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The Flex

Discussion in 'Quitters' Club' started by Jw60, Jun 30, 2021.

  1. Dec 9, 2021
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    The surging was it's need for a transmission fluid change. It is moving much more smoothly now. It does what I need and I can't justify replacing it until a Wrangler can have a 3rd row and tow the 4000lb camper.
     
  2. May 12, 2022
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Figured I would check in here, transmission still has a very mild anomaly when shifting but otherwise it's running great at 154k. weekends come and we just drive whichever is first in line.

    The Expedition is doing the camper towing, but we used the flex to tow a piano home (it didn't mind)
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2022
    givemethewillys likes this.
  3. Nov 10, 2022
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Over the last week I managed to replace these warped and abused ford brakes (Might be original)
    [​IMG]20221106_101202 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr

    We went with a powerstop truck and towing kit for front and rear (with $50 rebate) this platform is shared with the police interceptors. mine are 13" front and rear but was very tempted to convert to the 14" heavy duty brakes. That would have snowballed quickly requiring new wheels calipers hoses and caliper brackets. That wasn't gonna happen. So here are the new which make the car feel 1000lbs lighter but the rears are groaning so I'll have to look into that. This took a little longer than expected with cleaning and rattle can caliper and suspension rebuild.

    Front:
    [​IMG]20221106_161753 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr

    Rear:
    [​IMG]20221108_002319 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr
     
  4. Feb 1, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Figured i'ld post my impressions of the new brakes.
    I have not towed much since November but i'm very happy, the vehicle feels like it lost a lot of weight. This is my vehicle of choice at the moment.

    All this joy means I need to think more about a transmission for the car. It's still not quite right so I'm thinking i'll swap in an explorer transmission which has a slightly more aggressive final drive ratio in the same transmission.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  5. May 27, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Well I've been comparing the dreaded water pump videos on YouTube to my current situation and it looks like that's the issue having coolant weep from behind the ac compressor. Sounds like it is a 12+ hr job to replace so it's time to study up since there is no way I'm paying for that much labor. Biggest issue will be the car doesn't really fit in my garage and getting the special tools to do it.
    [​IMG]20230527_111628 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr
     
    vtxtasy likes this.
  6. Jun 3, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    And here we go.
    Gonna try to get the chains off and replace the pump tomorrow. I can then get the new chains on and wait for the :mad: torque to yield vvt camshaft sprocket bolts to arrive on Thursday.

    The amount of :poo: that gets unplugged and the number of fasteners needed to get here is dumb. I've got about 10hrs into this with three trips to harbor freight for deeper sockets. I want to say 24 electrical plugs, i'ld guess over 50 bolts there are 26 bolts on the front cover alone. The cam phaser solenoids have to come off but that sprocket just above the crank has the water pump impeller behind it.:crazy:

    [​IMG]
     
    Fireball likes this.
  7. Jun 4, 2023
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
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    wow that's alot of work for a water pump
     
  8. Jun 4, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Luckily it has the weep hole, if the weep hole was gooped up it can eventually leak into the timing case and cause wash out bearings.
     
  9. Jun 7, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    This
    Is
    Soo
    Much
    Fun
    ...
    [​IMG]20230607_202257 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr

    Here is the pump (driven by the valley sprocket)
    I've got a bunch more rtv to scrap and clean off. So I'll clean it pull the front secondary chain and intake phaser then replace the actual pump.

    [​IMG]20230607_202309 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr

    Once all that is done it gets new timing chains.
    Then the timing cover can go on with rtv and zero extra room to work.
    Note to myself the cover has to drop low to load up the center bolts then the parameter bolts get tightened.

    I'm also curious if there is a good way to clean and prep the cam phasers.
    All and all I'm glad I'm not working in the mud.
     
    Danefraz, vtxtasy and Fireball like this.
  10. Jun 8, 2023
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    "Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it?"

    I often ponder, what if we (instead) used all the incredible power of modern computing and manufacturing technology to make things elegant, simple, and durable? Crazy talk, I know.
     
    Dandy, Dwins1 and Danefraz like this.
  11. Jun 8, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Having a decade of 3d drafting experience myself, I think they did alright. Ever wonder what it takes to change the sign on the subway cart at six flags? It's not fun, I engineered the package and wrote the instructions.

    For this they took the rear wheel drive ecoboost and shoved it in a front wheel drive and the water pump didn't fit anywhere else.
    It's tedious, but not complicated and doesn't require a bunch of one time use tools. I did buy a $25 kit with the cam holders and an impact to loosen the bolt for the harmonic balancer. If they made the parting line for the valve covers and timing cover vertical instead of horizontal this would be a 4-6hr job instead of 9-12hr and all of the intake could stay in place.
    The pump itself could also be a cartridge with a small round flange instead of covering the coolant passages behind the chain guides.
     
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2023
  12. Jun 11, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Got some more time on this today (after 6.6hrs of work) the pump is replaced, old was 7 vane with one sealing ring. New is 11 vane with two seals on the flange. I gooped fresh Dino juice on the timing side of the pump for good measure before installation. Both secondary chains are replaced and I absolutely hate cam phasers. The new torque to yield sprocket bolts are on and waiting for me to feel good about everything before going into the sequence for them.
    I'm not all warm and fuzzy with confidence in my work on this one.....

    Here's the inside of the water pump cavity:
    [​IMG]20230610_164452 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr
     
    Danefraz, jzeber, Dave B and 2 others like this.
  13. Jun 11, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Ok this is a pain in the butt.
    I forgot that one of the sprockets blocked access to a bolt for the primary timing chain.
    [​IMG]20230607_202257 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr

    So when I put the secondary chains on with the sprockets I covered up this guy:
    [​IMG]20230611_175442 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr
    this is 100% avoidable and simply :poo: engineering since that bolt could go anywhere else or be a little bit shorter so it can just slide out or slot the chain guide.
    [​IMG]20230611_175429 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr

    That was all after I torqued to yield the sprocket bolts. Soo that one has a little extra stretch.
    Even better the exhaust sprocket bolt was too close to the strut tower to put a torque wrench on it... so it's on there based on feel to 30ft lbs, backed off one turn, torqued by feel to 18ft lbs, then turned the additional 180 degrees...
    If it gives me trouble this thing is gonna get an LS swap and the question will be whether to use a front wheel drive impala ss or rear wheel drive truck set-up
     
    Danefraz and Fireball like this.
  14. Jun 16, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Notes to myself:
    All internal components (that I haven't forgotten) are installed and torqued.
    The :censored: timing cover with 22 bolts has all bolts torqued to 8ft lbs and the black goop is hardening. The 6 valley bolts are torqued to there final value and nothing else.
    The rocker covers are in place and finger tight.
    The motor mount is loosely in place for safety's sake.
    Calling it a day.
    This is just soo much fun I wish I had a third of these in the jeep.
     
    vtxtasy and Fireball like this.
  15. Jun 24, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Holy guacamole, I ain't done yet.

    This is like mile 10 of a half marathon where your just going through the motion. Timing cover is on, rocker covers are on. I snapped one rocker cover bolt... it's a captive deal. I could have taken the cover off at that time and tried to fish the bolt out but it's in an area that shouldn't leak too bad if any. I blame the $20 harbor freight click stick.

    [​IMG]

    Tomorrow...
    finish replacing all the zip ties.
    Install intake, coolant bottle, fuel lines.
    I need to get some Ford orange antifreeze and a some cheap oil and filter to flush this pig out. Hopefully nothing interesting crawled into the oil pan in the last few weeks and hopefully i got all the rags n bags out of the sump.
     
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  16. Jun 24, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Tucson, AZ
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    Not sure if I am sold on this orange stuff. Opened the cap on my Ram a few days ago and the antifreeze had turned to slime around the cap.
    I believe this is the high mileage stuff they came up with. Not impressed and never saw slime before. I have heard that GM had some problems
    with it. I need to do more research this again. Put the GM orange in the Jeep.
     
  17. Jun 25, 2023
    jzeber

    jzeber Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Morgan Hill, Ca
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    The GM orange ate intake manifold gaskets. I had to replace 2 on my 1998 Chevy Suburban. My 08 Yukon has it too and no issues at 136k
     
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  18. Jun 25, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Flushed a qt and a half of oil through the motor then drained (glad I did), put a loaded oil filter in and filled it with 5-20 then some left over 5-30. Put a little less than a gallon of the official ford orange and a gallon of reverse osmosis water in.

    with the fuel pump relay out we cycled the starter twice (it'll crank a while then eventually stop)

    Drove 10 miles then took er to the car wash.

    I did miss a pcv tube clamp behind the upper intake. I'll fuss with that later. Temps to hit 100°f this week. Ac works.

    I figure I'll change the oil and filter this coming weekend. 4 Car seats adjusted. Naturally this all occurred with a full tank of gas.
     
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2023
  19. Jun 26, 2023
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    Ford replaced the orange coolant with gold (Motrorcraft VC7B) a few years ago.
     
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  20. Jun 26, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Is that just in new production? Can I get orange?
    Does gold blend with orange or will I need to flush and refill?
     
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