410Fortune 1988 Ford Bronco II Eddie Bauer 4x4

[410Fortune]

THANKS! Previously I was using the bought from my neighbor for $100 crafstman 4 drawer unit 10 years ago..........I loved that thing too I donated it to my son in law.

With this Kobalt man I still have more room and all the tools I had on the peg board and in cabinets are now IN THE BOX = garage is open again for more room for expansion!
Because it has the fridge and stereo in it, I gained all that space too.... FYI the fridge holds 29 beers, so you can drink one while loading out your 30 pack

Friggin box is $1700 at Lowes, I always just walked past it thinking hahahah yeah right Ill never have that... my wife worked a deal got it for half-ish floor model, big dent I will never see because I keep the lid open! I love her so much, OMG she supports my truck/off road addiction!


JD2 gets here TODAY

 

[Premier]

my garage is pretty big. if it didnt have all the shelving and cabinets i could probably park 3 wide and 2 deep throughout the whole thing. i have a craftsman toolbox but i also dont have that many tools.

you have a good wife, im happy for ya bro

 

[410Fortune]

my garage is small 20x20 so space is a premium
I spent an entire weekend re-arranging everything just to accomodate this monster!
Ill have to get some pics, before we had dual incomes it was difficult for me to save for big ticket items and get parts for the truck, we are still on a tight budget, but its amazing what you can do if you really wheel and deal, my wife has taught me that!

Craigslist is your best friend!! my cabinets, work bench, and many tools all come for free or cheap from the CL

we are actually planning to build a 36x30 in the backyard, that will be my new garage, this small garage will then become more basement and another bathroom, addition.
My best friend sells steel buildings, but concrete is way up.. so it may be a while!!

 

[CDW6212R]

Nice Jamie, and congratulations on the wife, your best asset.

 

[410Fortune]

Wow its been a while here for the BII, poor truck!
I beat the living snot out of this truck since the V8 conversion and shes been really good to me. I blew up one transmission, a t case, the steering, and the front diff.

I got married, we got pregnant, and we have a son now hes getting big enough so we can get back to doing our thing, for me this means building stuff and getting outside.

Yesterday I finally got her back into her new home, the re-furbished garage.
The stupid battery charger I have wouldnt hold a charge so I was un able to jump start the BII (sitting the back yard), I cant drive another vehicle over to it so I tried to winch the BII to the street... I used the 4000# winch on our ATV.....the BII wouldnt budge!!

eventually used the explorer in low range to tow her into the street, then jump start (fired right up!)... the reason she didnt want to move is in the rear diff, something is binding

So the BII is now in the "shop" for what I am calling Stage III of her buildup.
This is going to transformation from DD/weekend warrior to Sunday driver/trail rig

* body diet
* full cage bumper to bumper
* winch
* new cooling setup (radiator/hoses)
* battery re-locate
* boat side & sliders (remove rockers)
* harness
* back seat
* suspension fine tuning (coilovers? if $$$ permits)
* 4406M t case or doubler
* PAINT!!!!!


Looks like I will be rebuilding the rear 8.8 also, 4.10 Yukon with an ARB in there now, its been puking fluid for a couple of years now when wheeled hard... wouldnt surprise me if this ARB is fried, the shop that installed my front and rear ARB = out of business and I have had to re-do everything they have done.......

I have saved and worked for this for years, I finally have 90% of the tools I need, now its just time, $$$, and learning curves

Shooting for the trails in 2010

 

[MoabB2]

Awesome man! I can't wait to follow your progress. I have similar Ideas for what I want to do with my bii body and cage.

So work out all the kinks and then you can start on mine!

Look forward to wheeling in 2010. !

 

[CDW6212R]

Can you buy Jon's extra painted rear, can you work out shipping for it?

 

[Dannyboy]

years is right, I see posts from as far back as '04 from you saying this is going down! Not to say I haven't seen some big builds in other trucks from you since then, but the BII is the godfather of your V8 DD and sport track projects. Looking forward to the buildout.

 

[410Fortune]

YES back in 2004 we were already way overdue for a cage, running with the big dawgs on this forum (when I could, geesh the big dawgs are very capable these days) had me wanting a cage for years... but I am not rich and I am not about to pay somebody else to screw up a cage for me, I have it in my head how I want it built and integrated into the BII, so I'll screw it up myself! LOL

Oh the Sport Trac was sold, sadly, I couldnt justify another truck, instead we kept our 1999 GMC 2500HD lukcily I got out of the ST just about what we had in it

Pics coming after this weekend, we are taking the baby camping for his first three day trip above 8500'! Cannot WAIT!! I will miss the BII camping, but the FJ and Rzr will do nicely

thanks guys, it wont take me long to strip the glass, doors, and interior... then when I have the plasma and sawzall out we will see if she keeps her top

I have a spare 8.8 already for building

 

[rookieshooter]

I wished I'd live near ya. A few cups of coffee each morning is all I'd ask for. And then the sparks would fly. Man, that top has to go!!!!
Hey if it helps, I was in my very late 50s befor I took the first cuttin wheel to her HA HA
And If I remember correctly I owe a dept of gratitude to you for all the inspiration you have given me over the years. Thanks

 

[Dannyboy]

umm, yeah, I wouldn't mind a long weekend in CO helping chop apart your truck in exchange for your engine expertise out here. I'd much rather be running a sawzall than trying to wire a V8.

I'm still waiting for someone to completely shave all the body off an explorer/ranger/BII and build a true buggy out of one, just basically leave nothing but the firewall/dash assembly.

 

[410Fortune]

firewall/dash, door sills, cab, and bedsides good enough? Mine just may have a roof too

So many decisions to make, seriously... if I hit the lotto I would build two, one classic BII style with TTB and a buggy with SAS........ so Ill have to find a middle ground

V8? V8? what? dude your 4 door would love a 5.0L

 

[rookieshooter]

Hey...Ole' Man Winter is right around the corner. Sounds like you'll be busy in the garage this winter...Got Heat.

 

[Fiat man]

My bronco 3

Heres a pic of my 86 Bronco 2, Baught it living in Nv. I found it in a Mcdonalds parking lot, sitting on for Flats I contacted the owner and baught it, next thing i know im pulling the engine Out of my old bronco 2 that I completley rebuilt, Dropped the engine in. Put a ford 9" rear axle in. Took a axle of of an old Bronco 1 put it in the front. Put some king coils in the front and put some 37's on it. Custom dash, custom gauges. so much more. I miss Her wish i still had it. what a great truck was beating jeeps left and right on the mountain tops.

 

[Fiat man]

My Bronco

Heres a pic of my 86 Bronco 2, Baught it living in Nv. I found it in a Mcdonalds parking lot, sitting on for Flats I contacted the owner and baught it, next thing i know im pulling the engine Out of my old bronco 2 that I completley rebuilt, Dropped the engine in. Put a ford 9" rear axle in. Took a axle of of an old Bronco 1 put it in the front. Put some king coils in the front and put some 37's on it. Custom dash, custom gauges. so much more. I miss Her wish i still had it. what a great truck was beating jeeps left and right on the mountain tops.

 

[97sprt4x4]

Jamie you made Youtube fame!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QZK2ltKqRY

haha... i was looking through this one my friend just showed me, and low and behold your bronco makes an appearance.

 

[410Fortune]

lol muddiggers

they never asked for my permission to use my truck of wifes pic!!!! sue the rednecks!!!

kidding!!! i was stuck uck yuck because somebody stacked rocks in the mud hole and i high centered the front diff!!!! a 4 runner yanked me out of that pit

 

[CDW6212R]

Was someone trying to fill the hole?

 

[410Fortune]

they were likely trying to climb the ledge when there was no water int he hole, entering that pit is a 4' drop... I have been there in both dry and wet seasons... rock stacking to climb up dirt = the norm, sometimes even the best rigs need a rock... I just like to put them back when I am done ......

I try like hell before I get out the winch, rock, hi lift, anything...without breaking anything that is of course LOL

My tires still have chunks taken from the lugs from that day LOL they were days old!! hahaha

 

[CDW6212R]

Ah good. I wonder what drive in car washes think of you guys.