- Joined
- Jan 22, 2009
- Messages
- 0
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Pryor, OK
- Vehicle Year
- 1990
- Vehicle
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 2.9L
I'm saving up for a motorcycle and came across this thing that I felt would give me a good boost.
Guy from work bought it maybe 6 months ago. Drove it around a little but started having transmission trouble - it would drive fine for a while and then start losing ATF out of the bellhousing, until it lost forward gears due to low fluid. After sitting, he could top it off and drive it until it happened again.
Then he rear ended somebody, drove it a little more until the transmission did the same thing and then he parked it and offered to sell it to me for VERY cheap.
So I bought the thing a week ago Friday, but just got around today to bringing it home.
Here it is, still where it last broke down.
Close-up of the carnage.
I had to put 7 qts of transmission fluid into it before it had enough for forward gears. It might have only taken 5 or 6 but 1-2 qts poured out of the bellhousing in the time I was adding. It left a trail of ATF the entire 4 blocks to my house, and lost forward gears again just as I was pulling into my driveway and had to be pushed the last 12 feet.
First thing I did was clean out all the trash the guy had left in it. Then I cannibalized some parts that I needed for mine - the A/C fan speed knob, the plastic trim around the passenger inside door handle, and the driver door dome light switch. I will also be swapping driveshafts because this one has real U-joints and mine has CV type joints. So, one less thing I'll have to mess with when I do get around to lifting mine.
Then I pulled off the front bumper and the left fender. I flattened and hammered it out a bit just to see whether it would be acceptable to put back on rather than replace. With my intention for this truck, I'm ok with this, as long as I can get the door to open and close correctly once it's back on.
The bumper was too solid for me to bend by hand, so I may just leave it off, or bolt it back on and pull it out with a come-a-long against a tree.
The roof as a good bit of surface rust...I'm thinking I might sand it down and spray paint it white. It should go pretty well with the tan and the drip rails provide a good spot for a transition to mimic the removable top look.
The hood isn't lining up exactly...and that's even after a few minor tweaks. The latch and release do still function correctly.
The biggest challenge I have yet to deal with is the inner fender and core support. They are both pretty ****ed up, and the metal is heavier gauge than the outer fender so it's not as easy to reshape. There's not much room to get a hammer behind it so I may have to get a slide hammer after it.
So, my goal here is pretty simple - get the transmission working again (get it driveable), and do just enough bodywork that someone in the market for a sub $1500 car wouldn't be bothered by it. Basically that the bumper doesn't keep the thing from turning right, and the headlight is pointed in the right direction. Should be interesting.
Guy from work bought it maybe 6 months ago. Drove it around a little but started having transmission trouble - it would drive fine for a while and then start losing ATF out of the bellhousing, until it lost forward gears due to low fluid. After sitting, he could top it off and drive it until it happened again.
Then he rear ended somebody, drove it a little more until the transmission did the same thing and then he parked it and offered to sell it to me for VERY cheap.
So I bought the thing a week ago Friday, but just got around today to bringing it home.
Here it is, still where it last broke down.
Close-up of the carnage.
I had to put 7 qts of transmission fluid into it before it had enough for forward gears. It might have only taken 5 or 6 but 1-2 qts poured out of the bellhousing in the time I was adding. It left a trail of ATF the entire 4 blocks to my house, and lost forward gears again just as I was pulling into my driveway and had to be pushed the last 12 feet.
First thing I did was clean out all the trash the guy had left in it. Then I cannibalized some parts that I needed for mine - the A/C fan speed knob, the plastic trim around the passenger inside door handle, and the driver door dome light switch. I will also be swapping driveshafts because this one has real U-joints and mine has CV type joints. So, one less thing I'll have to mess with when I do get around to lifting mine.
Then I pulled off the front bumper and the left fender. I flattened and hammered it out a bit just to see whether it would be acceptable to put back on rather than replace. With my intention for this truck, I'm ok with this, as long as I can get the door to open and close correctly once it's back on.
The bumper was too solid for me to bend by hand, so I may just leave it off, or bolt it back on and pull it out with a come-a-long against a tree.
The roof as a good bit of surface rust...I'm thinking I might sand it down and spray paint it white. It should go pretty well with the tan and the drip rails provide a good spot for a transition to mimic the removable top look.
The hood isn't lining up exactly...and that's even after a few minor tweaks. The latch and release do still function correctly.
The biggest challenge I have yet to deal with is the inner fender and core support. They are both pretty ****ed up, and the metal is heavier gauge than the outer fender so it's not as easy to reshape. There's not much room to get a hammer behind it so I may have to get a slide hammer after it.
So, my goal here is pretty simple - get the transmission working again (get it driveable), and do just enough bodywork that someone in the market for a sub $1500 car wouldn't be bothered by it. Basically that the bumper doesn't keep the thing from turning right, and the headlight is pointed in the right direction. Should be interesting.