What seemed like a fairly easy weekend PAIR system and rear heater core delete has turned into a bigger project. Started with the PAIR delete...that was easy as I had the new O2 sensors to pop in the pair tube holes, old nuts came off like butter and installed new ones as always for parts like this.
Next up was the rear heater core delete...this was fairly easy too, but my hands and body took a bit of a beating getting all of those extra hose clamps out back up on the firewall...laying on the motor wasn't too terribly comfortable with my big bones! All said and done, it wasn't hateful. While doing that, I heard the slightest "crack" sound when finishing up on the heater control valve...not sure if it was on the mount or a nipple, so a new one is on order just in case along with the upper PHH hard line connector hose. This is easy with the system still drained, just waiting on parts.
Next up was to pull the elbow off of the block that goes to the upper radiator hose to drill and tap for the Koso water temp gauge...a perfect spot right on top of the elbow for this that others have done. It's been said that you can do this on the truck, but I don't want any metal shavings in my cooling system, so 2 nuts to pop that elbow off and it'll be a snap....NOT! The lower nut is very tricky to get to as it basically fouls on the alternator mount that holds the top pivot bolt for the alt. Ok...time to pull out the alternator to drop that mount! That's out now, waiting for parts...I'll tap for the gauge today and get that wired up so it's ready to go when I get more parts in...including the radiator hoses since the've been pulled off now.
Next up, now that the alternator is out, new belts for sure...and an upgrade to a 150 amp unit from the stock 80 amp. Got the Delta kit on the way for mounting, wiring, and pulley...
Just waiting on parts now!
And on a side note, my son Andrew and I went to pick up a set of Dana 60's for his Explorer SAS build...ditching the Dana 44 that he had for the front to go full monty...dayum these things are heavy! Picked up some roller 37’s and probably getting gears and locker from the marketplace seller, found in Chesapeake Beach…