I'm going to begin this build thread by stating what it will not be.
There will be no radical engine swap, no crazy fabrication, no electronical wizardry, and no incredible performance numbers.
I can't do any of that stuff, at least not yet.
I'm that guy who only has been able to turn wrenches when something is broken, and I need to get to work Monday. I change my on oil, brakes, occasional radiator, etc. But I've never gone head first into a project.
Until now.
My goal with this is to show other guys like me, that you can accomplish big things without any experience, given you have time and patience, and the determination to see it through.
First, a little back story.
This truck was my Dad's. Don't worry, he's still here, but I know my days with him are dwindling, and this truck will be a reminder of him someday. Dad was always frugal with his cars, never owning anything new, or even all that nice for that matter. He worked the last 12 or so years of his career at a glass company, and when they upgraded trucks for one of our project managers, they parked this one. Dad's truck had begun nickel and diming him, so he offered $1500 cash for the truck, and they accepted.
On to the deets.
It's a 2001 F150, XL 4.6 4WD automatic with manual transfer case, crank windows, rubber floor mat. Non tilt column, it even has the tape deck still. Dad has been building an addition on to the house, which explains why there's stuff in the background of the second picture.
After loads of lumber, shingles, and 200k of hard work at it's previous employer, the 4.6 gave up the ghost. It runs, but has a bad knock. When I offered to buy it from Dad, he just gave it to me. As much as I offered to pay, he refused.
A quick glimpse on Facebook Marketplace, and I find a 4.6 and transmission for $200 in a town about an hour away. Messages were sent, arrangements were made, and me and the lady went after it.
I did my homework. I know there are multiple variants of modular 4.6, and most of them are not interchangeable. Because Ford. But this engine came from a 2002 Town Car. Research tells me that they are both PI Romeo engines, VIN W.
The plan? Get new engine on stand, take truck only stuff off the dead engine, pull it and drop the Lincoln engine in the Ford.
It seems simple enough, but I've never pulled an engine before, I've never swapped anything. This may be easy to some, but this is new territory for me.
Last night I got the engine here in Dad's new truck (the white one in the background of the second picture) used the engine hoist to get it in my garage, and then worked on separating it from the transmission so it can find it's way on my engine stand.
I got really into my work, and forgot to take pictures. Internet fail. I'll get better at this stuff, promise.
In the process of taking the torque converter bolts from the flexplate, I rounded off two of them. Profanity was said, and I decided to call it a night.
Updates to come! Hopefully this will get done quickly and I can be driving it daily.
Credit to spacecadet for the name. It had to grow on me but I think it's fitting. It's red, like a ruby, but not quite as nice, kinda like everything else I own.
Also, Ruby was my grandmother's name. I like it.
Stay tuned!
