SenorNoob's '88 Ext Cab "Build"

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Is there any stock or aftermarket pinion brakes available that you know of?

Not that I’m aware of. Quite likely would have to be a custom setup, but I don’t think it would be particularly difficult to make happen.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Not that I’m aware of. Quite likely would have to be a custom setup, but I don’t think it would be particularly difficult to make happen.

Yeah, I was thinking of how to go about it years ago. I've thought of adapting brake system from small motorcycle, atv, go-cart, bicycle. Never have gone and actually looked to see if any of those are viable. I have a pair of rotors and calipers meant for a trailer, but will adapt onto 8.8 rear axle, that don't have an option for parking brakes. Once i get to installing them I'll investigate more closely.

 

[SenorNoob]

I've been wondering what it would take to use the 94-04 Mustang style calipers with parking brake. From memory rotor thickness seems about right. It'd be wild if they just bolted on to the Explorer backing plate. No way Ford would make it that easy.

I picked up a cheap rear view mirror phone mount for my dash cam plan last night. I think the ball is gonna need to be modified to held the weight I want, but gotta get it in the truck to see.

 

[SenorNoob]

Truck is completely reassembled now. Drives pretty good. The brakes aren't as touchy as they were. Almost think I need to bleed them better, but they're working consistently, and the touchiness may have been because the passenger rear caliper was dragging slightly all the time. (I mean slightly. It took 2 years to wear though one pad.)

This is the phone mount for my dash cam phone.

That wouldn't do at all. The day/night switch was inaccessible. It moved the mirror easily. The phone was floppy, AND it blocked the entire middle 1/3 of the windshield.

This is what it looks like now.

I'm thinking 4 3/4 to inch magnets on the bottom and something to tighten that ball better (Maybe even just set it where I want and epoxy it in place.) then wrap the bottom with bandage tape so it doesn't scratch the dash up and it'll be ready. If that doesn't work out, I have a plan to replace the whole arm and ball with a single plate.

 

[SenorNoob]

Completed mods to the dash cam mount. 2 pack of 99¢ bar magnets from harbor fright and some of their super glue. Hose clamp works great on the ball mount.

Video Test:

 

[SenorNoob]

Since the fuel pump swap, I've had hard starts at 1/4 tank or less. I noticed week before last when filled up that there was an awful lot of air movement when I cracked the gas cap. So this time around when it got 1/4 tank, I pulled the cap and let the pressure equalize. No more hard start. All the way down to empty.

Apparently it's been pulling a vacuum on the tank? LOL. IDK how when the line to the charcoal canister is unhooked. (It does have a spot where the in-frame pump was mashed flat though so maybe air tight there?) That'd be about right with my luck. This whole time it was just the pump not getting much fuel cause the tank was under vacuum.

On a more positive note, Filled up this morning and calculated out to 19.1MPG

 

[SenorNoob]

For anyone watching the Fall Colors Campout thread, ya know I had some problems.

Time to get them fixed.

It's all apart now. I have bushings (and new pedal covers at $8 each why not?) coming. I'm going to try to find some thinner steel to make a single piece repair plate and weld up the crack and weld the plate on. I hope my little welder still works. It's been sitting on the porch for a couple years now. Gotta find some fresh rods too.

I'm thinking 1/16 6013. Would be nice if I could find it closer than harbor freight.

I also have a new ignition switch on the way. I know it won't hurt, and might help the stalling on long downhills problem. Either way it needs done. I've crimped the current on back together 3 times now.

 

[Curious Hound]

Wow. You're getting right on it. Might want to source some extra pieces of thin material to practice on before you start blowing holes in fixing the actual truck.

 

[SenorNoob]

I gotta be absolutely sure it's ready for Basecamp Southeast in 1 month. Even If I have to buy and change the flywheel, clutch kit, and slave and master before then.

Good point on the extra metal. I wonder if I can scrounge up an old computer case? I did find the pack of welding rods from the last time I worked on seat rails.

Also this is my daily driver. I can drive Brittney's truck. I will for at least the rest of this week. I don't like to because I don't trust the idiots at work not to run over it in the parking lot. It's short and brown so easily missed in the dark. My truck has a little more commanding presence. LOL