Old member, new ride

[avgMounty]

Yesterday I picked up a 1999 Mountaineer. 174k miles, got it pretty cheap. It looks like it was mostly someone's relatively stock driver, and the guy I got it from was using it as a work truck. I've been driving a $500 Mustang for a year and a half after some kid T-boned my Wrangler. I've been trying to find a cheap 4cyl manual Ranger, but this popped up and I snagged it. I have always wanted one of these, so I went for it. I am going to miss shifting, and getting at least 15mpg.

Body is in decent shape, interior is a little rough. Black with dark gray plastics, all badges have fallen off. Interior is the super dark gray, lots of broken plastic and a tore up rear seat cover. Previous owner said its slow shifting into second and there's a radiator leak. The radiator is new, but arrived broken. Only code said TPS needs replacing. He gave me the original wheels with center caps, and the "urban" style wheels that were on it. Original spare is missing. He replaced the radio with an aftermarket one, but the original CD cassette is still in the console. I'll link to pictures when I get around to posting some.

For now I'll do the TPS, radiator, brakes, shocks and tires. I'm sure it needs some other stuff but I'm mostly looking to make it a reliable daily for now. I might eventually look into doing some more fun stuff and making it more similar to the 1987 F150 5.0 manual that is a longer term project.

I updated my profile and everything, so I'll probably do a user name change and upload a new pfp at some point. Lots of lurking and reading to do for refreshers before I get to asking questions. Anyways, it's good to be back.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome back!

 

[410Fortune]

Good job getting the v8!

Is it rwd or awd?
Plenty of dark grey interiors in the junk yards 98-01 explorer mounty shouldn’t be too hard to find a good back seat and any trim pieces needed

 

[dvdswan]

Welcome back. We need pictures.

 

[Josh P]

Welcome back, how soon will you swap a manual transmission in?

 

[avgMounty]

Oh, I forgot to mention that it came with both original keys and alarm fobs. That honestly shocked me.

Good job getting the v8!

Is it rwd or awd?
Plenty of dark grey interiors in the junk yards 98-01 explorer mounty shouldn’t be too hard to find a good back seat and any trim pieces needed

So the guy mentioned it was AWD but he didn't know where the switch was, and I assumed the Mountys all were fully optioned out, but I honestly didn't even look at that. I'll double check when I get home. I thought I remembered there being a knob on the radio bezel, which this doesn't have, but maybe that was only on the 4wd trucks. (I have only had 4cyl Rangers).
And yes, I'll be making occasional trips to the yard once I am more familiar with everything that's broken.

Welcome back, how soon will you swap a manual transmission in?

(Get out of my head.)
It really depends on what I can find and when, and also how long the automatic lives. I haven't looked into it in decades and last I remember, the ECU couldn't be successfully de-transed so you had to go aftermarket ECU (big $$$) or carb. I'd be more likely to carb it. Maybe that has changed. I need to do some reading.
I'll start collecting parts asap. It would be convenient to use the same T-18 that's in the F150, if possible.

 

[Josh P]

Oh, I forgot to mention that it came with both original keys and alarm fobs. That honestly shocked me.


So the guy mentioned it was AWD but he didn't know where the switch was, and I assumed the Mountys all were fully optioned out, but I honestly didn't even look at that. I'll double check when I get home. I thought I remembered there being a knob on the radio bezel, which this doesn't have, but maybe that was only on the 4wd trucks. (I have only had 4cyl Rangers).
And yes, I'll be making occasional trips to the yard once I am more familiar with everything that's broken.


(Get out of my head.)
It really depends on what I can find and when, and also how long the automatic lives. I haven't looked into it in decades and last I remember, the ECU couldn't be successfully de-transed so you had to go aftermarket ECU (big $$$) or carb. I'd be more likely to carb it. Maybe that has changed. I need to do some reading.
I'll start collecting parts asap. It would be convenient to use the same T-18 that's in the F150, if possible.

There's a current swap thread where the forum member is using a M5OD-R2. It's efi and he got the cruise to work, cancel with the clutch pedal.

 

[Mike65]

Welcome back.

 

[avgMounty]

Is it rwd or awd?

Short answer: Yes.
Longer answer: It has a transfer case, front differential, and axles. It does not have the front drive shaft.

Welcome back. We need pictures.

Here's an instagram link.
(If we can upload directly here, I'll come back an add them. I saw a "attach by link, don't directly upload post" so I'll hold off on that.)

 

[avgMounty]

I've been skimming the forums and getting familiar with the common problems on these trucks.

I installed the brake pads and shocks that the seller gave me with the Mounty. I found Motorcraft rotors being liquidated so I threw those on too. I should probably replace the parking brake shoes. I replaced the new radiator the seller installed with a hopefully non-factory-broken new radiator. The transmission line repair the PO did needs to be redone as it weeps fluid. I'll probably try to find a hard line (or cut one at the junk yard) and make a better hard tubing connection. I removed the aftermarket radio and tweeters so I'll be on the lookout for an original that runs the 6 disc changer and hopefully has a tape deck too. There's a drain on the battery, so I need to find that. I have not found what causes the head/fog/tail lights to come on and stay on. Looks like there's a few culprits, so I just have to find where they're located. I noticed the air temp sensor was dangling, so I need to reattach that. I got the broken bolt out of the battery tray and got a proper hold down, so no more bungee cord and random wire. Lots of broken interior plastics, so that's going to be fun to replace and repair over time. It definitely needs a serpentine belt, and the fan plastic is cracking so I should be proactive on that too. The left rear body trim piece has a drywall screw holding it to the sheet metal, so I should look into that. I did find a little body rust that's been decently repaired along the body seam on the passenger door jamb.

I don't know what the part is called, but the metal bracket that holds all the EVAP stuff above the spare tire essentially doesn't exist anymore. I'd estimate that I'm down to 2/3 or less of it still being attached to the truck. I'd like to replace that before more damage is done. I'll probably replace the rear spring shackles which are showing less advanced signs of rust, bust still not confidence inspiring to drive.

It looks like there was a recall with the wiring on the brake master cylinder. There's an inline harness that's loosely zip-tied in, but it has factory tape/part numbers/warning labels. So that's good, I guess.

I found two matching OEM wheels for sale locally and got those to have a spare. I just need tires. I also removed the Darkhorse bull bar and the "custom" vanity plate that was attached to the bumper with drywall anchors. I am hoping to offset tire cost by selling the bull bar and 20" donk wheels the truck came with.

I am currently leaning towards leaving it stock and doing more fun stuff the the 1987 F150 after I sell my current daily driver car. The 3" lift and 33"s does look tempting, but it'll be down the road. A manual swap will be determined by me happening to come across cheap parts or not, and the F150 being daily driver capable.

Short answer: Yes.
Longer answer: It has a transfer case, front differential, and axles. It does not have the front drive shaft.

I lied (didn't check). It has the transfer case and front differential. There are no CV axles. I am assuming this means the front diff needs some serious servicing or a rebuild. I'll probably get the shaft, axles, new hubs and all the missing bolts after I have the differential checked out.

There's lots of other little things to do, but I'll make separate posts about them if I need help. I just wanted to update the "state of the vehicle" here now that I had a couple days to look at it more closely. I'll upload progress pics to Instagram as I go.