A few questions

[CDTJ]

I have a series of three questions that I would love some advice on.

First: I have an odd electrical problem. I'm not very good or well-versed in wiring, as I haven't torn into that project ever yet. So, it seems that the colder it is outside, the longer my headlights take to turn on. Usually it will take about 30 seconds from the time I turn the headlight switch on for the actual headlights to come on, and usually it takes some coaxing by acceleration. (Maybe the alt pushes some more through?) Last night, it took about two minutes, and was quite cold. It has no trouble starting, just extraneous electrical. Even the wipers seemed sluggish. Would it be a relay?

Second: I just got new tires of the same size as my former ones (Goodyear Duratrac 31 1050 15s), and they are quite beefier. Now, they will rub the fender well, I think on the front. Will wheel spacers work to remedy this?

Third: I'm going to redo a lot of the front end - cv axles, wheel bearings, upper and lower ball joints, pitman and idler arm, tie rods, etc. I've always used the cheap advance brands before, but I would like to use the better stuff for my truck, as I want to take care of it. Is there a big difference in brands, especially if I'm interested in a little bit of offroading (nothing crazy serious, just for fun)? If so, what should I use for this? Should I shop at NAPA now, instead of the regular guy stores? Haha.


Also, in an attempt to become a more active member of the community that can give some contribution, here is an easy way to access Chilton's entire library of auto repair manuals, in case anyone didn't know or doesn't have access to books or such.

http://www.fordfusionclub.com/index.php?topic=187769.0

I originally was going to offer to retrieve the information personally through my AKO, as AKO offers the same option, but then I found that forum thread and decided it was better, as it doesn't have to come through me every time.

Thank you!



EDIT:

Also, I don't see that my motor has the vacuum advance for the distributor. I was looking up what lines that i can jerk out, and I read that I can pull all of them except for the vacuum advance line. So I look in the guide, and find the hard line that goes to it. I find that the line is pulled out on both ends, and I don't have an advance? Here are the best pics I could take in the dark. (No time to work on during day time)

I've labeled the line that I think it is with C, according to fastboatman's guide. And I put question marks where I thought the vac advance was supposed to be, according to the same guide.





A just goes off in the other direction and is broken. The only one hooked up is B, the middle one, to what I think is the vacuum canister?

[breadbox]

1. I am pretty sure relays either work or don't. I would start poking around with a multimeter and see if anything seems weird, starting at the battery and go out from there. test signal to the alt. Check all grounds. I wonder if it could be the headlight stalk(turn signal piece) and its not sending the right signal all the time.

2. I would find where it rubs and see if its actually hitting inner suspension/body. Some cars rub on a lip on the body and a hammer usually can bang the lip out of the way enough to not rub. your tires don't seem that big.

3. You have an 86 with a z24i? I don't know that it has the exact same dizzy. I haven't really looked into the difference in z24 and z24i

[CDTJ]

You are absolutely correct about the z24i. I believe that has to be it. I thought all along it was just a z24, but as it turns out, the throttle body looks EXACTLY like a carburetor. I suppose the computer on the side was also a give-away, once I really looked at it. I'm sure you all knew that. Haha.

Also, here is a picture of my new tires.


I'd rather not bang on the front of the fender. But if that's what I need to do, then I'll do it.


Thanks for your advice breadbox.



EDIT:

"Beside fuel injection, a significant change for the Z24i was the addition of an optical crank angle sensor in the distributor rather than a vacuum advance and ignition module."

This came directly out of the FAQ. Arrgghhh! I can't stand myself sometimes. Haha.

[breadbox]

Its all good.

Well there is always the option to lift the truck away from the wheel.

[CDTJ]

I was actually considering doing that. As this is my first truck, I'm not sure how to go about it. I suppose I'll be finding a guide on the net.

Also, I cleaned my throttle body and put it back on, and it runs much better! So I'm a little thrilled at not having to get a weber. lol.

[Rev_D21]

Raising the truck is the same basic procedure as lowering except you are doing the opposite. The torsion anchors are different than a 2wd but the principle is the same. Loosen the locking nut then turn the adjuster nut on the anchor bolt to raise/lower the truck.

Here's some helpful info for you. http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM

I have a bunch of 720 manuals here and I don't mind helping answer good questions as well.