You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!
"G1" began as a CHUNKA JUNK that I bought used from an older guy whom it turns out seems to think of himself as a small time used car and truck enterpreneur (READ THAT: SHADE TREE CLOWN).
The cooling system is about de-bugged and the last leak will be looked at this weekend. It's under the manifold...
My idea was to grab a four cylinder, five speed manual for the mileage. But the roads I run to work and back are twisty and bluntly a whole lot of fun to drive! And so I set out to make the truck just right for those roads, where shear grunt power is useless anyway until you can stick to the road in the turns.
The tires have taken me two paydays to work out. On the front I have 235/60/15 GOODYEAR Eagle GT-II's, and in the back are a pair of Mastercraft Avenger G/T 245/60/15's that are traction rated "A".
They do stick down...
A two inch lift block went into the back at lunch break one fine day for clearance and the front is going to recieve new spring coils so they don't bottom and rub anymore in a few places along the route.
The entire cylinder head assembly had to be replaced at one point because the above mentioned clown filled up the radiator with stop leak until it functioned as stop flow. This steam cleaned the inside of the block on the way home from my second day at a brand new job that I love to tears, cracked two upper chambers between the valves, and looked like Mount St. Helens when I finally wheeled into my driveway.
Strange but true: Ranger 2.3L engines are factory equipped with roller rockers, but they are called Cam Followers for some strange reason.
I am also seriously thinking about not IF to install an F350 sway bar on the back axle, but what hardware I need to bolt it up under there. IT WILL HAPPEN. I already have the sway bar left over from the F250 single to dually rear axle swap.
Some seriously overstock shock absorbers are also in it's near future, and I'm thinking about a front swaybar change. In my garage/shop there is a fine 3.8L V6 that is just plain ideal for this little buggy, I'm looking for a five or six speed manual to put on it.
The color it is right now just doesn't matter, I just brought home a three hundred dollar paint gun, and I already had a touch up shooter.
Right now, it looks like this:
__________________
"It's about doing what's right, not about being "tough". Unless you find it tough to do what's right, I guess..."
~NewEnglandHerdsman
The best handling mod I ever put on a truck is the Hotchkis front & rear swaybars I have on my F150. It handles much better than stock. Plus it tows a trailor better too.
Update: If you ever change out a head or gasket on a 2.3L 8-plug with EFI:
Change the little dang 6" long hose and clamps under the lower intake.
For a week I've been rethinking how to get in there and fix the dribble coming from the rotten thing, and finally today I went in after it and got it done.
I had to carve up the inner fenderwell on that side to get my hands in there, and it carved up both of my forarms pretty good in return! But it's finally DONE.
Now, fer krikes sakes, I can put anti-freeze in it before Jack Frost gets here...
The only thing that drips from it is condensation from the A/C
__________________
"It's about doing what's right, not about being "tough". Unless you find it tough to do what's right, I guess..."
~NewEnglandHerdsman
This forum is owned and operated by Internet Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation. It is not authorized or endorsed by the Ford Motor Company and is not affiliated with the Ford Motor Company or its related companies in any way. FordŽ is a registered trademark of the Ford Motor Company.
