Shiney new (kinda) XLT

[beetlebz]

Hey guys! I just on saturday picked up a 94 XLT. My 2nd ford, the first one by choice however 150k miles, and was immaculately kept and maintained. I bought it just to kill it over the winter and junk it in the spring, but the more I read about the Gen 1's and the 4.0's bulletproofedness (if I may invent the word) the more its looking like my new daily driver... if I can get her running alright!

the biggest problem thus far is the truck sat for 2 years only being started once every few months. The gas I brought her home with was from 2006 lol but never the less. So far I have run the tank down, filled up with seafoam and 91 octane, changed the oil and added a quart of Lucas, swapped out a couple relays (fuel pump relay died )and added all my necessary electronics. Tomorrow a buddy of mine is installing a new right caliper which started hanging on me today, and after ill be installing new plat plugs and wires.

now my question is this;
I have read DOZENS of extremely useful tutorials and tips over the last 2 days on the forum here, but what are the key things a bone stock explorer really needs, especially having sat for so long?

I have what I believe is lifter or rod knock (sounds too loud to be lifters, but im NOT a car guy) which sounds like someone sitting under the hood furiously shaking a can of spray paint as fast as he (or she) can, and i hear it at high rpm under load, for example going up-hill when the engine is wound out before the truck shifts gears. the oil change with the lucas stabilizer helped ALOT but its still really noticeable. any quick fix or am I pulling the valve covers?

thanks for all the useful info guys. after reading so much about the gen 1 exploders im excited to get started

 

[bt93]

Welcome!

 

[beetlebz]

just a little update... ok a big one...

first, I had my mechanic do the front right brakes today. he pulled both wheels and found both calipers caked in grit and grease. he cleaned them off and viola, brakes dont hang in the slightest. He also checked the rear drums, and when he took the rear wheels off the drums FELL off. SO... the shoes were good so he adjusted them for me and now stopping is brisk and assuring.

what I thought was a valve cover leak turned out to be power steering fluid. Under pressure the cap pops up on one side just enough (just worn out tabs) to spray some fluid around. the valve cover might still be leaking but not enough to worry about just yet, and its probably not very bad. a zip tie around the top of the cap until I can get a new one solved that lickity split. total parts cost for today... 2 bucks for a bottle of steering fluid and one single zip tie.

I took the truck home and first removed the MAF sensor, which one of the wires had a coating of black crap on it. QD spray worked wonders, and put the sensor back on using 6-32 bolts with nuts on the bottom... since I broke my security torx bit and stripped one of the factory screw head on one of them

next new plugs and new wires. apparently whoever did the tune ups never figured out that you can get to the passenger side plug closest to the firewall though the wheel well. the boot fell apart in my hand and the plug was different than all the rest lol

Took her for a burn for about an hour and she runs like a CHAMP! no pings, no knock (i guess it was spark knock instead of lifter knock) no hesitation, and a NICE smooth idle and power band. 2 front shocks and I should be good enough to get through the winter!

 

[bt93]

Awesome job man! I love taking something abused and bringing it back to life!

 

[Shen2187]

Well, sounds like you got just about everything. Only thing I can add is, Check your air, fuel and oil filters. As with sitting for 2 years, there's bound to be nasty oil junk trapped in the oil filter. The fuel that was in the tank may have began turning into varnish so replacing the fuel filter could be beneficial. And who knows how long it had been since the air filter was replaced before it's two-year nap.

Other than that, it sounds like a rather sturdy ride that should fit your needs whatever they may be.

 

[beetlebz]

did the oil filter with the oil change / lucas job, and the air filter was absolutely spotless. like, not even a little dusty. The gas filter on the other hand... thats going to be a weekend project. Just me, a couple wrenches, 2 vice grips, and 3 cans of PB. ahh I hate old gas filters.

 

[Shen2187]

I still need to drop my tank and replace the sending unit. I've been using the trip meter and the estimated MPG to keep track lol.

I prefer Lager, so it's usually Fat Tire or if I'm extra frustrated, some Guinness. Sam Adams is decent too, but the price is just too much.