i have an '86 FSB XLT 5.0 with over 200k on her. ive owned her for the last 11 years and do NOT want to get rid of her (although shes already been replaced as my primary offroad vehicle)

heres the problem - its getting harder and harder for her to pass smog - i just spent $500 to get her to pass and she STILL failed - and im @ my wits end...

the motor has high miles but is still in good working order...not to mention - that basically the rest of the truck is almost new - shes got...

new tranny (20k ago)
new 4.56 gears
new drive shafts and u-joints
rebuilt xfer case
new hubs
full length headers
the back cover was re-textured and painted a couple of years ago
ALL power window motors have been replaced
all new window trim
interior - is pretty dam good!!
100w CEPEK floods
surf rack (old)
15x12 centerlines
33x12.5 BFG a/ts


so - do i...

#1) STRIP IT FOR DESERT PRERUNNING or WHEELING (as an OHV vehicle only!!) (cheap AND easy!!)

#2) STORE IT - TILL SHE CAN TRULY LIVE AGAIN - street legal (i.e. - NEW MOTOR RESTO$$$$) (that will take a LOT of time and a LOT of $$)

#3) PART IT OUT - BETRAY MY OLD FRIEND??

i dunno.

drj

ps - anyone in santa monica have a garage for rent?!

 

My 86 302 EFI just hit 181,000 miles and I just took it through NJ inspection and this was the first time it failed in 7yrs but it was for dry cracking of the front brake hoses and dry checking on the tires,everything else went right thru and I thought it was going to fail smog as the motor is showing its age.What I did was tuned it up set the timming to spec and had a buddy check for any codes with a scan tool before I went in and it just passed.If it had failed I think I would be asking the same ? as you,I put a lot of money in it in the last two yrs and the driveline is in good shape as is the suspension but the body is toast.I put on the new brake lines and swapped the rims and tires from my Bronco to pass.What did you fail for HC,CO or smoke or all of the above.At least I have two years to decide what to do with it now and just got two really nice 88 and 89 f 150s that are good for parts to work with,decisions,decisions.

 

How did it fail ?
And what did you do to try to get it to pass ?

 

she failed the PRE-TEST...so they replaced my CAT and an O2 sensor - adjusted the timing...and it failed again for "knocks" and something else ( i cant remember ) - they suggested that i head to the fuel system next (they wanted to start getting in to the fuel pump and the EGR sensor and valve ) - which means probably $400-500 more - not to mention the cost of registration...which @ this point - is out of the question (@ least for now)

i paid $6500 in '95 with 110k on her...i have since invested MORE than double that over the years (out of love!!) - but i have just reached the end of my rope on that thing...shes always been about $10,000 away from a total ground up resto - but the EXTRA 10k was never around (not all @ once) - so its been a grand here - two grand there...always chasing something...

but i did it out of love...always out of love...(my folks had a '76 in '78 when i was a kid - and ive been a fan ever since)

thats why the next stage of her life is difficult decision.

 

Oh your in Calif.
You could try to take the EGR valve off and try to clean it blow the carbon out of it.
Somtimes carbon will make the valve stick open.
Is that the testing station or some garage ?
Dont part it out.

 

she will NOT be parted out...however - i DID have a vision of what i believe she will be...

i saw her stripped down...i saw PRP seats and 4 point harnesses...i saw the entire cab interior 'LINEX'd'...i saw a roof rack and spare in the bed...i didnt see a tailgate or doors...but i did see a fully integrated cage...

it was only a flash - but i saw her future life lived out in bliss - wandering the open desert no longer responsible for getting us home...a true play rig...no more smog tests...just dust and fun...the only traffic she'll ever see will be from a trailer.

i dunno...ive always been a dreamer...the $$ isnt too crazy...about $500 for the seats and harnesses and my buddy is gonna fab the bumpers and cage for nothing (just materials)...the rest is minimal...really.

sounds good to me...unless ive forgotten something.

green sticker here i come.

drj

 

Since you don't need the vehical to drive around town, do somthing along the lines of what your dreaming about.
Since your in Cali, and almost everything is sand, so somthings I'd like to do to a truck if I could.
Put a Pipe bumper up front to use for a air tank and use a York a/c air compressor under the hood for air up and down on the trail. Of coarse strip out the interior and (if your on a budget), then put a herculiner bedliner(IF not, then line-x).

A internal roll cage, and attatch the the seats and harnesses to it(I personally wouldn't want to spend $500 on this part, but that's just me). I'd then take off the cats, and run true duals with headers. What else....? Oh yeah, keep the wheels you have and put some boggers on them(or irocs).

I'd probabally keep the body panels on, but possibly loose the top and tailgate.

Ok, I'll shut up now.

 

it was the 'seats' that were gonna be $500...the cage will be fabbed by my buddy who builds crawler buggies...(thats one place EVEN I wouldnt skimp on!!) - (hes also gonna work up tube bumpers and a skid plate!!)
shes already got full length headers (thats half of the problem with emmissions) - but the cat is gone for sure!!...and ive already got a great set of 33"s BFG's on 15x12 centerline wheels...once those are toast then ill probably go bigger with some glass fenders to boot!!

all in all though - im excited about my truck again - and next year - SHELL BE OLD ENOUGH TO DRINK!!

the idea is to have most of the dismantle and resto done before T.D.S. this year (mar.07??)...that gives me about 6 mos. - which is VERY do-able...

drj

 

...the tailgate will be gone for sure ...but...it might be nice to have the top for a roof rack to hold extra camping crap...

drj

 

I really said that wrong, I was trying to say, I'm to cheap to pay $500 for seats.
I understood that your friend was doing the roll cage, and that's why I didn't mention a price for it(other than materials and cold beverages for your buddy). Keep everyone updated with what you decide to do, and pics when you get it done.

 

consider it done...the next few weeks should be interesting...

take it easy!!

drj


and that $500 - includes harnesses...(is that expensive??)