John_Rock's 2001 Sport Trac 4x4

[John_Rock]

Soooooooooooooo, early Wednesday morning last week. I took her for a spin and got her stuck in some mud. Plus, I figured out that with these lift brackets the differential must be sitting too far to the passenger side, because the driver's side CV axle pulled apart on the inner CV joint. I better get that problem figured out before going wheeling again.

 

[John_Rock]

Yehey, progress this weekend.

Vacuum indented gas tank. Hmmmmmmm. Oh well.

Original fuel pump with a very dirty looking strainer.

After installing a $75 used fuel pump with a new strainer. Big improvement. Original fuel pump was putting out only 20psi.

 

[John_Rock]

Thanks to chad551 I knew to buy Bilstein B46-1798 shocks to replace the Superlift crappy shocks. Basically a good replacement to the Superlift shocks are Jeep Cherokee front shocks.

 

[John_Rock]

The other week(before replacing the shocks) I checked out the CV angles at full droop. They look pretty maxed out.

 

[John_Rock]

Well I called Superlift about getting some limit straps. The package arrived on Friday. But it only contained one limit strap.

So I called them again and the CS dude said sorry and made the order to send me the 2nd one.


Yesterday I started on the task of replacing my leaf springs. I only broke 2 bolts so far. And I over heated my air compressor to get the 4 U-bolt nuts off on the driver's side.

 

[John_Rock]

My progress today before I go to bed...

The Warrior shackles are still attached to the leaf springs because the bolts are rusted to the metal sleeve that's inside the bushings. And it's because of these deteriorated bushings that I'm replacing the springs.

 

[Dannyboy]

I actually had to set fire to rubber bushings to get them out of a leaf pack in the past. It was a little nerve racking because they were still attached to the truck but I had the torch in one hand and several items to put it out in the other.

 

[John_Rock]

I actually had to set fire to rubber bushings to get them out of a leaf pack in the past. It was a little nerve racking because they were still attached to the truck but I had the torch in one hand and several items to put it out in the other.

Warrior shackles? Or stock shackles? After seeing this rusted bolt thing with the Warriors, I'm thinking of going back to stock shackles.

 

[AccordRanger]

I had the same problem with the stock shackles.

 

[Turdle]

Grease the bolt and bushing sleeve up well when you re assemble it to avoid this problem later. It will help.

 

[John_Rock]

Get up at 7pm Monday night. Go to work at 9pm. Get off at 10am Tuesday morning. Go workout at gym for 40 minutes. Go meet friends for lunch. Go home and unhook rear axle from truck. Muscle rear axle into other truck by myself. Get ready to drive 3 hours to SVO's house. Whewwwwww.

 

[cybergasm]

Hercules, Hercules!!!!

 

[John_Rock]

Oh yeah, while I had my head underneath the truck today I noticed a small hair line fracture in the gas tank that is leaking.

 

[John_Rock]

Axle is dropped off at SVO's house. Hopefully he can get it done this weekend. Time is running out on making it to Arizona/California for my Mom's birthday(22nd) and to Truckhaven(23rd & 24th). Not to mention I ordered some badly needed body mounts from Tousley Ford today. But the parts guys says it can take 3 to 4 days for them to get from the warehouse to Tousley and then they ship them to me.

Ok, I pulled the leaking gas tank today. And I found a guy on Craigslist parting out a rolled 1999 Explorer. He only wants $50 for the gas tank. We will see what else I may take off his hands. : I'm heading there in a few hours.

Yesterday I watched/assisted SVO replace the ring and pinion and bearings on a 8.8 IRS pumpkin out of a 2007 Mustang GT500.

 

[John_Rock]

My abused gas tank...

 

[Blee1099]

Jeff wrist deep in someone's rear end..

 

[John_Rock]

Jeff wrist deep in someone's rear end..

At least the gnome doesn't have large hands.

 

[John_Rock]

I picked up a new/used gas tank and fuel pump for $50 before I went to work yesterday.

I will prep it today and install it tomorrow.

 

[John_Rock]

I picked up a new/used gas tank and fuel pump for $50 before I went to work yesterday.

I will prep it today and install it tomorrow.

I went beyond prepping it for installation yesterday before heading to work. I got it hooked up and tested.

I got my original fuel pumped installed in to the new gas tank but using the pump motor from the new tank's fuel pump assembly. So the fuel pump I installed the other month is now a spare that will work on either of my trucks.

 

[John_Rock]

New body bushings showed up yesterday. These were $98 plus shipping from Tousley Ford. I still need to buy other ones to replace, but that will happen when I have more funds to spend.