- Joined
- Jan 13, 2019
- Messages
- 1,378
- Reaction score
- 806
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Pennsylvania
- Vehicle Year
- 2004
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Type
- 3.0 V6
- Engine Size
- 3.0
- Transmission
- Automatic
- 2WD / 4WD
- 2WD
- My credo
- My world is filled with stuff that needs to be fixed
I've had this truck for 3 months now, and done a bunch of stuff to it - none of it major. Brakes all around, front wheel bearings, radiator, fixed the rear window leak, plus a bunch of electrical and lighting stuff. Dealt with loose sway bar links up front and leveled the driver's side torsion bar. I still have to pull the cam synchro and eventually deal with a small amount of floor rust on the driver's side.
I genuinely like this truck. It is simple and it works. The 3.0 V6 is a great little engine, regardless of the simple architecture, and once I cleaned the MAFS the auto works very well too. I'd rather have a manual, but I can live with this auto. Combined with the 4.10 rear it has plenty of power for a 3100lb vehicle, and the auto will happily run it up in rpm. Now that the winter blend fuel is gone I got 19.5mpg last tank, mixed highway/backroads.
At one time I thought I'd lower it since it's a bit silly jacked up for no reason, but it handles quite well anyway so I will not bother. Maybe someday I will change wheels and tires (wider, not taller), plus perhaps a muffler with a little sound, but I have no intention of any further mods. Looking at it in a lot near newer trucks I like the simple, mechanical look. You can see the suspension bits, it's a machine meant to work not to make up for the anatomical inadequacies of the owner. The interior is pleasant and functional, the seats are comfortable.
This level of simplicity is what I wanted and I haven't even a little bit of interest in the new ones. I hope that I can hold off the rust and keep it going mechanically, and if so I'll run it for a long time yet.
I genuinely like this truck. It is simple and it works. The 3.0 V6 is a great little engine, regardless of the simple architecture, and once I cleaned the MAFS the auto works very well too. I'd rather have a manual, but I can live with this auto. Combined with the 4.10 rear it has plenty of power for a 3100lb vehicle, and the auto will happily run it up in rpm. Now that the winter blend fuel is gone I got 19.5mpg last tank, mixed highway/backroads.
At one time I thought I'd lower it since it's a bit silly jacked up for no reason, but it handles quite well anyway so I will not bother. Maybe someday I will change wheels and tires (wider, not taller), plus perhaps a muffler with a little sound, but I have no intention of any further mods. Looking at it in a lot near newer trucks I like the simple, mechanical look. You can see the suspension bits, it's a machine meant to work not to make up for the anatomical inadequacies of the owner. The interior is pleasant and functional, the seats are comfortable.
This level of simplicity is what I wanted and I haven't even a little bit of interest in the new ones. I hope that I can hold off the rust and keep it going mechanically, and if so I'll run it for a long time yet.