Fordpartsguy9
New Member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2017
- Location
- Stanley
Just picked up a 1993 explorer eddie bauer. Its a 4.0, 5 speed, 3.73 limited slip, and 2 door. 146000 miles, nd super clean. Want a decent crawler I can drive. Thoughts on mods?
Explorer
- Thread starter Fordpartsguy9
- Start date
Loganwayne
#BTL
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2013
- Location
- Clyde, North Carolina
Fordpartsguy9
New Member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2017
- Location
- Stanley
I just got out of a jeep because I want something different. I get tired of seeing xjs, and jks. Anybody can build a jeep.
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Loganwayne
#BTL
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2013
- Location
- Clyde, North Carolina
You'll spend 3-4 times As much to have the same performance you can get outta a $2000 xj
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CasterTroy
Faster'N You
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2005
- Location
- Wallburg
Keep the exploder for the street, spend $1500-$2000 on an xj to beat the piss out of
Loganwayne
#BTL
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2013
- Location
- Clyde, North Carolina
They have an awesome wheel base stock up to about 37s they Are light for a 4 door SUV. Parts are cheap, tons of aftermarket stuff and plenty of people Changing upgrading parting that used parts are easy to find. This is why I will always recommend a xj as a starter wheeler
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So... back to what the OP asked...
It all depends on what you want to do with it. First generation explorers are pretty stout (except the auto trans which you have avoided). As others said it's going to cost you more or you have to build parts yourself because it doesn't have the aftermarket support of a jeep (or Toyota or...)
I started wheeling with a 92 4 door auto.
What size tires do you plan to run? That drives axle decision, keep TTB or SAS? If you want 33s, maybe 35s, you'll be OK on the TTB. If you go bigger, go solid and skip the dana30, do a 44.
I was happiest with mine when it was 32s with 2" suspension lift. Front Springs, rear AAL and shackles. Throw an Aussie in the front and enjoy. I went to 33s, did a 3" BL to fit them
, 5.13s, disk brake rear, bumpers, sliders. The rear spring hangers kept hanging me up everywhere so I did a spring over and 6" skyjacker front lift for a bronco II. I think I would have been happy with it at that point if I took out the body lift, but my bumpers and sliders were built for the lift so I never did.
This was 2" suspension with 32s:
2" suspension 3" body with 33s:
And 6" suspension 3" body with 33s:
It all depends on what you want to do with it. First generation explorers are pretty stout (except the auto trans which you have avoided). As others said it's going to cost you more or you have to build parts yourself because it doesn't have the aftermarket support of a jeep (or Toyota or...)
I started wheeling with a 92 4 door auto.
What size tires do you plan to run? That drives axle decision, keep TTB or SAS? If you want 33s, maybe 35s, you'll be OK on the TTB. If you go bigger, go solid and skip the dana30, do a 44.
I was happiest with mine when it was 32s with 2" suspension lift. Front Springs, rear AAL and shackles. Throw an Aussie in the front and enjoy. I went to 33s, did a 3" BL to fit them
, 5.13s, disk brake rear, bumpers, sliders. The rear spring hangers kept hanging me up everywhere so I did a spring over and 6" skyjacker front lift for a bronco II. I think I would have been happy with it at that point if I took out the body lift, but my bumpers and sliders were built for the lift so I never did.This was 2" suspension with 32s:
2" suspension 3" body with 33s:
And 6" suspension 3" body with 33s:
Last edited:
NickMaul
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2009
- Location
- Norfolk, VA
Haha look in the douche mobile thread. Just because it's a jeep doesn't mean it is always pretty lol.
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WARRIORWELDING
Owner opperator Of WarriorWelding LLC.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2008
- Location
- Chillin, Hwy 64 Mocksville NC
its called even weight distribution, a highly overlooked failure in a lot of other builds.
fordwheelinman
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2009
- Location
- Randolph County
Answered this many times before so here goes....
If you want cheap, put some spacers and shackles on it, do a little fender and bumper trimming, and presto you can run 33x12.50x15 on factory or 8 inch wide aftermarket wheels. Or you can run 285/75/16 on 1st Gen sport trac wheels or 2nd Gen wheels. I've done this for the last 6 years and enjoyed the crap out of it with a stick and 3.73 L/S rear. The radius arm bushings will see quicker wear this way, but they are easy enough to change.
If you want to go farther, get a 6 inch lift for the front and a spring over in the rear, and that usually clears 35's. In the process of this now since I have all the parts for it.
If you want to go all out, do a solid axle swap. The debate goes on and on over Dana 30 or Dana 44. Most people will say never swap in a 30 when a 44 is stronger and the same amount of work. I say, use what you can get. Get a killer deal on a 30, do it. Wanna do full-width, then do that, it's your explorer, do it your way.
Above all, I would have to advise to stay away from body lifts unless you just do a 1 inch lift to help tire clearance. I've seen too many people run into issues with trying to extend the shifter. With having to drop the fan shroud or run electric fans, extending the steering, and figure out a shifter extension, is it worth all the effort for all the headache?
If you are interested, I have an extra front lift minus the shocks that I can let go cheap.
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If you want cheap, put some spacers and shackles on it, do a little fender and bumper trimming, and presto you can run 33x12.50x15 on factory or 8 inch wide aftermarket wheels. Or you can run 285/75/16 on 1st Gen sport trac wheels or 2nd Gen wheels. I've done this for the last 6 years and enjoyed the crap out of it with a stick and 3.73 L/S rear. The radius arm bushings will see quicker wear this way, but they are easy enough to change.
If you want to go farther, get a 6 inch lift for the front and a spring over in the rear, and that usually clears 35's. In the process of this now since I have all the parts for it.
If you want to go all out, do a solid axle swap. The debate goes on and on over Dana 30 or Dana 44. Most people will say never swap in a 30 when a 44 is stronger and the same amount of work. I say, use what you can get. Get a killer deal on a 30, do it. Wanna do full-width, then do that, it's your explorer, do it your way.
Above all, I would have to advise to stay away from body lifts unless you just do a 1 inch lift to help tire clearance. I've seen too many people run into issues with trying to extend the shifter. With having to drop the fan shroud or run electric fans, extending the steering, and figure out a shifter extension, is it worth all the effort for all the headache?
If you are interested, I have an extra front lift minus the shocks that I can let go cheap.
Sent from my D6708 using Tapatalk