Scarlet Moose starting make-over

[Agnem]

OK, so the Scarlet Moose will soon be ready to go on the road. This is my son Graham's 86' F-250 extended cab that we bought last spring. The original plan was to store it until he could drive, but the loss of the Moose Taxi has necessitated the need for another spare road vehicle, and Graham has agreed to "lease" it to me, in exchange for relieving him of his remaining loan I gave him to buy it. My wife will end up driving it mostly, so I want it to be extremely reliable. To that end, I took a look at what we had. It runs good, but getting it running last summer sounded iffy. Slow spins that would barely generate enough to kick it off. Then as the weather got cooler, it started turning slower until it wouldn't start without a battery charger on it. Then it stopped starting at all. Smoke out of the exhaust, and smoke off the starter with the smell of burned electrical gear. Not good. So, I invested another 500 dollars into it, and Graham did most of the work.

1) Replaced the starter (Motorcraft - not a gear reduction unit though)
2) Replaced the batteries with new Motorcraft batts.
3) Replaced 2 battery cable ends, and cleaned and repaired 2 existing ones.
4) New glow plugs
5) New Fuel return lines

Now it starts at any temp in less than 1 revolution, just like they are supposed to. All that remains now is to repair the parking brake, put some new shocks on it, fix up the right front fender, and the steering column, and get it inspected and registered.

 

[hesutton]

Sounding good Mel! What was the Moose Taxi? The Excursion? What happend to it?

Heath

 

[Agnem]

It was a 98' Taurus that was the mother in-laws. Wasn't in the fleet for very long. Developed a cooling system problem that had the potential to be a big drain on money and time.

 

[Sycostang67]

My sister had a 97' taurus in which I had to change the radiator. It took me awhile until I finally realized the dang thing had to come out the bottom of the car. The coolant resevoir kept cracking as well. She still put 180k miles on the car before the tranny pump seal blew out and I said "NO".

Dont let the purists catch you saying extended cab, thats a GM term. Ford only made super cabs.

 

[gandalf]

...

Now it starts at any temp in less than 1 revolution, just like they are supposed to. All that remains now is to repair the parking brake, put some new shocks on it, fix up the right front fender, and the steering column, and get it inspected and registered.

You're gong to venture into the PA DMV again? Didn't you have enough of them last time? Don't you think they'll remember you? I can foresee an all day inspection.

Maybe you should send your wife in while you wait outside.

 

[Agnem]

You're gong to venture into the PA DMV again? Didn't you have enough of them last time? Don't you think they'll remember you? I can foresee an all day inspection.

Maybe you should send your wife in while you wait outside.

Yes perhaps.


As for the Taurus, it blew a hose. This then led to my inability to get coolant back into it. I took it to the dealer, and they said the coolant wasn't circulating. There was some question as to how the hose blew originally, since it seemed to be from excessive presure. So the choices were... head or head gasket, water pump, or plugged radiator. As you mentioned, servicability of this thing without a lift is zero. I made up my mind, I didn't want to own one, and the rest is history. Too bad too, cause it was a heck of a nice car, and had the 24 valve 3.0 engine. It was a real runner! I had just spent $75 bucks to get it detailed, and we had sunk $1200 into it for tires, shocks, yada yada just 3 months before. It was becoming a huge money pit. I lost my shirt on it when I sold it.