I’m back with an Esky this time

[Snowbound]

I’ve been burning the candle at both ends here lately. I’ve been trying to get my sled done for the season. Few quick updates.
My rear suspension took a beating from gravel roads. I had to clean this up.


Disassembled the entire skid and had to blast and paint everything.

I moved the fuse box from under the hood to above the clutch belt guard so it’s easy access in case I blow a fuse. It’s a pain to pull the hood and if a fuse blows while out on a ride, your screwed. So I made 2 of these, one for my brother.

This is on my brothers sled so I could see if I could store a spare belt using this fuse panel bracket to help hold in place. Worked out perfectly.



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[Snowbound]

Then I got my new track installed with all new bearings on driveshaft.

Got the skid back in and track adjusted.


Radiator took a beating too.

There’s a front protective cover that goes in front of the radiator but it’s just expanded metal and provided no protection from debris. I had this so I decided to make a new guard.

Got the radiator fins straightened out and cleaned it up and painted it.

Oil tank and chaincase cover reinstalled.

New header gasket

Got the header back on

Made new skid plates out of 1/8” stainless. The thin aluminum ones already took a hit and wouldn’t take much to puncture.

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[Snowbound]

Buttoned up my sway bar. I didn’t want to weld a tab onto the lower a-arm so I searched for some type of clamp system that I could use. Was coming up short so I talked to a buddy of mine that works at machine shop and he made me exactly what I needed.

Air box modded by opening up the inlet, suppose to add 7-10hp. Air box and radiator back in and coolant filled.


Then my work truck, 2015 F250 did what Fords do best, broke. It started missing real bad. Has a 6.2 in it.

Truck has less than 14k miles.

No warranty, it’s past the date. It would still be under warranty if it wasn’t considered a commercial vehicle. Found 2 bad coils and also changed the plugs. 2 per cylinder, Ford will do anything to try and keep their engines running I guess.

Still missing! I pulled the plugs back out to check gaps, I tested wires and other coils then had to dig a little deeper. Found a broken valve spring! WTF!? 14,000 miles!

Replaced that and still throwing codes and no power. Ended up putting new cats and O2 sensors in from bad coils dumping fuel into cat.

$2600 later, it’s good again. For now, it is a Ford.


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[Snowbound]

Then the Esky started acting up. She called me and said it was making a funny noise and didn’t want to go. I told her to try and make it home. Codes:
P1175 fuel trim balance bank 2
P0521 oil pressure sensor/switch circuit range performance
P0523 oil pressure sensor/switch circuit hi volt
P0700 TCM request MIL
Then these trans codes
P0796 control solenoid C perf/stuck off
P0872 trans fluid pressure sensor/switch C circuit low

So I looked at what scanner said for oil pressure and it read 129PSI. So I put a sensor in it. Then the scanner read 52PSI like it should. Went to take it for a ride and wouldn’t go into reverse. No codes. I had to raise idle to get it to move. Shit!!

What a joke it is trying to pull trans pan off this thing. I had to pry Y-pipe down in order to get pan out. This is not good.

So now I’m pulling the trans.

New trans on its way. Should be Friday but probably not until next Monday or Tuesday. I had some upgrades done to it. Gonna be dyno tested on Tuesday hopefully and then shipped out. With upgrades, guaranteed to hold 750hp. But I just wanted the better parts and line pressure boost kit to hold clutches better. So this is exactly what I needed right before Xmas and while I’m finishing up my sled. I’m not driving my Firebird so she can use my truck so I bought a Camry from a family member to keep her rolling and out of my truck. I’ll just sell it when I get this trans done which should be in 2 weeks. I’m fixing broken exhaust manifold bolt while it’s down, flushing trans lines and cooler in radiator, replacing trans cooler, doing u-joints, trans mount, rear main seal, oil change and a sticky power running board.

No rest for the wicked! I’ll take you guys along for the ride, don’t worry.


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[Sam Harris]

Buttoned up my sway bar. I didn’t want to weld a tab onto the lower a-arm so I searched for some type of clamp system that I could use. Was coming up short so I talked to a buddy of mine that works at machine shop and he made me exactly what I needed.

Air box modded by opening up the inlet, suppose to add 7-10hp. Air box and radiator back in and coolant filled.


Then my work truck, 2015 F250 did what Fords do best, broke. It started missing real bad. Has a 6.2 in it.

Truck has less than 14k miles.

No warranty, it’s past the date. It would still be under warranty if it wasn’t considered a commercial vehicle. Found 2 bad coils and also changed the plugs. 2 per cylinder, Ford will do anything to try and keep their engines running I guess.

Still missing! I pulled the plugs back out to check gaps, I tested wires and other coils then had to dig a little deeper. Found a broken valve spring! WTF!? 14,000 miles!

Replaced that and still throwing codes and no power. Ended up putting new cats and O2 sensors in from bad coils dumping fuel into cat.

$2600 later, it’s good again. For now, it is a Ford.


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Damn. Only 14k in?!? ******* Ford!

 

[Sam Harris]

Then the Esky started acting up. She called me and said it was making a funny noise and didn’t want to go. I told her to try and make it home. Codes:
P1175 fuel trim balance bank 2
P0521 oil pressure sensor/switch circuit range performance
P0523 oil pressure sensor/switch circuit hi volt
P0700 TCM request MIL
Then these trans codes
P0796 control solenoid C perf/stuck off
P0872 trans fluid pressure sensor/switch C circuit low

So I looked at what scanner said for oil pressure and it read 129PSI. So I put a sensor in it. Then the scanner read 52PSI like it should. Went to take it for a ride and wouldn’t go into reverse. No codes. I had to raise idle to get it to move. Shit!!

What a joke it is trying to pull trans pan off this thing. I had to pry Y-pipe down in order to get pan out. This is not good.

So now I’m pulling the trans.

New trans on its way. Should be Friday but probably not until next Monday or Tuesday. I had some upgrades done to it. Gonna be dyno tested on Tuesday hopefully and then shipped out. With upgrades, guaranteed to hold 750hp. But I just wanted the better parts and line pressure boost kit to hold clutches better. So this is exactly what I needed right before Xmas and while I’m finishing up my sled. I’m not driving my Firebird so she can use my truck so I bought a Camry from a family member to keep her rolling and out of my truck. I’ll just sell it when I get this trans done which should be in 2 weeks. I’m fixing broken exhaust manifold bolt while it’s down, flushing trans lines and cooler in radiator, replacing trans cooler, doing u-joints, trans mount, rear main seal, oil change and a sticky power running board.

No rest for the wicked! I’ll take you guys along for the ride, don’t worry.


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Man, that sucks! Seems like you always have a ton of shit to deal with. Best luck to you with the trans, and everything you’ve got going on!

 

[Snowbound]

Man, that sucks! Seems like you always have a ton of shit to deal with. Best luck to you with the trans, and everything you’ve got going on!

Thanks, I need it. I forgot to mention, last week on Monday my daughter had a 102* fever after I picked her up from school. Spent 5 hrs in the ER to find out she had pneumonia.


By Wednesday it hit me too. I struggled but worked thru it while fixing that stupid Ford.


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[Sam Harris]

Thanks, I need it. I forgot to mention, last week on Monday my daughter had a 102* fever after I picked her up from school. Spent 5 hrs in the ER to find out she had pneumonia.


By Wednesday it hit me too. I struggled but worked thru it while fixing that stupid Ford.


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Dammit, that’s crappy! I just got back from urgent care with my kiddo. Seemed like strep, 102* fever as well. So far, initial test came back negative. We’ll see in a couple days if that holds. Sending some good wishes and prayers your way brother.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Damn Jim, tought I had problems! At least you're able to work through them and fix your stuff. No fun getting sick and having to work through it. I'm fighting a cold now myself--damn partner at work got me sick.

Dammit, that’s crappy! I just got back from urgent care with my kiddo. Seemed like strep, 102* fever as well. So far, initial test came back negative. We’ll see in a couple days if that holds. Sending some good wishes and prayers your way brother.

Hoping your kiddo is doing ok @Sam Harris. Tis the cold season !

 

[Sam Harris]

Damn Jim, tought I had problems! At least you're able to work through them and fix your stuff. No fun getting sick and having to work through it. I'm fighting a cold now myself--damn partner at work got me sick.

Hoping your kiddo is doing ok @Sam Harris. Tis the cold season !

Thanks Tony. Hope you get better soon as well!