Justa Hound Wagon

[Rowdy Fitz]

So this will be a rather large pic dump. Bought the truck as a project for $500. It’s an 89 4x4 that came with a 2.9. The guy had started the 4.0 swap but got discouraged with the wiring. I bought it, finished the wiring, swapped in a D35 and 8.8 from the explorer the engine came from. Regeared them to 4.56’s and added lockers. I extended the radius arms and swapped in 65” chevy leafs, with the help of the DR dudes and the ranger station tech files.

 

[Rowdy Fitz]

 

[Rowdy Fitz]

So on the first shake down run I found out that you have to shorten the RA/coil retaining bolts. They hit the axle shafts. The rest of the pictures show the trip leading up to the transmission failure. It had the original FM146 and it seized up while breaking trail in the snow. Because of the remoteness, the truck had to stay there for 4 months, until the snow melted off and I could get to it with my F-350 to drag it out.

 

[Rowdy Fitz]

So it’s home and I replaced the trans with a rebuilt m5od. I decided to install the 4.0 flywheel, clutch and starter instead of going with the weaker 2.9 crap I already have. I also bought new rims snd tires. I went with Milestar Pategonias in load range E 285/75/16’s which are just under a 33x12.5. I got the tires off eBay for $1125 shipped to my house. The rims csme from 4 wheel parts and are procomp 16”x8” with a 4.5” offset. Then there’s the next list of things I need or want to do. I should have it up and running today. I may or may not put the tires on and trim fenders. We will see.

 

[Rowdy Fitz]

So for shits and giggles, I tried the ecm I picked up yesterday from a 95 explorer that had a 5 speed.
WOW!!!
This thing is a whole new animal!!!
I can spin the tires on the pavement in 1st gear, from a stop. I can spin the tires starting off in 2nd gear and then go to the pavement and drift sideways until it loses momentum and I can get up to 65mph in 1/2 the time it used to take!!!

 

[UCD BAJA]

Fuck yeah, thats cool!!!

 

[84projectFORD]

So for shits and giggles, I tried the ecm I picked up yesterday from a 95 explorer that had a 5 speed.
WOW!!!
This thing is a whole new animal!!!
I can spin the tires on the pavement in 1st gear, from a stop. I can spin the tires starting off in 2nd gear and then go to the pavement and drift sideways until it loses momentum and I can get up to 65mph in 1/2 the time it used to take!!!

just from an ecm change?? damn, that old one must have been fuuuucked

 

[Rowdy Fitz]

Yeah, it was like going from a 2.9 to a 5.0 damn near.

 

[Rowdy Fitz]

View attachment IMG_2792.MOV

 

[Rowdy Fitz]

Put the new ECM in and test drove it. It’s running great now! No more floating idle or stalling and the CEL is gone. Since I have a spare truck behind the garage, (I got it free from a pot farm out in California, I just had to haul it home) I pulled the alternator off and put it on this truck. That seems to have been the charging issue… lol

But in the process, I broke the plastic intake tube. Luckily I had a spare 3 piece but I had to clean it and find new hose clamps for it. I put the alt and intake tube on then repinned the oil gauge since it hasn’t worked this whole time. It’s reading on the high side and the tach is now acting all screwy. The tach started the other day and doesn’t have anything to do with the oil gauge wire. I’m also gonna pick up a new T-stat today.

 

[Rowdy Fitz]

I took it for a quick trip yesterday. 107 miles each way, plus about 15 miles of wash boards. The gauges are all fucky and the alternator isn’t charging to capacity. Not sure if it’s a wiring issue or if both used alternators are just bad. It’ll start fine one time and then after driving it struggles. Bran new starter and battery. Going to rebuild the alternator that I pulled out yesterday, clean the terminals real good and reassess.

 

[dwphoto]

I took it for a quick trip yesterday. 107 miles each way, plus about 15 miles of wash boards. The gauges are all fucky and the alternator isn’t charging to capacity. Not sure if it’s a wiring issue or if both used alternators are just bad. It’ll start fine one time and then after driving it struggles. Bran new starter and battery. Going to rebuild the alternator that I pulled out yesterday, clean the terminals real good and reassess.

what ended up happening here? was it the new ECM ? or just a bunk alternator ?