Just got my '02 4.4i back from paint and fitted wheels and tires finally. The Method 701 wheels are 16 inch and happily come in a 5x120, but only 16 inch. Thus the calipers in front were catching the inside of the wheels by a hair. A little judicious angle grinding at the one specific spot on the calipers and the rubbing is almost gone. A bit more tomorrow. The tires are about 31.2" and rub the wells a hair at almost full lock. Some work with a heat gun to reshape the wells where they rub should fix that.

The car is basically back together with some new seals and weather-stripping, but I have some clean-up to do as I chase down squeaks and rattles that were not there before I lifted it and monkied with the ride height, etc. The ride height isn't perfect in the back yet but I'll keep tweaking it.

I've got a right front axle to put in this weekend, a fuel filter and a lower radiator hose, in addition to some new fasteners and stupid window regulator clips to replace failing ones, for the millionth time.

The motor refresh is the big job I've been researching and avoiding. I'm looking for the perfect 4.6 to drop into the car, but will end up settling for one that needs work. My plan is to keep all the 4.4 mechanicals (diffs and tranny) and have my DME remapped to work better with the 4.6. Much more to follow.

After the mechanicals I'll return to the cosmetic. I've got an idea for a spare tire carrier in the back and perhaps a front brush bar. My awesome Kenwood AV receiver is still in the ether, a victim of the chip shortage.





Update: I spent the morning angle grinding the high points off the back of the calipers, a few points on the dust shields and the corners of the control arms. They were only hitting the inside of the rims by probably less than a 32nd, but you could definitely hear it. I also took a heat gun to the well wells at 9 and 3 oclock where the tires were rubbing just a bit at the locks and made a deeper well for them to fit into when at the locks.