Registry 3FE Owners Check-In (8 Viewers)

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They should, but I have a 1/91, and I've seen people sometimes clarifying their production date...which concerns me a bit.
 
Received a stock 1991 for my first car and couldn’t be more excited. Stock for now.
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I'm ready to set my 80 on fire and push it off a cliff. I'm half way through day 7 of working on it. New radiator, hoses, water pump, power steering pump, belts and gaskets (valve cover, pushrod cover, oil pan, and timing cover). That last one is the problem. I put a new timing cover gasket on, but didn't change the one behind the timing gears as you have to remove the cam and timing gear from the crank to get to it. The one behind it is now leaking a continuous piss stream of oil. It's always leaked a little, but not like this. Loud and thunderous curse words. Anyone in the PNW want a cheap 80?
 
I'm ready to set my 80 on fire and push it off a cliff. I'm half way through day 7 of working on it. New radiator, hoses, water pump, power steering pump, belts and gaskets (valve cover, pushrod cover, oil pan, and timing cover). That last one is the problem. I put a new timing cover gasket on, but didn't change the one behind the timing gears as you have to remove the cam and timing gear from the crank to get to it. The one behind it is now leaking a continuous piss stream of oil. It's always leaked a little, but not like this. Loud and thunderous curse words. Anyone in the PNW want a cheap 80?
don't give up.
 
don't give up.

Pro tip: There are two short screws in the timing cover. They don't go where you think they do. If you put them in the wrong spot, it pushes the inner timing cover away from the block allowing oil to barf all over your freshly painted timing cover. I hate to admit it, but the only reason I figured that out is by reading the manual. Probably should have been step one.

I should probably order a new cam and lifters and do the inner gasket too, but if I don't get this thing on the road I'll be riding my motorcycle to work in subzero temps. Heaters are nice.

I'll save the cam for another time, or just LS swap it and stop messing around.
 
Why do you need a new cam and lifters?

Well, if I have it out already... 200k miles the old one is ugly but the lobes are still there. It’s been idling for 20 minutes and hasn’t leaked a drop, so it might get kicked down the road until overhaul time.
 
Picked up a 1992 about a month ago. It runs really smooth and passed cali smog so that a good sign the engine is in decent shape. First thing I noticed was A LOT of the heater hoses were OE. Decided first thing was to go thru the cooling system. Replaced EVERY hose (There's a lot of them lol), thermostat, new belts, replaced alternator (it was making a little noise) and power steering pump ( it was leaking), replaced ALL fluids and fixed a few minor oil leaks. (cannot stand oil leaks) and last thing was I added a magnflow muffler. PO had just done a major tune up using decent parts so I left that alone. PO also just added a OME 2.5 lift with 850's in front and 860's in the rear with bilstein shocks. I added American racing wheels and 33/12.50/15's M/T.

Over the holidays we went up to big bear with it. First thing I noticed when starting to climb the HWY 38 is it was having a hard time maintaining the speed limit. With me, my wife and 2 kids and some food/tooling...etc in it i feel I need to address the efficiency of the engine. Not looking to add tons more power, just get it more efficient. I was thinking of bumping timing to 12 degrees, and adding 4 hole injectors. What else do you guys think will help it out just a little.....I do not want to push it so hard to maintain the speed limit.What are the thoughts on new or deleting the cats? Please let me know what else you guys have discover on the 3FE to help.

Really loving this vehicle. Just a great vehicle to drive and enjoy. I came from a 1992 jeep xj to this and man I hate all those years putting money in to the jeep when I could have had a LC the whole time haha.
 
Picked up a 1992 about a month ago. It runs really smooth and passed cali smog so that a good sign the engine is in decent shape. First thing I noticed was A LOT of the heater hoses were OE. Decided first thing was to go thru the cooling system. Replaced EVERY hose (There's a lot of them lol), thermostat, new belts, replaced alternator (it was making a little noise) and power steering pump ( it was leaking), replaced ALL fluids and fixed a few minor oil leaks. (cannot stand oil leaks) and last thing was I added a magnflow muffler. PO had just done a major tune up using decent parts so I left that alone. PO also just added a OME 2.5 lift with 850's in front and 860's in the rear with bilstein shocks. I added American racing wheels and 33/12.50/15's M/T.

Over the holidays we went up to big bear with it. First thing I noticed when starting to climb the HWY 38 is it was having a hard time maintaining the speed limit. With me, my wife and 2 kids and some food/tooling...etc in it i feel I need to address the efficiency of the engine. Not looking to add tons more power, just get it more efficient. I was thinking of bumping timing to 12 degrees, and adding 4 hole injectors. What else do you guys think will help it out just a little.....I do not want to push it so hard to maintain the speed limit.What are the thoughts on new or deleting the cats? Please let me know what else you guys have discover on the 3FE to help.

Really loving this vehicle. Just a great vehicle to drive and enjoy. I came from a 1992 jeep xj to this and man I hate all those years putting money in to the jeep when I could have had a LC the whole time haha.

What is the gear ratio? I have 4.88's with 35's and it does as well as a stock rig. I don't own a timing light, but I did advance the timing by ear and it helps some. Mine doesn't have cats, but this motor doesn't push enough air for them to restrict much. A good tune up will get more power than cats/no cats. Smaller tires with less rolling resistance would help even more.
 
Picked up a 1992 about a month ago. It runs really smooth and passed cali smog so that a good sign the engine is in decent shape. First thing I noticed was A LOT of the heater hoses were OE. Decided first thing was to go thru the cooling system. Replaced EVERY hose (There's a lot of them lol), thermostat, new belts, replaced alternator (it was making a little noise) and power steering pump ( it was leaking), replaced ALL fluids and fixed a few minor oil leaks. (cannot stand oil leaks) and last thing was I added a magnflow muffler. PO had just done a major tune up using decent parts so I left that alone. PO also just added a OME 2.5 lift with 850's in front and 860's in the rear with bilstein shocks. I added American racing wheels and 33/12.50/15's M/T.

Over the holidays we went up to big bear with it. First thing I noticed when starting to climb the HWY 38 is it was having a hard time maintaining the speed limit. With me, my wife and 2 kids and some food/tooling...etc in it i feel I need to address the efficiency of the engine. Not looking to add tons more power, just get it more efficient. I was thinking of bumping timing to 12 degrees, and adding 4 hole injectors. What else do you guys think will help it out just a little.....I do not want to push it so hard to maintain the speed limit.What are the thoughts on new or deleting the cats? Please let me know what else you guys have discover on the 3FE to help.

Really loving this vehicle. Just a great vehicle to drive and enjoy. I came from a 1992 jeep xj to this and man I hate all those years putting money in to the jeep when I could have had a LC the whole time haha.

I hear you on the jeep. I have a 86' I spent more money and time on than I care to admit, and she is a great example of a dd cj7, just put a meyer plow on her that was OEM for that year (just for my old man and neighbors). However, there is no comparison between the CJ and LC, except I think my 3FE has a little more power than my L6 258 in the CJ. Enjoy the new rig, as I get older I'm cool with being the old man going slow in the right lane. That said, my LC is going to get some serious rear end protection to defend against people looking at their phones instead of the road.
 
Stock gears. Tune up is all fresh. That's a good point these engines do not move a lot of air. I might try new cats and see. Anything worth s shot lol


What is the gear ratio? I have 4.88's with 35's and it does as well as a stock rig. I don't own a timing light, but I did advance the timing by ear and it helps some. Mine doesn't have cats, but this motor doesn't push enough air for them to restrict much. A good tune up will get more power than cats/no cats. Smaller tires with less rolling resistance would help even more.
 

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