Its voodoo magic not black magic.....
well done Matt

 

think your referring to "Black Magic Woman" lol

 

Thanks for the pm's with your concerns.....

 

Looks far too expensive to rebuild, just buy new...

 

*Fixed HVAC issue. I pulled the 4x4 vacuum actuator solenoid and banged it around, cleaned it a bit. Reinstalled it and all is well. I now have cold AC and hot heat blowing through vents now instead of just defrost.

*Replaced headlight ****

*New key FOBs

*Removed steering stabilizer (Trying to troubleshoot sticky steering issue.)

*Installed Mile Marker manual Hub locks

 

I'm thinking its a wheelbase thing. Power wise they seem about equal as of now.. I'm going to be running down the interstate soon with a side wind, and the equalizer hitch, so we will see how that works out. But the camper doesn't move the pickup around in the wind as easy as it did with the Ex. That CCLB F350 I have pulls way better than I thought it would too, that's only a 2 wheel drive with a 5.4L but has 4.30 gears.

 

My f250 tows better too. The sway bars are set for the Ex and are way off when I tow with the truck, but it still tows better so I haven't readjusted them. The manual tranny helps too.

 

Thanks guys, I figured that the extra wheelbase length would make a big difference on towing ride and stability.
Makes me want to convert my EX into a 6 door even more.

 

Silly question but have you greased the ball joints? I drilled and tapped my original lowers and after greasing it made a huge difference in handling and steering wheel returnability.

 

Wow--that really is dumb!! Everyone knows about the beer can modification! GeeeezzzZZ!

 

Well see, I'm more of a whiskey type of guy so this beer can mod is all Jewish to me.







Now, for oil leak findings. Got a pritty good one on my 7.3L. It's got a nice clean spot coming off the starter..




I know it's not from turbo pedestal, or turbo, I resealed them already. But I didn't see anything up in the valley that leaked enough to leave a decent trail. But everything is go the seepage up there like expected. Anything common I should look for? The rear main was done about 7,000 miles ago.


Edit: looks like it's wet across the whole bottom of the valley. Like possibly coming from up by the HPOP... Possible?

 

It could be the main oil galley plug on the back of the head. (I think that's what it's called) The one against the downpipe leaks because of the added heat. Ford has a revised design for the replacement. There's a good video on YouTube that explains it. I'll look for the link. Anyway, something to investigate.

Link

 

Thanks.

You got me to go crawl up under the hood n have a look. My plugs are dry. So wile I was there I turned the video on on my phone n shoved it down into the valley and moved it around. The 3 common plugs that leak are dry. Look like they have been fixed before. The bottom of the HPOP looks wet tho, as does a little plug that faces down at a angle towards the head off the HPOP. So it looks like I'll have to pop the pump off, fix that plug and put a new gasket on to fix the leak... Or at least I hope!

 

I have always hated chasing leaks that aren't obvious.

Could always try the UV dye in the crankcase and then run it for a day and check with the light...

 

Funny you should say that. It's the next thing on my list to test. Just need to buy a grease gun. Any suggestions on grease? Just any 'Ol Axle grease? I did check and both upper and lower ball joints have zerks.

The stabilizer was shot though. Pushed in and out with little effort, though it would stick at spots. I think it was the stock one from 2000...