Oelmensch
Registered User
The family is pulling up the tent-stakes and moving cross country shortly after the house sells (Early Feb assuming I don't tell my buyer to take a hike or something less forum-appropriate). Looking for advice on anything I'm leaving out from my plans below. I'd picked up the truck last year and have been putting some miles on it during several dump runs and some regular driving along with fixing a few things. As best I can tell it sat 1-2 years before I bought it, then shortly after purchase a failed wheel bearing ate the rear axle which I replaced with a unit from IDIoit that typ4 hauled back up for me (Huge thanks to you both!)
For easy reference, the truck is a 2wd 7.3 IDI with an 088 ATS system and an e4od transmission, 4.10 open rear end. Engine compression tested acceptably well some time ago, no history on the transmission. Plan is to fill the bed/canopy and a 12'x6' dual axle U-haul cargo trailer. I think the gross combined weight will be around 13-14klbs; Truck and I together are 7k lbs, U-Haul trailer and load is ~4400lbs, and another 2k lbs in the truck in more possessions in the bed and the rest of the family.
Already done:
Planned:
For easy reference, the truck is a 2wd 7.3 IDI with an 088 ATS system and an e4od transmission, 4.10 open rear end. Engine compression tested acceptably well some time ago, no history on the transmission. Plan is to fill the bed/canopy and a 12'x6' dual axle U-haul cargo trailer. I think the gross combined weight will be around 13-14klbs; Truck and I together are 7k lbs, U-Haul trailer and load is ~4400lbs, and another 2k lbs in the truck in more possessions in the bed and the rest of the family.
Already done:
- Replaced front wheel bearings and seals
- Replaced FIPL (1.20V/4.07V, shifts significantly better)
- Added Mechanical temp, oil pressure, boost and (electric) voltmeter
- Added Towmax trans temp gauge (DOA, gotta love SPC inspection plans and the units they miss...)
- Replaced all glowplugs (motorcraft), changed oil & filter, fuel filter, air filter, changed coolant and added DCA4 additive, changed trans fluid in the pan only and new filter
- Replaced old/beat-up tube-fin trans cooler with seized fan with 11x11" Stacked plate unit
- Previous owner replaced injector return lines and o-rings before I bought it
- New synthetic 75W140 oil in the differential
- Replaced tach sensor
- Replaced U-Joints
Planned:
- Replace entire brake system short of the metal lines themselves
- Brake shudder under heavy braking and general inspection revealed warped rotors, and the rear drums/hardware are an unknown, rear anti-lock dash light likes to make gues appearances, etc.
- Replace rear hub bearings/seals while I have the brakes apart, top off differential afterwards as required.
- Install new injectors and set pump timing (with typ4 making sure things are done properly)
- Replace batteries
- Install/connect horn (at present I just hear a relay click near the passenger seat footwell and haven't seen the horn itself)
- Modify headlight wiring to a proper relay setup and update headlight bulbs with brighter units
- Replace existing cooling system
- Thermostat, water-pump, fan-clutch, coolant-hoses
- Keep current belts/hoses as spares
- Replace belts while doing the cooling system, keep current units as spares
- Install the reman (tested good at O'Reilys) 3g alternator I snagged at a junkyard
- Bright reman alternator in an otherwise unwashed Taurus engine is a good bet it was fairly low miles, purchased cables/fuses/connections as described by existing guides.
- Improve transmission auxiliary cooling
- Install 180 deg thermostat, wide/shallow auxiliary transmission cooler, and trans cooler inline filter
- Move cooler location to below/behind bumper and duct as required
- Clean all transmission terminals
- Install bypass oil system
- Add spin-on filter bypass/outlet, oil lines, remote filter mount, and 200 deg Mocal thermostat per FORDF250HDXLT's description of his system from an old FTE post (Thank you for the detailed information and results)
- Clean current stacked plate ATF aux cooler and add fittings for oil lines as necessary to move it to engine oil duty with the relocated trans cooler
- Add oil temp gauge with sender because I'm paranoid
- Install/fab front valence below bumper, duct air for coolers and install fog lights
- Replace all 6 tires and spare with new highway tread rubber (leaning towards Michelin Defender LTX M/S)
- Install Derale 14208 Deep cooling pan and flush all transmission fluid
- The cooling features seems a bit gimmicky, but the added capacity and drain plug are worth it IMO and to my knowledge it is an unmodified 1989 e4od (worst possible scenario)
- Replace shocks at all 4 corners
- Replace drive shaft carrier bearing and have the driveshaft balanced if necessary
- Replace broken running board lights and lights below tailgate
- Open or replace driver side rear door that refuses to unlock or open
- Drop both fuel tanks and inspect/repair fuel senders
- Replace Rear tank with 38 gallon F26E spectra unit
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