There were other threads where other guys asked for opinions on the mods they already did... here's your chance to get your input on a virgin truck before anything is done do it. Your suggestions will not automatically be accepted- I'm just trying to get some ideas on what can be done and what are my options, so don't get butt hurt if I decline your idea. ALL helpful input will be greatly appreciated.

I bought this truck just to drive it, but as with most of the rest of the guys here, you jackasses have me wanting to perk it up a bit. I'm not accustomed to modifying a vehicle with aftermarket support (big past projects have been a 1989 Crown Victoria station wagon with a GT-40P/T5 and a 1988 Suzuki Samurai with 5" lift and 31s,) so I'm honestly not even sure what options are available. I don't plan to go extreme with it and it'll probably never actually go off-roading. I have a 1992 Explorer EB sitting on 34s for the bashing and thrashing. I'm absolutely a function over form kind of guy, although I really want my truck to stand out at least a little bit. I can pick mine out in a parking lot because of the tool box, but I'd like it to be a bit more unique without ending up obnoxious. A little bit of what I'm looking for:

Aesthetics... I'm a huge fan of factory equipment when possible. Whatever tires I go with, I'm keeping the 17" wheels. The only variation from that would be if I go to 18s or 20s, but they would absolutely be factory wheels. That said, I don't like big wheels on off-road tires so I'll very likely keep the 17s. It looks entirely goofy to me (no offense to those who have done this; I just don't like the look for my truck.) I'm not into the "Euro" (is that still what they call them?) tail lights. The running boards and tool box must stay- I have custody of my 4yo who needs to be able to climb in and, well, I'm a guy- I keep lots of **** piled up in the tool box. I know that limits you a lot on some of the things you guys do, but I'm sure there are other possibilities. Like bumpers! I can't find any, but I'd like to eventually upgrade from the stockers.

Performance... here's where we can really get into trouble. I've been looking at WAAAAY too many variations of a 3" exhaust system. I don't like the loud raspy redneck sound, but I've found LOTS of 3" SI/SO systems that seem to sound great. I plan to only buy one system, so it must be stainless (aluminized steel doesn't last but a year or two down here in Louisiana.) My favorite so far is probably the Banks Monster (I understand it's 3.5",) but I haven't found a video clip of a Borla, which I'm told sounds incredible. I absolutely do not want a dual exhaust- I plan to tow the Explorer with this truck, so I'd rather keep the low end torque of the single system.
Intakes... I honestly have not looked at one single intake system. Any tips you'd want to throw in here, feel free. Once I get the truck paid down to about half its value (anticipating summer of 2010) I plan to get a blower, so I haven't put much thought into an intake since I'm thinking it'd be replaced anyway...
Tuner... a professional customer of mine offered to hook me up with the SCT unit for $325. From what I've seen, that seems like a decent deal. Is there another tuner that would be preferable for these trucks? I'd like to learn to adjust it myself, so user friendliness is a plus.
Suspension... I only really want to go with the 2" Bilstein level set-up because, as I said, I'll be towing a trailer and I'd rather not have the funky geometry of a huge lift for a truck that won't even be taken off-road except to get the Explorer in and out of the trails.
Tires... I live in Louisiana and I support local economy whenever possible. This truck will absolutely rock some Interco rubber. I'm digging the SS-M16 since it'll mostly be a street truck and it will see SOME mud, although I'm tempted to go straight into a mud terrain with the LTB like I have on my Explorer. With the 2" lift I understand I'd be pushing it to run 34-35" tires, but again, it won't be flexing out on any trails, so I'm thinking I'd be okay. Has anyone actually done 34-35" tires on 2" level? What were the tire and rim sizes? What was the rim backspacing?

Audio... no in-dash DVD players. Otherwise, I'm open to suggestions, but I'd prefer to keep the large face set-up if possible (I know so much about car audio I don't even know what they call it) and I don't want anything extreme- maybe replace the speakers with aftermarket pushed by an amp and a sub under the seat? I don't know. Nothing extreme on the audio.

I only have one picture, taken on my iPhone the day I picked it up, but it should give you plenty of ideas on what you're working with.

Once again, thanks for all helpful suggestions. I just hate to spend the money these modifications take without feeling well-informed and you guys very clearly know a lot more about this stuff than I could ever search to learn!

 

 

supercharger you probly wont but i had the banks for a while it droned a bit for me, leveling kit def, tires i have bfg allterains that have bin through alot more than they should have, i also procomp xterains love em both, i made my own sub box (2 10's) but i do have a mtx thunderform with the mtx 12'' sub the color is gray or charcoal it matches the gray inside perfect. if your interested pm me its just chillin in the garage

 

From what you have stated I would look at PTM bumpers and a Saleen grill. For an exhaust system that sounds great, gives performance, and is not to loud I would go with the Gibson Extreme Dual Exhaust System. I have the stainless model and it does have a lifetime limited warranty. I do have 34" tires with a 2" leveling kit and there is no rubbing and I did not have to do any trimming. Therefore you may be able to fit that size on stock wheels with some trimming. I am running a different wheel that are 17"s. Take a look...







Bushwacker Pocket Flares would be another possibility, and with the color of your truck it would look very nice... Just a few possibilities...

 

I've seen a couple posts mentioning a PTM bumper- is that a brand?
Thanks for clarifying on the 34s. Your wheels look like they have a close to stock backspace so I may get lucky.
For the flares, I'm not sure I want to go all the way to a pocket flare. I've been hoping to find a set of the stock black flares that just sort of outline the fender, though, to see how they'd look.

Thanks for the replies so far, guys- already I've heard a couple ideas I hadn't considered.

 

PTM bumper = Paint To Match or painted bumpers like the stockers on the STX's and FX4's.

The stock 17" wheels are 7.5" wide and so are the 18" wheels. You can get a 12.5 wide tire on them, its tight, but it will fit. The factory 20's are 8.5" wide and have a 6.56" B.S. so my best guess is the 17's and 18's have 6.06" BS (don't qoute me on that, its just a guess)

The stock black flares come standard on FX4's and are unpainted and textured, try looking for a white FX4 and you will get an idea of what they will look like on yours.
HINT look in Tylus's gallery he may still have pics of his white FX4 he used to have.

Edit: unless you want to drill holes in your fender, your better off using the ebay knock-off flares, they use 3M double sided tape whereas the factory flares are held on with a lot of clips that go into square holes punched into the fender and bedside.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FENDE...Q5fAccessories

 

I just wanted to point out that the Bank's Monster is a 3" system with a 3.5" tailpipe. If I only had one mod to do, it would be a tuner with custom tunes, not canned tunes.

With regard to tires, my advice would be to stay conservative unless you go offroad and ground clearance is critical. Unless you're prepared to re-gear the truck, you probably shouldn't get a tire much more than an 1" over stock diameter.

 

Like windsor said, I'd stick with a 33" tire, you will have plenty of clearence with a 2" level kit. Try a 285/70/17 or a 285/65/18 or 275/60/20 all three will fit the factory wheels just fine. If you plan on upgrading to the factory 20's you can also run a 305/55/20 on them with no problem.

 

Thanks for the clarifications. I didn't know the factory flares were through the fender- the eBay flares are a much better option for me.

I want an exhaust so I can hear my truck better, but I still don't want it obnoxiously loud. My station wagon had FRPP headers, 2.5" piping, no cats, and two chamber Flowmasters. It sounded great (a lot more plumbing than a Mustang so had more tone than rasp) but that was built for speed so I wanted it loud. This one I take on the highway a lot and would rather dodge any drone. I do realize that only a catback on these trucks provides minimal performance improvement.

You guys are probably right about the tires- there's not enough difference from a 33 to a 34 to risk the hassle.

For the bumpers- I hate chrome, but it doesn't look so bad on this truck. I'd rather just keep the chrome until I settle on an aftermarket unit down the line.

Again, thanks for all the suggestions so far, guys. I'll try to dig out that white FX4 to see how it looks.