Awesome work wes keep up the good work

 

Just a small update. Took Michelle in for the reaming 2 tires she needed.

$177.31 for 2, Mastercraft P235/75/15's mounted, balanced and the guy rotated the other new ones to the front for free.

Also, diagnosed 2 issues.

#1) The Axle Pivot bushings are SHOT. When I take off, I sometimes hear the classic "Clunk!" from it wiggling around. I already have the new bushings ($35.00? I can't remember) and the guy will install them for $80.00 (Sounds high, til you realize I have 0 air tools, no lift, and no truly level ground OR the ball joint press ($60.00-300.00) to do it with, and then the added part of me with back issues.)

#2) The truck kinda does a little "Bunny hop" when lightly braking from 35mph to a stop.

I had previously replaced the Rear Brake Drums with the new ones off Ethel, the 1994 F-150 I had previously (Was only installed 3 months before the accident). As I suspected, they were getting oblonged/worn in an elliptical shape, rather than round.

Cost for that is:

Labor for entire axle:$50.00
Turning each brake Drum down: $15/side, so $30.00
Brake Shoes: $35-ish (Gonna put Motorcraft on this time. I HATE the Wearever's from the partshouses.

So, to recap...Another $200.00 will have everything driving and stopping correctly!

*Also, Michelle turned 219,000 miles old yesterday.

 

That's sure better than $200 each and every month on a new vehicle!

 

wes any chance you got the courser at/2 tires by mastercraft

 

I just know they're Mastercraft A/T's and I love them...lol.

I'll be sure to check them out tomorrow for you.

 

She finally is 220,000 miles old now; Actually is about 220,400 atm.

Did a small trip the other day; 251 miles and filled up for 12.8 gallons which equals 19.6 mpg in very mixed conditions and a HOT day.

 

Yesterday I picked up a pack of fuses and went through my fuseblock, sorting it out.

Now all the fuses are correct and got my Power Point sorted out; The plug had gotten bad. But now it's all working again, just need to toss a new plug in.

Slowly getting things ready to simply replace every part of the AC System except the Compressor and Condenser.

 

Today I went to a friends' house and checked the compression on 5 of the 6 cylinders (It got too dark for #6).

Here's my findings:

#1: 137 psi
#2: 133 psi
#3: 133 psi
#4: 133 psi
#5: 150 psi*

All plugs were roughly .054" gaps; So I just re-gapped them at .054" and called it good.


Upon pulling the #5 Plug Wire off the Plug, the little metal connector out of the boot. So no idea how long it's been like that. Friggin' Duracrap Plug Wires.

 

As of 5am this morning, I smacked the hell out of a frickin' deer with mine.

Luckily, it just caught its head and knocked it away.

randomly and amazingly, it didn't hurt anything but to crack a turn signal lense (I have a spare set) and it shattered the HOUSING of the D/S Headlight. Lens was intact, and no issues. WTF.

Anyways...I'll fix it when I can.

Oh, and Michelle rolled over to 222,088 miles in the driveway this morning.

 

Greased the hinge area of my tailgate and did some lubing of the handle pivots as well.

no more hanging tailgate handle, and everything latches/moves like day 1 again.

Also cleaned the cab out, and did a thorough cleaning of the windshield.




On another note, I'm up for another oil change.

 

Rotated the tires RF to LR and LF to RR. Next rotation will be Front to Rear.


Still needing an oil change; But today I removed the fiberglass portion of the Cervini's hood, and the wheel arch trim. Seems the trim has been allowing rust to propagate.

 

My inner pinterest ***** kicked in at work last night...

This is the final product from last night. I really couldn't see paying $50-100 for another 22 year old Dash Pad that'll inevitably crack just like this one did.
So my inner Pinterest-man came out in me at work last night.
Less than $10 and still have a ton of fabric left over to do my Map Pockets. Will need 2 more yards to re-cover my Headliner... Still less than $15.00 though.




Also, painted my E brake assembly and pedal "Arms" with gloss black paint:

 

Cool;
My wife walked by and commented on the dash cover....she approved

 

BAHAHAHA! That's awesome.

 

Truck is up and running.

Charging at a HEALTHY 14.32v at the Battery.
The alternator (A reman'd Motorcraft unit) had failed.

Total cost so far:
-$40.00-Diagnosis/Troubleshooting by Bill Harper @ Harper's Garage
-$115.30-Tough One brand 80amp Alternator from Advance Auto (ick!)
----------------------------
$145.30 total, and me installing the "new" Alternator myself (Literally took me $15 minutes TOPS

I was on the right track with the troubleshooting, using my personal knowledge of the truck and mechanical skills; I simply had no actual tester.
Although I'd metered the output voltage at like 8.42v while the truck was running. I simply wasn't sure if it was the Alternator itself; or the Exciter Wire (Known issues for this era Ford Truck) had a short.