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Lifted 4x4 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Ford Explorer Sport Trac lifted for 38 inch tires!

This is the story of my 4x4 Ford Explorer Sport Trac modification project. Creating a custom Ford Explorer Sport Trac fully modified for 38 inch tires. In these pages you can follow along and see all the details as they are thought out and put into action.

"A 4x4 truck is built not bought" - at least that is true for this Sport Trac 🙂

 

Specs

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Performance

  • Engine - Standard: V6 Cologne SOHC 4.0 L (244 cid)
  • Hp: 205 hp @ 5250 rpm
  • Torque: 240 ft-lbs. @ 3750 rpm
  • Transmission: 5-speed automatic
  • Turning radius: 43.1 feet (13.1m)

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Size & capacity

  • Dimensions: Wheelbase = 125.9″ (320cm) - Overall Length = 205.9″ (523cm) - Width = 71.8″ (182cm) - Height = 70.1″ (178cm)
  • Weight: 4323 lbs (1961 kg), gross weight GVWR: 5580 lbs (2531 kg)
  • Seating: 5
  • Towing capacity: 5080 lbs (2304 kg)
  • Payload rating:  900 lbs (400 kg)
  • Wheel bolt pattern: 5x4.5 (5x114.3)

Long and light weight.

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Offroad

  • Ground Clearance: Not too much!
  • Suspension front: coil springs
  • Suspension rear: leaf springs
  • Axles front: Dana 35
  • Axles rear: Ford 8.8"

Modification / Lifting tips

Before

Ford Explorer Sport Trac

A stock Ford Explorer Sport Trac is pretty good on the highway in USA, but can it be customized in a way to get it into the rough Icelandic snow and ice driving?

The plan is to make this into a true off road custom Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Starting with the insertion of a Dana 44 whole front axle with disk brake kit in front, but use the Ford 8.8 rear axle in the rear. Both axles to be fitted with air-lockers and 4.88 gear ratios. Four link suspension in the rear and classic Bronco suspension in front - except for the airbags that are to be used both front and rear.

After

Big 4x4 Truck - 4x4 Off Roads!

Big 4x4 Truck - 4x4 Off Roads!

Finally it is ready to take on some serious off roading challanges!

 

The illustrated story of lifting the Ford Explorer Sport Trac

4x4 On Road in USA

4x4 On Road in USA

Non-Custom Ford Explorer Sport Trac On Road in USA - Like I had planned I took a trip to fetch the Sport Track I bought. I flew in from Iceland through Minneapolis and then to Denver Colorado.

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Custom Sport Trac - Preparing The Front Driveline 

Custom Sport Trac - Preparing The Front Driveline 

Custom Sport Trac:Preparing The Front Driveline Preparing and building the front driveline on the custom Sport Trac is going to be the most work. Beginning with the removal of the front suspension units.

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Big 4x4 Truck: Custom Sport Trac - 38 inch tires tried out

Big 4x4 Truck: Custom Sport Trac - 38 inch tires tried out

Custom Sport Trac:38 inch tires tried outPutting the large tires in place helps in figuring out how the planned modifications will be implemented.

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Big 4x4 Truck: Custom Sport Trac: Fitting Air-Bags Front

Big 4x4 Truck: Custom Sport Trac: Fitting Air-Bags Front

Fitting air-bags shouldn't be more complicated than fitting coil springs - but there are a few not so minor details to take care of.

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Custom Sport Trac - Removing the Rear Axle

Custom Sport Trac - Removing the Rear Axle

Custom Sport Trac:Removing the Rear AxlePutting the large tires in place helps in figuring out how the planned modifications will be implemented.

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Custom Sport Trac: Rear Four-Link Setup

Custom Sport Trac: Rear Four-Link Setup

Already the basic parts of the four link system have been set up. Bottom plate for the air-bags is also in its final position. Upper bars are designed so that their length can easily be adjusted.

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Custom Sport Trac: Turning Trac

Custom Sport Trac: Turning Trac

To replace the car-like steering box in the original Sport Trac I got this rebuilt steering box from an old Bronco. It has to be placed on the left side of the framing, just in front of the steering rod. Here it is being tried out, but it has to be moved quite a bit to the front.

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Custom Sport Trac: Testing the Suspension and Steering

Custom Sport Trac: Testing the Suspension and Steering

Final result is that everything works surprisingly good. For steering it takes slightly more rounds to change from far right to far left than is customary today. Suspension is extremely soft and as you can see - provides a LOT of clearance and travel.

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Big 4x4 Truck: Custom Sport Trac - Fender Flares

Big 4x4 Truck: Custom Sport Trac - Fender Flares

Since there is nobody making fender flares that will fit the Sport Trac on 38 inch tires we had been searching for something made for a similar truck. We found some 356 inch flares for Nissan Pickup that looked promising and they ware our final choice.

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Lifted Custom Ford Explorer 4x4 Wallpaper

Ford Explorer Sport Trac Wallpaper

Ford Explorer Sport Trac Wallpaper

Ford Explorer Sport Trac Wallpaper - Stunning wallpaper pictures of my Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The pictures are high resolution and show the Sport Trac in use in the beautiful scenery of the Icelandic highlands.

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4x4 Ford [Offroad]

4x4 Ford [Offroad]

Built Ford Tough?

Toughest Ford 4x4 trucks and SUVs from all over the world. First 4x4 Fords ware made from a license after the blueprints for the Willys. From the relative comfort of the early Bronco to today's huge F-350s that provide enough ha ...

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Thrandur Arnthorsson
Thrandur is the chief-editor and owner of 4x4 Off Roads and an 4x4 off road enthusiast. Living in Iceland he loves to share the coolest 4x4 trucks and supporting more offroad freedom. If you want to get YOUR 4x4 featured on 4x4OffRoads you can post your story here.

Used Off Road Ford Explorer Sport Trac For Sale

4x4 Ford Explorer Sport Trac for Sale

Thursday January 01, 1970

Thursday January 01, 1970

Thursday January 01, 1970

Thursday January 01, 1970

Thursday January 01, 1970

Thursday January 01, 1970

Thursday January 01, 1970

Thursday January 01, 1970

Thursday January 01, 1970