This weekend my truck moved under its own power for the first time in many years (>15 but may be nearer 20..). Over the years my enthusiasm and activity on the truck build has been somewhat sporadic. The worst time being when it was severly damaged during transport. That set me back a long way, but eventually I got back to working on it. My tastes tend to change over time and as with so many projects, I changed my mind on many aspects and made some significant modifications.

I originally intended to build it with a 2V modular V8 and manual Tremec trans. Some time later I managed to get my hands on a 4V Sean Hyland V8, so i sold the old 2V motor. Many years later, I found myself thinking that the manual stick shift really wasnt what I wanted any more. Maybe because of living in the states for so long and driving an auto for many years, but also was thinking about my knees that seem to be getting worse every year.. Anyway I was looking at Auto transmissions and saw that Ford Performance now sold a complete package, Engine, Trans and all the ascociated Wiring and ECU. So I managed to convince the wife that ultimately it would be the best option and bought a Gen 3 Coyote, 10 Speed auto and the Wiring loom.

I had some issues in getting the motor running, no matter what I tried I just got nothing. It was upposed to be plug and play, or so I thought. Anyway after multiple phone calls to the chaps at Ford performance and much remote debug/diagnosis they sent me the full wiring pinouts to check for any possible wiring errors. I eventually found that the main plug that connects the Fuel pump and ignition was wired backwards. Its a six way plug and it was wired exactly as supposed to be but in reverse... I pulled the plug apart put it in the correct order, re connected, turned on the ignition and then hit the start button. It fired up immediately! What a releif!

I then spent the next few months connecting up the brakes and Driveshaft. I had originally planned on using a conventional Hydraulic Power Steering setup, but now with the Coyote it was not as straight forward as the old modular. I eventually decided that I would try setting up Electric Power Steering instead. This would mean i could ditch all the hydrualic hoses not need to worry about fitting a steering pump to the motor.

I took a look at what others had used and it looked like the Mustang Power steering rack was a good candidate. I cut off the old rack mounts, and made a new mount on the front crossmember for the EPAS rack. Connected the required power and control wiring and as soon as the engine was started I had power steering! The only thing I was not sure on was the steering stops, the old Hydrualic Rack had way too much travel and the wheels would turn so far that they would foul the chassis. However with the new Mustang rack the travel turned out to be perfect with the default end stops installed.

With Steering, Brakes and motor all working, I decided that as the weather was good I would push the truck out onto the driveway and start it up and stick it in gear and see what happened! It went into drive and the brakes held it. Let off the brakes gave it a little gas and it pulled forward nice an smooth. Got to the middle of the drive, moved it to reverse and reversed all the way back to the workshop. Feeling over the moon, I decided to drive the truck back into the workshop and back onto the 4 post lift that has been its home for the last 10+ years.. Now I really have to find someone to paint it, or work out how to paint it myself..

 

Great job!!

 

Looking great . It's far too nice to for you to learn to paint on IMHO . Before some of you jump on my comment and point out that there are many excellent owner done jobs by members hear me out . This by all appearances is not a budget build and with the obvious large sums invested the last thing you want is a poor paint job . With the cost of quality paint and the inevitable learning , redoing and personal labor ( if this counts ) it can start to make paying someone look reasonable . I applaud anyone who wants to try so if this is what you want my suggestion would be to find someone to give you the basics on gun set up and technique , try an old piece with compound curves and see how you feel about it . PS In the past I have had customers question the cost on materials so I would give then a list of what was needed and told them they could supply it . No one ever came back with paint .

 

Thanks Greg!

 

Thanks EBEAR,
Its not so much a case of not knowing what i am doing, I have painted quite a bit of stuff in the past and primed a lot of the truck components. The real problem is having the time and somewhere to paint it, I dont have space for a paint booth so everything I have painted so far has had to be painted outside, or in my makeshift mini booth made out of plastic sheet and PVC tube. I actually took it to a custom paint shop some years ago, but after many months it was clear to me that it was going to take many more months and felt like i was being charged for the time it was sat in the shop. So I took it back.

 

Your truck looks great! Keep moving forward.

 

you should use tractor paint to paint it, for best results watch pole barn garage on YouTube to learn how to mix and spray it.
when done right it works well and it is dirt cheap.

 

These look interesting and very reasonable .

 

Thanks Harrier,
My goal is to try and finish it this year...though if you look at the date I joined FTE you will see how many times i have had that goal.

 

Thanks DieselDog,
One of the things I have stuck to throughout the entire build is the Paint color I want. This truck is going to be Electric Orange! Its essentially a metalic Bright Orange, (original OEM Ford color in the UK many years ago). Not sure if they ever did Tractor paint in that variety, but thanks for the reco. I will check out the Youtube channel...damn I waste too much time on youtube..

 

Thanks EBEAR,

I have looked at those more than once.. There are a few guys on Youtube who have done reveiws and some not too bad. I just dont have anywhere I could put one. Unfortunately I live in a neighborhood that would not allow it on the driveway and even though I have the space in the backyard, I just have no way to get back there with the truck..I wish I did as that would likely be the direction I took.

 

Very nice looking project.

I think you are going to like the Coyote/10R80 combo.

I went with the S-550 power steering to go with my Crown Vic IFS. I really like the electric PS.

 

I would have loved to see the look on people's faces if you drove it down the street like that!

Outstanding work!