Good to see another V8 owner with SAI in ole Blighty!

 

I love ACE/SLS trucks. They ride and drive way better than springs, plus tow better and do better off-road. I would do whatever it took to keep those systems operational.

 

Any recommendations for service / maintenance assuming the system and rear bags have never been looked at?

I think there are kits that can replace the SAI? I need to rely on the truck for long trips moving my dogs - currently looking at swapping to Fox shocks and new springs all round but if the rear air bags are a superior ride I’d like to update the SAI and bags and keep them!

ACE looks in good nick on first inspection- only 60k miles and no corrosion so fingers crossed. Doing a filter replacement and service - anything else to ensure it stays leak-free and smooth running? I do not want to need a pump replacement in 20k miles…

 

I should note - this vehicle has clear evidence of heavy towing for the last 12k miles or so. I do not plan to tow anything at all. Obviously towing a big heavy trailer is going to put strain on everything, as shown by the leaks likely caused by higher-than-normal pressure everywhere.

Is there anything else I should be checking not on this list?
- Front greasable prop shaft (should I do the rear too?)
- Steering dampener
- New bushes everywhere
- New belt and pulleys
- Replace all the leaky gaskets (rockers, throttle body, oil sump, manifold)
- Inline stat mod
- New rad
- PCV mod
- New Fox shocks, new stock height or 1.5" springs, bushes
- Either spring conversion on the rear bags, or replace with an aftermarket air kit
- Replacing plastic reservoirs with aluminium
- ACE filter replace and service
- New hoses and clamps for peace of mind
- Drain engine oil, fill with Rotella T5 15W-40 (I do not know what's been put in there already so better safe)
- New water pump
- New Bosch alternator
- New Tarox rotors and pads (brakes squeel like a newborn piglet when parking)
- Unrelated but comfort recommendations lean towards 16" wheels, so new set of steelies wrapped in Wildpeak AT3WAs (I love these tires)

Will build up her trip length over the summer to reveal any gremlins, iron out any issues. A bunch of minor electrical and interior mechanism issues to resolve so far, nothing major.

The vehicle is primarily for driving from Scotland up into the Pyrenees in winter, my livestock guard dogs in the back, so breaking down on the side of a highway or limping to a garage is something I want to avoid at all costs. These are not small, easy-going dogs...

 

thats no oil leak, wait until you have a actuall oil leak lol why on earth do you drive a v8 on a disney diesel land ????? anyway i would not bother with the water pump as the new crap sucks, what i would do is replace your oil pump and gaskets etc, mine had only 80 k and blew the gasket on the timing cover, that will leave you stranded quick

 

The killer of the ACE pumps is running them dry. If they are 18 years old you may want to replace the hoses. Keep an eye on the oil level and for any leaks. They cylinder seals might start leaking and much less expensive to replace those than too replace the ACE pump.