Betty's "I want to be a mule" progress log thread

The new turd mobile. 2000 Mountaineer v8 awd.



The bad:

Was living it's prior life on a dusty road. Must tear out interior and deep clean.
Driver window off track "or something" and will not roll down. It tries but the rear part wants to stay up.

3 out of 4 door handles have issues. I have 4 new outer handles on order.
Cracked passenger side tail light housing. ( Ebay for some cool tail lights)

Compass-Thermometer thingy lit up and went out--idunno bout that yet

Door locks seem sticky, probably has to do with the handles.
It has a funky purple color trim with red metallic ( you'll have that every now and then)

The good
Gas tank was full
109k miles
I am the 2nd owner!!
Is from the local area, which means no salt!
The undercarriage is fairly clean
No dents to underside panels
Good rubber
Camber shims already installed
Looks like good service records, all recalls were completed.
Clean carfax believe it or not.

The "maybe" bad

The original owner, told the dealership it had a bad "heater core" however I have run it for several cycles, over an hour each idling in the driveay and see no leaks.
However, there was evidence of a windshield leak or the like,I saw condensation on the inside of the windows this AM. The moisture smell is that of water only-no anti freeze smell. I am thinking it could also be a cowl drain which is clogged???? but she did say the passenger carpet got wet.

I tried to get heat, however it is an auto climate control. Being 90 degrees outside, I doubt it would have given me heat.The heater core hoses were hot, and the coolant bypass valve does operate. AC blows Ice cold.

Maybe she meant to say "heater door"???

Anyway--here are the pics.



My intent is to drive this and use it as a tow rig for a light weight off road toy. Mods will be minimal. Edit: This plan did not work out so on to plan "b"

Current visual status

Progress pictures

Now, let's clean it up a little


Herculine'rd rocker panels. Rock sliders installed

BW 4406 True 4x4 Manual transfer case ( AKA Mouse entry point) installed 8-27-2012
Installed newer Tcase from a 2003 11-14-15

Saw a rainbow in Colorado so yeah, time for a picture

And here she is, on top of the highest pass road in North America. Careful tire placement a must!!!

2-2-2013

Changed "color scheme" of the Dick Cepek DC1 wheels. New Falken Wildpeak AT 31x1050x15

Then I decided Maroon washer on the wheels would look better

Update 6-6-2013

New bumpers, winch and Pro LED light . Front Bumper from RLC, Skid plate from RCI, rear bumper from Kert307

Rear anti sway disconnects

Update 9-2-2014
A cracked radiator at 70mph led to engine failure. Replaced with a freshened up a bit 80k mile engine starting on page 23

Found another rainbow in Kansas.

 

[Scott B.]

Hey Jon,

I'm still following your thread as well.

Fortunately, I don't have any rust to deal with...

 

[vroomzoomboom]

ive never been a fan of those rockers. hated the way they fit, however, those dog legs look good. those are the hardest part to make because of the curve going up the wheel well opening, and also the way they kick out at the bottom. the way ive had to make them was cut the bottom of the back door off a 4 door, and also try, and i mean TRY to find a good dog leg from also a 4 door and weld the two together. thats for a sport however. most of them are rusted out now up here so finding them is almost impossible. might have to buy a pair just to have

 

[toypaseo]

How much for the cool homemade blanket?

 

[ahodges]

I've purchased all of my patch panels through Ray Bucks: Ford Body Panels | Ford Rust Repair Panels | Ford Repair Panels

I've been happy with the fit on everything I've done. Not a lot of options on there for the 2 doors anymore though.

 

[Turdle]

How much for the cool homemade blanket?

It's a quilt Grandmother made from neckties from all the men in the family. Nobody get's it. It's mine. There are decades of tie style statement in that.

 

[CDW6212R]

That's beautiful, I didn't notice that before. I have one quilt from my grandmother, who made many dozens of quilts over the years. She made them from all kinds of materials, this one she gave me was a very nice one I appreciate a lot, and the one thing I have left from her. Memories, hold onto them.

 

[toypaseo]

I didn't notice they were ties. Way cool

 

[rpenner54]

I plan to cut my rockers off here soon like @Brian1 did. If you would like them you could have them! I feel they might have a bit of rust hiding inside though.

 

[Turdle]

I plan to cut my rockers off here soon like @Brian1 did. If you would like them you could have them! I feel they might have a bit of rust hiding inside though.

Thanks for the offer. However upon further examination ( yeah, Betty is on her date as we speak) it appears the main rockers are pretty solid, just the doglegs are rotted. I do not think the entire rocker slide on will even be necessary. Hoping to get her back by the end of the week.

 

[Turdle]

If you ever have an out of round tire feeling be sure to check the tires even if they are relatively new, before going all over the truck--

That being said, 4 weeks ago Betty got a pair of new Falken Wildpeak AT3's, then went to the body shop. They were so different from the wildpeak AT01's, and, could not take it so today she got the other 2. And, she is also home from rust repair. The corrosion went kinda high so I am going to have to be real creative with a herculiner line-

 

[Turdle]

Rust repair including "creative" herculiner. I'm going to have to leave the doors open for a few hors so the bumps don't get glued closed.

New Falken Wildpeak AT3's

 

[vroomzoomboom]

Hopefully you didn’t get it on your hootus

 

[CDW6212R]

Very nice, now it's a three-toned truck. I like those wheels too, and the tires(knobby).

 

[Turdle]

Hopefully you didn’t get it on your hootus

Nope, got hootus on my herculiner though. dang dragonfly took a wrong turn.

Very nice, now it's a three-toned truck. I like those wheels too, and the tires(knobby).

Thanks Don. These wheels have held up real well. I used some of @gmanpaint 's shaded cherry and powdercoated all those little washers. They look like lifesaver candies bolted to the rim.

 

[traveler]

I'm liking everything. I think the herculiner is a great idea. And the wheel tire combo look great.

 

[gmanpaint]

Colored balancing dots to boot. Bonus!

Looks real good Jon, me likey a lot.

 

[WormsExplorer]

That looks awesome sir. Love how it looks.

 

[Turdle]

I appreciate the positive comments.

Now that I see it with the doors shut, I knew this was going to happen. Those stupid plastic tupperware side thingys. The rear door panel plastic trim hangs out over the black herculiner and looks clownshoe.
I was going to tear em off today but then the rain happened. Anyway--here's a doors shut view

 

[WormsExplorer]

She looks great. Can not wait to get mine in the air

 

[CDW6212R]

I like those stupid plastic tupperware side thingys. It looks like yours are at least located right. On mine a couple of them are too far rearward or forward. My truck had had some minor paint work along the bottom sides, and the trim was removed most likely. I'm planning to properly mount the spare Mountaineer trim I bought, on my 98 Limited.

It is tedious to get them attach well and where you want them, but RTV worked as well as double sided tape. I suggest you remove those rear pieces, and then set them where they fit better, and possibly trim/whittle the back edge some to shorten them. That would make them fit your truck better, and lessen that appearance you are thinking about. They sand and paint well, it's good thick plastic.