• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


Bluey! - the Mild 2020 ST Build

Messages
46
Reactions
32
Points
12
Location
College Park, Maryland
Vehicle
2020 ST
#1
Traded in my 2018 Raptor for a ~45k mile 2020 ST 400a in Atlas Blue with Premium Tech and Street Package. So glad I got an early production ST as it has all the bells and whistles, four bolt diff brace and tow point. Based on what I've read here, Ford has progressively reduced features and 'unnecessary ' engineering that was 'necessary' on the 2020.
The previous owner installed H&R springs, intercooler (unknown brand), Steeda rear sway bar, JLT catch can and a Boomba vent-to-atmosphere. A couple weird/missing things...no strut tower brace, no tow hook supplied and no owners manual.
Found it on Ford Blue Advantage website and purchased it from Leonardtown Ford in southern MD. Originally, the dealership did not provide the paperwork for the Blue Advantage Gold Certified program (as listed) but after a month of back and forth, they recertified and I now have the 7 year, 100k mile powertrain warranty it was listed with.
More to come!
 

Attachments

Last edited:

Cajun Heat

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,199
Reactions
597
Points
262
Location
Katy, TX, USA
Vehicle
2022 Explorer ST
#2
Traded in my 2018 Raptor for a ~45k mile 2020 ST 400a in Atlas Blue with Premium Tech and Street Package. So glad I got an early production ST as it has all the bells and whistles, two bolt diff brace and tow point. Based on what I've read here, Ford has progressively reduced features and 'unnecessary ' engineering that was 'necessary' on the 2020.
The previous owner installed H&R springs, intercooler (unknown brand), Steeda rear sway bar and a Boomba vent-to-atmosphere. A couple weird/missing things...no strut tower brace, no tow hook supplied and no owners manual.
Found it on Ford Blue Advantage website and purchased it from Leonardtown Ford in southern MD. Originally, the dealership did not provide the paperwork for the Blue Advantage Gold Certified program (as listed) but after a month of back and forth, they recertified and I now have the 7 year, 100k mile powertrain warranty it was listed with.
More to come!
Congrats on your purchase and welcome to the forum.
 

Messages
17
Reactions
7
Points
2
Location
Easton PA
Vehicle
2022 Explorer ST High Perf Package
#3
Wow! Same story! We traded in a 2018 for a 2022 Explorer ST. Our Raptor was called "Blue" - so we called the ST "Little Blue". Blue-LittleBlue.jpg
 

2020FordRaptor

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,577
Reactions
764
Points
162
Location
Nevada
Vehicle
'20 Raptor, '22 Explorer ST, '14 GT500, '03 F150
#4
Traded in my 2018 Raptor for a ~45k mile 2020 ST 400a in Atlas Blue with Premium Tech and Street Package. So glad I got an early production ST as it has all the bells and whistles, two bolt diff brace and tow point. Based on what I've read here, Ford has progressively reduced features and 'unnecessary ' engineering that was 'necessary' on the 2020.
The previous owner installed H&R springs, intercooler (unknown brand), Steeda rear sway bar and a Boomba vent-to-atmosphere. A couple weird/missing things...no strut tower brace, no tow hook supplied and no owners manual.
Found it on Ford Blue Advantage website and purchased it from Leonardtown Ford in southern MD. Originally, the dealership did not provide the paperwork for the Blue Advantage Gold Certified program (as listed) but after a month of back and forth, they recertified and I now have the 7 year, 100k mile powertrain warranty it was listed with.
More to come!
No front strut brace is crazy! Why would they do that. Congrats and welcome.
 

OP
Bluey!
Messages
46
Reactions
32
Points
12
Location
College Park, Maryland
Vehicle
2020 ST
Thread Starter #5
No front strut brace is crazy! Why would they do that. Congrats and welcome.
Right!? I figure that was an easy part to sell so they pulled it. The first thing I did was get a Steeda replacement.
 

Attachments

OP
Bluey!
Messages
46
Reactions
32
Points
12
Location
College Park, Maryland
Vehicle
2020 ST
Thread Starter #6
Wow! Same story! We traded in a 2018 for a 2022 Explorer ST. Our Raptor was called "Blue" - so we called the ST "Little Blue". View attachment 22104
Beaut! I like the tow hook carryover. I loved the idea of having a Raptor but not as fun as an ST in MD.
 

Attachments

Blue Beast

1000 Post Club
U.S. Army Veteran
Law Enforcement
Messages
1,597
Reactions
629
Points
262
Location
Cincinnati, OH, USA
Vehicle
2020 ST
#7
Traded in my 2018 Raptor for a ~45k mile 2020 ST 400a in Atlas Blue with Premium Tech and Street Package. So glad I got an early production ST as it has all the bells and whistles, two bolt diff brace and tow point. Based on what I've read here, Ford has progressively reduced features and 'unnecessary ' engineering that was 'necessary' on the 2020.
The previous owner installed H&R springs, intercooler (unknown brand), Steeda rear sway bar and a Boomba vent-to-atmosphere. A couple weird/missing things...no strut tower brace, no tow hook supplied and no owners manual.
Found it on Ford Blue Advantage website and purchased it from Leonardtown Ford in southern MD. Originally, the dealership did not provide the paperwork for the Blue Advantage Gold Certified program (as listed) but after a month of back and forth, they recertified and I now have the 7 year, 100k mile powertrain warranty it was listed with.
More to come!
Welcome to the forum.
 

Chamorro85

Active Member
Messages
535
Reactions
254
Points
52
Location
Round Lake, IL USA
Vehicle
'21 Explorer ST
#8
Nice pickup...i've always been secretly jealous of that Blue. Welcome.
 

OP
Bluey!
Messages
46
Reactions
32
Points
12
Location
College Park, Maryland
Vehicle
2020 ST
Thread Starter #11
Installed Steeda toe arms, vertical link stiffiners, sway bar links and new shocks with new OEM hardware from Tasca. Next are the subframe stiffiners and pinion bushings. Creaks and groans are mostly gone.
 

Attachments

Last edited:
OP
Bluey!
Messages
46
Reactions
32
Points
12
Location
College Park, Maryland
Vehicle
2020 ST
Thread Starter #12
Added the Steeda subframe bushing stiffiners. Got the Steeda pinion bushings on deck
 

Attachments

OP
Bluey!
Messages
46
Reactions
32
Points
12
Location
College Park, Maryland
Vehicle
2020 ST
Thread Starter #13
Goosetuned! Need to do a couple pulls and send back the data logs.
 

Attachments

OP
Bluey!
Messages
46
Reactions
32
Points
12
Location
College Park, Maryland
Vehicle
2020 ST
Thread Starter #14
Crawled under and found Fenfab down pipes installed by previous owner! Check that off the list. Ordered Gibson axle back exhaust but still waiting for a ship date. Next is CAI and piping.
 

Attachments

OP
Bluey!
Messages
46
Reactions
32
Points
12
Location
College Park, Maryland
Vehicle
2020 ST
Thread Starter #15
Got through the first set of datalogs with @GooseTuned. Updated maps loaded and hope to get a couple more datalogs this week.
 

Messages
115
Reactions
144
Points
37
Location
New Mexico
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#16
Heck yeah!!!!
 

way2far

New Member
Messages
23
Reactions
9
Points
2
Location
Tampa, FL.
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#17
I love living vicariously through you guys!
 

OP
Bluey!
Messages
46
Reactions
32
Points
12
Location
College Park, Maryland
Vehicle
2020 ST
Thread Starter #18
So...some more updates.
  • Steeda pinion bushings installed with Whoosh Motorsports bolts
  • Gibson axle back exhaust installed
  • Mustang GT350R front brake kit installed. Brembo 6 piston and two piece rotors
 

Attachments

2020FordRaptor

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,577
Reactions
764
Points
162
Location
Nevada
Vehicle
'20 Raptor, '22 Explorer ST, '14 GT500, '03 F150
#19
So...some more updates.
  • Steeda pinion bushings installed with Whoosh Motorsports bolts
  • Gibson axle back exhaust installed
  • Mustang GT350R front brake kit installed. Brembo 6 piston and two piece rotors
Always love the GT350 and GT500 brake swaps!
 



Top