New to forum Intro
New to forum Intro
Hello all,
As the subject line says, I am new to the Merkur Forum and providing this intro. I am a retired automotive engineer and have owned my Rosso Red 1988 XR4Ti (manual trans, Raven black leather interior, sunroof) since 1989. It now has over 300,000 miles on it. No major mods. When the original muffler went, I had a stainless steel cat back exhaust system (with a stainless steel Borla muffler) installed that is still on the car today. Engine has never been apart. Water pump was replaced some time after 144k miles. Otherwise just usual maintenance items: oil, filters, plugs, wires, distributor cap, etc. Oh, and I replaced the rear differential...twice... Seems the diff is only good for 100k miles or so? Replaced the clutch but only because I had to take it out to replace the pilot bearing that had seized to the end of the input shaft. Somewhere around 240k miles?
As the subject line says, I am new to the Merkur Forum and providing this intro. I am a retired automotive engineer and have owned my Rosso Red 1988 XR4Ti (manual trans, Raven black leather interior, sunroof) since 1989. It now has over 300,000 miles on it. No major mods. When the original muffler went, I had a stainless steel cat back exhaust system (with a stainless steel Borla muffler) installed that is still on the car today. Engine has never been apart. Water pump was replaced some time after 144k miles. Otherwise just usual maintenance items: oil, filters, plugs, wires, distributor cap, etc. Oh, and I replaced the rear differential...twice... Seems the diff is only good for 100k miles or so? Replaced the clutch but only because I had to take it out to replace the pilot bearing that had seized to the end of the input shaft. Somewhere around 240k miles?
1988 XR4Ti, 5spd, Rosso Red, Raven Black leather, sunroof
Re: New to forum Intro
Welcome to the forum. At this point, there are a number of high-mileage Merkurs out there, but yours is still going to be near the top, I think.
Mark
- andyofcolumbusmerkur
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Re: New to forum Intro
You never had to do front wheel bearings on it?
The best way to keep your Kia from being stolen is to not have a Kia.
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Re: New to forum Intro
Guibos? CV axles? TFIs? Distributor? Alternator? Timing belt(s)?andyofcolumbusmerkur wrote: ↑Tue Apr 19, 2022 11:16 am You never had to do front wheel bearings on it?
YMMV
Descartes: "Cogito Ergo Sum"
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!
- merkurdriver
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Re: New to forum Intro
Never had to do front wheel bearings. But went through a LOT of front brake rotors...andyofcolumbusmerkur wrote: ↑Tue Apr 19, 2022 11:16 am You never had to do front wheel bearings on it?
1988 XR4Ti, 5spd, Rosso Red, Raven Black leather, sunroof
Re: New to forum Intro
Guibos? Not familiar with that term. Never had to replace halfshafts or just CV's. Replaced a TFI once (long story). Original distributor. Alternator is still original to my recollection. Timing belt was replaced twice ( between 100k and 130k miles each time).Ed Lijewski wrote: ↑Wed Apr 20, 2022 3:55 pmGuibos? CV axles? TFIs? Distributor? Alternator? Timing belt(s)?andyofcolumbusmerkur wrote: ↑Tue Apr 19, 2022 11:16 am You never had to do front wheel bearings on it?
YMMV
1988 XR4Ti, 5spd, Rosso Red, Raven Black leather, sunroof
Re: New to forum Intro
Yes. Single owner. I bought it off a dealer's lot when Ford was ending selling them (and were offering $4500 discount on them!). This car was a 1988 model that was still unsold in spring of 1989.
1988 XR4Ti, 5spd, Rosso Red, Raven Black leather, sunroof
Re: New to forum Intro
There are a few different terms for it. I think flex coupling is another term that's used. It's the rubber connector at the front of the driveshaft. See http://merkurmidwest.com/catalog/i440.html for a picture of the part itself, or look in the first post in this thread to see them connected to driveshafts. http://forum.merkurclub.net/forum/viewt ... p?p=312355Ford Guy wrote: ↑Sat Apr 23, 2022 9:58 pmGuibos? Not familiar with that term. Never had to replace halfshafts or just CV's. Replaced a TFI once (long story). Original distributor. Alternator is still original to my recollection. Timing belt was replaced twice ( between 100k and 130k miles each time).Ed Lijewski wrote: ↑Wed Apr 20, 2022 3:55 pmGuibos? CV axles? TFIs? Distributor? Alternator? Timing belt(s)?andyofcolumbusmerkur wrote: ↑Tue Apr 19, 2022 11:16 am You never had to do front wheel bearings on it?
YMMV
Mark
Re: New to forum Intro
Ah! Driveshaft donut (flex coupling). No, I never had to replace it.MarkM wrote: ↑Sat Apr 23, 2022 10:13 pmThere are a few different terms for it. I think flex coupling is another term that's used. It's the rubber connector at the front of the driveshaft. See http://merkurmidwest.com/catalog/i440.html for a picture of the part itself, or look in the first post in this thread to see them connected to driveshafts. http://forum.merkurclub.net/forum/viewt ... p?p=312355Ford Guy wrote: ↑Sat Apr 23, 2022 9:58 pmGuibos? Not familiar with that term. Never had to replace halfshafts or just CV's. Replaced a TFI once (long story). Original distributor. Alternator is still original to my recollection. Timing belt was replaced twice ( between 100k and 130k miles each time).Ed Lijewski wrote: ↑Wed Apr 20, 2022 3:55 pm Guibos? CV axles? TFIs? Distributor? Alternator? Timing belt(s)?
YMMV
1988 XR4Ti, 5spd, Rosso Red, Raven Black leather, sunroof
Re: New to forum Intro
The most unusual thing about my XR4Ti is that it still has the original rear brake shoes. Anyone else have a similar experience?
1988 XR4Ti, 5spd, Rosso Red, Raven Black leather, sunroof
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Re: New to forum Intro
That likely points to the self-adjusters not functioning. Or the car never braked firmly in reverse which is how the self-adjusters actuate.
YMMV
Descartes: "Cogito Ergo Sum"
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!
Lijewski: "Sum Ergo Drive-O. Mucho!
- andyofcolumbusmerkur
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- Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 7:58 pm
- Location: NE Ohio
Re: New to forum Intro
Usually that Guibo gets cooked being so close to the hot cat. I would say you got pretty good service life out of those first couple of timing belts
The best way to keep your Kia from being stolen is to not have a Kia.
Re: New to forum Intro
Welcome to the MCA.
We don't formally collect mileage data, but yours is definitely close to the highest. Congratulations!
Did you do the maintenance and/or have a shop do some/all?
If your interested in talking with and/or meeting any Merkur owners in your area, or
if you're ever interested in going to Ford Nationals in Carlisle PA, usually 1st weekend in June,
contact me and I'll try to contact others in your area.
Bob
PS You'd probably enjoy talking with Steve Saxty, previously a Ford designer, will be at Carlisle this year.
His info here > http://forum.merkurclub.net/forum/viewt ... 85&t=40862
We don't formally collect mileage data, but yours is definitely close to the highest. Congratulations!
Did you do the maintenance and/or have a shop do some/all?
If your interested in talking with and/or meeting any Merkur owners in your area, or
if you're ever interested in going to Ford Nationals in Carlisle PA, usually 1st weekend in June,
contact me and I'll try to contact others in your area.
Bob
PS You'd probably enjoy talking with Steve Saxty, previously a Ford designer, will be at Carlisle this year.
His info here > http://forum.merkurclub.net/forum/viewt ... 85&t=40862