Charlie's 1996 Explorer Sport

[Charlie]

To start out, my name is Charlie and I am from Eau Claire Wisconsin. I am also a student at UW-Stout majoring in mechanical design.

Originally I had lowered my X and was going to make it performancy, but then I realized that that won't happen, and I have always loved big trucks. So, that is what I will slowly go for. It just didn't make sense, since it is 4wd.

I have a 1996 Explorer Sport, which I have been driving for several years now. There are no major changes, due to lack of funds. Therefore, for now most all that I can do are cheap/free mods that are for appearance sake.
Back when I got it it looked something like this:

I will try to dig up some better pictures to show later, but I am on my laptop, not my main computer with pictures.
Some point about a year ago, I decided I wanted a roof rack for many reasons. I think SUV's look better with them, plus then it is a spot for me to mount some lights (eventually) and also then I can use it to carry stuff.

Magically, a beautiful roof rack from JTsmith's Ford Forums - View Profile: jtsmith truck appeared on mine.

At some point, I also decided that I needed an overhead console. I now have one of those and I can tell you the temperature, and the direction I am heading. Plus, it has the nice lights.

I have additionally upgraded the audio, with a Sony head unit. I also have an assortment of subs that I am constantly changing out for one reason or another. To also effect the interior sound, I have put down sound deadener on the whole floor and door panels. It really reduces road noise, along with making it nicer to go camping in (feels a little softer)

As for exhaust, I thought I wanted it loud. After experimenting with many exhaust setups, I realized that I have the v6 and nothing will sound really good and not drone. I am now running a near stock sounding muffler. It is slightly louder.

I also painted the grill black to break up the mass of white on the vehicle. I also removed the orange corner reflectors. Along with that, I am also running 35% tint all around.

Also, to change the look up I also painted my wheels a dark gunmetal color.



Current list of modifications:

Interior:
*Overhead console installed, pulled from a junker
*Sony headunit w/subs
*Center console & vents black
*Uniden 510xl CB
*Sound deadener
*A-Pillar handles
*Rear seat bottoms removed, because when I fold down the rear seats they stick up and it's a pain
*White gauges
Here is a contemplation of the interior put together with Autostitch



Interior again...after changing some things black and mounting the A-Pillar handles

(no CB mounted in this one)

Exterior:
*35% tint all around
*31x10.5 A/T tires
*TT/Shackles lift
*Bumper valence removed
*Lights on bumper
*Mounty roof rack
*Stock deerhoofs painted gloss black
*Clear corners, orange reflector removed from stock lamps
*Shaded rear tails

Old shackle removed when lift shackles were installed. It was rusted out a little bit...

[Charlie]

CB Finally given a permanent mount spot


Shaded tail lights over the previous weekend. Now it's not a bright red & amber that stand out, but not dark enough to get bothered


Also, over the weekend I removed the black fender flares. I think it looks a lot better that way.

Thanks for looking! I will update later.

[Charlie]

Pictures of fender flares removed:


As you can see, I still need to clean up underneath from it rusting..it looks white now, just because I sprayed it white so it wasn't an ugly brown..

[sploderman]

Wow your story sounds alot like mine.....college student without any money just trying to make his exploder a little cooler. But now i have decide to go totally ridiculous custom all around my sport. I am in the process of making custom bumpers from 4x4 square tubing with D rings and hitch flushed in for the rear and using the same tubing i am making a bumper to wrap around slightly with a small pre-runner to mount some lights and to protect he front end. I am incorporating a skid plate that runs from the front bumper to the front cross member. Since mine originally had a mono leaf setup i bought new centerpins and bought leaf packs out of a full size dodge pick up. with the tortion twist in the front i got about a 2 inch lift. I got a set of aluminum rims from a jeep and got a free set of of 33 inch MTRs from a guy who wanted bigger ones (what ever he says as long as they are free) I found a 3 inch body lift in the box someone was trying to get rid of that i picked up for 75 bucks. I got the windows tinted all the way around with 35 in the front and 5 on the back. I made a customn air box and io welded an addapter plate for a cone style filter. I am also in the process of figuring out a way to set up quiet side pipes and a roof rack to mount a 33 inch spare tire. I got given to me yesterday JVC speakers for free as well as a custom sub box. Now i need a set of 10 inch subs. The guy who had the body lift also has 4 alpine head units that he said he would sell me cheap.....so up to this point i have spent....80 on the muffler.....45 on the air filter......25 on the leaf packs......50 on the tint.......and 30 on paint and primer to spray over the welds after filling the fender flare mounting holes. GOOD LUCK TO YOU

[Charlie]

Well, to update what I will be doing soon. I will be swapping in a 4 door leaf pack in the rear, getting rid of that mono-leaf, and I will also be doing a 1-2" BL (body lift), but I haven't decided yet if I should do the 1 or 2". I'm thinking probably 1".

[sploderman]

thats sweet but dont feel as if you need to use the leaf packs from a four door you can use leafs from anything really and just use yours as the main leaf for the pack.....it helps to have an extra set of hands ha......how big of tires are you going with??? and do you do alot of wheeling or are you just making it bigger for looks???

[Charlie]

I think I'll just be using the 4 door explorer leaf springs, since it would be easier to do. I've got 31's right now, and that's as big as I will go for now, since to go bigger I would need a re-gear. I do some wheeling now, and would like to do more, but it is still driven on the street as my main vehicle, so I don't want to make it too big...for now.

[sploderman]

actually it would probably be easier not to swap out leaf packs since just doing what i did all you have to do is take of the U bolts and bolt on more leafs.....it is a real pain to take the entire leaf pack off and put on another one

[Charlie]

Update:

Installed grill mesh from a 98+ style explorer:


Also painted the rear pillars black again, along with the rear hatch handle, since they were a faded gray color. Also, put more clear on the tails, so now they are nice and glossy

[Charlie]

After dealing with the rust issue, I am thinking of painting like this:

Any thoughts?