• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

SenorNoob's '88 Ext Cab "Build"


RayInStl

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2015
Messages
316
Reaction score
38
Location
St. Louis, MO
Vehicle Year
1983
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.3L
Transmission
Manual
My credo
Well, that didn't work. Let's try something else!
Kinda like the truck I bought that came with an extra "good" motor... That had been left with it's manifolds off in the rain for a couple of years, laying on its side. "Good" if I want to tear it down and rebuild it, I suppose. Sucks the junkyard did you like that.
 


bobbywalter

TRS Technical Staff
TRS Event Staff
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Technical Advisor
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ugly Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Aug 9, 2007
Messages
24,683
Reaction score
6,048
Location
woodhaven mi
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
those engines run.....generally they are way out of balance in regards to cylinder psi and valve train dynamics....and seem fine. i had one that was aweful and took two and a half years of a teenager beating on it to finally kill it.

it costs more to open one up then to get a 300 dollar runner... so i just buy a runner. when those are gone. i will figure out the next thing.


glad you ordered the whole valvetrain kit though.....
 

SenorNoob

Well-Known Member
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
3,192
Reaction score
1,173
Location
Middle Tennessee
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
1.5" Front + 4" Rear
Tire Size
245-70-R16
The current engine still runs good. I'm just noticing that climbing hills I down 2 gears and double throttle from what it was just a couple years ago.

Valve springs on this engine are @$#Y@$#%#$%@^&*. The springs have to be a full coil bind to have any hope of getting the keepers out. That means a normal compressor is out of the question. I ended up using a piece of low profile unistrut and a 10mm socket head bolt with 3/8 washer on it. I was able to remove the intake springs by putting the bolt in the holes above the exhaust ports and the exhaust by putting the bolt in the rocker arm mount holes. Then the keepers were stuck enough that I had to hold that compressed and smack the bottom of the valve with a screwdriver handle.

Here is one rocker arm rebuilt:

I was worried about the press fit on the pedestals. Turns out that was not an issue. After cleaning the shaft the press fit was loose enough that I could almost get them in place by hand.

And all these parts are really helping my magnet collection.


I've got just one more weekend to get this thing assembled. Gotta be able to install over Memorial Day weekend.
 

SenorNoob

Well-Known Member
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
3,192
Reaction score
1,173
Location
Middle Tennessee
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
1.5" Front + 4" Rear
Tire Size
245-70-R16
I met my deadline with a few hours to spare. It was an interesting experience. First up pictures. Again in no particular order.

Old engine out. Can you tell the valve covers leak? LOL

New engine on stand Saturday morning.

Installed. This was taken Monday afternoon when I got back to work to startup the plant for the week.

Brittney recorded the first start...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B10agvQtvSY

It sounded awful until about halfway home. I can hardly hear it running now. I do have an intermittent check engine light. (I actually need to check the code this time. First time it was 172.) I suspect it's related to a dirty MAF, a small exhaust leak somewhere, or a small vacuum leak. Time to go hunting.

I broke the crankshaft pulley bolt on Friday night while doing assembly. Had to go to Gallatin (30 ish miles away) to get a replacement. Then while it weas out I thought I'd break loose the bolts holding the power steering pump to the bracket.


As you can see that didn't go well either. I also learned that to get the engine on new mounts, the transmission has to come completely out. at least that meant I was able to put that mount in at the same time. So far it seems to run well. and the power is back. I've got a full tank of gas thought it now. Will report back with MPG after next fill up. It had averaged 18.5 before. I did find out along the way that my radiator is nearly stopped up. It was taking a long time to drain at the valve, so I pulled the lower hose. When I went to reinstall it it had about half a gallon of coolant still in it. Apparently it took 24 hours to flow that much from one side to the other. I have a new one on the way.
 
Last edited:

SenorNoob

Well-Known Member
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
3,192
Reaction score
1,173
Location
Middle Tennessee
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
1.5" Front + 4" Rear
Tire Size
245-70-R16
Engine has been doing well. I pulled 19.9MPG over 2 weeks of going back and forth to work. (6 miles each way)

Got a new radio in. Directions for my next trip should be easier.

 

SenorNoob

Well-Known Member
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
3,192
Reaction score
1,173
Location
Middle Tennessee
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
1.5" Front + 4" Rear
Tire Size
245-70-R16
I have been doing lots of window shopping for the truck lately. If we ever get to work overtime again, I'll have a list. I'm gonna record it here before I forget something.
In no particular order again...

Dorman 43-883 Rear Leaf Spring
Aussie Locker XD-13527 Dana 35 With Hardened Cross Shaft
Aussie Locker XD-48831 Ford 8.8 31 Spline
I know I'll need an open carrier for that. I could use a driver's side axle-shaft anyway. And I can get the whole thing at the junkyard for not much more.
Right Coil Spring Tower
Left Coil Spring Tower
2FT of 2.5x2.5x0.25 Square Tubing
That's to make my own lift blocks if the springs above are too short.
U-Bolt, 3 1/4" X 5/8" X 10" x4
DIY Rear Bumper Kit Fit For Jeep
This looks like it would be stupid easy to make fit the front and add a receiver at the same time.
Yukon R&P Model 35 IFS Reverse Rotation - 4.56
Why did I just find that for $286 at Bronco Graveyard? How can they sell it cheaper than Yukon?
D35 Master Overhaul Kit TTB
8.8" Ford Gears - 4.56 Ratio & Master Bearing / Installation Kit
2″ Body Lift 1989-92 Ford Ranger
And of course appropriate tires to go with all of that. 285/75R16

Anybody see anything I'm missing there?
 

Terrys87

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Nov 29, 2021
Messages
302
Reaction score
292
Location
Anderson Mo.
Vehicle Year
87
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Transmission
Automatic
Just checking in on your thread. Glad to see you are still moving along. I dont have any suggestions for your parts list. I too keep a list on my phone for window shopping and when I go to the bone yard.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Today's birthdays

TRS Events

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Rick W
October Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Vagabond Video

25th Anniversary Merch

Follow TRS On Instagram

25th Anniversary Sponsors

TRS-3 Ford Ranger Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top