Temping Fate: Doing another 2200 miles this week

[mankypro]

in my 6.9.

Well wish me luck! I should burn my old IP in a sacrifice to the IDI gods before I go! I didn't have enough time to swap lift pumps this week, and I didn't want to put it in today and drive off in the morning on a long trip. At least I've been driving on the new IP for a couple of weeks and it seems to be a good improvement.

Keep your fingers and toes crossed for us!

 

[HammerDown]

I know how you feel...with my new IP and Injescors now in I have to build faith again in my truck.
I'm sure you'll be good to go on your trip.
Heck think I'll also install a new mechanical lift pump...been ten years on this one.

 

[funnyman06]

I feel im always temping fate in my truck, when i go out to the desert there are a couple really long grades to go over, climbing like 5000 feet, its not 2200 miles, more like 150 miles, but the truck has left me stranded once(my own fault), and im just getting back into the groove with it. Good luck on the trip, hope it goes well.

 

[mankypro]

I love my truck, it's kind of weird - I have much "nicer" vehicles to drive, but given the chance the Yukon XL and the German vehicle which whose name will not be muttered here will sit in the driveway.

I love that I can drive this truck through just about anything, that I can run in on just about anything short of unfiltered mare ***** and that it doesn't get broken into and no one wants to steal it, I love that I can work on it myself, I love that comparatively it's so inexpensive to maintain.

 

[towcat]

I love my truck, it's kind of weird - I have much "nicer" vehicles to drive, but given the chance the Yukon XL and the German vehicle which whose name will not be muttered here will sit in the driveway.

I love that I can drive this truck through just about anything, that I can run in on just about anything short of unfiltered mare ***** and that it doesn't get broken into and no one wants to steal it, I love that I can work on it myself, I love that comparatively it's so inexpensive to maintain.

if the family doesn't give you too much static about using the truck....
it's all good

 

[Diesel JD]

The only reason I haven't taken my IDI up to NC to visit is that I've always had Mom with me and she has no faith in the truck. A few years ago I was dating a girl in S. Fla. about 300 miles each way and the truck did fine on those long trips. I've also taken it to the coast about 60-70 miles away one way and it has always done well for me on the long trips. Thankfully the problems have occured close to home and they've mostly been generaated by me, not the truck being a bad vehicle, or just worn out wear parts deciding they've had enough.

 

[Diesel JD]

Oh yeah I got way off topic I hope your trip goes well, I'm sure it won't be a nightmare like last time.

 

[mankypro]

Update:

Made the first 1100 mile leg without a snag. The truck performed pretty much flawlessly. Towing an 8'x5' full to the gills, probably somewhere around 2,500 lbs total, plus stuff in the bed including my portly pooches - that's 250lbs btw...

The new IP and (presumably) correct timing has made a huge difference - not towing 3-4 tons in a tandem enclosed 16' probably has a bit to do with it as well.

Observations:

• Definately higher EGTs with 100% WMO -like in the 100-200 F range at WOT.
• Average MPG over 700 miles on 100% WMO - ~11mpg
• I can move easily in the 70-80 MPH range - got to 90 MPH and frankly the truck is amazingly stable at these speeds - I didn't do it on purpose it just kind of creeped up there.

I do still have that nagging seepage from the transfer case and maybe from the tranny - can't quite tell right now. Will top off the transfer gearcase for the trip back on Friday.

Wish me luck!

 

[david85]

I've been up to 100MPH with mine and I can second the stability at high speed. The faster you go, the smoother it gets (diddo with my 86 F150). I love these old trucks

 

[mankypro]

Got back home tonight after another 2200 miles.

Before I got home:

I'm at Guernsey - big rest stop on I-25 in Wyoming. A couple thousand yards from the same place my last ordeal started on the last trip with the FSV failure.

I'm walking back from the bathroom towards my running truck with wife and kids in it. And I see liquid STREAMING out from under it. FRACK! I make a gesture to my wife to kill the ignition. I'm running towards the truck thinking great, just great 300 miles from home, last leg of the trip and NOW something goes wrong!

I walk over to the stream of liquid. I touch it. It's not fuel (driver's side), not coolant - my exchanger lines run along the driver's side frame rail along with the fuel lines). It's water?!? It's cold?!? WHAT THE HELL?

It's still streaming from under the truck at the front of the bed. Ok this is weird. I go to the bed. I carry an 7 gallon Aquatainer in the bed of the truck for emergencies tipped over and broke off it's valve. Water all over the bed and draining.

CAN I TELL YOU HOW I SCREAMED IN THAT REST STOP? I was screaming and laughing in joy and people where looking at me strange.

Anyway 2200 miles, no problems at all 2,000 of them on 100% waste oil. wooha

 

[h2odrx]

CAN I TELL YOU HOW I SCREAMED IN THAT REST STOP? I was screaming and laughing in joy and people where looking at me strange.

Anyway 2200 miles, no problems at all 2,000 of them on 100% waste oil. wooha

now thats funny!

 

[NCheek]

Victory at last! Good to hear you fared well on your latest trip.

 

[david85]

You have arrived, my friend. Your truck has now accepted you and decided that it likes you. All old trucks have a sense of humor, you just have to get used to it.

Glad you made it home safe. If your truck made it this far you can take it anywhere.

 

[gonecrazyi]

Thats great that you didnt have any problems. I have no problems taking my truck anywhere in Florida. Before scrap fell I went on a 3 hour trip down to south Florida to pick up a 50's Willy's jeep for a friend of mine. To pay for the fuel we loaded up some of the scrap his grandpa had. By the time we got it all loaded all the local yards were closed, so I we ended up pulling it back to central Fl.

When I went and weighed in the next morning, I ended up weighing 18,600 lbs.
I couldnt believe that I made that far without a single problem. Just goes to show what a great product Ford used to make.

(P.S. I wouldnt recommend this with stock brakes, city driving was a bear. The only thing that saved me is that I could downshift to slow her down)


There aint nothin better then a long cruise in your truck (especially if most of its free )

 

[suv7734]

I'm walking back from the bathroom towards my running truck with wife and kids in it. And I see liquid STREAMING out from under it. FRACK! I make a gesture to my wife to kill the ignition. I'm running towards the truck thinking great, just great 300 miles from home...

It seems you weren't the only one who needed a leak after 1900 miles ;p

Your truck has now accepted you and decided that it likes you. All old trucks have a sense of humor, you just have to get used to it.

Too true.

Glad you had a safe and uneventful trip