How'd you get the pic up?

 

Use photobucket or other free online hosting service, then paste the URL of the photo by using the box in the menu in the reply window..

 

yup, that's how i did it. gol dern it white 97 xlt, that's 2 for 2!

in photobucket you can pick thumbnail, link, or just slapping a full sized pic in the post.

 

I do pretty good when I'm awake!!! That reminds me, I need a nap!!!!

 

Some suggestions, then an answer to your original question.
Mod for the truck: Headlight relays. The LMC kit ($30) is easy, and was cheaper than my cobbled system. Also check the headlight switch connector, mine was fried, but working.
Bring plenty of wire, splices and connectors, and some liquid electrical tape. Wiring degrades with age, not miles, so you will have some electrical issues at some point. A multimeter (digital) and good stripper/crimper is also a must, the kind with a pivot in the center, not made out of stampings.
A pull start generator might save you if you run out of juice in the middle of nowhere.

You should be able to find that wire for the code reader, it should be bundled with the other test wires under the loom, and you will need (or at least want) it at some point. Probably in the dark. While its cold. And raining. The connector (if its missing) is just a female 1/4" blade connector, IIRC.

The '89 dual tank system uses a pressure operated switching valve. The internals also degrade with time, you might want to replace it now.

O2 sensor as well.

Might as well replace the clutch, seeing as your pulling the engine anyways.

As Freightrain said, reverse is unsynchronized. Any grinding is from you engaging while the countershaft spinning (don't do that). Shift to 5th or wait a few more seconds before engaging from clutch-engaged neutral or forward.

Front axles sounds like inner seals. Just did mine, make sure you get the Fukishida (?) two-part seals to replace them, not the stock one part. they run ~$15 on line and 45-70 in autoparts stores.

You might want to hang a little scooter or dirt/street bike for short hops if you park for a bit, like a quick run to a gas station or parts store.

Maybe an extended capacity diff cover on the back, or at least one of the finned aluminium ones off a junkyard 10.5, it should bolt right up and help keep everything cool.

On the engine, as has been said, I would rebuild only if necessary, but while the bottom is open you might want to do the oil pump. Unless the engine has been mistreated, it doesn't have the miles to warrant a full rebuild. And if you have the trumpets in your intake, you might want to remove those.
That was more long winded than expected. Have fun and good luck!

-Mike

P.S. If your wife is planning on blogging this anyways, did you consider approaching Ford as a sponsor? They might toss some cash your way. They might also be tricky about media rights, depending on your ultimate plans.

 

I know what you mean,I just ain't worth a darn unless I get my 24 hours sleep every day.

 

Here's mine, tested adding the pic. Sorry to highjack.

 

The only thing I can think of to add is a GOOD power inverter. Not a Walmart special. Also, maybe mount a couple banks of power outlets. You can get a decent one from Radio Shack for about $20. They have three ports and come with pretty good wiring and an in-line fuse.

 

Resurrecting an old post, but thought I'd update you kind folks on our whereabouts. We hit the road about a month and a half ago, visited some family in Nor Cal and headed south via US 395. Crossed the border in Tijuana, and are now in La Paz Baja CA Sur.
Myrtle (our truck) has seen a little change. Gone is the Grandby camper and pickup bed; she is now sporting a flatbed and a '91 8ft Alaskan cabover camper. I had a friend build me some boxes to go on the sides.
The first thousand and a half miles of our trip went smoothly, it wasn't until we were ready to cross into Mexico that Myrtle started acting up. And by that I mean she just sputtered and died. Turned out her fan clutch bit the dust, and it caused the fuel relay to overheat. But we were determined to leave that day so we did.
When we got to Ensenada I walked into a auto parts store and asked for a "embrague de ventilador para mi troka", expecting to have to come back at a later date to pick it up. Nope, they had my fan clutch, in stock, made in the good ol' USA, for 50 bucks. HOLY COW. I bought it, and we found a nice little beach to camp on while I swapped the parts.
Anyway, my wife's blogging about the trip, here's the link: http://withalittlemoxie.com
Visit it if you'd like, there are pics of all 7 of us (five humans, one dog and of course, Myrtle our land loving truck turtle).

 

Resurrecting an old post, but thought I'd update you kind folks on our whereabouts. We hit the road about a month and a half ago, visited some family in Nor Cal and headed south via US 395. Crossed the border in Tijuana, and are now in La Paz Baja CA Sur.
Myrtle (our truck) has seen a little change. Gone is the Grandby camper and pickup bed; she is now sporting a flatbed and a '91 8ft Alaskan cabover camper. I had a friend build me some boxes to go on the sides.
The first thousand and a half miles of our trip went smoothly, it wasn't until we were ready to cross into Mexico that Myrtle started acting up. And by that I mean she just sputtered and died. Turned out her fan clutch bit the dust, and it caused the fuel relay to overheat. But we were determined to leave that day so we did.
When we got to Ensenada I walked into a auto parts store and asked for a "embrague de ventilador para mi troka", expecting to have to come back at a later date to pick it up. Nope, they had my fan clutch, in stock, made in the good ol' USA, for 50 bucks. HOLY COW. I bought it, and we found a nice little beach to camp on while I swapped the parts.
Anyway, my wife's blogging about the trip, here's the link: http://withalittlemoxie.com
Thanks for reading! Mike

 

I had never heard of the Pan-American Highway before this so I looked it up, are you just going to South America or are you going up to Alaska as well?

 

I too, was unaware of the highway until we went on our first road trip down the Baja peninsula and we met some folks on their way to South America. I looked it up, got excited, told my wife about it, she got stoked, and here we are.

We decided to not go to Alaska, just because of the timing of the trip, we would have frozen our butts off (actually, we got pretty close last month up in the Eastern Sierras).

And while South America is our goal, we'd actually be pretty thrilled to make it there, considering our budget, and given the age of Myrtle. We'll try to make it as far as we can though. Right now we're getting ready to take the ferry from La Paz to Topolobampo.

 

I just now had a chance to check out the blog and site. Y'all are an inspiration to follow your dreams. Great family!

 

Sounds interesting. I'll have to check it out when I get on my computer. The tablet doesnt seem to like the link.

Sent from my Galaxy Tab 3

 

I am really happy to see people actually doing stuff then just talking about it. I spend the year of 1989 driving through Africa, and you would not believe how many people I`ve met since that wanted to do some traveling on their own but never managed to get out of their town or city they lived in. So more power to you. Take your time and enjoy live the way it was meant to be.
But reading your thread, two things came to mind that I would sill address. One is suspension. You are going to hit WASHBOARD and it can literally shake your truck to pieces. Get the damn best shock absorbers you can buy.
Number two is: Things are going to brake. There are some awesome repair products like epoxys and silicon tape etc. that cost little, weigh nothing and can save the day, or trip.
And last, I don`t know if you smoke, but let me tell you, cigarettes got me out of some really hairy situations on the black continent, all for pennies as local smokes don`t cost much. Corruption is only going to get worse, and instead of giving what they want(money, your camera, tools etc) give them some smokes and pretend that you have all the time in the world, as they hope that you are in a hurry and just want to get rid of them.
But most of all, have a blast! Traveling makes for the best memories!!!!!!!!