them, i still have to cut the rear out, and notch the frame a bit. My blocks got here around Saturday, once i pick them up tomorrow i'll have a picture. The U-bolts are being shipped from the manufacturer so i guess November 5th or so. Since my dad was just going to toss it, i snagged his rear spoiler as a joke to put it on the truck, ended up liking it as a front splitter/spoiler so i'm going to cut it and paint it so i can mount it.

More updates as soon as i get my parts, or as soon as i get the spoiler/splitter mounted.

[bennkishh]

Food for thought, these things sound great with the exhaust cut off behind the last cat

[Camarofan]

Lol, I've heard a few with the back cut off, or straight piped, not a fan. If i can find a deal i'm thinking about a whole new exhaust system.

[Camarofan]

Good news everyone!, or whoevers following this.
I'm buying a set of rims today, mostly for the tires since mine are pretty much bald, and I somehow roasted the passenger rear to the indicators. Only 2 tires are good on the new rims. So I'll have the new rims on the back. And finally, a month later, Dorman shipped my u bolts. Pictures to come.

-Update-

What it sat like on Friday and Saturday, i decided i could get my tires swapped on Tuesday, so i put the new ones on the front as well, but no picture since i'm hopefully going to lower it tomorrow. I mean who needs tread on the steer wheels in the snow.

And the u-bolts came in today, so i can lower it soon.

The inch and a half spacers was a waste of 50 bucks, it fixed my fitment, but it made it look goofy since the body is 1/4 inch off center.

[Camarofan]

Well, it's late, and i don't have much else to do, so here's an update. I got the truck lowered last week, it's safe to say the front end settled, I want the front dropped an extra half inch so the wheel gap is the same, so i gotta find some time, and a place to do that.
Here's how she sits now.

Luckily haven't had any rubbing issues with the rear with the lack of travel, so there's that.