Hi Guys I picked up a 2002 edge suspension out of a xc500.I am wanting to put it in my 93 xlt.. For those of of you that have done the swap.. I have some questions .. 1st ... How do you guys get that first measurment from the driveshaft? My track is still on and I am not removing it,lol... I used a square and looks like i got it measured good ,but i want to know how u guys do it? also it looks like in the back the bolt may go through the top side of the plate thats on the heat exchanger which is reinforced.. can i just drill through that and leave the original back bracket where it is the front looks like i have to move it about 2 3/4 forward I was just going to leave that bracket too and rivet a new one on that area...also where do i get those type of rivets and do they use a regular air rivet gun or is it a special one? thanks!!1 Looking forward to this project i think

I did this on my XLt over Christmas and I took a few recommendations from others. I used a square and a yardstick combination to get my front measurement. I put the yardstick thru the track windows. Helps if you have a second set of hands for that one. I drilled out all the rivets in the front reinforcing plate and moved them forward to ensure the tunnel had enuff strength. I also put an additional 20 gauge piece of sheet metal in there for my own peace of mind. For the rear, you are correct. the mounting hole will be on the rear top corner of the heat exchanger mount. I carefully trimmed the corner of the exchanger mount by about an inch and a half square. If I was doing it over again, I would have left the tunnel plates where they were and got a flat plate made to reinforce the area but I moved and modified the factory plates. For Rivets, I used(as recommended) a flat headed 1/4x3/8 inch bolt similiar to a licsence plate bolt. Loctited everything and have had no trouble in 1400 miles. What a difference. I also put an xtra front susp out of a 97 xlt limited under it as well. I wanted it to sit right and not be nose down. I can try to take some pics for you if you want.

I would love to see pics of yours and any of the mounting plates would be great!! Did you have to grind any of the heat exchangers away? I am thinking about just leaving the back one and putting a plate over the exchanger piece already there.. as far as the front i think i will do the same with some 20 or 16 guage metal... I am having a jig made at work for the center to center and height holes, but the most critical is that driveshaft one first!.

Don't forget to raise the front as well, or you'll be driving the nose into the ground.


Don

Can I just use some longer shocks other than the stock ones?

Sorry I took so long, I was out of town. I'll get some pictures as soon as I get a minute. If you just use longer shocks you will put the ski alignment out of wack. the trailing arms are set up for a certain angle. I got a complete front assembly out of a 97 XLT for mine. It's not a difficult swap, it's just time consuming. I don't think you'll have room to leave the corners of the heat exchanger in place. The tunnel will be too narrow. I haven't tidied mine up cosmetically yet but I plan on doing that over the summer. I just wanted to get it on the snow and prove itself first. I put a thousand miles on without a hitch so now it will be time to finish it up. .

No Problem! Whenever you get a chance will be cool!. So U are saying you had to grind yours? and if so how much can i safely go with finding coolant

Camera is down. I'll try to get some tonight. I didn't have to grind the actual exchanger. Just took the rear corner off where it mounts up inside the tunnel. That is where the plate has to go. When I put the skid in, I put a washer on between the torque Link and the plate on the tunnel. The clearance there is tight but after a thousand or so miles it hasn't touched. I was nervous at first though.

do you have any pics

I can send you the same pics I sent 93xlt via email.

I think it is a mistake to do an edge on the 93 without going to extra 10 front end.

pmed you

met to quote this

This is quite easy. I did it this summer on my 93 too. I would recomend taking the motor out and putting it upside down on some saw horses to do it.
1.Remove the old shitty skid.
2.Grind off the rivets for the mouting plates on the INSIDE of the tunnel.
3.Using a tap measure or w/e you want to mark the holes closest to the engine first.
4.Use a punch to mark where the holes go.
5.Drill the holes.
6.Pull the track to the front of the sled, so you can measure out the rear holes.
7.Measure the rear holes and drill them
8.Some cutting of the side mounts for the heat exchanger is nessasary
9.Put the mounting plates back on.
10.Put the sled back on the ground and put the skid in.
Here is the deplate that I used from JBshock's website.

Pulling the motor out is unnecessary work. It's easier to hang the rear of the sled from something so you can get underit comfortably. I hung mine from my garage rafters. Worked fine. I'll send those pics out ASAP.

Just a guess on these older sleds (with the lower front ends), but you may have issues with pushing front ends (if you are planing on running all stock up there). You are using mounting dimensions from a sled with a much taller front end (if using those from JBshocks). When you are setting up the new area for the front of the skid to bolt up, you may want to consider setting yourself up now for that possibility. Maybe have an idea of how you might be able to raise the front skid mount points an inch or so further up into the tunnel when installing those reinforcements? Just something I would be thinking about in case there was a problem. Might save some time/trouble when the snow starts flying. FWIW

I bought a complete Xtra front end out of a 97 XLT limited. I got the adjustible fox shox, the trailing arms, sway bar, all radius rods and steering rods as well. everything bolted right in. the only mod being a washer under one end of my steering rods to keep it from rubbing the chassis while at full turn, when fully extended(rarely happens anyway). I put almost 2000kms on this setup with the edge skid and it has been awesome. I also put a clicker shock on (Thanks Michahicks) and it was worth it. It took some time to set up the front end alignment etc but well worth it.