Needed repair piling up.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Li'l Red obviously doesn't like the bright red clown nose I've painted on her.
She's knocking on downshift's (tranny mount I assume) and the ring gear is fubar.
Im parking on hills and the alternator squeals if I have to leave the ignition on while I rock her in gear to find a point where I can get the starter to engage.

A Pioneer ring gear is only $25, but getting the engine or transmission out is NOT that cheap.
I've always had engagement problems with this flywheel.

So, I'm thinking tranny back, on the crossmember, IF the Zf-5 has room in the tunnel.
The damn thing needs rebuilding anyhow, but where do I draw the line?

I still need to replace the front end (and those parts are collected)
But -of course- money and time never meet.

I'm thinking to replace starter and alternator while the truck is down, but I need to catch up with work now that things are returning to "normal"

[old55pete]

And that s why my Bronco sat for so long, you have the time to do the repairs and not the money. Or you have the money and not the time.

I wouldent just replace the ring gear without replacing the pinion at the same time. Just a heads up on the pioneer gear sets, I got talked into rebuilding the rear end in my mini stock, a four banger. The gears gave out about half way through a 20 lap race and ended up costing me a housing to boot so I wouldent recommend them behind your 460.

Is this your daily driver? I would say to do the things that you can do over a week end so you have it on Monday morning.

I wished that you lived closer. I would come over with a service truck with a crane and air and we could have the engine and trans out in about four hours, you get to buy lunch. I wish there was some way to help you out.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I appreciate the heads up on Pioneer.
I figured "American" was likely to be better than Asian, but it's a new world.

Thanks for the offer. It is appreciated!  

I think I'm going to try and 'borrow' a wrecker for next weekend.
No problem with a dually 550 sinking in the stone dust of the paddock.

If I have the engine out I can change the leaky pan gasket too!  

[ArdWrknTrk]

By "pinion" I'm assuming you mean the mating starter gear?
I've got a new one lined up.

[Rembrant]

I'm just amazed at the miles you have on it Jim. But everything takes time, doesn't it? I actually really enjoy doing mechanic work, but ONLY when I'm in the mood to do it, and have time/not being pushed. When it's a daily driver it adds a level of stress trying to get everything done with 'convenient' downtime.

Something I'm not very good at doing is rushing...lol. I need to do things at my own speed...and it might drive Mrs. Rembrant crazy on all of the day's that end in a "y". Still, without her push sometimes I do leave things too long.

Can you farm out any of the work to a local shop just to get over the hump?

[ArdWrknTrk]

I used to drive my ex nuts with my methodology.
I would gather parts as deals showed up and budget allowed.
I try to gather everything, and still end up needing something (like washer bolts and nuts, this last time)

I bit the bullet in April because I was sick of water in the cab.
New windshield, floor, rocker, fender, weld up stress cracks in the radiator support, reseal the cowl and tried to get some paint on it.

It was raining part of every day and the paint took forever.
Still needs a third coat and a buff.

A shop could certainly pull the engine quicker than me, but the project overflow makes it less of an option.
I have to pull the seat to get the gearbox back onto the crossmember.
If I do, I can change the broken mount.
While the seat I out I can pull my crappy worn through old mat, add the sound damping insulation that I didn't do when I replaced the floor.
While that is out I should cut holes to get at the cab mounts with a hole saw and replace them (because I NOW have them. (I'm just going back with 3 1/2" body plugs, no need for oval plates)

And then I have to drop the pan, change the gasket.
Pull the flywheel and change the ring gear.
If it's out I need to consider replacing the clutch (because, labor)
And if I do that, should the flywheel go to the shop for resurfacing?

If I have the engine out why not do the TTB bushings and D44 while I have much better access???
I know I need (and have!) new ball joints and universals.
The front fluid hasn't been changed in at least a dozen years.

Then obviously new oil and coolant going back in.
Plus a starter, because I can't trust the one that's been out of mesh, and I now have it too.

You see my predicament....

[Rembrant]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

You see my predicament....

Buy a beater with a heater to run for a few weeks/month while you get it all done? Sell it when you're done...easier said than done, I know...

[ArdWrknTrk]

Shops aren't of a mind to allow you to supply parts, because that's some of their profit margin.

There's SO much "while I'm there" going on, if I were a shop I would say 'NO'
And I respect that.  

Still all this crap has to get done eventually, so why not now?
Because I have jobs backed up from the Covid, and I've made promises I don't want to shirk.
And, I don't have a good place to do it.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I've considered renting a van.
But I just put too much mileage on.

Buying (registering, actually) is off the table because DMV has been closed for so long, inspections and paperwork/plates are going to take months.
I don't want to deal with it, nor pay the taxes (both sales and property)

[Gary Lewis]

Man, oh man, that is a LOT of work.  But you are right, while you are in there is the time to do it.

As you know, when I get "in there" it takes forever.  I feel your pain, but obviously not as acutely as you, when you need to get it back on the road ASAP to earn money.  I wish I could help.  I really do.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I'm not crying the blues, and like Cory I actually feel some accomplishment in getting things done.

But when I break it out, and try to put a realistic time on each task it does get a bit overwhelming.
Add to that I'm at the mercy of the weather and I've made promises.

If the dang ring gear weren't so pressing I'd fulfill my commitments first and push the rest off (or JUST replace the ring gear)

It's really problematic to have to push over my truck in 5th to try and find a spot for the starter to engage, and each time I do it gets worse.
Sometimes I park in the open so I have room, and when I get back there is a car in front of in back of me.
Then I have no room to push, and my truck is not light.

[ArdWrknTrk]

More parts arrived today.

I got a center link from U-techcenter, some Moog swaybar bushings and end links, and the new starter from DB Electrical.

Couple of things of note.
DB Electrical parts now come marked J&N.
And come in boxes also marked Denso.







While I was on the phone with DB I also purchased another alternator.
I've been concerned with how mine is squealing when I push start my truck.
I know 'in my head' that it's just because the LRC regulator has been seeing power, but I got a discount and I had a couple of bucks.

I drilled the adjuster ear 'O' and tapped it 3/8-16, looked at the grey regulator and ordered a six second white model from eBay.

Then I looked at the test sheet.
It says 'Load Response Control' and also has the charging curve.
It's really faint, so I don't know if these will be clear, but it shows 4.5 second soft start and 2 second load response control.
Also, it's puting out over 100A at 1600 alternator rpm.
I like charging at idle. 😁

[Gary Lewis]

That’s interesting. The alternator is rated 130 but puts out 106 at 1600, 134 at 2500, and 160 at 5000 RPM. But that’s alternator R’s and the 1986 Dealer Fact Book says the 460 is geared 3:1. So it puts out 106 at 533 engine R’s, 134 @ 833, and kicks out 160 amps at 1666 R’s.

Wow!  No wonder the 3G is a favorite!

[Gary Lewis]

Jim - if you don’t have the ability to scan those sheets, how about mailing them to me and I will.

[ArdWrknTrk]

It's just one sheet Gary, but I can sent the starter data sheet too.
Back in the day I would have to use Stat film to get some better contrast.

It shows 160 output but I doubt the rectifier heatsink would save the diodes, nor the winding insulation for long.
Nobody wants to ground the regulator screw for more than a few seconds.

I'm more surprised by a gray LRC regulator.
This model with the 8mm threaded adjuster and LRC is definitely the one to get!

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, I'd agree that's the model to get.  

As for the scans, my new scanner and associated software usually turns murky pages into pretty much black and white, although I do it in gray scale.  So I think that would be good documentation to have.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Gary, did you go with the LuK 07-092 in front of your Zf?

I've obviously got to get on top of that before I change my ring gear.

[Gary Lewis]

Jim - No, I ordered clutch kit 07-910 and flywheel LFW109.  (Look here.  )

[ArdWrknTrk]

I don't need or want heavy duty.
My torn knee kills me every time I push the clutch and I feel the ligament pop over.

I would like the kit with flywheel,  as that on Amazon, but the ring gear is already coming, and I don't have the money right now.

Being for the '88 5-speed I know the disc fits the Zf input shaft.

I'm also thinking I may change the oil pump while I have the pan off.
Low pressure at hot idle, and the number of miles on this engine make me think it's a good idea.

Still kicking myself for not fighting for the 450 engine.
But I was fed up with the whole situation with that guy and didn't have a good place to put it at the time.
That truck ran like a top!

[ArdWrknTrk]

Two thumbs up to Rock Auto!
 My ring gear and trans mount are here!



Also, surprisingly, Amazon delivered my LED strips.
So I may be doing that in the dawn hours tomorrow.

The parts pile is reaching critical mass and I need to figure out how I'm going to pull this engine.
Also, given that I don't have any alternative transpo for parts running, I need to sort that.

Fortunately, I do have a couple of stores that will deliver to the barn, because I know them.
That doesn't help if I need to wade through the shelves.