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Messages - hotbird

1
Electrical Tech / oil pressure gauges
Look around the engine near the oil filter and around the front and sides of the block. I have never been up close and personal with a 3.8 but generally you'll find a threaded plug in the above-mentioned areas on most engines, remove the plug and screw in your pressure gauge fittings or sending unit. If it's a sending unit go real light on the thread sealer/tape as the sender grounds through the metal it's installed in.
2
Drivetrain Tech / Where to buy TV cable grommet?
Yeah I guess my local dealer doesn't feel like keeping them in stock. Says I have to buy a whole assembly or something. Went outside, grabbed 2 washers and a c-clip and assembled them onto the cable where the grommet is supposed to go. Works fine, and isn't going to let go anytime soon, not until the throttle arm wears through the cheap plastic cable end anyway...

Now that the part number was provided to me via that link to coolcats, I'll call a few more dealers and see if they got 'em. If not, I'll take those offers that were made to mail me some...thank you by the way. :cheers:
3
Drivetrain Tech / Where to buy TV cable grommet?
Mine broke at the throttle arm. My local Ford dealer doesn't have any, and Rockauto isn't clear about whether it's for a rod type or cable type linkage. What should I buy and from where?

Thanks!
4
Engine Tech / Coolant leak...common symptoms?
Ah yeah I won't need to remove or tie off anything now. It's the waterpump that's leaking, and I have a new one sitting on my workbench ready to go in tomorrow. :)

Thanks again!
5
Engine Tech / Coolant leak...common symptoms?
Yes, that is what I was trying to ask, I'm sorry for being unclear in my initial post but I was tired and in pain from a caffeine headache. Not wanting to chug coffee before going to bed I just dealt with it, lol. I'll go back and fix that post.

I like the idea of tying off the fan, I wasn't sure if that would smoke the fan clutch, thanks for clarifying that for me. I will get started on cleaning it up today in order to check, I was going to do that anyway but wasn't sure if there was a part that was known to fail with these symptoms often, much like the cooling water crossover on my 4.6 modular engine. Just checking, and thank you.
6
Engine Tech / Coolant leak...common symptoms?
I have a coolant leak that developed all of a sudden on my 302. Seems like it's coming from directly above the crank balancer, somewhere around the water pump. I've already planned on cleaning all the hydraulic oil that leaks from the steering pump off from around the front of the engine, and I was simply wondering if there are any common failure points around this area which could cause this. Kinda like the 4.6 (when equipped with the old style all-plastic intake) is known to leak around here when the coolant crossover cracks.

I haven't worked much on these old engines, most of my experience is in modulars so any tips are welcome. I did work as a repair tech for a few years, but you just can't beat advice from other owners, lol.

Thanks!
8
Electrical Tech / Multiple electrical issues
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;191850
I've got a Delco switch in my car and it's metal. Even has a Ford part number stamped on it in ink, but it was in a Delco box :hick:


Well, that's about pointless then. Why would GM rebrand a Ford part? I suppose the new switches aren't designed any different than the old ones...pretty stupid. :toilet:  I ordered the Motorcraft one, should be here soon.
9
Electrical Tech / Multiple electrical issues
RockAuto carries the Motorcraft ignition switch for $13.60, but it looks like it has a metal housing still. When I looked at mine the other night, the plastic lower half was separating from the metal top half, and I could see that the internal switch contacts were coming dangerously close to grounding out on that metal body. I presume this is what causes the short and subsequent fire, and I would like to know if the replacement Motorcraft one is likely to fail again. The AC Delco unit listed on RockAuto looks all-plastic to me, and therefore seems safer...even if it is made by Chevy, lol.

The factory switch in my 97 Bird had an all-plastic housing, and there were no recalls or TSB's related to it.

Thanks!
11
Electrical Tech / Multiple electrical issues
Okay, well I'll give Ford a call and see about that ignition switch. I knew that it was separate from the lock cylinder but was contemplating replacing said lock cylinder also, as it is worn out. I didn't think getting to the switch would be as simple as taking the column shroud off, because in my 97 Bird the switch is accessed by removing the panel at the bottom of the dash. Easy job, however removing the panel in the 87 revealed no switch, so I figured I would have to take the column apart after removing the key cylinder and MFS and such.

Oh and sorry for the gibberish typing at the end of my original post, I corrected it. That was me falling asleep in front of the computer, lol. Woke up and finished typing, but I guess I got my forum post confused with a Word dospoogeent I had open, lol.

Thanks again!
12
Electrical Tech / Multiple electrical issues
So, I have a few issues as of late, seems the electrical gremlins decided to pay the Tbird a visit. Let me say that these issues did NOT all occur at once, it's just that the latest one is real annoying, and I'm going to fix it and all the other ones while I'm at it. The car is an 87 Thunderbird with digital cluster, cruise, and it does not have EATC. Here are my issues:

1. Tachometer- the backlighting in the top part of the scale flickers, I think from 3000 RPM upwards to the end of the tach. The bargraph segments work fine, it's JUST the numbers above the bargraph.

2. Cruise control- was driving with cruise set one night and the accelerator pedal snapped back to idle. Like a cable snapped or something and suddenly released the accelerator. Could not get it to reengage after that, horn does still work.

3. The most annoying symptom ever- I switch the ignition on, and everything powers up like it should. Pushing forward on the steering wheel makes the cluster displays go blank...they all stay backlit however no numbers are displayed. When this happens, the cluster, clock, tripminder, blower fan and wipers stop working. What could cause each of these 3 items to happen? Bad ignition switch? If so how do I access and change the ignition switch?

Thanks and good night.
14
Engine Tech / Harmonic balancer broke on my 302
Hey, I was wondering if this is a common problem or not, I don't know nearly as much about 302's as I do modulars...

A few days ago, I went out to my car and started it up, it had a nasty vibration, so I didn't drive it except down the street to check it out some. Turns out the balancer came apart, the outer ring with the timing marks on it is sitting on the crank just flopping around...what parts do I need to order, just a new balancer? The ones on RockAuto look a bit different, but then again I didn't get a chance to get a real good look at mine. What's the best way to replace it as far as getting the puller in there?

Thanks for the help guys.