Lifting a 98 Explorer - kits and/or local shops?

[John Nowacek]

A co-worker of mine has a new-to-him 98 Ford Explorer XLT 5.0 AWD and he wants to lift it. No major off-roading, just fire roads to a hunting cabin, beach, etc. and fitting a slightly larger tire (31).

Based on my limited research, seems he's picked a tough Explorer to try to lift (IFS/Torsion). Does anyone have a "gen 2" Explorer they've lifted? Did you use a suspension kit, body lift, twist up the torsion bars and add leaves/blocks/shackles in the rear, or some combination of those?

Any shops you'd recommend to do the work? He's not going to do the install himself, and I'd like to send him to a shop that knows what they're doing lifting an Explorer. They might also be able to give him some good recommendations re: a reasonable approach to lifting this truck. I don't have an Explorer anymore so I have no idea where to send him.

Thanks in advance for any tips or referrals.

[LILREDCJ6]

about the only Exploder guy hanging out on here is Brian. He goes by onewyr on here.

Another place to look is over on one of the ranger sites. All that ford stuff is about the same. try Hampton roads rangers. It is something like that.

Tony

[toynrnd]

I'd imagine a body lift would be the cheapest way to fit 31s. I have no advice on where to take it - sorry.

[smrflng]

Ultimate auto lists a bunch of different lifts for explorers. Kind of pricey though. Just google ford explorer lifts. But why?

Russ ;D ;D ;D ;D

[John Nowacek]

Thanks folks. I PMed onewyr so we'll see what he says. I've found a couple suspension lifts online, but yeah, they're pricey. It is looking like his best option is a small body lift combined with cranking up the torsion bars and adding a leaf in the rear. As for why, well, there's just no explanation for some of the crazy stuff some folks do. Or so I've heard... :-)

[onewyr]

The 98 style explorer is a different beast as you mentioned it is a torsion bar style suspension but if all you are trying to get under it are 31s you may be able to get away with just the torsion bar crank and a Belltech 6400 shackle it is actually a drop shackle for a chevy but that is what i ran on my trucks it is good for about 2 inches in the rear. If he isn't gonna wheel it a body lift would be your other option. Go check out www.hrrangers.com there are a few guys that have done the torsion bar lifts on rangers over there. in order to post over there let me know when u want to register so I can open up the registration I have it closed because of spammers.