Hey all!
I have a 1988 Mighty Max, 2.0. I got it from a friend for $475 and a box of .30-06 bullets. When I got it, it came with chrome rims and wide 14" tires. It looked good, but the engine ran ragged and my friend was stumped. Long story short, I gapped the plugs, (slightly open at .043") and added a new ignition wire set. That was all she took and away we went!
The engine has a valve seal leak in the #3 cylinder, but I keep an eye on the plugs and clean all 4 every 120 days or so. I recently put in new timing and counter shaft belts and a salvaged tranny went in this this last summer. The brakes have been redone, too. The original engine is still installed and has 300K+ miles on it.
Then I hit a deer a few months ago... D%$N! I just got a new radiator installed, post deer strike, and the truck is back to running great. I'm shopping around now for a new bumper, grill and left side front light capsule. With these, I can put the deer behind me.
My wife says I should sell the truck, but it is like one of my own children at this point. I'm gonna get it to 400K, just to say I did it. Sometime later this year I expect to retire the Mighty Max, but it wont leave the yard. It'll keep on trucking into the the future....
David
We could definitely chat! My first 93 MM (2.6 auto) was a gift from a friend, post deer collision: replaced hood, grill, radiator, beat the rest of it back to straight, running fine. Also bought a 87 MM with a "blown engine" for $300. I was going to use the front end to fix the 93, and build a trailer from the back, but the truck was too nice and is awaiting an engine rebuild (2.0 auto). Just bought another 93 MM, 2.4 5-spd, supposedly only needs a fuel pump. We will see...