1988 Ranger Restoration - Keeping a Promise

[McWillies]

The valves, etc that came on my Promax from J&C Enterprises are beyond garbage, and partly responsible for my rebuild.

J&C recycles used valves, springs, etc from old heads and drops them directly into new ones. Three of my valve springs were DOA.

Promax themselves are fine, just need finishing work. No idea about King tbh.

Well hell! I ordered a set of Promaxx heads a few hours ago because I need them ASAP... I'm not doing any work on them myself, just wanna bolt them on and drive... I'm gonna try to cancel it and order a set of Kings I guess, from what I've seen they have a decent reputation.

Edit: Wait, do you mean you purchased the heads from J&C, with their recycled valvetrain? I understood it as you purchased from Promaxx's website and they had shitty recycled valves and springs... The amount of research I'm doing hurts

Edit again: Talked with a Promaxx rep over the phone. They use brand new SBI parts on the new head castings. Sticking with them.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Just a brief update on progress (or lack thereof) made:

Finally found a machinist that is eager to take on the fitment work, Ellison Machine in Maryland.

In the end, the only things that need to be done is a bushing for the wrist pins, and shaving both rod ends to fit the journals.


However, this wouldn't be the 2.9l Trinity project if it were not faced with some massive obstacle.

In this particular case, Ford seems to have wedged a rather large hurdle in my path.

The pistons that I am using are from a detonated 5.8l trinity that met its end via an eBay tune. Six of the eight pistons are in perfect condition, but due to sloppy removal by the person I purchased them from, one of the top rings is damaged beyond use.

I talked to Mahle (piston manufacturer) to try to track down a single top ring. Still waiting to hear back on results, but they were having difficulty tracking one down when I was on the phone with them. Awaiting a return call.



The real pleasure was talking to Ford. Turns out, the ONLY way to get a set of new rings for a 5.8l Trinity is to purchase an ENTIRE ENGINE OR SHORT BLOCK from Ford. Just for laughs, I was quoted somewhere in the region of $30,000 for a short block.

Let it be known that a single ring for my engine is officially $30,000.

Now in search of a set of rings elsewhere. The saga continues.

 

[Snoranger]

Just buy the $30k ring and put it in your Ranger already.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Maybe @adsm08 can work some magic for the cause and lose one out of a block??

 

[Bgunner]

Someone some where must be able to get a "set" of rings for it. A single seems like a tough ask for a limited SVT production engine but Ford saying that you need to purchase a short block to get them seems like a major money grab. Lets hope that Mahle can track down at the least a set if not a single for you. Being that this is going to be blown engine wouldn't it be better to put all fresh rings in as a start? To me it seems pretty deep in the engine to be using used wear parts.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Someone some where must be able to get a "set" of rings for it. A single seems like a tough ask for a limited SVT production engine but Ford saying that you need to purchase a short block to get them seems like a major money grab. Lets hope that Mahle can track down at the least a set if not a single for you. Being that this is going to be blown engine wouldn't it be better to put all fresh rings in as a start? To me it seems pretty deep in the engine to be using used wear parts.

Normally I would agree, but the engine had 2,000 miles on it when it detonated. Car was put away for preservation, and the story I was told was a combination of an eBay tune and a mouse chewed wire delivered its fate.

Plus, with the current ring situation, who knows if I'm going to be using these pistons. Figures, already had SwainTech work their magic on them.

 

[adsm08]

Just a brief update on progress (or lack thereof) made:

Finally found a machinist that is eager to take on the fitment work, Ellison Machine in Maryland.

In the end, the only things that need to be done is a bushing for the wrist pins, and shaving both rod ends to fit the journals.


However, this wouldn't be the 2.9l Trinity project if it were not faced with some massive obstacle.

In this particular case, Ford seems to have wedged a rather large hurdle in my path.

The pistons that I am using are from a detonated 5.8l trinity that met its end via an eBay tune. Six of the eight pistons are in perfect condition, but due to sloppy removal by the person I purchased them from, one of the top rings is damaged beyond use.

I talked to Mahle (piston manufacturer) to try to track down a single top ring. Still waiting to hear back on results, but they were having difficulty tracking one down when I was on the phone with them. Awaiting a return call.



The real pleasure was talking to Ford. Turns out, the ONLY way to get a set of new rings for a 5.8l Trinity is to purchase an ENTIRE ENGINE OR SHORT BLOCK from Ford. Just for laughs, I was quoted somewhere in the region of $30,000 for a short block.

Let it be known that a single ring for my engine is officially $30,000.

Now in search of a set of rings elsewhere. The saga continues.

Maybe @adsm08 can work some magic for the cause and lose one out of a block??

Pfft. This has become something of a meme where I work.

What's that, part is back-ordered indefinitely? Call PACO, get it escalated to the next service assembly that comes with that part. What, no I don't care if the next available service assembly is a whole car, that just means I don't have to fix this one.



We have been dealing with a new 2020 hybrid Explorer Interceptor since March. It has persistent charging system issues. Replaced everything but the HV battery. Here last week we found out there is an isolator between the main 12V battery and the little auxiliary motorcycle battery that can go bad and cause this issue.

Guess what cooks the isolator.... Police lighting packages. Guess what isn't in the parts catalog and has no service part number assigned to it yet... That isolator.

 

[Curious Hound]

Pfft. This has become something of a meme where I work.

What's that, part is back-ordered indefinitely? Call PACO, get it escalated to the next service assembly that comes with that part. What, no I don't care if the next available service assembly is a whole car, that just means I don't have to fix this one.



We have been dealing with a new 2020 hybrid Explorer Interceptor since March. It has persistent charging system issues. Replaced everything but the HV battery. Here last week we found out there is an isolator between the main 12V battery and the little auxiliary motorcycle battery that can go bad and cause this issue.

Guess what cooks the isolator.... Police lighting packages. Guess what isn't in the parts catalog and has no service part number assigned to it yet... That isolator.

Oops!

 

[McWillies]

Get a giant c-clip and grind it to a ring, should hold up fine. If you're too worried, just jb weld it into the piston groove.

 

[sgtsandman]

Don't give him any ideas. He might do it.

 

[deathbypsi]

Try calling Total Seal. I needed some obsolete rings for a motor I was building and the made a set for me for around $180