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

[gmanpaint]

With the 12" coils, you have to use 12" shocks. The coil overs I run now are 12", and adjustable for ride stiffness. This is the max size your going to be able to fit using a stock upper tower.

I am searching for another set of 12" 2.0 shocks but with reservoirs. With the resi, it gives better rebound, and faster stroke recovery, which means I can go faster over those rough Mtn passes.

These are a different type of shock altogether. I more then likely will get new coils to match these, and the 750 lb coils will be available too.

All this rests on being able to find a 12" overall 2.0" set tho. So far most I found are 10" or 14". I'm still on the hunt tho. If I can't locate what I want, there is the possibility of doing custom upper buckets using Ruffstuff towers. Still on the fence about that tho.

If you can't wait for my wishy washy undecided self, the QA1's are about $200/ea, and the Eibach's are about $80/ea.

Sorry to hear about the after effects of the adventure. Time for new seats!

 

[CDW6212R]

There you go, get semi seats with air cushioning built into them.

The two row radiator is still available, it's just finding the source or part number. I have one of each for my trucks, the dual is a Visteon, the original maker.

See if you can get the coolant temps down too, run a 180 which makes plenty of heat for Winter. I can go to a 160, but I'll wait until I'm able to alter the tune, to let me run it in the 160 range.

Find a Super Duty trans cooler, the shorter one should fit at the bottom in place of the small stock one. I have both sizes, the tall one I'll put in my mail truck, cutting the center support as needed. I want the trans temps to never get over 150, and a thermostatic adapter can do that.

 

[gmanpaint]

Whats the AN size on our trans lines? 6 or 8?

 

[Turdle]

an size? what? It's low pressure, just use rubber hose and clamps. The tubing is 3/8"

 

[gmanpaint]

Ah.. must be used for dirty gas Diesel applications for HP lines.

 

[boominXplorer]

The two row radiator is still available, it's just finding the source or part number. I have one of each for my trucks, the dual is a Visteon, the original maker.

You have to look it up under a 97 or 98 V8 Explorer/Mountaineer. For some reason all aftermarket list 99-01 as single core and 96-98 having an optional 2 core. 96-01 V8 radiators mount all the same.

 

[Turdle]

You have to look it up under a 97 or 98 V8 Explorer/Mountaineer. For some reason all aftermarket list 99-01 as single core and 96-98 having an optional 2 core. 96-01 V8 radiators mount all the same.

I also noted a radiator cap pressure difference-higher PSI for earlier years. Hmmm.

 

[Turdle]

Orielly 1997 v8 radiator part number 431328
2000 v8 431410

Autozone 97 part number B1824
2000 part number B2308 which is what I have.

 

[gmanpaint]

95 different then the 96-01? Or did they not have the V-8 offered in that year?

 

[Turdle]

V8 was not until 96.

Annd, at autozone you must ask for 1997, ford, explorer, AWD ( not 4wd) , to get the 2 core v8 radiator. The v8 rad is totally unique. The rad and condensor will only mount once they are "buckled" together. It uses fanny pack style buckles.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

The built 460 in my '74 Ranchero, which had lots of open space around the engine, ran cooler with a 180 thermostat than with a 160. I think the 160 just stayed open and allowed the coolant to flow through the radiator too fast for the radiator to do its job.

I bought a 2 row radiator for my V6 Sport Trac at either O'Reilly's or Advance (Advance I think). You have to read the description carefully. It might say 1" or 2" core instead of 1 row or 2 row. And it costs more. I read the description 2 or 3 times trying to figure out why one was more than the other before I realized what it was saying.

 

[CDW6212R]

Be careful ordering the cap also. I bought two from Rock Auto, part number was correct, but they were the larger diameter for older Fords. I had to hunt a little harder to get a couple, I think I went to Amazon that last time.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

The v8 rad is totally unique. The rad and condensor will only mount once they are "buckled" together. It uses fanny pack style buckles.

thats simple to get around. find any v6 truck. the condensor has little brackets on them that bolt to the condensor and to the rad support. that way it is free from the rad. do that, and you will never have to clip it to the rad again. dono and i did that. works fine.

 

[Turdle]

thats simple to get around. find any v6 truck. the condensor has little brackets on them that bolt to the condensor and to the rad support. that way it is free from the rad. do that, and you will never have to clip it to the rad again. dono and i did that. works fine.

are you using a v6 radiator? Cooling issues?

 

[delexploder]

I ran my 2 core sohc rad until a couple months ago when it finally started weeping , ( 300,000 miles ) i now have the 2 core from the mountaineer my drivetrain came from , rather its 1 or 2 core other than the clips the V8 used for the AC condensor its the same rad, btw the plastic brakets with the clips are removable

 

[vroomzoomboom]

are you using a v6 radiator? Cooling issues?

nope. i have a stock ford rad that came from the donor truck when i did the v8 swap. i was going to use the SOHC rad, but i eff'd it up. don is using a aftermarket oem replacement rad that i think is a 2 core. i had issues last summer, but found out i had the wrong rad cap on it. now that i have the correct one i havent had a overheating issue since (that and we also found that we had the timing retarded way to much down low. that didnt help things either).

 

[Turdle]

When cruising on highway at 70+ mph on a 95+ degree day with ac turned on, my temps climb to over 220 degrees according to the scangauge. No MIL whatsoever. I wonder whit temp would trigger a check engine light for high temp? I've seen it get as high as 226 degrees.
With no ac on a less than 80 degree day, 197, 198 is the normal cruising temp.


It's a new radiator, water pump, several thermostats before paying for a genuine ford,which does perform about 2 degrees cooler than the generics did. Hoses are good. No coolant leaks. \

The truck has seemed sluggish and hot ever since the front bumper and skid plate. Sheri even commented it took more pedal to cruise over 60mph when they were first installed. "What ever you did to that truck made it slow" was her statement. When a woman notices, it's a deal. Well, for this woman who does not know what a ball joint does it is. she thinks what a ball joint does is break---




Scangauge has a "lod" function also. The bumper and skid have cause this number to go up for highway speeds. 80 or so in the mounty, The avalon runs at 32 lod at 75 MPH. I know this is comparing apples to oranges, so, I would like someone with a v8 explorer and scan gauge to measure the lod at 70 mph for me please. ( push one of the gauge buttons until LOD is displayed) This value will rise and fall with accelerator pedal input, so a good level road average would be better. No speacial trip is needed, but if you remember while on a commute ro errand i would appreciate it.



Funny though, the idiot temp gauge sits right on the middle when scangauge says 220 degrees. The "gauge" barely moves off center at any time.

I also got no code for trans temp of 245 degrees. OD light never flashed, I could turn it on and off. surely there is an over temp trans code.

I guess what I am trying go get at, is, the front bumper and skid are causing a lot more stress on the engine, it needs more cooling capacity to keep up.

Why would Ford lower the cooling system pressure and capacity for the 98 up models?

 

[traveler]

I can get that LOD reading for you Jon. Its a short easy drive to I-10 where the speed limit is 75. And its straight and flat. Just gotta remember to do it.

 

[CDW6212R]

I'll check my coolant and the load too, I haven't used the Scan Gauge in this truck since last year. I've still got all stock parts, other than the 180 T'stat, and deep trans pan. I would like to know what temps I hit delivering mail. I run the AC(MAX 72) all the time if it's above about 80 outside. I bet my coolant is around 190-200 most of the time.

Will a V8 radiator work with the V6 condenser? I'd like to keep the V6 condenser of my 99 truck, with a 306, I like that bottom mounting bracket much better than the V8 stuff.

 

[delexploder]

yes im using my original condensor 97 sohc with a 99 mountaineer rad , the plastic brackets with the buckles is removable and interchangeable