the Ranchero disaster & Brand X update

I have the good one, 97 7.3 turbo. Never been chipped.
It is a little slow but will pull a house down the road all day long.
The 7.3 may be the good one, but I'd rather be Cummin than 'strokin.

E27CA9DA-0A8B-4901-8CE9-EC4C68CF7DFC-22430-000003DC7C6FC87C_zps3b6a17c8.webp


I'm just messin' wit ya.
 
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I am afraid to dig into the wires for the starter and grounds. But I will strive for this nice of job. The PO upgraded the alternator, and it looks like he used the right gauge of wires. The problem is if the battery is a bit low, the solenoid might stick and need a whack. And now the starter is starting to get noisy.
 
I am afraid to dig into the wires for the starter and grounds. But I will strive for this nice of job. The PO upgraded the alternator, and it looks like he used the right gauge of wires. The problem is if the battery is a bit low, the solenoid might stick and need a whack. And now the starter is starting to get noisy.
Might be time for a starter and a battery, low voltage puts s strain on stuff.
 
Might be time for a starter and a battery, low voltage puts s strain on stuff.
The battery tests fine, (but is almost ten years old, thanks to bring stored full and disconnected and good luck.) And yes, the starter will be replaced after I get the connections and cables checked. It’s too cold to get really excited about doing it at the moment. It sounded great until the solenoid stuck last time.
 
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I learned a long time ago to keep an extra solenoid for my Fords in the glovebox... And a duraspark box back when I had one of those, the aftermarket Duraspark boxes from the parts stores in the 2000s were hot garbage and the solenoids were worse.
The solenoids are still worse than hot garbage. I bought BW or whatever brand from O'Reilly for my Mercury a few years ago. It literally fell apart in my hands when I tried to install it. I ordered a Motorcraft after that.
 
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The battery tests fine, (but is almost ten years old, thanks to bring stored full and disconnected and good luck.) And yes, the starter will be replaced after I get the connections and cables checked. It’s too cold to get really excited about doing it at the moment. It sounded great until the solenoid stuck last time.

That battery most likely needs to be desulfated.

There are many like it but this one is mine: Amazon product ASIN B001JSTM8IView: https://smile.amazon.com/XTREME-CHARGE-XC100-P-Maintenance-Desulfator/dp/B001JSTM8I/ref=sr_1_37?crid=26HLSPVA3X9QX&keywords=desulfator+battery+charger&qid=1578926263&sprefix=desulfat%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-37


Batteries that will make voltage and are stored will over time, accumulate sulfates on the plates. This destroys capacity. Putting the battery back into use with low capacity causes low voltage conditions that begin destroying the plates.

These units are worth their weight in gold when used under the right conditions.

Your alternator and regular use does a good job of preventing sulfate accumulation. Batteries could still use a desulfator once year or so. Even those in good condition.
 
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That's good to know but the dump truck is used regularly, now 'brand x' has a battery tender on it, it's 6 volt but the last battery lasted many years, like a lot more that it should have (I'm thinking 7 years) I just replaced that one.
 
That battery most likely needs to be desulfated.

There are many like it but this one is mine: Amazon product ASIN B001JSTM8IView: https://smile.amazon.com/XTREME-CHARGE-XC100-P-Maintenance-Desulfator/dp/B001JSTM8I/ref=sr_1_37?crid=26HLSPVA3X9QX&keywords=desulfator+battery+charger&qid=1578926263&sprefix=desulfat%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-37


Batteries that will make voltage and are stored will over time, accumulate sulfates on the plates. This destroys capacity. Putting the battery back into use with low capacity causes low voltage conditions that begin destroying the plates.

These units are worth their weight in gold when used under the right conditions.

Your alternator and regular use does a good job of preventing sulfate accumulation. Batteries could still use a desulfator once year or so. Even those in good condition.
This.

I use a Battery Tender Jr. it works, I've even made a battery from Sam's last ten years.
 
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20200308_120202.webp
Time for a
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update.
Got some things done around the house, on the dump truck and inside the garage, time to work on the car.
It has gotten to be a pain to drive with the sticky accelerator pedal, starts out ok but after warm up it sticks when you first try to take off, embarrassing really, try'n to take off from a stop is difficult to be smooth, ease down on the pedal and when it finally moves it's like rev'n up and I'm riding the clutch to keep from looking like a fool. And I look foolish enough.
Anyway that is just one of many things. a new issue that I spotted when I got the car into the garage and placed the drip pan under it was the lower radiator support it getting crusty, surface rust mostly from when it was straightened but not cleaned and painted. Now I have to keep the repairs/upgrades to mandatory things to get it running better/easier to drive and not turn it into a restoration.
I want to drive this crate anytime, anywhere like I did when I first put it on the road.
Manditory pics:
 
And some stuff I managed to score
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I've been looking for one of these FOREVER! It is a real metal ford piece too! Torn between restoring it and then installing or install as is to match the patina of the car now.
Also got some junk to sell (or sale, depending on your level of education)
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84 SVO turbo stuff! Including the computer. Too bad the intake manifold was missing.
20200301_105754.webp

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Including the T top glass.
 
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Of course there is always 'brand x' that still needs stuff done to it, small unimportant :shrug: stuff like a working fuel gauge, well it works but you have to guess what it is indicating :fuss: and then the charging system, it's still a generator and 6 volt and I have no idea what shape the generator is in 'cept it does charge. When it wants to.
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So I need to get to work.
I have a burnout to do.
 
To Sell or To Sale? Great. Now I’m going to have to check with a dictionary.
If you put the louvers on, patina or not, you have to have a subwoofer big enough to make them vibrate like the car is giving us the raspberries. The stereo does not even have to sound good, but the buzz is a time period requirement.
As far as the throttle cable and clutch, why not just pop the clutch and squeal the tires? I figure you are way out of your teens, so who’s going to care if you are out reliving your youth and having some fun?
 
To Sell or To Sale? Great. Now I’m going to have to check with a dictionary.
If you put the louvers on, patina or not, you have to have a subwoofer big enough to make them vibrate like the car is giving us the raspberries. The stereo does not even have to sound good, but the buzz is a time period requirement.
As far as the throttle cable and clutch, why not just pop the clutch and squeal the tires? I figure you are way out of your teens, so who’s going to care if you are out reliving your youth and having some fun?
I like your style!
Well 'cept the subwoofer thing :notnice:
And I believe it is 'to sell' and 'for sale'.
But I am a product of the 'public education system' and had to drop out of 6th grade when got my drivers license and a full time job at the junk yard pulling dog houses.
But I am not a redneck.
 
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20200308_120202.jpg
Time for a
20200308_120220.jpg
update.
Got some things done around the house, on the dump truck and inside the garage, time to work on the car.
It has gotten to be a pain to drive with the sticky accelerator pedal, starts out ok but after warm up it sticks when you first try to take off, embarrassing really, try'n to take off from a stop is difficult to be smooth, ease down on the pedal and when it finally moves it's like rev'n up and I'm riding the clutch to keep from looking like a fool. And I look foolish enough.
Anyway that is just one of many things. a new issue that I spotted when I got the car into the garage and placed the drip pan under it was the lower radiator support it getting crusty, surface rust mostly from when it was straightened but not cleaned and painted. Now I have to keep the repairs/upgrades to mandatory things to get it running better/easier to drive and not turn it into a restoration.
I want to drive this crate anytime, anywhere like I did when I first put it on the road.
Manditory pics:
Man JR, how can you work in such a brightly lit, clean area!
 
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