Cthlyte

Why name the truck "White Elephant"? Well apart from the obvious, "white elephant" sales are based on the original concept of "another man's trash is another man's treasure". When I saw this truck 3 years ago, it was beaten, abused, and on its way to auction to the lowest bidder; the previous user leaving it in a state that would put it on a flatbed to the nearest junk yard. However, I stepped in and made the case to the company to keep the truck because I saw the diamond this truck was, when everybody else only saw coal. For the next few years I drove Elephant as the company shop truck, having its issues repaired one by one; every time getting in it vowing that I would bring it home one day.

And after much patience, planning, and haggling, on October 30th, 2020, I fulfilled my promise and purchased my treasured White Elephant... for $4100.


2012 F150 SuperCrew XLT 4x4
225k



Parked next to my previous DD before bringing it home:




Drivetrain:
5.0 DOHC "Coyote" V8 (360hp/380tq)
6R80
Ford 8.8" IFS - 3.73 open
Ford 9.75" - 3.73 with electric locker
6.5 ft bed
Off-Road package
36 gallon tank
Bedliner
Backup sensors
Tow package with factory trailer brake system

Suspension
Leveling Kit

Interior
Cluster LCD display
5 passenger seating (center console instead of jumpseat)
Electric 6-way driver/manual 2-way passenger
Cloth Seats
Sync Radio with SiriusXM and Bluetooth
Redundant steering wheel controls
Sliding rear window
Auto darkening driver's side view mirror (love this!)
Turn signal mirrors
Auto darkening rearview mirror
Manual A/C

Wheels/Tires
265/70/17 BFG All-Terrains

Completed Work:
New front struts
New rear shocks
New Brakes F+R
New blower motor
New transfer case
Rebuilt rear diff
New windshield
New coil packs
New spark plugs
New battery

Mods:
Step bars (11/5/20)
OEM Tow hooks (11/6/20)
Factory Remote start (11/7/20)
Custom fit floor mats (12/12/20)
New front speakers (12/30/20)


Future
Pedal Commander
Weight assist springs
(Factory?) Backup camera

Cthlyte

After 3500 miles, the truck has a few issues I have corrected such as the volume controls on the steering wheel, EVAP purge valve, IWC check valve, and passenger wheel bearing. The truck does have the notorious early 5.0 piston slap, but the engine still runs great. I plan on keeping this truck for several years since it perfectly fits my needs, however it doesn't fit in my garage.which means I don't have to move my other two projects outside:



Left: 1998 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4x4 (5.0 Windsor bored .030 over, torque cam, aftermarket headers, Flowmaster exhaust, 3" lift, 33" BFG's, F150 manual t-case, 4.10's)
Right: 1993 Ford Explorer Limited 4x4 (4.0 OHV, manual conversion, 2" lift, 33" tires, 3.73's)

Next up is the MAF and TB cleaning to fix my rough idle issue. I think I am also going to have to change the tensioner pully's and the belt as well. The A/C compressor is squeaking too, but until it breaks it'll stay that way.

Cthlyte

Took some time to clean the rear and passenger seats this weekend. Those things were really dirty! Night and day difference after I finished.

This is what came out of the seats. Yuck!



I also changed out the oil pressure sensor (wasn't that hard to change at all, maybe an hour and a half all told) and cleaned the MAF. No change to my low idle though. I also switched over to 5w-30 from the 5w-20 that was in there and threw in a bottle of Lucas. Piston slap quieted down after it ran for a bit.

Old sensor.

[F2C]MaDMaXX

You done the plugs yet?

Low idle is normally TB needing a clean (back too) plugs old and out of spec (gap to 0.051) and MAF needing a clean.

Cthlyte

Plugs were already changed by Ford last year (about 4k miles on them) and I cleaned the MAF. I haven't had a chance to clean the TB yet.

smokeybrown

Nice rig

[F2C]MaDMaXX

Definitely clean and perform the relearn procedure then.