~-=The Smoke=-~

 I bought this little jewel right before it was time to start replacing things. The past two years have been a roller coaster of making major repairs and also building it up to be something respectable. With my income this was no easy task, but I've never looked back and regretted buying this truck. I've owned three different Explorers in four years of having a license - one from each generation. Regardless, these are the last capable Explorers and the last of a dead breed of good sport utility vehicles.

*

Joshua Tree, CA 8/07

 


 

TREX Grille, installed 5/08

LED's... Many thanks to Audio Dreams in Orange!

It gets the job done... :/

Stuck in a Yorba Linda mud pit...

Get yer kicks on Route 66!

100K!

Tranny at 245F after 6,000 feet of climbing.

Another 1,000 feet of climbing later - Wrightwood, CA

Lone Pine Canyon - 12/20/2008

Lone Pine again - 2/16/2009

Big Bear, CA

Toolin' around...

Hooray boulders!

 *

* = Current Suspension

Basics
-4.0L SOHC V6
-XLT, Leather Interior
-4x4

Performance
-Flowmaster 40 w/ 2.5" pipe, Dual inlet/single outlet
-K&N Drop-In Filter
-Royal Purple Full Synthetic 5W-30
-Magnecor Spark Plug Wires

Suspension - +2 Inches
-KYB GR-2 Shocks
-TT
-Warrior Shackles

Tread - BF Goodrich A/T KO 31X10.5X15

Miscellaneous
-HID/6K Low-Beams
-Optima Redtop Battery
-TREX Billet Grill
-Sunpro transmission temperature gauge 
-Magnaflow high-flow catalytic converter
-Tightened throttle cable, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjgkqjyg-2U
-Herculiner side molding

Interior
-Reupholstered Console lid/black leather
-100+ LED's / total interior lighting replacement

Sound
-Kenwood Headunit w/ Aux input (4x50w)
-4 Alpine 5x7 S-Series speakers @ 250w
-Almani 4x200w Amplifier
-1 Almani 12" 3-Series Subwoofer
-Almani 2-Channel 850w (bridged) Amplifier

Security
-Clifford magnetic ignition

Repairs/Maintenance on the Horizon
-Switching to 20W-50 synthetic (leaking rear main seal)
-Replace rear main seal.
-New rear shocks

Looking At/Considering...
-Performance Accessories 3" Body Lift
-Satellite Radio subscription

Someday...
-Superlift 4" Suspension Lift
-American Racing 15" Alloys 
-Throttle Body Spacer

Tickets (Just for fun)
-8/21/07, 47+ in a 30 zone

-5/?/08, Fix-It
     -Tinted rear license plate
     -Absence of front license plate

Acknowledgements... The Smoke would like to thank the following parties:
Duncan's Auto in Orange. The Smoke would not be possible without this establishment.
Audio Dreams in Orange. These guys have more than fulfilled their obligation as a business.
ExplorerForum.com. Wow. The amount of info I learned there should be illegal.
Autozone. Thank you for being open 'till 10.
My amateur mechanic friends.
My hands.

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