Hello fellow forum members. My name is Keith (BackBone) and here is a little about myself. I am a former mechanic turned electrician. I am a returning trombone player - hence the handle... 
I have a black 97 Mercury Mountaineer that I picked up about 4 years ago. It had 166K on the clock and a bad trans when I got it. It has 244K on it now. Funny thing is this whole time I had no interest in fixing up the Mounty. I actually was thinking of getting something different. Then I thought, 'why get rid of this truck. It has done me well these four years!' So I began looking deeper into this site and now have the bug to go wheelin! I don't want to do any insane stuff... just be able to see the countryside, do some fishing and maybe get to places where I can watch others break their junk!
What has broken or gone bad:
Transmission -- Fixed!
Fuel pump -- Fixed!
Upper Ball joints
Lower Ball joints -- 2/24/13 Fixed!
Water Pump -- Fixed! (now with broken bolt )
Altenator -- Fixed!
Battery -- Fixed!
Front window motor (both)
Rear glass shocks
Radio Antenna stuck up (destroyed in automated carwash )
Lost one center cap - REPLACED!
Crack in windsheild
Front Drive shaft (cv style) -- (1/15/14) Fixed! I rebuilt the cv cardone myself!
4 freeze plugs leaking -- (2013) Gunk non-clogging stop leak worked (300 + miles so far)
Radiator leaking -- Gunk non-clogging stop leak worked (300 + miles so far)
No A/C -- Fixed!
Timing Chain cover coolant leak -(6/13) Fixed!
Front hubs - fixed!
I've done all the work myself and could not have done it without this site. I do plan to go elite in my membership.
I'll post pics asap!
Mods...
TT, Autozone Shackles, 255/70R15 AT's[toast!], was 32x11.50x15! - NOW: 33x12.5x15 Nankang Mudstar's, 4406, tow hooks, winchplate
Plans...
If it works out:
4406 swap -- It worked out! DONE!!!!
Rebuild LSD rear with extra clutch
Locker for front after 4406
3"BL
Tow hooks -- DONE!!
Upper CA's
Swaybar endlinks --DONE!!
CB
Front and rear diff service (rear diff service done!)
Front and rear shocks
winch plate install as base for bumper -- DONE!
I have a black 97 Mercury Mountaineer that I picked up about 4 years ago. It had 166K on the clock and a bad trans when I got it. It has 244K on it now. Funny thing is this whole time I had no interest in fixing up the Mounty. I actually was thinking of getting something different. Then I thought, 'why get rid of this truck. It has done me well these four years!' So I began looking deeper into this site and now have the bug to go wheelin! I don't want to do any insane stuff... just be able to see the countryside, do some fishing and maybe get to places where I can watch others break their junk!
What has broken or gone bad:
Transmission -- Fixed!
Fuel pump -- Fixed!
Upper Ball joints
Lower Ball joints -- 2/24/13 Fixed!
Water Pump -- Fixed! (now with broken bolt
)Altenator -- Fixed!
Battery -- Fixed!
Front window motor (both)
Rear glass shocks
Radio Antenna stuck up (destroyed in automated carwash
)Lost one center cap - REPLACED!
Crack in windsheild
Front Drive shaft (cv style) -- (1/15/14) Fixed! I rebuilt the cv cardone myself!
4 freeze plugs leaking -- (2013) Gunk non-clogging stop leak worked (300 + miles so far)
Radiator leaking -- Gunk non-clogging stop leak worked (300 + miles so far)
No A/C -- Fixed!
Timing Chain cover coolant leak -(6/13) Fixed!
Front hubs - fixed!
I've done all the work myself and could not have done it without this site. I do plan to go elite in my membership.
I'll post pics asap!
Mods...
TT, Autozone Shackles, 255/70R15 AT's[toast!], was 32x11.50x15! - NOW: 33x12.5x15 Nankang Mudstar's
, 4406, tow hooks, winchplatePlans...
If it works out:
4406 swap -- It worked out! DONE!!!!
Rebuild LSD rear with extra clutch
Locker for front after 4406
3"BL
Tow hooks -- DONE!!
Upper CA's
Swaybar endlinks --DONE!!
CB
Front and rear diff service (rear diff service done!)
Front and rear shocks
winch plate install as base for bumper -- DONE!
Got me home.
Now it is sitting in the driveway looking sad. 
