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White Elephant 01 8.1 burb.

Busted the front p brake cable couple weeks ago. Got the front cable replaced. Lots of under dash yoga required. The pedal mechanism needs to come out. Not hard only about 5 fasteners and 2 trim pieces.
Bunch of the plastic floor and firewall just crumbles, piece have been falling for for awhile now. I broke and cleaned most of it out. Now is just 1/2" of foam rubber for heat and sound insulation. So I added some foil backed 80mil butyl to kick panel, bottom inside of cowl, firewall and floor. Maybe cut down some road noise.
Went to connect the front cable to intermediate cable and it seemed an inch short, even with adjustment undone.
Thought maybe the new front cable was wrong, nope is correct. The pbrake mechanism has some spring to it. I could pull the front cable out to reach, but pull and connect. Had to pull and lightly clamp with vise grips at a convenient body mount. Then I had 3/4" available at the rear equalizer bar to thread the adjustment but on.
All good now.
 
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Couple weeks ago, I decided to put 180° thermostat in the 8.1.
Noticed @5° cooler engine change, driving in 110°+, @10° on the Trans, slower speeds in town.
Today going across I40 to CA late afternoon ambient 105°ish. Towing dune buggy engine Temps were a solid 195°, before was 205°, up some long steep grades, down hill after dark and 85° Temps np changes.
Trans got up to 195° on long grades, truck even down shifts for a couple grades. The down hill and flat Temps after dark were a steady 160° way better than with the 195° tstat.
No check engine light, for cooler temp. Will update if I got better mpg after I fill up.
 
June of 22 I put a Walmart battery, grp78 in this truck. It always took 6-9 revolutions to start, some times 2 key cycles. Some doors would fail to lock or unlock, I blamed the 21 year old actuators. Horn was timid. Battery would always load test good, cables had low resistance. Well this last week I ran across a month old Duralast gold grp78 and swapped it out for the WM Everstart (neverstart). Now truck lights in 2 revolutions, windows go up and down faster, and when I hit the lock button the door locks actuate firmly. Also the horn for the alarm set no longer sounds anemic, sounds off like it's got a pair.
I haven't had many Walmart batteries, and looks like I won't be using them anymore. I have had very good service from the Duralast. My kids truck just need a new battery, the Duralast was 2017, it got another Duralast.
 
Put a new everstart in the wife’s Durango last year. Weather got cold and it would spin fine but cough and sputter and not start. Shop tested it and short in a cell and only 39% of the amps available.
 
Wes Harden said:
June of 22 I put a Walmart battery, grp78 in this truck. It always took 6-9 revolutions to start, some times 2 key cycles. Some doors would fail to lock or unlock, I blamed the 21 year old actuators. Horn was timid. Battery would always load test good, cables had low resistance. Well this last week I ran across a month old Duralast gold grp78 and swapped it out for the WM Everstart (neverstart). Now truck lights in 2 revolutions, windows go up and down faster, and when I hit the lock button the door locks actuate firmly. Also the horn for the alarm set no longer sounds anemic, sounds off like it's got a pair.
I haven't had many Walmart batteries, and looks like I won't be using them anymore. I have had very good service from the Duralast. My kids truck just need a new battery, the Duralast was 2017, it got another Duralast.
Click to expand...
We actually applied an N out of tape on my brothers "Neverstart" battery when he wasn't looking, and he returned it that way, the cashier was laughing. Was less than a year old and wouldn't take a charge.
 
Wes Harden said:
June of 22 I put a Walmart battery, grp78 in this truck. It always took 6-9 revolutions to start, some times 2 key cycles. Some doors would fail to lock or unlock, I blamed the 21 year old actuators. Horn was timid. Battery would always load test good, cables had low resistance. Well this last week I ran across a month old Duralast gold grp78 and swapped it out for the WM Everstart (neverstart). Now truck lights in 2 revolutions, windows go up and down faster, and when I hit the lock button the door locks actuate firmly. Also the horn for the alarm set no longer sounds anemic, sounds off like it's got a pair.
I haven't had many Walmart batteries, and looks like I won't be using them anymore. I have had very good service from the Duralast. My kids truck just need a new battery, the Duralast was 2017, it got another Duralast.
Click to expand...
Can't tell you how many my Dad went through. Wm always said they were good, but swapped em out and bang, problems gone.
Local shop said only 2 mfr still in USA (Pennsylvania) duracell was one, can't recall the other.
 
I'm gonna clip some info from another forum I'm on. Guy is a retired Ford engineer.. I know... lol But he has good info here
___________________________

Battery - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel - Battery - Hi Gang, It's been awhile since I checked in, lot going on at the ranch. Anyway the batteries on my 2000 F250 have crapped out after only 5 1/2 years, not bad for Georgia. They were MAX Everstart series 65 -700 CCA, I don't remember if I got them...
www.ford-trucks.com

and

www.ford-trucks.com

Thin Plate Pure Lead Absorbed Glass Mat Group 65 Battery Specifications Comparison - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel - Thin Plate Pure Lead Absorbed Glass Mat Group 65 Battery Specifications Comparison - Some say the heavier a lead acid battery is, the more lead is inside, and thus, the better battery it must be. The following six batteries are all AGM recombinant type...
www.ford-trucks.com
 
yes the thin plates make better cranking batteries, agm or flooded. Big Battery is kinda scary, I am so over the renting the product bs, esp software.
 
Got my 496 stickers, thanks @mrk5. Esp for including the squeegee.

Now for hard part where to put the stickers. Front of fender doesn't have the real-estate.

Looks like rear of fender is it.
High or low?
20250210_160724.jpg20250210_160753.jpg
 
Thanks for the test-fit pictures. I've been debating if I want to put them on my '03. The red of the flag may be close to the redfire color.
 
Low coolant light came on the other day, added @1/4 gl. I knew I had a minor seepage at the rear intake. I decided it was time to reseal the intake today.
Minor seepage is not the culprit, Aug of 22 new AC Delco water pump failed.
20250225_143444.jpg

Now I am eyeballing that front crank seal thinking it needs replacing, 24 years old 157k miles. Then its I wonder hat the timing chain looks like?
 
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