Zombiekiller's "Donkey" build up

[TEXAS MOTORWORX]

@TEXAS MOTORWORX @Baja Designs @svc

Operation "nose job" complete!




I was sweating bullets when it came time to lop off the frame horns, but everything turned out better than expected.

TMX was nice enough to send me light tabs to mount my xl80s, but I opted to fab up a bolt in mount for the SVC baja bumper, in the event i decide to go to a lightbar down the road. I was also able to fab up some simple brackets to mount the squadrons and s2s that were in the factory bumper.

I'm really impressed by the quality of the intercooler and the level of though and engineering that went into it.

The XL80s are a suuuuuuper tight fit. It took me the better part of 4 hours to get my mount to where I was happy with it. I made the current iteration out of 1" square tubing and the lights are as high and backward as they can go. If I decide to stick with them, I may re-do it to tuck them up about another 1/2".

Now I just need to re-organize my tools, etc. for TRR!

( that is unless my upper control arms get here Monday or tuesday.

Looks great! Glad we could get you setup

 

[zombiekiller]

Well, here's the most recent update:

TMX came through for me and i was all sorted just in time for TRR18. I started driving, got to Dallas, then my mom called to tell me that my Dad got rushed into emergency surgery. Alas, No TRR for me. Turned around, drove home 9 hours, then hopped a flight to get to my dad.

Sad to say, June 3rd, My dad passed. It's been a pretty shit year with my best friend passing March 21st, then my Dad on June 3rd.

My truck sat from May 17th until June 10th.

Drove the truck about 140 miles on the 12th. the truck jumped timing somehow. Lots of DTCs.

Net/Net the truck is sitting at the dealership now and will be for some time.

Low compression on Cyls 4,5 and 6. Misfiring on the same cylinders. the truck is also getting low fuel pressure DTCs and misfire within first 1000 revolutions DTCs.

So, While under warranty, the truck will need at least a new head, but most likely a full long block.


I'm certainly bummed. It sucks even more as I was going to drive up to Philly to help my mom out, move some stuff, then bring some very fragile, but very sentimental items back home. I am also planning to tow my Dad's first car ( a '41 Ford coupe) home to restore it in his honor.

This will all now have to wait until I get my truck back, as I can't put more than 2,000 miles on the loaner truck that my dealer gave me ( out of the kindness of their heart and in order to take care of a customer. Ford is not offering loaners as an official program right now, as there are a ton of vehicles getting warranty work nationwide due to recalls.)



That being said, here are the most recent changes:

1. the MPT tune is long long gone. I got frustrated after about 1000 miles with the adaptive cruise not functioning properly with the tune.

2. Chopped the rear exhaust and made a turn down/out right past the muffler.

3. Camburg Front UCAs are in. (Temporary until I get to the full front suspension build)

4. installed an E&G console vault.



Parts that I've ordered and am waiting on:

1. RCI fuel tank skid ( the plastic fuel tank skid makes me nervous)

2. Foutz Motorsports aluminum skidplates ( Their's are 3/16 aluminum. They are bending the engine skid to interface properly with the SVC bumper/skid.)

3. RPG Rear Bumper ( I wanted to retain the hitch, the backup sensors and I can use the flush mount S2s that I already have easily.)

4. GJ Motorspots 3rd brakelight/antenna mount. ( I am going to wire this into the flasher/ solid chase light circuit and into my backup S2s.

5. I ordered some Treds pros for the recovery kit.

6. Mag Hytec Differential cover.


What I still need to Order:

1. SVC bypass rack and 3.5s in the back.

2. Robby Woods front suspension Kit.

3. fenders and bedsides (I'm leaning towards the Robby Woods CF bits.)



I'm going to order the rear suspension bits once I have a better idea of when I'll get the truck back.

If all goes well, I'll do the front suspension and fenders/bedsides this fall after raptoberfest so that the build is done in time to head to baja in december or january.


I plan to do nothing but maintenance and drive the **** out of it after that.

Based on what's going on with my truck right now, I have no intention to modify the Engine at all. I'll probably just put the Pedal commander back on it and leave it at that.

 

[smurfslayer]

I’m sorry to hear about your dad and the other downs you’ve experienced this year @zombiekiller. I’ve been busy with parental challenges, my dad was just graduating from a walker to cane to walking after a P/T stint and no sooner had he been stable for a few weeks he fell and broke his pelvis. I’m fortunate, he’s back home recovering now but we’re trying to minimize the fall opportunities for the both of them.

You have my sincerest wishes for improved fortunes in the coming months.

 

[BenBB]

My condolences as well, that more than qualifies for a shit year before it's even half over, hope everything works out though.

 

[zombiekiller]

Had a really rad chat with Robby Woods on the phone today. Robby is absolutely on my wavelength. Not only is his work awesome, but he's just a cool person.

Hey @TEXAS MOTORWORX , we'll be talking soon. Robby is going to hit Jason up at some point to chat about it.

I'll be looking to get the fenders/bedsides and Robby's rear spring under/bedcage kit ordered up in the next few weeks, then get the front kit ordered in the sept timeframe.

If anyone is interested in lightly used deaver +3s , when the truck goes in to have Robby's kit installed, I'll cut ya a deal!

Same goes for when the front gets done, I'll have Front Fox factory remote resi DSC coilovers and camburg UCAs available.

After understanding some of the details of what battleborn has designed, I'm going to go with the shock/coilover setup that has been designed to work seamlessly with the kit.

Yes, it is more $$$, but after the technical differences and the why were explained to me, I'm sold.

I'm building the truck to be a keeper, so I'm going all in.


On the motor front - My dealer has informed me that I should have my truck back this friday.

New head, 3 new pistons and a whole mess of other stuff. This seals the deal on not modifying the engine. Not even considering giving a tune another shot either. If the motor goes again, at least I'll have the extended powertrain warranty out to 100K. Let's just hope it doesn't commit suicide someplace in mexico.

 

[TEXAS MOTORWORX]

Bring it on!! Pretty excited to cut up a Gen2 as much as we have the Gen1. Yes in a sinister kind of way.

Robby knows his stuff.

 

[zombiekiller]

Bring it on!! Pretty excited to cut up a Gen2 as much as we have the Gen1. Yes in a sinister kind of way.

Robby knows his stuff.

There shall be cutting! ( and welding)

 

[Booth9999]

First dibs on front end parts, I would love to get ahold of the shocks and UCa’s when your done with them.

Had a really rad chat with Robby Woods on the phone today. Robby is absolutely on my wavelength. Not only is his work awesome, but he's just a cool person.

Hey @TEXAS MOTORWORX , we'll be talking soon. Robby is going to hit Jason up at some point to chat about it.

I'll be looking to get the fenders/bedsides and Robby's rear spring under/bedcage kit ordered up in the next few weeks, then get the front kit ordered in the sept timeframe.

If anyone is interested in lightly used deaver +3s , when the truck goes in to have Robby's kit installed, I'll cut ya a deal!

Same goes for when the front gets done, I'll have Front Fox factory remote resi DSC coilovers and camburg UCAs available.

After understanding some of the details of what battleborn has designed, I'm going to go with the shock/coilover setup that has been designed to work seamlessly with the kit.

Yes, it is more $$$, but after the technical differences and the why were explained to me, I'm sold.

I'm building the truck to be a keeper, so I'm going all in.


On the motor front - My dealer has informed me that I should have my truck back this friday.

New head, 3 new pistons and a whole mess of other stuff. This seals the deal on not modifying the engine. Not even considering giving a tune another shot either. If the motor goes again, at least I'll have the extended powertrain warranty out to 100K. Let's just hope it doesn't commit suicide someplace in mexico.

 

[zombiekiller]

First dibs on front end parts, I would love to get ahold of the shocks and UCa’s when your done with them.

I will hit you up when she's going under the knife.

 

[zombiekiller]

Well I got my truck back.

After all of the diagnosing and part swapping the culprit was:


The effing DI fuel injector on cyl 6. ( they replaced DI 4, 5 and 6 because all were throwing codes) and the fuel tube/rail.

Apparently, the injectors were sticking open at the end of the power stroke and dumping a bunch of extra fuel into the truck.

The master tech stated that he'd never seen this happen on one of the direct injectors before, especially on an engine with such low miles and with the port injectors still looking sparkly and new.

Net/net. It's back in my garage.

I have some skid plates and a bumper to install tonight/tomorrow, then I'm driving up to Jersey.