The original spindles on my " Toy Built" - 4yr old - 42" deck rider mower lasted 1 season, ( about 4-5 months), on 3/4 acre. I priced out new original ones, and the cost was ridiculous. Took them apart just to see where they were manufactured. Of course it was China. Too far gone to rebuild, so...
Being it was a pad slap, the existing rotors might be glazed from the old pads, causing some noise. I would either have the rotors re-surfaced, or buy new ones.
Nice ! Even better with gear to gear timing ! The " Iron Dukes" had same set up, but the only replacement gear was another composite. Did plenty of those back in the day. I'd say you're good to go !!
Have an 03' Solara with the 4 cyl. Fantastic reliable car. Built like a tank. My floor jack strains lifting up that thing being it's so heavy. Gets better gas mileage than my 13' CRV, and rides 10X better. I read Toyota did away with them because nobody wanted a 2 door anymore, so they weren't...
WOW ! Can't believe Ford was STILL using those composite cam gears in 1988. Had one on a 1973- 351 Windsor engine that sheared off the teeth, and left me " Ford", ( found on road dead), at a toll booth on the Delaware Memorial Bridge. 2-days in a local shop, and 2 days in a motel for me...
Yeah, great engine for sure -). They just don't make them like that anymore. With all the new high HP- 4cylinders, and their GDI with turbos with thin oil, don't think you'd see that mileage nowadays.
At 258K on that 1988- I6, just keep doing what you're doing. It's gotten you this far. If it's not broke, don't fix it. If, by chance, it starts burning oil, 4 rounds of Valvoline Restore and Protect should clean it up, and buy you more time if you plan on keeping it.
Looks good for 2yrs / 80 hrs. Personally, being that you're in GA, and have a longer cutting season than I do in NY, I would perform a seasonal OCI to protect that engine a bit more. I would imagine they run on the hot side. Seasonal changes on the oil and filter is a lot cheaper than a new...
I use OEM filters in my fleet of 3 beaters, with an occasional " off" brand if I catch them on sale cheaper than the OEM. The OEM's are cheap enough, and I never go past 5K OCI's anyway. I realize OEM, and the "off" brands are not the best on the market. Pair the filters with Super Tech oil...
Still have a few bottles of NuFinish on the garage shelf. Haven't used them in years. Been using Adams Ceramic and Collinite 345. Might use the NuFinish for a quick wax job one day. After 2 lumbar fusions, detailing cars are not easy anymore -(....
Never read / heard of a " rechargeable" alkaline battery. Thought they were one time use only batteries. Amazon must have made a mistake in selling them as such. I've read that Lithium, NiCad, NiMH are rechargeable. Scary that they blew up. Good thing they didn't start a fire.