What Have You Done To Your Explorer ST Today

[MikeyP]

Installed the Steeda strut tower brace. No more fat, flimsy, stamped factory trash. Hopefully do the rear sway bar next week.

 

[Jshaffer3819]

Installed the Steeda strut tower brace. No more fat, flimsy, stamped factory trash. Hopefully do the rear sway bar next week.

Look good! Mine is getting powder coated red now. Looking forward to installing it.


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[mwinn]

Steeda tower brace. Should be good for another 20 hp right?

 

[Jshaffer3819]

Steeda tower brace. Should be good for another 20 hp right?

Nice! Did you have it sand blaster or leave the rough texture?


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[zdubyadubya]

Oh really..I'm getting the common rattle from the stock flex pipes and waiting on SPD downpipes to ship which should hopefully be today.
I want to change out the stock flex pipes as is so you're saying once the DP's are on the rattling noise will get even worse?
I found new mesh flex pipes from Vibrant..anyone use these?

Part #: 62706
Description: Standard Flex Coupling w/ Inner Braid Liner, 2.25" I.D. x 6.00" Long

Option 2:
Part #: 62708
Description: Standard Flex Coupling w/ Inner Braid Liner, 2.25" I.D. x 8.00" Long

Yes. It will get MUCH worse. I did not use these as I just used the Thermal mid-pipe kit from Whoosh (which uses Vibrant woven flex pipes), but I am sure any competent exhaust shop could weld either of those pieces into your existing setup.

 

[GearHead_1]

Steeda tower brace. Should be good for another 20 hp right?

30 HP with the color change.

 

[Ford Guy]

Yes. It will get MUCH worse. I did not use these as I just used the Thermal mid-pipe kit from Whoosh (which uses Vibrant woven flex pipes), but I am sure any competent exhaust shop could weld either of those pieces into your existing setup.

Ya that's what I figured. It would probably be much cheaper to just buy the Vibrant mesh flex section and have a shop cut and weld to the existing mid pipes. I've asked Ron at whoosh for a quote on the Thermal mid pipe section. Thanks for the reply back.

 

[mwinn]

Nice! Did you have it sand blaster or leave the rough texture?


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Was going to have it media blasted but after talking with the powder coating people I decided to leave as is. The blue pc filled in some of the texture. Real happy with the result. Completed the Steeda package, springs, rear sway bar and now this.

 

[mwinn]

30 HP with the color change.

You're not including the catch can and K&N, dude I'm in ZFG territory. Kidding Adam!

 

[Jshaffer3819]

Was going to have it media blasted but after talking with the powder coating people I decided to leave as is. The blue pc filled in some of the texture. Real happy with the result. Completed the Steeda package, springs, rear sway bar and now this.

Cool, sounds like the exact same thing I am doing except I am painting mine red to match my calipers. The blue does look great though.


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[mwinn]

Cool, sounds like the exact same thing I am doing except I am painting mine red to match my calipers. The blue does look great though.


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Can't go wrong with red. I went with the black cap bolts M8x1.25x25 and 45 for mounting. Gives it a nice finish. I know it most likely has little effect but you swear you can feel a difference once installed.

 

[Jshaffer3819]

Can't go wrong with red. I went with the black cap bolts M8x1.25x25 and 45 for mounting. Gives it a nice finish. I know it most likely has little effect but you swear you can feel a difference once installed.

I noticed that. I was going to ask you where you got them. What is the 45? I really think it will make a difference. No reason to produce them if not. Can’t wait to install mine.


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[NewYorkistanSux]

Dealer would not fix? Seems really close to delivery and not an easy place to damage. Just wondering.

Have to bring it in for service, should be covered under warranty … first service opening isn’t til end of October though.

 

[mwinn]

I noticed that. I was going to ask you where you got them. What is the 45? I really think it will make a difference. No reason to produce them if not. Can’t wait to install mine.


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45 is the length but you can probably get by with shorter. The bar comes with a spacer and longer bolts, one for each end. Careful when installing. My sausage fingers let one slip. Almost lost it in the bowels of the engine. You'll need to find a specialty bolt place. In my case it was Charlotte Bolt. I don't know what the finish is called but it looks anodized. No clue of the grade but I'm sure it's enough for this use. Guy told me they would not rust. Hope that helps.

 

[Jshaffer3819]

45 is the length but you can probably get by with shorter. The bar comes with a spacer and longer bolts, one for each end. Careful when installing. My sausage fingers let one slip. Almost lost it in the bowels of the engine. You'll need to find a specialty bolt place. In my case it was Charlotte Bolt. I don't know what the finish is called but it looks anodized. No clue of the grade but I'm sure it's enough for this use. Guy told me they would not rust. Hope that helps.

Cool! Thanks for the good info.


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[twin001]

Installed Fenfab catted downpipes today and did my e50 baseline pull today. No pics, sorry. If you are in the Cincinnati area and need the DPs installed check out Flowtek Customs in West Chester. Super nice people that did a great job and charged less than I was expecting. Plus, they had some sick customer cars to look at!

I'm still waiting for the Thermal to ship so for now it's Fenfab DPs with stock cat-back. FF DPs added a bit more of a throaty sound, but definitely did not make the exhaust sound much louder.....which is what I wanted! If anything you can actually hear the turbos spool up quite a bit more.

 

[Ford Guy]

Installed Fenfab catted downpipes today and did my e50 baseline pull today. No pics, sorry. If you are in the Cincinnati area and need the DPs installed check out Flowtek Customs in West Chester. Super nice people that did a great job and charged less than I was expecting. Plus, they had some sick customer cars to look at!

I'm still waiting for the Thermal to ship so for now it's Fenfab DPs with stock cat-back. FF DPs added a bit more of a throaty sound, but definitely did not make the exhaust sound much louder.....which is what I wanted! If anything you can actually hear the turbos spool up quite a bit more.

Thanks for sharing. I'm still desperately waiting for my SPD dp's uhhhhh. I heard from almost everyone who put dp's on hear the turbos spool more and they hear a throatier sound from the exhaust. Should see/feel power gains as well though.

 

[GearHead_1]

Did this a while back.

 

[zdubyadubya]

The random 3D weave carbon fiber on the dash bothered me and I had leftover forged carbon wrap from doing my hood, so I figured I would make the interior match..... and then I just kept going...

 

[twin001]

@zdubyadubya love the plate! Wrap looks great too.