What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

I mean, we're talking about THIS guy. How could I be upset?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTidn2dBYbY

 

I'm too sexy for my shirt, so sexy it hurts.

 

The Dukes of Hazard

 

I'm quasi old school.
Opened rear diff fill plug. Nothing leaked out. Dipped finger in. Still Transparent and smells normal. Top it off, close it up.
Transfer case. Opened fill plug. Oil leaked out. Closed it up. Still transparent. Smells normal. moving on.
Front diff. Opened fill plug. Nothing came out. Topped it off until fluid ran out. It was dirty, it was stinky it was far from transparent and will be getting changed.
40k on and 1st I've checked it.
Bought with 20k.

 

I got rear ended last year. My receiver saved me from a lot more damage. I would make sure nothing moved.

My plastic step pad got all marred up, my driver's side bumper cover got creased, my receiver and the actual metal "bumper" were both pushed out of place, my tailgate got dented pretty bad, and the top stamp of the bumper got all bent.

I replaced the stamp and nothing else .. I loosened all the bolts and used a jack to get my metal bumper and hitch receiver back into spec and I super glued the plastic clips that wound up getting busted on the bumper cover and the step pad. I pocketed the rest of the loot. Total repair was about $400 (paintless dent removal guy got my tailgate fixed good enough).

I would check all the bolts underneath.. it'll take a few minutes, but if you get under there with a flashlight you'll see how it all goes together.. the bumper is like 7 different pieces, but there is only one part that is really a bumper....your receiver is attached to that along with the frame.

 

My front diff was nasty at 30k and I'm not in 4WD that much .. I think it's basically the norm for the front diff fluid to look like crap according to everything I read.

 

I've had a smoked tint vinyl on mine for 3 years. Holds up fine.... Mine still looks new

 

Prepping to install an OEM roof rack. Pulled off the roof weatherstripping. Both sides were replaced at the dealership last year under warranty after blowing off on the highway. Dealership folks did a very professional job to keep them on for good. Lol.

 

Just installed a set of Toyo Open Country AT tires, 265/70/17 Load Range C, on FN FX Pro wheels. Thanks Dustin and @Discount Tire for helping me put this project together.

 

Liked for Kung Fury <3

 

See... This is why the dealership is such a scam. I mean really? You could have had them hand you the weather stripping and $50 and done a better job in the parking lot.

WTF is that horse crap

 

Used my off road turtle to torture a veloster n driver, smelled like oil when he caught up.

 

@finethreads it was our pleasure! Thank you for allowing us to be a part up upgrading your Taco.

 

Is it a paved road to the point in your pic or is it a trail ride?

 

For the youngsters. 442 = 4 Barrel, 4 speed manual and Dual exhaust. Very cool cars!

 

Threw on these blacked out turn signals a few minutes ago…

 

I looked at a bunch of different TRD PRO rear knockoffs. Probably okay but when it comes to electrical I play it safe and stick with OEM.

 

Between 3 other families during my youth ... the vintage gives away my age ... one family had a GTO, another a 442 and a third one of those 450-ish CuIn 50-ft-long station wagons (carried 20 school children for field trips and police did not even blink! ). The GTO probably got better MPG than the station wagon on its best day.

Drivers killed the wagon and the 442, do not know the fate of the GTO.

 

Installed the KTJO grab handle.

Shipping: Good. Received within a week of my order.

Packaging: Parts, in a box, in a bag. The shipper did they're worst, but everything arrived OK. (Internal packaging could be better / more secure.)

Initial Reaction: Decent, OEM-looking, OEM-feel plastic parts. Hardware was OK, but I'm a bit picky.

I didn't care for the small-ish expanding bolt for the lower mounting point. It just doesn't look like something I want to be pulling on, on a daily basis. I bought an M6 nutsert, but it was too big for the factory hole, and I didn't want to drill. So, I went with an M6 flange nut, attached with double-sided mounting tape.



Removing the side cover was very straight-forward. Disconnect the battery. Pop out the oval plug and remove one bolt. Pull the cover out.



Next is the fun part. Carefully feed the nut behind the bracket and press in place. I didn't make the hole in the tape (for the bolt) big enough, which I found out later. The bolt did not want to thread in. Tip: Test-fit the bolt before installing the nut.



The color-match on the cover was pretty close, but not exact. Luckily, it doesn't butt up against any other matching trim, just the dash and the headliner. The stock trim piece had a small felt patch in one corner and a foam seal on the back side. The KTJO piece did not. The glue holding the felt and foam strip were too strong to remove those pieces, so I left it alone. Hopefully, no rubbing or squeaking down the road.





It took a few tries to get the front end of the trim piece to fit in and lined up with the dash, but I finally got it.



The handle hardware included two aluminum bushings. On one side of the handle, the opening is 'wavy' and the bushing fits snugly. On the other side of the handle, the open is larger. I got new, matching bolts, and a larger washer for the 'other' side.



The top bolt went in fine, but the excess tape on the bottom nut didn't play nice with the bolt. Removed everything, trimmed the tape, tried again. Success. Add the two trim covers in the handle and you're done.



The installation was not difficult at all. As mentioned, the color match is not exact, but it's pretty darn close. I don't think anyone else is going to notice. The fit and finish are OK/acceptable. The finish is very similar to factory. You would be hard-pressed to see the difference unless the two sides were right next to each other. The fit, however, is not quite as good as factory. The handle on the factory side fits snugly down in the side trim. The KTJO handle has a visible gap. On the factory handle, the two plugs fit nicely into the handle. The KTJO plugs are slightly exposed. Minor details, but FYI. Overall, I would give it an A-/B+. I'm glad KTJO has this available, I'm happy with my purchase, and I know I'll be using it every day!

 

Sister’s boyfriend had one of these in high school. Brand new. Father was a Ford exec. 429 Cobra Jet.
Edit: For those that don't know this is a Mercury Cougar Eliminator. Records show most of the big block cars were 428CJs, but I distinctly remember '429' on the hood scoop.