Dewalt makes several 1/2" drive impacts, this one is the big 20V unit can remove nuts that are up to 1300 ft lbs! So far so good, it makes short work of even Superduty lug nuts and it had no issue with an Explorer CV axle nut! This is good news because those CV axle nuts are a PITA.

My shop is a teaching shop, we do lots of hands on stuff if customers want to learn.

The Sport trac "conversion" portion has begun.
The donor explorer was an early 98. This means the 5.0 has welded exhaust manifolds, the crappy fluid to fluid oil cooler, and it has return style fuel (two fuel lines).

First the donor 98 was put back together, the bad sohc engine was placed under the hood and the front clip bolted back on, this makes it easier to go on the trailer for crushing


Cast exhaust manifolds, they are very restrictive power wise and known to crack and develop leaks


Lower radiator hose / factory oil cooler. When these fail you mix water with oil. The 99+ trucks did not have this, instead they use a one piece lower radiator hose and a special oil filter mount. We will be using the 99 style mount and hose.


96-97.5 5.0L has two fuel lines (return style fuel) 


Best part, Ford reman transmission!






We will be swapping the manifolds to the later cast style.
We will be removing the oil filter / oil cooler and using the 99-01 style oil filter mount

The sport trac in 2001 (first year) uses returnless fuel
We will be using a 2001 style fuel rail and injectors.
I prefer returnless fuel as the fuel in the tank stays much cooler and this makes more power and better MPG

Next step is to detail the engine bay and clean the 5.0L drivetrain. The engine will be separated from the trans, engine put on a stand and refreshed with new gaskets and tune up parts. The transmission and converter will be drained 100% and fitted with a new filter.

Did I mention this donor drivetrain with only 104K miles also has a FORD REMAN 4r70w?! Yes sir at some point the 98 trans was replaced by Ford. In 1998 the 4r70w had a return program, if something failed early ford wanted to know about it and often times they would replace the whole trans just so they could have a look inside your 98 style 4r70w. This truck appears to be a lucky recipient of a newer 4r70w!

Did I mention I love the Sport Trac? Did I tell you that 2001 and white are my favorite?!?! Man I wish I could keep this thing. But I would have to give up my Bronco II I just cannot justify having that many vehicles.

Last edited on Thu Aug 16th, 2018 09:26 am by 410customs

Oh man I have a drawer full
The ones that work the best on Fords are these:


I also have these:


I have had fuel lines that simply will not come apart in the past
Usually the little metal spring inside gets destroyed and we get them apart one way or the other. You can buy a replacement spring at most auto parts stores and bend it in there, with a new O ring the fitting is good as new

Sometimes you can cut a sharpie lid at the correct height (if you can picture it) that it will slide in there more easily then the tool and release the spring all the way around. It is like a chinese finger puzzle, you need to press the fitting together while pressing the tool in and sometimes twisting. Pliers can help.

The Gen II fuel fittings are a PITA
I prefer my 88 BII with the plastic pull out quick connectors. I love my 88 in so many ways, they were still basic........

Last edited on Thu Aug 16th, 2018 09:57 pm by 410customs

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OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH yeah I love new tools. I am sure you will find that sucker as handy as we find "Hank"
The Dewalt has taken on the name Hank around here and Hank is pretty dang handy and strong.

Installed a woodstove, building a huge carport, and gathering 12 cords of firewood for the coming winter season (coming quickly here) Also close no our first rental house this week...aside from that the parts for the sport trac are here!! Wooo hoooo!

New Dorman exhaust manifolds, cast style. $95 shipped is easier then trying to steal some from another engine or find some in the yard that will come free easily...so we are going to use these! Our donor engine is an early 98 so it has the old welded manifolds and I refuse to install those into our sport trac



Otherwise its just some simple tune up parts, remember before the donor truck was wrecked it was in my shop for a full tune up and fluid changes, with just 104K on the clock this drivetrain does not need much!
PArts are here
Sport trac is cleaned and prepped.
We can finally get back on the sport trac



Packard wire ignition wires (I love these sets, they hold up really well and wires are very good for the $$$ on rockauto)
Bosch air filter
Wix trans filter
Motorcraft plugs
We will also change out the fuel filter and pump, as well as all new fluids through out.
I also have a 2001 fuel rail and injectors to install on the 98 engine, I will be bench cleaning and testing each injector. Entire fuel rail will get new O rings.

Sport trac prep:
Drivers side engine mount was swapped out
V8 power steering cooler also installed
Now we will strip down/clean the 5.0 engine and trans and stab them into the truck

Stay tuned!

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