Gentleman,
I should have a few weeks here coming up shortly once our first arrives. I have trouble staying home and not tinkering so wanted to get some ideas of easy and inexpensive upgrades/repairs I should look into for Betsy. The wife and I plan on moving cross country later this year too so I want it close to ready for the 3k + trek primarily towing along I-90. It already has new brakes, oil, coolant with filter, belts, I added a manual GP switch, all my gauges work, new tires, new door alarm switch, new bulbs in brake, running, and dash lights, and a new blower. Currently I am planning on:
-Patching holes in floor by driver seat. These aren't too large but moisture gets in for sure.
-I have a new light selector switch for the floor but its wet so I may install a dash switch. Relays?
-Has a Ramsey winch on the front which currently has everything disconnected, I would like to get that hooked up and working.
-Figure out parking brake situation as it has never worked. Don't want to be without if I tow with it.
-Transmission and transfer case fluids. 80/90 in everything? Has a T-19 with BW1345 and Sterling 10
.25 with 3.55 gears.
-Just recently fixed the speedometer situation but she's jumping and clicking. Bound cable or bad speedo?
-Find RED bench seat. If anyone has any leads please get in touch. Current explorer seats are not mounted well and we both bounce everywhere. My wife is 5'6" and her head is on the roof.
-Reverse lights do not work, everything else does. Some funky wiring in this truck for sure I will need to check the switch as well as how they cobbed the trailer connection in there.
-I repacked the wheel bearings when I did the brakes, not sure how much life they have but all looked/felt ok when I had them out. Change?
-My brake pedal is pretty stiff and I can lock up the wheels easily but while at a stop the pedal sinks slightly. I mean, you have to really give it hell to hold the brakes on a hill. @IDIBRONCO recommended I get a vacuum gauge so I am working on that, is there something else I need to look at? Both reservoirs are full and I am not getting any bubbles at the wheels.
-Leaking rear window seal on driver side. I already siliconed around the windshield just need to do the back. Annoying with the cap on though. Also plan to check the cab light for leaks. Haven't even really checked if it works.
-Want to put mesh under the hood cowl that I saw on here, really fun having leaves blow into the cab. Needs new hood gasket too.
-Exhaust leaks terribly at that stupid flange just after the passenger side manifold which I feel is pretty common and the worst design ever.
Edit: Forgot to add that my rear tank doesn't work. Well I switched to it one day and it read empty and then the selector valve stuck so I hit it with a hammer and thankfully it switched back to the front and I haven't touched it since. Not much range with 19 gallons. Thoughts?
As a side, I haven't towed with her yet but what can I expect for speed/rpm with a 4 speed/3.55 gears?
I should have a few weeks here coming up shortly once our first arrives. I have trouble staying home and not tinkering so wanted to get some ideas of easy and inexpensive upgrades/repairs I should look into for Betsy. The wife and I plan on moving cross country later this year too so I want it close to ready for the 3k + trek primarily towing along I-90. It already has new brakes, oil, coolant with filter, belts, I added a manual GP switch, all my gauges work, new tires, new door alarm switch, new bulbs in brake, running, and dash lights, and a new blower. Currently I am planning on:
-Patching holes in floor by driver seat. These aren't too large but moisture gets in for sure.
-I have a new light selector switch for the floor but its wet so I may install a dash switch. Relays?
-Has a Ramsey winch on the front which currently has everything disconnected, I would like to get that hooked up and working.
-Figure out parking brake situation as it has never worked. Don't want to be without if I tow with it.
-Transmission and transfer case fluids. 80/90 in everything? Has a T-19 with BW1345 and Sterling 10
.25 with 3.55 gears.
-Just recently fixed the speedometer situation but she's jumping and clicking. Bound cable or bad speedo?
-Find RED bench seat. If anyone has any leads please get in touch. Current explorer seats are not mounted well and we both bounce everywhere. My wife is 5'6" and her head is on the roof.
-Reverse lights do not work, everything else does. Some funky wiring in this truck for sure I will need to check the switch as well as how they cobbed the trailer connection in there.
-I repacked the wheel bearings when I did the brakes, not sure how much life they have but all looked/felt ok when I had them out. Change?
-My brake pedal is pretty stiff and I can lock up the wheels easily but while at a stop the pedal sinks slightly. I mean, you have to really give it hell to hold the brakes on a hill. @IDIBRONCO recommended I get a vacuum gauge so I am working on that, is there something else I need to look at? Both reservoirs are full and I am not getting any bubbles at the wheels.
-Leaking rear window seal on driver side. I already siliconed around the windshield just need to do the back. Annoying with the cap on though. Also plan to check the cab light for leaks. Haven't even really checked if it works.
-Want to put mesh under the hood cowl that I saw on here, really fun having leaves blow into the cab. Needs new hood gasket too.
-Exhaust leaks terribly at that stupid flange just after the passenger side manifold which I feel is pretty common and the worst design ever.
Edit: Forgot to add that my rear tank doesn't work. Well I switched to it one day and it read empty and then the selector valve stuck so I hit it with a hammer and thankfully it switched back to the front and I haven't touched it since. Not much range with 19 gallons. Thoughts?
As a side, I haven't towed with her yet but what can I expect for speed/rpm with a 4 speed/3.55 gears?