Well it took my long enough but here's the build/log on my 96 XLT extended cab 3.0 automatic about 130k on it. Second owner.
Bought the truck early july 2012 from a coworker after the transmission cooler blew up in the radiator, so it needed radiator, water pump, hoses, and so on for the front of the motor. Swapped all that flushed the motor and tranny a whole bunch of times and it runs great now. So moving on to pics
The day I first got to see it
Clean truck for the most part straight body only small little dents in it nothing major. The paint on the other hand is bad and white just ain't gonna fly anyway.
Let the body work begin!!
Logo delete both fenders and tailgate.
Headliner
Painted the grill black. No plastidip on this truck.
Papered up and ready to spray
Getting some color
Getting the stripping placed
Black sprayed
Clear coat time. The flat looked really good too but clear is a must
Finished out that day with a nice little car show. I had the green fox and my buddy had the silver vert
The next day took the paper off and put it back together. The paint isn't even 24 hours old at this point
Hurculined the bed
Purchases my wheels. Factory 2003 10th anniversary cobra wheels 17x9s
Looks good but too small
So added some nice 30in toyo open countrys also added lower valance. Still havnt added lights
And lastly pioneer double din. Kenwood 1000 and a SA10 behind driver seat.
Next steps will be a proper polish, tiny, headache rack and onboard air. I really want to level it but I can't find a good way to do so.
So I hope you stayed with me here because its random pic time!!
Closest thing to offroad we have in New Orleans is the bonnet carre spillway so I head there every now and then with my friends
And lastly
So if you stuck in there I thank you. So questions comments welcome
I will try to keep this up to date with what ever I may be doing to the truck. Next mod will be the 1 piece aluminum driveshaft, but I need to replace the slip yoke first.
Small little update here. I recently acquired a UWS side mount toolbox out of a 96 F250 it will require a bit of modifications to fit. But I will make it work
Alright so a bit of an update on this beast. I've been working 12hr shifts and half days on Saturdays, so my time has been limited. Haven't washed the truck in about 4 weeks but the rain is handling it pretty well for now.
So anyway. Still haven't touched my side box, or bought fog lights yet. Latest problems! Coolant leak at heater valve, replaced part and that was fixed. Idler and tensioner are wore out so that's getting swapped this weekend and lastly driveshaft bearing is shot. I'm thinking one piece aluminum swap instead.
On to a tiny big of good news. My dad have me a set of HELLA projector fog lights meant for a 99-03 excursion or super duty. No wiring kit, just lights and brackets. I think I want to do some sort of grille conversion/ change up and stick the lights back there. Or maybe try to sell them and get a set of 500s instead.
Future plans after I buy a 2013 420 Rancher will hopefully include, 4in lift, custom bed cover (similar to a diamondback HD ATV hauler) and headache rack with 4 lights on top and oval brake lights in the top corner.
That's all I can think of...... For now. It's only money right?
New better pics of the truck coming soon once the weather clears up.
Little update. Found a brush guard. Probably mount it this week sometime after I paint it. Currently chrome going get some black maybe spray on bedliner or something. Pics later
Also bought some FX2 decals after seeing them on another members truck (can't remember who)
And lastly I took a trip from New Orleans La to forest Ms. Roughly 4 hours on the highway. Loaded up the four wheeler and got on the road. Picked up my brush guard on the way everything were great. Loaded up to leave got on the road got about 45 min from where I was and the transmission decided to die. My uncle helped me limp it almost all the way home. Tranny finally gave up and dumped out and no gears are pulling anymore. My grandpa pulled me the rest of the way about 20 minutes.
So the truck is at my house up on the rack now have to unplug a few more things and torque converter blows and transmission bolts and its ready to come out.
Hawt rims man. I want those kind on mine someday, haha.
Thanks man. I really like my wheels flows good. Not seen very often. I say leave your truck as is. Looks perfect.
Well some good news got the truck back on the road. Only took 3 days and $2400. Way more then I wanted to spend but had no choice. The 3 year unlimited mile warrantee is just a nice bonus from ford on this one.
Didn't really take many pics during the swap but I did snap this
It's only been up on the lift about 15 times since like July.
Also swapped in the one piece aluminum shaft while I was down under there.
Lastly got these
Picked them up off here from misterb-fx4. Should have them installed by the weekend. Decided against the 06+ mirrors simply because I can steel them off my buddies 07 if I really want them.
Yeah I like my truck the way it is, but it's looked the same for about a year now. I have to do something to it, haha.
Your truck's coming along nicely too. I love the new paint and shaved emblems. Did you do the tailgate too?
I think everyone likes your truck as is. If they don't they just suck. A repaint would be cool. Maybe bright calypso green? It's a pretty eye catching color
Thanks man. The paint isn't perfect but its not a show truck. It's just my driver. Tailgate is shaved too only logo is the ford on the front and the hitch cover. Been thinking about the 06+ square ones and doing a little something to them but after the transmission swap its not in the budget.
Mirrors are installed!!
Talk about a change in the look of the truck just crazy mirrors will do
If I have a chance tomorrow I will try to do some more pictures.