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<meta name="Author" content="Copyright 1999 Rick Horwitz All Rights Reserved">
<title>Andrew Brlic’s 1996 Explorer</title>
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<td VALIGN=TOP><b><font face="Arial,Helvetica">Editor</font></b>
<br><b><a href="mailto:explorer@4x4central.com">Rick Horwitz</a></b>
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<BR>
<center><img SRC="otbt.jpg" height=52 width=330>
<br><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=+2>Andrew Brlic’s&nbsp;</font></font>
<br><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=+2>1996 Ford Explorer</font></font>
<br><a href="abdrtytrk_hires.jpg"><img SRC="abdrtytrk_lowres.jpg" BORDER=1 height=123 width=190></a>
<br><font size=-1>Lookin' good after a day of fun</font></center>
<br>&nbsp;
<center><table BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=5 COLS=2 WIDTH="50%" >
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<td><a href="abdwnhill_hires.jpg"><img SRC="abdwnhill_lowres.jpg" BORDER=1 height=144 width=192></a></td>
<td><a href="absunriselake_hires.jpg"><img SRC="absunriselake_lowres.jpg" BORDER=1 height=146 width=206></a></td>
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<td VALIGN=TOP><font size=-1>Heading downhill with a spare tire.</font></td>
<td VALIGN=TOP><font size=-1>Lifting&nbsp; rear tire on some uneven terrain.</font>
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<td><a href="abfixflat_hires.jpg"><img SRC="abfixflat_lowres.jpg" BORDER=1 height=150 width=200></a></td>
<td><a href="absr13_hires.jpg"><img SRC="absr13_lowres.jpg" BORDER=1 height=150 width=200></a></td>
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<center><font size=-1>Fixing a flat on the trail</font></center>
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<center><font size=-1>Off camber tilt</font></center>
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<td><a href="absr8a_hires.jpg"><img SRC="absr8a_lowres.jpg" BORDER=1 height=150 width=200></a></td>
<td><a href="abexp_hires.jpg"><img SRC="abexp_lowres.jpg" BORDER=1 height=140 width=210></a></td>
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<td><font size=-1>Making a turn at the top of the hill</font></td>
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<center><font size=-1>Straddling a gully</font></center>
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<br>&nbsp;
<center><table BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=5 WIDTH="75%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" >
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<td><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>I bought my 1996 Explorer
brand new in February of ’96.&nbsp; I knew I wanted a SUV, a family conveyance
that could still take me camping and skiing, seeing as I live in one of
the best places in the world for both, British Columbia, Canada.&nbsp;
I have been a Ford guy since I got my license 8 years earlier.&nbsp; Getting
the Explorer came sooner than expected though.&nbsp; My limited edition
’92 Mustang convertible was stolen New Year’s Eve of 95/96, and a month
or so later when the insurance company finally settled, there I was sitting
in a new Explorer!&nbsp; It’s a 4 door XLS, auto, all options except leather
and sunroof, trailer tow package (oil cooler, 3.73 gears).</font></font>
<p><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>I made arrangements that
same day with a local tire shop, and had the original Firestone’s traded
for a set of 30x9.5 Dunlop Radial Rover RV’s, which served well for 70K
kms.&nbsp; (Wish I knew then what I know now, and would have gotten 31’s
at the time, but was steered away by the tire shop, as they figured I’d
have clearance problems)&nbsp; Coming from the 5.0L Mustang background
(also owned an ’88 GT for 4 years) I was certain to be improving the Explorer’s
performance as well.&nbsp;</font></font>
<p><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>I started with items I knew
worked in my Mustangs.&nbsp; K&amp;N replacement filter, Taylor Spriro-Pro
wires, and after the initial break in period, synthetic oil.&nbsp; Since
then all of the lubricating fluids have been changed to synthetics.&nbsp;
For more performance I added the Borla cat-back exhaust, and removed the
stock air silencer assembly.&nbsp; Future performance mods will include
a KKM kit, larger MAF and throttle body, then possibly headers and a chip
last.</font></font>
<p><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>For the interior several
creature comforts have been added.&nbsp; I had a Kenwood cassette head
unit installed that controls a Kenwood 10 disk CD changer custom mounted
in the rear area where the cargo-net used to be.&nbsp; Very nicely done,
it looks factory and is hidden from prying eyes.&nbsp; A Clifford alarm
was also installed to protect my investment.&nbsp; Work was done by Car
Toys of Seattle, WA.&nbsp; I hard wired a Uniden radar/laser detector to
help protect my wallet and recently replaced the factory speakers with
MB Quart 6.5" separates front and 5.25" mid-bass drivers in the rear.&nbsp;
I also have a Uniden Pro 520xl CB radio and Wilson mag-mount antenna that
goes in and out whenever on an outing or extended trip.</font></font>
<p><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>As a member of several BC
4 wheeling enthusiast groups (BC Off Road, BC4x4, 4WDABC) it quickly became
obvious that clearance was not the Explorer’s strong point when on outings.&nbsp;
As the aftermarket suspension companies are still afraid of the Explorer
IFS (Infernal Front Suspension) my options were limited.&nbsp; I started
by replacing the worn Dunlops with a great new set of 31x10.5 Yokohama
Geolandar A/T’s.&nbsp; After much discussion on the 4x4central.com message
boards I decided to tackle the "torsion-bar" adjustment on my own.&nbsp;
I gained 2" of lift in the front, and it was a relatively easy do-it-yourself
job.&nbsp; For the rear I took the truck to T&amp;S Suspension, where they
did a re-arch and full length add-a-leaf to the stock spring pack.&nbsp;
Completed the job with Teflon spacers.&nbsp; The rear was now sitting 2.5"
higher when the truck rested again on it’s wheels.&nbsp; The front was
backed down a &frac14;" due to concerns over the CV Joint angles.&nbsp;
The ride is now more firm, but certainly not harsh.&nbsp; Immediate improvements
in relation to body roll and tire clearance.&nbsp; Where I had slight rubbing
in the rear with the 31s at full compression, it is eliminated now with
the 2.5" rear lift.&nbsp; Visually the Explorer now appears more off road
worthy as well.&nbsp; Future mods will include longer replacement shocks
(Edelbrocks most likely) and removing the rear swaybar for more articulation.</font></font>
<p><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font size=-1>Of course you’re never really
done building when you have a 4x4 that you take off road, but here is my
wish list in most probable order of acquisition.&nbsp; Rear locker, KKM,
larger MAF and throttle body, shocks, poly-bushing kit.&nbsp; All the while
I’ll be "Exploring" beautiful British Columbia!</font></font></td>
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</table></center>
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<p><a href="mailto:andrew.b@telus.net">Send email to Andrew</a>
<br><a href="mailto:andrew.b@telus.net">andrew.b@telus.net</a>
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