Well, having moaned so much about having to drive the T-Bird in the snow after the Cherokee took a dump I bought a "new" truck. 1988 Dakota regular cab long box 4X4. 3.9 V6 auto. Zero options, rubber floor, just as a truck should be. The body is good with only a bit of rust on the door bottoms and driver's fender. Frame is mint, and it even has nice new snow tires on it! I'm debating on whether I should keep the cap (already removed the stupid looking ladder racks)
Here's some pics (sorry it's so dark, it was dark when I got it home):
That's what I need. I hate driving my cougar in the snow and ice.
I would keep the cap. If you ever use the truck for hauling something in the rain or snow that you want to keep dry, the cap is the best way to go. It is also a little extra assurance that anything left in the bed will have less of a chance being stolen. But thats just me.
and remember. Just because you keep the cap doesn't mean that you have to have it on all of the time. You can take it off when you don't want it and put it back on when you need it.
3.9
As a chrysler tech i feel for you man,horrible little engine.
At least it's your beater,beat on it once for me.
The 3.9 is really that bad? I know it's gutless and coarse, but I've heard great things about their longevity. What are some of the known problems (I know about the valve guides already)? What are they, something like 125 horsepower (this one is TBI)? It also has a new rad, exhaust manifold and water pump, if those are known issues...
If it gives up the ghost I'll stuff a 318 or 360 in anyway (already thinkin' 'bout it)
the 318 will neva die
had one in my 71 scamp, the car sat for 5-6 years, half tank of bad gas, half tank of new gas, new cap, wires, rotor, point, condensor, plugs and a battery, and it fired right up and idled like a champ, better than my 3.8 every does/did
my friend has one like that except no 4x4. we are about to put a v8 in it. just gotta pick up the engine from my buddys house first
Not that they don't live for a long time,but they leak everything everywhere, suck for gas mileage and are way under powered and i mean way.
especially on a 4x4.
O and watch out for the smog pump seizing up,they like to do that.
:giggle: That sounds just like a description of the ford 3.8.
As for the cap, I would keep it, but leave it off. I think trucks look better without bedcaps.
It has no leaks (yet), and after just taking it on a drive it seems to be not bad on gas (remember you're talking to somebody who has owned two Cherokees and several 5.0 T-Birds/Cougars - mileage is not that big a concern for me). It burned less gas to the camp and back than the Cherokee used to...
You're right about the underpowered, but I bought it for a beater, not a race car. As long as it can attain 70 MPH and maintain that speed it'll be alright - the Cherokees were no powerhouses either, especially the 4-cylinder automatic one I had
Smog pump? What smog pump? Ain't no smog pump on this engine :D I'm guessing it probably seized years ago and was removed
The oil pressure is a little lower than I like to see (the light flickers at idle in gear) but hell, I drove my Cherokee with no oil pressure for three years. Even if it takes a dump, a 318 or 360 would replace it in a hurry...
Daytime pic:
I know, I know, the wheels are the shiznits, and it needs a bit of rust repair. I will derive great pleasure from "removing" those hubcaps with rucks, mud, or snow. I don't wanna spend a bunch of money fixing it up (that would be T-Bird money) but I'm thinking of getting a set of those old Crown Vic 15" turbine wheels, or maybe some 16" steel Interceptor wheels. I'll just rivet some metal over the rust, slap a bit of body fill on it, and then learn to paint a vehicle on it :D
id leave the cap on, only because its already on there, and its work to take it off