2003 Expedition Face Lift Begins

[Vancouver Bob]

Been working with Custom Offsets to get the chrome wheels returned. The guys over there have been amazingly helpful throughout the entire purchase and return process. They even got me prepaid shipping labels to send the wheels back. I'll end up paying for it once they settle everything but the shipping costs are a bit cheaper with a business account vs me bringing them to some UPS store. It'll be nice to get them out of the garage.

Progress on the bumper is pretty much limited to the weekend these days so I'm not making much progress... sorry about that!

I did manage to cut off the old bumper mounts but I still need to do some grinding of the remnants to clean it up. Then I'll get the bumper back up in place and see how close the ends of the frame beams are to the back of the bumper. I'm thinking about mounting plates on the ends of the beams and the back of the bumpers for a bolt on solution. Something like this...

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Got an unexpected surprise today!! I wasn't expecting these until Monday!



I think these will go well with the Arizona Beige of the trim... the angles of the spokes give a lot of color variation from almost black to almost gold. Can't wait to get some tires!! Will have to wait until pay day

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Very nice! Is the color close?

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Here's a piece of the trim sitting on the rim. Pretty dang close. It depends a bit on the viewing angle but I think from the side it's going to be close... certainly close enough . The real test will be when the wheels/tires are mounted and sitting in the daylight. Not sure I'm going to be able to wait until payday. May need to break out the old credit card. Although right now she has no front bumper so I really wouldn't be able to drive around much.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Here's a piece of the trim sitting on the rim. Pretty dang close. It depends a bit on the viewing angle but I think from the side it's going to be close... certainly close enough . The real test will be when the wheels/tires are mounted and sitting in the daylight. Not sure I'm going to be able to wait until payday. May need to break out the old credit card. Although right now she has no front bumper so I really wouldn't be able to drive around much.

I can relate to that! I think it will look great once it's on your truck.

You could always temporarily mount a 4 X 4 out front, and you can call it a bumper so you could drive around.

 

[Habbibie]

You could always temporarily mount a 4 X 4 out front, and you can call it a bumper so you could drive around.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

LOL! I've seen worse a Walmart.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

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Ha ha... the mullet jokes never get old!

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Went to back the Expedition out of the garage but the battery was essentially dead. I noticed the battery getting weak last week when I started it up. Was going to roll it out of the garage and jump it with my Subaru but I could shift it out of park!!

So for those of you who may find yourselves in the same boat someday, there's a interlock release right below the steering column...

Depending on how low you have the steering wheel, you may need to release the column lock and tilt it up... remove the hole cover, reach in and up with your finger and you'll feel a little round switch that you just need to press (pulling the tip of your finger towards you), sort of like if you were gesturing someone to "come here" with your finger. With the button pressed you can now shift out of park.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Wasn't super productive today but did manage to do some grinding on the frame posts to clean up the remnants for the old bumper mount. Lifted the bumper in place and was trying to see why it wasn't moving forward further and it came off the floor jack and onto my leg. Luckily it went off side ways and hit the left end of the bumper so the full weight didn't hit me... phew!!

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Well, I've got two of the tires mounted. Went with the Toyo RT's, 35x12.5R20's. Also had them siped for better winter traction. The other two are also mounted but still at Les Schwab... will pick them up in the morning. Not going to mount them onto the Expedition until I get the bumper on.

On that note, I have someone lined up to fab up a mounting scheme for the bumper. Heading up to Kelso tomorrow afternoon. Found them on "Thumbtack". Never heard of it before and couldn't tell you how I stumbled onto it. It's a father, son, & friend business. They look to do good work. If all goes well I'll be posting pictures of the mounted bumper tomorrow evening. Still primered so will need to pull it off again to have it painted.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Well, I've got two of the tires mounted. Went with the Toyo RT's, 35x12.5R20's. Also had them siped for better winter traction. The other two are also mounted but still at Les Schwab... will pick them up in the morning. Not going to mount them onto the Expedition until I get the bumper on.

On that note, I have someone lined up to fab up a mounting scheme for the bumper. Heading up to Kelso tomorrow afternoon. Found them on "Thumbtack". Never heard of it before and couldn't tell you how I stumbled onto it. It's a father, son, & friend business. They look to do good work. If all goes well I'll be posting pictures of the mounted bumper tomorrow evening. Still primered so will need to pull it off again to have it painted.

Those tires look great! They also look really big in that picture. Will they fit in the wheel well? I forgot, did you do a lift on it already? I'm sure you can't wait to see the bumper on it.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Hi Andy. Yes, I have a 3.5/2.5 leveling kit on it. A lot of people in the forum are running the same size tire with the lift so I'm sure they'll fit. I may need to do a little trimming here and there to keep from rubbing on turns. But you're right, they look huge!

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Hi Andy. Yes, I have a 3.5/2.5 leveling kit on it. A lot of people in the forum are running the same size tire with the lift so I'm sure they'll fit. I may need to do a little trimming here and there to keep from rubbing on turns. But you're right, they look huge!

I'm thinking that I may want to put a small lift (1-1/2" - 2") on my 17. I think I would just do the same front and back. I'm not sure what my wife will say about it.

I just wonder if it will change gas mileage.

 

[PHIL CLACK]

Wow those are going to look amazing!

Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk

 

[Vancouver Bob]

I wouldn't think a small lift would affect gas mileage but I could be wrong. With the 3.5/2.5 it was noticeably different getting out of the Expedition... a bit more of a drop as I slide out of the seat. With the bigger tires it'll be even more so. I drive my mom around a fare amount and the lift alone was almost too much for her. May need to invest in a step stool . I want to ditch the running boards. Yours has one of the disappearing ones, doesn't it? I really like those! Best of both worlds... out of site when you don't need it but there when you do.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Wow those are going to look amazing!

Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk

I think so too Phil... thanks! Will post pics once they're on.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I wouldn't think a small lift would affect gas mileage but I could be wrong. With the 3.5/2.5 it was noticeably different getting out of the Expedition... a bit more of a drop as I slide out of the seat. With the bigger tires it'll be even more so. I drive my mom around a fare amount and the lift alone was almost too much for her. May need to invest in a step stool . I want to ditch the running boards. Yours has one of the disappearing ones, doesn't it? I really like those! Best of both worlds... out of site when you don't need it but there when you do.

Yes, I like the power running boards. It looks so much cleaner with them retracted but I still have them to get in and out which I need with my short legs. (I'm 5'6")

I am really starting to like the lifted look even if I stay with stock tires and wheels. It looks more truck like, which I really like. I'm just concerned about what it does to the drive train and the steering and suspension components.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Once you lift it you'll want bigger tires... it's just the way us guys are wired . Your Expedition looks longer than most. Even with mine, once I put the level kit on there the tires just looked too small...

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Once you lift it you'll want bigger tires... it's just the way us guys are wired . Your Expedition looks longer than most. Even with mine, once I put the level kit on there the tires just looked too small...

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I have the EL extended length size expedition. I've got 20" wheels and 275 55R 20 tires on it now. It's mostly a highway cruiser so I don't want to go with tires that make a lot of noise. I had some on my last Expedition and they drove us crazy on our trips.