[Red Wagon]

I've been scouring past threads and the wiki (when it works) as I restore my 1995 wagon. Thank you to the person / people that pay the bills that keep this useful resource alive. Volumes of valuable information would be lost without you!

Hi my name is Jeff, or Red Wagon because the dumb internet told me JeffB was already taken. I rescued this car in May and drove it all summer as my daily driver. It was ailing but I kept it running until the tapping noise and the oil pressure became concerning enough to not want to drive in traffic for fear of a catastrophic engine failure. I purchased this car planning to blow barrels of cash at it....and I love it when a plan comes together!

This car is a survivor and deserves a restoration. I just couldn't let this beautiful wagon fade away.

Completed installs include...

• New shocks & springs in the rear. New quick struts up front. Front anti sway bar links.
• Remanufactured rack & pinion steering.
• New 17 inch wheels and Michelin crossclimate2 tires.
• Modified the dash to accept a 2-din Pioneer digital multimedia receiver and reverse camera.
• New head light assemblies.

Work currently in process includes...

• Build-up and install remanufactured TriStar long block engine
  • New water pump
  • New distributor and coil
  • New Harmonic balancer, new tensioner pulley, and new idler pulley.
  • New oil pan, and stripped & painted valve covers.
  • New Idle air control valve, EGR valve, EGR sensor, air charge temperature sensor, PCV valves, purge cannister solenoid, and throttle position sensor.
  • New fuel injectors and fuel pressure regulator.
  • New power steering pump with inline filter.
• New catalytic converters and O2 sensors
• New radiator, all new hoses, new tubes, and new heater hoses.
• Transmission oil and filter replacement.
• Hand cleaned engine bay and transmission. 11 hours invested to remove 27 years and 171,372 miles of grime and leaking fluids.

My next projects are...

• Remove and clean the fuel tank. Will reinstall with a new fuel pump and sending unit.
• Front and rear bumper covers repaint. The paint is flaking off in a few places.

Here's a link to my gallery.

 

[jag1959]

Sounds like you've got quite the labor of love going on there. Please consider creating a project log here:

Taurus and Sable Project Log

www.taurusclub.com

I look forward to seeing it progress and, of course, good luck in your endeavors!

 

[Lisfin]

I am not sure if the 95 has the same setup for the camshaft synchronizer or not, but it might worth replacing since it runs the oil pump and if it craps out could destroy the entire engine. Maybe someone with a little more knowledge could answer if the 95 wagons use the same setup as the gen 4. Just a thought as I didn't see you mention it in your list...Good Luck!

some info on it
Camshaft Sychronizer

 

[Red Wagon]

Jag1959, I was looking at the projects forum before I posted this. I'll submit a write up after I finish the engine install.

Lisfin, my wagon has the 3.8 liter engine which I believe was dropped from the options list after the 95 model year. I'm not aware of a cam synchronizer in this engine but I will research it just to make sure I don't miss a very important part. Thanks for the tip.

 

[sheila]

^ No cam sync on the 3.8 Essex. It has a dizzy like the gen 2 Vulcans.

 

[chartmaker]

Jag1959, I was looking at the projects forum before I posted this. I'll submit a write up after I finish the engine install.

Lisfin, my wagon has the 3.8 liter engine which I believe was dropped from the options list after the 95 model year. I'm not aware of a cam synchronizer in this engine but I will research it just to make sure I don't miss a very important part. Thanks for the tip.

It has a distributor and single coil. Last of the OBD-I. I had '95 Sable way back for several years. Timing is a real pain but there is a way. Mine had the timing wrong, no sign it had been changed as the factory match mark was intact and in line. It caused low mpg and bit weak to throttle response. I bought it used with 70K and then factory recall and they re-did the head gaskets. I learned to NOT tow in OD in my '92 Sable as it only made about 75 miles with a U-Haul trailer. So when towing with my '95 wagon I used gear #3 as recommended. No issues with that.
My wagon was my first to break front springs. Pic of the spring catcher Ford put on this wagon.
-chart-

 

[javaleo]

WOW! Talk about a project.

 

[Red Wagon]

I installed the engine over the long holiday weekend. The car is stunning and running! I'll get to work on the write-up in the project log. I promise. So many people start good conversations, and ask great questions, then never follow up on-line to report what fixed the problem. Or all the conversations about the 4.3 liter stroker projects... I want to leave something for the next guy or gal that comes looking for Taurus 3.8 answers.
Here's a link to the first engine start after installation. Red Wagon first start

 

[Red Wagon]

I wrote a post for the Gen 1 - 4 Maintenance & Repair Forum but it's waiting for someone to approve it. Why did that happen?

 

[jag1959]

I wrote a post for the Gen 1 - 4 Maintenance & Repair Forum but it's waiting for someone to approve it. Why did that happen?

That is a good question for which I wish I had a good answer. NGL, I don't. A detailed repair post like the one you created is a great addition to the forum and we are fortunate to have folks like you paying it forward for future Bullheads. Thank you!

Unfortunately the forum software occasionally kicks posts to the approval queue without adequate explanation to the poster or the folks that handle the queue. It may be something having to do with an image source, a link or a turn of phrase but it does not tell us specifically what it is, merely that it is a post that requires review and approval.

As for the wait, that's on me. The mods and I are volunteers. We aren't compensated and don't work for Autoguide. We are fellow Bullheads, for us this is a labor of love (mostly unrequited) You can believe me when I tell you, if you thought this wait was long it was nothing compared to waiting on an Autoguide admin. I am in and out of this forum multiple times a day, when I am 'in' the first thing I do is look at the approval queue. The next thing I do is review messages and posts telling me what's broken, then it's on to hearing about how inadequate the forum is in general and I am personally. I then move on to Reported Posts and moving misplaced posts to their correct forum so folks get the responses they need. If I still have time I then try to respond to a repair question or two. How better to be second guessed?

If you ever have any issues or questions feel free to reach out by PM.
I answer every one I receive, no approval queue involved.