1991 Navajo problems

[honyak45]

Hello I just bought a 1991 navajo that is in incredible shape for 250$ all it needs is a clutch and some minor interior stuff like the drivers side door armrest and theres a small crack in the windsheild other than that its sweet.The engine looks like its brand new almost and runs strong.I checked the oil after running it for an hour and the oil is as clean as it was in the bottle almost.It's idling a little rough but i've learned a few things here that should help me fix that.My question is this While towing i kept hearing a loud CLUNK! in the front end somewhere about every 50-60 feet we travelled and also the 4 wheel drive buttons were lit up and wouldn't turn off when i pressed them.I'm thinking the tranny has to be turning to take it out of 4 wheel right? I'm hoping that clunk is just brakes or something but it didn't sound good.Also i can't get my hand in to where the top tranny bolts are i have big ass hands and i'm wondering how the hell i'm gonna reach those bolts so i can get the tranny off to do the clutch.The clutch is demolished in this thing whoever owned it fried it completely there were huge splinters of clutch material poking out from between the tranny.The odometer says 55,000 miles and I almost believe it from the shape the truck is in.An old guy had it but he just broke a hip and needed money quick for bills I guess.

 

[jimbo74]

was it in 4wd? were the front hubs locked at that time?

 

[honyak45]

i'm not sure i just got in started it up and took it out of gear then hooked a rope up to the front and towed it home so the engine was running when i tried to press the 4 by buttons but since the clutch is completely out of it the tranny wasn't turning. This is my first 4 wheel drive so i'm a newbie.

 

[honyak45]

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[honyak45]

was it in 4wd? were the front hubs locked at that time?

its got on the fly 4 wheel no need to lock hubs but the buttons were lit and stayed lit I know the tranny wasn't turning because the clutch is completely out.

 

[UKExploder]

Sure sounds like the 4wd was engaged, the hubs could have been locked in 4wd and as far as I know, on 'push-button' 4wd you have to be able to back up a lit'l to disengage the 4wd (on my auto. trans. I do anyway) Hope you weren't towing it too fast, the 4wd is only supposed to be used up to around 50mph.

 

[UKExploder]

for those tranny bolts you need a wobbler socket and lots of extensions

 

[honyak45]

i made sure we didn't go over 30 mph and thats what i was thinking you need to have a clutch for one thing and need it to either back up a bit like you said or be rolling with the tranny turning to take it out of 4 wheel.I'm hoping i didn't mess anything up because that CLUNK! didn't sound good.Whats weird is that it only happened every 50-60-100 feet not with every turn of the wheel.At first i thought it might have been the rope making that noise shifting around but i'm pretty sure it wasn't.I guess I will find out when i get the clutch in and drive it won't I.I'm thinking I'll hire a mobile mechanic to come over here and do this instead of doing it myself.I don't have a tranny jack or any stands for one thing and my tool collection is less than adequate i think.If I can get someone to do it for 300$ or less i'm gonna hire em.I had to laugh in one guys face when he said 900$ then two other quotes were 550$ and 450$ which is still too much for me right now.I think I can manage 300$ and thats about it.Also does anyone know about how much a slave cylinder is?I think I better replace it while the truck is apart and judging from the remnants(big splinters) of the clutch poking out from between the tranny the slave is probably just as much toast as the clutch is.

 

[honyak45]

Well i'm almost there i just gotta pull the tranny off in the morning its all unbolted and ready to come out.I'm hoping its not going to be too much of a ***** to balance it on the dinky little floor jack then i ended up having to use but I should be ok.Then i get to pop the clutch kit in and put it back together then take it for a spin to see if its still going to make the clunking noise and see if the 4 wheel drive engage buttons are still going to be stuck on.I'm praying everything goes ok because i definitly don't want to have to go through tearing this thing apart again.

 

[FordSMTech]

I've got a 1991 navajo with just under 250K. I love short wheel base, you turn on a dime. Its preaty worn out though. I'd like find one in better shape to replace it. Just bought a 98 5.0 Explorer, I don't like AWD transfer case (binding when turning).

 

[honyak45]

Clutch is in and everything is running great.Evidently that clunking noise was because it was in fact stuck in 4 wheeel low.Good thing we took it pretty slow when we were towing it and hopefully nothing got too messed up.It seems to be ok though.At first it still wouldn't come out of 4 wheel but after i drove it once around the lot i pressed the buttons and it finally shut the 4 wheel off and then it was like night and day.It drives sweet! 250$! about 250.00 in parts and tools into it and i now have an awesome little truck.not one dent or spot of rust on the whole truck! the only bad thing is the fact that i had to take a sawzall to my Y-pipe to get the tranny out because the bolts were totally frozen and i wasn't going to take the chance of breaking one off.So i just gotta go about 1/4 to midas muffler in the morning and have them weld that piece of pipe back in place.I'm glad i found this website it was a lot of help and i'm sure it will be in the future too.

Later,
The Yak

P.S. If you like music you really need to check out my website.
You won't regret it.

 

[R.J.]

congats that deal! i have 91 navajo too, got it for $500 with a blown head gasket. but no dents or rust either, well, now it has dents haha

i had a clunking niose, it was the auto hubs. and to take it out of low, you have to have it in nuetral with the clutch in (if you havn't figured it out yet. took me awhile)