7K of USA
- Thread starter Colorado_Outback
- Start date
huntsonora
Explorer
Excellent!!!
chilliwak
Expedition Leader
Thanks gents.
Chilli guessed correctly, been super busy with the summer season coming up. I did however get some time to finish this thing up.
Got the harness mostly routed.
20170412_154849 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Installed the LED for the check engine light in the spot where the Service Engine Soon light was in the dash.
20170422_150044 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Tried to start it up and wasn't getting fuel, pulled the injectors to find this.. I guess I should have known the motor sat for 2 or 3 years.
I sent the rail and injectors to Injector RX in Houston TX. They did an awesome job cleaning them up.
20170428_140522 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Unfortunately when removing the rail and injectors I lost an o-ring and hat down in the head so I had to retrieve those.
20170428_135329 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Inside is nice and clean
20170428_150203 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
I think the intake weighs 35lbs..
20170505_150848 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
After all that I got it started! Click for video.
20170506_153809 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Lifters are ticking pretty hard from sitting from so long and I have an exhaust leak on the driver side.
Who knew you could install the gasket up side down..
20170510_102428 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170510_102446 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Then the electrical shenanigans started.. I had a bad ground on the core support that was causing the wipers to run when ever you turned on the headlights or the left turn signal. I ohmed out all the grounds with the truck off but when you started moving power around things got weird in a hurry. Took a couple days to figure out but its all good now. All my factory gauges and electronics work just like they did before but I have 2X the HP and 3X the TQ as the TBI :sombrero:
Put 100 miles on it in the last 2 days, so glad to have my work truck back!
20170516_165532 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Still have a random DTC to figure out, nothing that effects drivability. Need to get it hooked up to a tech 2 so I can look at some misfire logs and what not.
Wow:Wow1:the truck is looking mighty clean there Mr Colorado! I am glad to see that everything went well dispite a few minor hurdels you had to jump. i love it. Cheers, Chilli..
Colorado_Outback
Adventurer
Thanks!
Its a lot of fun in this truck, Ive been easy on it the last couple days breaking in the clutch. Centerforce recommends 500 miles before applying full throttle or hauling with it so I've been trying to stick to that. Probably haven't applied more then 60% throttle and it romps thru traffic easily when you row the gears.
250 miles down, should be done by the end of the week.
Ill be keeping a detailed mileage log, I think it'll get the same or slightly better mileage then I was getting on the 350.
You had to spin the nuts off the 350 to get it to go anywhere, with the 8.1 I'm shifting at lower rpms and spend most of the time idling around at 1500ish rpm. Don't have to worry about keeping it in the power band since its all power band haha.
Its a lot of fun in this truck, Ive been easy on it the last couple days breaking in the clutch. Centerforce recommends 500 miles before applying full throttle or hauling with it so I've been trying to stick to that. Probably haven't applied more then 60% throttle and it romps thru traffic easily when you row the gears.
250 miles down, should be done by the end of the week.
Ill be keeping a detailed mileage log, I think it'll get the same or slightly better mileage then I was getting on the 350.
You had to spin the nuts off the 350 to get it to go anywhere, with the 8.1 I'm shifting at lower rpms and spend most of the time idling around at 1500ish rpm. Don't have to worry about keeping it in the power band since its all power band haha.
Travelin _man
HEY HEY HOCKEYTOWN!!
Awesome work. Those 8.1's are a beast of a engine.
Colorado_Outback
Adventurer
Little update.. Been piling miles on the truck since getting it on the road. Averaged 13.77MPG over the first 1300 miles.
The state of Colorado finally got around to making my plates, I wanted "8.1L" but that isn't an allowable combo in CO so I got the next best thing.
20170615_111736 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170615_111721 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Got all the new AC parts installed, new accumulator/drier, lines, compressor and orifice tube.
20170620_211654 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Looks like it was made to clear my throttle cable bracket. Got super lucky on that haha.
20170620_211708 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Ive since moved this relay over and trimmed the relay cover to clear the AC line.
20170620_212617 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
I took it to a shop to have it vac'ed out and filled. They were having trouble getting more then 10oz in it and the high pressure side was seeing like 300 psi :Wow1:.. They said the orifice tube must be clogged.. Odd since I put a new one in with all the other equipment.. Could have gotten crud blown into it since I didn't replace the condenser so I'm going to check that first. What really rubbed me the wrong way is I dropped it off on a Thursday evening and was supposed to have it back by 9am Friday so we could hit the road.. Didn't get it back until 2pm after they tried vac'ing it out and filling it 3 times.. Pretty sure insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.
Going to find a new AC shop and revisit it when I have more time.
Headed up to Terryall Reservoir to camp at one of the spots near the lake. Got there to find out the lake is closed to overnight parking. So we doubled back down Terryall rd to a spot by China wall and got a flat coming up the trail into camp. I need better off road tires haha
20170623_171137 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Got the flat plugged and aired back up, to find the heater not wanting to fire. If its not one thing its another. At least we made it..
20170623_191211 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170623_181650 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170624_083735 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
These 2 pics make all the hard work, $$$ spent and problems worth it.
20170623_203344 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170623_203915 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
The state of Colorado finally got around to making my plates, I wanted "8.1L" but that isn't an allowable combo in CO so I got the next best thing.
20170615_111736 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170615_111721 by colorado_baja, on FlickrGot all the new AC parts installed, new accumulator/drier, lines, compressor and orifice tube.
20170620_211654 by colorado_baja, on FlickrLooks like it was made to clear my throttle cable bracket. Got super lucky on that haha.
20170620_211708 by colorado_baja, on FlickrIve since moved this relay over and trimmed the relay cover to clear the AC line.
20170620_212617 by colorado_baja, on FlickrI took it to a shop to have it vac'ed out and filled. They were having trouble getting more then 10oz in it and the high pressure side was seeing like 300 psi :Wow1:.. They said the orifice tube must be clogged.. Odd since I put a new one in with all the other equipment.. Could have gotten crud blown into it since I didn't replace the condenser so I'm going to check that first. What really rubbed me the wrong way is I dropped it off on a Thursday evening and was supposed to have it back by 9am Friday so we could hit the road.. Didn't get it back until 2pm after they tried vac'ing it out and filling it 3 times.. Pretty sure insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.
Going to find a new AC shop and revisit it when I have more time.
Headed up to Terryall Reservoir to camp at one of the spots near the lake. Got there to find out the lake is closed to overnight parking. So we doubled back down Terryall rd to a spot by China wall and got a flat coming up the trail into camp. I need better off road tires haha
20170623_171137 by colorado_baja, on FlickrGot the flat plugged and aired back up, to find the heater not wanting to fire. If its not one thing its another. At least we made it..
20170623_191211 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170623_181650 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170624_083735 by colorado_baja, on FlickrThese 2 pics make all the hard work, $$$ spent and problems worth it.
20170623_203344 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170623_203915 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Colorado_Outback
Adventurer
What can I say Mr Colorado? Well done! Cheers, chilli..
Thanks for the complements gents! I've really been enjoying the power of the 8.1L I can pass traffic going uphill with the camper loaded now :sombrero:
Colorado_Outback
Adventurer
Loaded up and ready to go!
20170725_173040 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Took a quick 2 night trip up to Monarch CO.
20170727_193918 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170727_193805 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
It rained. A lot.. haha we had fun anyway!
20170727_194000 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Since we were in the neighborhood we took a trip up to Monarch Crest and rode the tram.
20170728_104510 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170728_114623 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Beautiful views from the top!
20170728_110944 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Monarch Ski area below
20170728_111054 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170725_173040 by colorado_baja, on FlickrTook a quick 2 night trip up to Monarch CO.
20170727_193918 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170727_193805 by colorado_baja, on FlickrIt rained. A lot.. haha we had fun anyway!
20170727_194000 by colorado_baja, on FlickrSince we were in the neighborhood we took a trip up to Monarch Crest and rode the tram.
20170728_104510 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
20170728_114623 by colorado_baja, on FlickrBeautiful views from the top!
20170728_110944 by colorado_baja, on FlickrMonarch Ski area below
20170728_111054 by colorado_baja, on Flickr
Colorado_Outback
Adventurer
Thanks!
Forgot to add that the truck pulled great up to 11K ft, pretty much go as fast as I want uphill and the temp stays well below 210 at all times. Ill probably wire up the ground switch for the electric fans for stop and go traffic to keep the fan from cycling on and off.
Seabass
Idiot
Wow. Such a great build! Really enjoyed reading and following your progress. My old 97 F-350 crew cab had a 351 when I bought it. I swapped it out for a 460 . YUGE difference!!! I know the 460 won't begin to touch your 8.1. You have yourself a fine rig that's been nicely done. Congratulations on success for all your hard work.