I've only got a few more things to disconnect on my 98 4.6 to drop in my 5.4, but this G.D. oil cooler has me stumped. How the he!! do you remove this thing?! The 5.4 still has the cooler on the engine, but the engine was cut out of the truck. Getting access to the cooler is impossible on a 4x4. Are you guys removing it mid engine pull?
Also accessing the power steering pump is no picnic either. I was hoping to leave it on, but soon realized that wasn't an option.

While I'm b!tching, this truck is hands down the most difficult vehicle I have ever worked on. NOTHING is easy to get to. I don't envy the guys that have to work on them for a living. Ok. I'm done!

 

The cooler ? Why would that have to come off ? Even with a remote system, everything can be left on.

 

How do you remove the remote assembly? I'm reasonably sure one of the 3 bolts is under the front clip.
Do I have to remove the filter too and drain all the oil?

 

The bolts are here on the frame, -



I'd drain the fluids. At least coolant and oil.

Here's some random pics, -





What ever you can get to without having to pull the bumper. But, -pulling the bumper is easy as well. I can do it and reset it myself without to much of a problem. You'll know what you have to do looking at it again.

 

I was trying to avoid pulling the bumper and skid plate, but it looks like it needs to come off.

 

I know lol. The skid plate takes about 18 seconds. The bumper takes a little longer. You'll need some big metrics and a couple shop stools.

 

Thanks to a deer, I have experience pulling the bumper. I have to be the only guy on the planet that has killed a deer with an f150 and only done $18 damage! ...license plate bracket.

 

Yea, that's luck for sure. Hell I had a damn bird do more damage than that. Spidied the windshield. Just out of the blue, cruisin along, then fricken,- THUD! bybybirdy

 

Bumper off, remote assembly removed from frame.
Thanks Jbrew!
Btw, our trucks look identical from the front! When did you take those pix? There is no rust anywhere!

 

That was back in 2008 @ a 1/4 million miles. I cleaned up the front end. It had surface rust, but it was at the point where I could clean it off with remover. I'm @ 307,000 miles now, same motor and trans, but I need a new bumper. Rust just started to poke thru the chrome. Surprised it lasted this long. Rocker panels and lower bed panels are toast. Welding in new currently and it's taking forever lol. I hate body work. Michigan winters have taken it's tole.

 

Looks like I have a long way to go. I only have 87k and mine hasn't seen salt in 7 years!
Thanks to a company car my truck is a fair weather king.
BTW I have seen 91 rangers with over 150k in near perfect condition. Oiling the body panels of a Ford keeps them looking good a long time.

 

Yea, I never oiled them, probably should have, - tried like hell to keep it undercoated and clean. Wasn't good enough apparently. However, it did last awhile, couldn't out run it forever tho. Once they start rusting, it's to late. I slowed it down, but that's all I did lol.