(Sorry if this appear twice. I cancelled my original response because I
forgot a word.)
You can see it, shocks and all, here. I like to keep the underside nice and
glossy!!! Okay, I'm a bit over the top. :O)
http://giorgianni.homestead.com/explorer.html

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Nice job on the undercarriage. Truck looks brand new.
Anthony Giorgianni - 18 Feb 2005 22:19 GMT
Thanks Mike. I'm trying to see how long I can keep it new looking. My
friends call it the "Museum Piece."
Good luck with your shock change. Unless there is something really different
with the 99 (I hope somebody will add here who knows that year better), I
think you should do it. I had fun. I did try to use the torque settings on
the bolts. But as I remember, I could not get the torque wrench on the front
ones.

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Anthony Giorgianni
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> Nice job on the undercarriage. Truck looks brand new.
Damn, that sure does look good, I too have OCD when it comes to mine, I have
a '97 with 85000 and she still looks new. YOu could fry an egg on the motor
and eat it! I am so maticulous with it that in the summer I jack er up pull
off the tires and get under it with my power washer. I will literally spend
an entire day cleaning the truck. My neighbors think me strange I'm sure.
But, I have not had ANY problems with the truck, aside from ball joints,
shocks, tires and tensioner. and OH YEAH whats with the steering wheel
covers on these things? My so called leather wheel cover wore out down to
the foam. I had to buy new leather and sew it on. I have seen many of these
with the same problem.
Searcher1
> (Sorry if this appear twice. I cancelled my original response because I
> forgot a word.)
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>>
>> Wow, I can imagine what the paint job on your truck looks like.
Anthony Giorgianni - 19 Feb 2005 17:23 GMT
Keeping it clean makes it fun to work on too. Yes, and neighbors make fun of
me as well :O)
I like the wash the engine everything I wash the car. I also ...... well...
wax the painted areas inside the engine compartment :O), as well as the
door/hatch jambs and hinges, skid plates. I go nuts with Rust-Oleum - only
a very light coat though... even the front drive shifts, steering knuckles,
tie rods ... all of that. A little paint goes a long way!
Haven't have any problem with the leather on by steering wheel, by the way.
My 92 now is up to 71,000 miles.

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Anthony Giorgianni
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> Damn, that sure does look good, I too have OCD when it comes to mine, I have
> a '97 with 85000 and she still looks new. YOu could fry an egg on the motor
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Searcher1
The Malt Hound - 23 Feb 2005 15:26 GMT
> But, I have not had ANY problems with the truck, aside from ball
> joints, shocks, tires and tensioner. and OH YEAH whats with the
> steering wheel covers on these things? My so called leather wheel
> cover wore out down to the foam. I had to buy new leather and sew it
> on. I have seen many of these with the same problem.
I have a similar problem on my '97 XLT 5.0
The leather (or vinyl)cover is OK, but the foam under the cover has
degraded and makes the cover loose and lumpy, I have it covered right
now with one of those slip on deals, but that is only a temporary (and
somewhat tacky) solution.
Has anyone ever replaced the wheel cover?
Is it even available as a part or do you have to replace the whole
wheel?
TIA,
-Fred W