Hello everyone

I’m fixing up a 2003 4.2 XL 2wd, it’s completely stock at the moment with 255/70R16 tires. The front end has the typical angle on it(lower than the rear)

I’m looking at upgrading to 17” rims and tires on it for a little more lift, has anyone done this?
I feel like I’d at least need to get the 3” leveling kit for the front, but any advice would be appreciated.

thanks

 

uu

 

You can sink a bunch of money into the truck that you don't want.... Trying to make it into something it's not. .. Or you can sell it and just buy the truck that you do want

Just the cost of wheels tires and trying to lift the truck will come close to buying you a 4wd truck of that vintage. Not to mention whatever other fixing up you're doing. My experience says it's going to all cost you more money than just buying a different truck that you like more, and waste a bunch of your time in process.

 

My '01 4x4 XLT came w 16's, and an eco rear end, 3.35 or 3.55? But a 5.4 and I wanted mpg & do not load it or tow much at all. The PO had gone to 265/70's. Very decent I thought, and made it more eco than the original 235's, (or 255's???) I got 17's that looked bad from an owner by the ocean. I can fix the cosmetics, $75, w used tires on them. They were from an Expedition or something, maybe 1998. BUT these have the older 12mm lug holes. Tenth gen 150's are 14mm. The spacing is the same. I used a certain step drill to enlarge the holes w/o buggering them up. Hub caps will not work, as the others hooked on the 12mm lugs, not on the rims.

 

You are not wrong, but...
My '01 4x4 at 3500 is probably approaching 10k now, but I had an unusually high run of bad luck, having to do both the engine, trans and 1 axle, so all (5? 7?) rear axle differential bearings. On the other hand, I was able to do some things piecemeal, as opposed to $X00/month payments, IF I even qualified for said loan. I got to scrimp here and splurge there, like a 2" radiator. UpBuilt the trans. So, it depends.

But I also did NOT hear you say you wanted anything more than 17" and some leveling. At 5 years invested, I lack freshened head lamps, paint, better driver's seat bottom, steering wheel, & maybe a map display, and a tuner/display.

A stock 5.4 at 265 HP more than I require, but nice. It seems every generation has a set of flaws. I DID want a 4x4, and a SCab w 6.5ft bed fits my needs and desires, and can still usually park in a metropolis. I like room for friends caught in the rain, but noone begs to join me and my gal on a long holiday trip, while other things are still locked inside, not under the topper that came with. Dif strokes...

Had I thought ahead of had more cash, I might have gone to 6 lug when I had to replace an axle, and replaced all 4, even if 2 then and 2 later, to fit newer rims. Look at some car lots versus costing-out your fix-up. A mentor told me that his dad said, "Your car should work for you. You should not work for your car." A very wise man, I would say.

"2001 Space Oddity" -
Works for me, including giving retired-me, a hobby. I can afford some downtime. YMMV.