Wildgoose 4,200 Posted June 27, 2015 The family truckster and business mobile finally ran out of steam and I had to insert some new squirrels under the hood. 209,500mi I didn't feel it owed me much. Found a decent transplant from a local yard and spent the last week doing open heart surgery. All I can say is when it hits near 100 in Idaho it's way too hot to be crawling around under a car. AND I'm getting way too old for this kind of thing, but it seems to run pretty good so they didn't sell me a dud. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Command 97 Posted June 27, 2015 Good going mate, Got her back from the dead and back on the road. I wish I was that mechanically inclined, like you. I used to run away from the old man when I was a kid. Didn't want to get my hands dirty! Now I'm limited to part swapping simple stuff and doing maintenance only. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybyrd 3,770 Posted June 28, 2015 In the middle of open heart surgery on a 95 ranger I recently acquired and taking my sweet time in this heat. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slice&dice 2,450 Posted June 28, 2015 P'shaw. I just replaced the headlight lamp on my Ford Focus. In the rain. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BannerJohn 1,324 Posted June 28, 2015 P'shaw. I just replaced the headlight lamp on my Ford Focus. In the rain. been there done that. They don't make it easy. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ravenwind / One Off Grafx 187 Posted June 28, 2015 it was 111 here today in montana. all i could manage to work on was a nap lol have 2 transplants to do soon going to suck. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
express2100 154 Posted June 28, 2015 Sounds like a good time goose! How many spins on the used mil? What tranny do you have? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wildgoose 4,200 Posted June 28, 2015 Sounds like a good time goose! How many spins on the used mil? What tranny do you have? Supposedly only 140K but It's a junk yard so I take that with a grain of salt. It was looking pretty good when I pulled the valve covers and also looking down into the intake ports during the parts swap. My 04 is a flex-fuel so I had to swap out most of the intake system. My bur is just a half ton so I assume it has the modern equivalent to a th350 but haven't looked it up or had many issues so far. We put a new transfer case in her a couple years back. The old motor had developed a weird noise and it was said to be one of the cam lobes giving up. With that many miles on it I wasn't wanting to put any new parts in that one. New motor runs great so far. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybyrd 3,770 Posted June 28, 2015 Trans should be a 4L60. The HD 4L80 was usually only offered in 3/4 and 1 ton vehicles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybyrd 3,770 Posted June 28, 2015 If you ever want to know the mileage approx. get the vin and run it through carfax. When I worked at the yard somebody did that and found an 80k motor according to the counter guy was more like 280k. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KYSIGN 233 Posted June 28, 2015 P'shaw. I just replaced the headlight lamp on my Ford Focus. In the rain. I always slice a finger... or two and/or rip a knuckle. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wildgoose 4,200 Posted June 28, 2015 If you ever want to know the mileage approx. get the vin and run it through carfax. When I worked at the yard somebody did that and found an 80k motor according to the counter guy was more like 280k. Ha ha! That's what I worried about but for $600 it was as good a deal as I could hope to find and it was out of a rollover so I know it was running when it last saw duty. I was happy with the visual inspection inside the valve covers and it seems to be running great so it's definitely an improvement over our old one that was making an aweful racket. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybyrd 3,770 Posted June 28, 2015 I always go to the wrecks, straight cars are for body parts motor or Trans is usually why they're in the junkyard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Macon Innovations 228 Posted June 28, 2015 Here is a Volvo I had to replace the head light bulbs on Friday....It really is getting to were you can't do anything on your own vehicle anymore..... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Command 97 Posted June 29, 2015 I have GE Nighthawks ready to be put into my crappy 1999 Ford Escort. To put the bulbs in you need to have a stunted arm with fingers that bend backwards and a hunch like quasimodo...... Same goes for the back two spark plugs on the mazda b2500 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wildgoose 4,200 Posted June 29, 2015 What really sucks about the new stuff is that a lot of things (on the chevy anyway) are actually easier than they look but you don't figure that out until you break some plastic part doing it the wrong way. Once out you go...oh, I just had to push and turn that counter clockwise and it pops off!!!! Then the challenge is to remember how it was supposed to go the next time you change it out in a couple years....I know this was easy.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
signyouup 178 Posted June 29, 2015 Had a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan and if it wasn't for me being 6'5" and my ape arms the plugs on the backside would of never got changed. I had to jack it way up and change them from underneath and I could barely reach one of the plugs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrznFire07 217 Posted June 29, 2015 The tranny in expedition is going out and since it's our only four wheel drive I am trying to decide whether or not it's worth it to replace. I can do simple mechanical stuff but transmission? I think I'm in over my head. lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybyrd 3,770 Posted June 29, 2015 The tranny in expedition is going out and since it's our only four wheel drive I am trying to decide whether or not it's worth it to replace.I can do simple mechanical stuff but transmission? I think I'm in over my head. lol Easier than in a chevy. edit: that expedition trans one big, heavy sucker. I would not recommend doing it without a transmission jack. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrznFire07 217 Posted June 29, 2015 Easier than in a chevy. edit: that expedition trans one big, heavy sucker. I would not recommend doing it without a transmission jack. good to know (that could've been a disaster), thx. Honestly as i much as i would love to rebuild/replace it i think it might be better just to sell it as a mechanics special. on a side note... I have a great deal on a 1997 Ford Expedition if anyone is interested! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
