I'm calling it "Low-C"

[superj]

that interior looks beautiful. man, wow!

you need a hurst shifter on that truck when you are done. after doing mine, the factory stick just looks blah to me

 

[sgtsandman]

Murphy's Law and how my luck works, you'll find the locating pins once you no longer need them.

 

[ForgedCrank]

Well I got a LITTLE bit done today after work, then the sky opened up and looks like rain the rest of the night so I barely got an hour in on it.
But, at least the head is on and I got the lower intake plenum on there.
I'm hoping to have it running by the end of the weekend. I think that's possible as long as I don't break or lose anything else.
I've decided I'm going to do a cold compression test before I get too far along just to see if everything is at least close enough.
Probably get it timed tomorrow and any other small things I can.

 

[ForgedCrank]

Well I got some work done tonight. Got the timing belt on (thanks to info from another forum user).
Ran a compression check to see if things were at least roughly in order. Looks pretty good considering it's a cold test and just assembled. Some cylinders had a little film of assembly lube that I used to keep things from rusting while I was waiting for the head and I think that caused them to read a little higher. I cleaned out as much as I could, but I'm sure there's a little on some of the rings. Still, looks pretty good. I think once I get a few heat cycles and things settle in, it'll probably be a lot more consistent.

Compression:
1- 155
2- 170
3- 160
4- 170

 

[ForgedCrank]

Little by little...
I did run into yet another problem. I bought this thermostat neck off of Amazon, and the @#%$# heater hose pipe on it interferes with the timing belt cover. I'm trying to decide if I should order another one from Autozone or some other box store, or get out the map gas and a hammer and see how far I get with this one.
I am at least making progress. Should be able to get the accessories all hung tomorrow and hopefully try to give it a start.

 

[ForgedCrank]

Well, I had my first victory (finally) tonight. I've been humpin' it all day trying to get as much done as possible since there is rain forecast for all flippin day tomorrow.
I'm still missing the induction system, radiator, and odds and ends, but I did get a successful first startup tonight. The thing runs like a sewing machine (at least idling). I am a bit concerned about the ticking, but I don't know if that's normal. Do these have normal lifter noise? It's not atrocious, but it is ticking. I also have a CEL on right now, but I don't know if it'll find itself after it runs a while. I have the AC compressor clutch unplugged and I don't have the temp sensor hooked up yet either, it could be whining because it can't see those or something. But at least I'm near the finish line. Project is probably on hold now until Monday unless I get a magic break in the rain tomorrow.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Lima engines are known for their loud valvetrain so I'd ignore that...

If you ran it as in your picture without the MAF connected you will for sure have a check engine light so I'd ignore it for now

 

[ForgedCrank]

Lima engines are known for their loud valvetrain so I'd ignore that...

If you ran it as in your picture without the MAF connected you will for sure have a check engine light so I'd ignore it for now

Well, I did have the MAF plugged in, but there was no air moving through it, so I'm sure it was unhappy about that.
I'm not going to get worked up about a CEL with it running in that condition though. I have no cooling system so I can't even run it long enough to get the O2 sensor heated up. If the stars align and I have break enough in the rain tomorrow, maybe I can get this buttoned up. I'm hoping...

 

[ForgedCrank]

Well, got things "wrapped up" today in between rain. Drove it about 15 miles around the area and things are *mostly* alright.
No leaks, starts great and drives ok. I don't have a baseline to compare, but man this thing is anemic and low on power, but my guess is that's just what it is... 100HP, take it or leave it. My normal daily is a Focus ST, so this is difficult to get used to. Things that are bugging me include a miss at idle. You can't hear it, but when you get in it and sit, you can feel it. When driving at road speed and you hit the clutch to let it drop to idle, the engine speed bottoms out and it gets pretty rough for a second, then goes back to a idle miss... you can feel it in the seat and steering wheel. Not sure how I'm gonna diag this... all new plugs and wires, verified everything is plugged in, I even cleaned all the contacts in the connectors with Deoxit when I was reassembling the thing. No CEL or anything.
The other thing is the clutch, it's terrible, but like I said, not sure about my baseline here. It's more like one of our old grain trucks. The usable clutch pedal travel is only in the last inch or so at the top. It wont slip or anything, so not sure what to make of it. I guess I'll just ignore that and get used to it... drive it til it doesn't anymore.
Anyway, so far I'm into this for under a grand, but I still need to take it somewhere and get the AC charged, so that's gonna be prob a couple hundred or something stupid. Power mirrors don't work and the cruise won't turn on either. I figure the mirror switch is likely what is bad, but I can't find a replacement anywhere online. Cruise control isn't the end of the world, but I'll probably try to tackle that some other day when all by cuts and bruises heal up. I got mangled up pretty good trying to get that stupid radiator shroud clipped back in at the bottom, plus that cursed power steering bracket bottom bolt (I was about to start throwing hammers with that one).

Thanks to all of you guys helping me out with advice through this, you've all been great and I appreciate it a LOT. The problem with the internet is you can find 4 answers to any question, and 3 of those are usually wrong... and you have to guess which one is right, or come to a place like this to get advice from people you actually trust know what the heck they are talking about. That's really awesome, so thanks again.
I'll be back with more stupid questions as I learn to live with this new beater and slowly work out all the bugs.

 

[RobbieD]

It looks great. You did some real nice work there.

If all the AC needs is to be charged, you might consider looking at a parts store that has the loaner tools (vac pump, gauge set) and shooting it yourself.

For now, you just need to drive it and put some time and miles on it.

 

[pentode]

It looks great. You did some real nice work there.

If all the AC needs is to be charged, you might consider looking at a parts store that has the loaner tools (vac pump, gauge set) and shooting it yourself.

For now, you just need to drive it and put some time and miles on it.

I was reading through this and just about to say a similar thing: if it's 200 to charge an A/C in your area it might be worth it to buy a vacuum pump and a gauge set. Those and a few cans of R134 and a can of oil should be well under $200 in the USA (from Amazon)

Loaner tools are even better!

 

[sgtsandman]

What gearing does the rear axle have? If it's lower than 3.73:1 (like 3.45:1 or 3.55:1), stepping up to a lower gear will give it some pep. Going from 3.45:1 to 4.10:1 in my 1998 with the 2.5 Lima made a world of difference but it's still an under powered engine. So, you can only do so much.

 

[ForgedCrank]

What gearing does the rear axle have? If it's lower than 3.73:1 (like 3.45:1 or 3.55:1), stepping up to a lower gear will give it some pep. Going from 3.45:1 to 4.10:1 in my 1998 with the 2.5 Lima made a world of difference but it's still an under powered engine. So, you can only do so much.

It's a 3.73
I think this is just all it is and I'm not used to it, plus 4th gear in this thing has some pretty long legs. Been a LONG time since I drove something like this. It's amazing how much cars have been refined in 3 decades. But I have to say, other than the crank windows and lack of power locks, I'm enjoying the simplicity flashback. It'll be easier when I get the AC online so I don't have to do the one-handed passenger window roll-down while I'm going down the road. Of course it did just occur to me, this thing will probably struggle going uphill with the AC running, so there's that.
I'm gonna take a break from working on the engine stuff for a while and let my wounds heal up. I think I'll start working on getting this Explorer gauge cluster installed. I got one with a tach in it for a song from the boneyard. I just have to figure out how to run back the mileage so it matches actual current mileage, I don't want a flagged title, it bugs me for some reason.

I do have to say though, these guys do have me curious regarding DIY AC. I have no idea what I'll be billed to charge it up, but I know less about AC systems than I do old school 2.3 Ford engines. I'd like the challenge though, it's not really all about the money necessarily as long as the tools are within reason. I like doing stuff myself and learning it as I go., so I might start reading up. I've just heard that the vac pumps and stuff you need in order to do it properly are really expensive.

 

[RobbieD]

Do research charging the AC yourself. It's not brain science or rocket surgery.

The best thing about a parts store loaner vac pump is that you can pull the vacuum for a few hours to really evacuate the system; a shop usually won't tie up their equipment for that long.

 

[pentode]

It's a 3.73
I think this is just all it is and I'm not used to it, plus 4th gear in this thing has some pretty long legs. Been a LONG time since I drove something like this. It's amazing how much cars have been refined in 3 decades. But I have to say, other than the crank windows and lack of power locks, I'm enjoying the simplicity flashback. It'll be easier when I get the AC online so I don't have to do the one-handed passenger window roll-down while I'm going down the road. Of course it did just occur to me, this thing will probably struggle going uphill with the AC running, so there's that.
I'm gonna take a break from working on the engine stuff for a while and let my wounds heal up. I think I'll start working on getting this Explorer gauge cluster installed. I got one with a tach in it for a song from the boneyard. I just have to figure out how to run back the mileage so it matches actual current mileage, I don't want a flagged title, it bugs me for some reason.

I do have to say though, these guys do have me curious regarding DIY AC. I have no idea what I'll be billed to charge it up, but I know less about AC systems than I do old school 2.3 Ford engines. I'd like the challenge though, it's not really all about the money necessarily as long as the tools are within reason. I like doing stuff myself and learning it as I go., so I might start reading up. I've just heard that the vac pumps and stuff you need in order to do it properly are really expensive.

You're obviously a DIY guy, I'm sure that's why @RobbieD and I chimed in. Please any HVAC guys on here don't take offense, but A/C is mostly just physics and plumbing. Oof I know that might be controversial. I'm pretty sure a vacuum pump on Amazon is like $100US. Gauges are probably $50.
Assuming your system is clean and no shrapnel in it, you just need enough oil to lubricate the compressor, pull a vacuum, make sure there are no leaks, then put the right amount of gas in it. It's just basic science, not rocket science.