Turn a 92 3FE into a DD for 20,000 miles?

[OneTime]

My LC has been called up for DD duty overnight when I lost the HG on my trusty Ford Focus. Drove the crud out of that car for 125,000 miles in just under four years with only having to change tires and oil. It got to 145,000 and just went quick.

I'm going to school next year to be a paramedic after 15 years of Law Enforcement. After next year I will have a take home car. So I have decided to just drive the LC next year. I plan on having to drive about 20,000 miles next year between school and work.

I'm looking for ways to make it more road worthy. First up: new plugs, cap and wires, and new air filter. Aso thinking of ditching the rear seats and loosing the rear the Kaymar rear tire carrier. Its just a bumper bolt on. I'm wondering what else I could do. Hyper inflate the tires? Im already driving at about 60 mph. Which helps out with are new Big Brother Arizona photo radar cameras every mile on the freeways.

Am I missing anything?

 

[bryan062087]

Why would you take the bumper and seats out? Hyper inflate tires?

Are you trying to save MPG?


Just put gas in it, change the oil and drive. Theres nothing out of the ordinary you need to do to daily drive a 3fe, not sure why you would think so. Only issue is the gas mileage.

 

[upcruiser]

If you are spending alot of time putting in freeway miles there are some things that will make it less frustrating. If you are running oversize tires, maybe pick up a set of street friendly stock size radials. Any roof rack or roof basket seems to really tack on extra fuel consumption when you are driving over 65mph alot. I'd also recomend to properly adjust the throttle cable (most are out of adjustment and setting it right makes things seem much peppier and downshift easier). Other then that its really just about being patient.

 

[Hltoppr]

I'd stick a good set of 31x10.50 or 235/75R15s on it (stock in US and ROW), ditch a roof rack and drive it.

Otherwise, tune it up and call it good....

-H-

 

[OneTime]

I guess I should have stated I was trying to get the best MPG possible. Im lucky that my rig doesnt have a roof rack. Im going to go with smaller tires when these the 33 wear out. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

As far as the throttle cable. That was my next question. I get a hard thud when I let of the gas at say 25-45 MPH. Is that a throttle cable issue, tranny or drive shaft problem. How do I adjust my cable?

 

[Pskhaat]

It might not be a bad idea to replace O2 sensors. They can almost pay for themselves depending on the last time you changed 'em.

 

[OneTime]

I havent and dont know if the PO did. Guess I can add that to the list.

 

[Grease Cruiser]

My LC has been called up for DD duty overnight when I lost the HG on my trusty Ford Focus. Drove the crud out of that car for 125,000 miles in just under four years with only having to change tires and oil. It got to 145,000 and just went quick.

I'm going to school next year to be a paramedic after 15 years of Law Enforcement. After next year I will have a take home car. So I have decided to just drive the LC next year. I plan on having to drive about 20,000 miles next year between school and work.

I'm looking for ways to make it more road worthy. First up: new plugs, cap and wires, and new air filter. Aso thinking of ditching the rear seats and loosing the rear the Kaymar rear tire carrier. Its just a bumper bolt on. I'm wondering what else I could do. Hyper inflate the tires? Im already driving at about 60 mph. Which helps out with are new Big Brother Arizona photo radar cameras every mile on the freeways.

Am I missing anything?

I'll take that Kaymar bumper off your hands if you really need to get rid of it.

 

[OneTime]

It may go up for sale. Ill let you know.

 

[haven]

In highway driving the Land Cruiser might get 15 mpg. Driving 20,000 miles will use 1,333 gallons. Figure gas at $2 a gallon, and you'll spend $2,600 in fuel.

Your Focus probably gets better than 30 mpg, so let's say the Focus would cost $1,300 for gas. So driving the Focus puts $1,300 in your pocket. How much will the head gasket repair cost?

Chip Haven

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

X2.. If it becomes too much of a dog to stand, a part time 4WD kit helps with power considerably and will increase mileage maybe 1-2 mpg. If it helps... You get "slight" loss of handling but everyone I know who's done it is happy with it.

I'd stick a good set of 31x10.50 or 235/75R15s on it (stock in US and ROW), ditch a roof rack and drive it.

Otherwise, tune it up and call it good....

-H-

 

[Hltoppr]

The transmission cable is an easy fix. Go to the 80 series section of the forum at www.ih8mud.com and do a quick search. I know I posed the link here a while back....so you could search here as well.

10 minute job and it'll transform the shifting....

Ditch the 33s.....they suck too much power from the 3FE. You could likely trade 'em for a set of 31s or 235s.

Also, I could get 15mpg highway, even fully loaded, if I just lowered my speed to 50-55mph....maybe just sit in the slow lane....yes, I know, hard to do in Phoenix traffic...but at least you're big enough not to get run over. :elkgrin:

Here's a pic of my 1992, with 31s:

 

[OneTime]

I did the math on fixing the Focus. Even taking not considering the "I hated driving that car"' factor. Along with the HG it was also time to get new shocks, and tires and it needed a new 02 sensor to pass emmisions. So I was looking at more like 2200.00 to fix it. Thats a lot of gas.

The 33's will have to stay for now. I'm use they will be done by the end of the year. Then I can go with 31's. Good thing I have plenty of bikes. Might get my road bike miles in back and forth to school a few days a week.

Lets hope we dont see $4 for gas again this summer.

Hltopper, With your 31's How fast could you go up the grade to Flag. Right now I'm lucky to hold 45mph and thats with everything I got!

 

[ginericLC]

In highway driving the Land Cruiser might get 15 mpg. Driving 20,000 miles will use 1,333 gallons. Figure gas at $2 a gallon, and you'll spend $2,600 in fuel.

Your Focus probably gets better than 30 mpg, so let's say the Focus would cost $1,300 for gas. So driving the Focus puts $1,300 in your pocket. How much will the head gasket repair cost?

Chip Haven

I wouldn't plan on $2/gallon gas. Heck we haven't even got that low yet. I paid 2.27 this morning. 15mpg is pretty high for an estimate for the 3FE powered 80. The 1FZE did a little better on mpgs from my 80 experiences. So this would make the savings more. But you have to figure insurance on another vehicle and other wear and tear too.

 

[mrstang01]

$1.55 in Central KY.