'86 Bronco II Eddie Bauer Restoration....

[mjones97]

I picked this up on 3-12-08...

well I got me a Bronco II......I paid $350 for it...the only rust spot on it is a hole about the size of a quarter in front of the rear passenger tire.....easy fix.....

Specs:
1986 Bronco II Eddie Bauer
2.9 V6
A4LD transmission
BW1350 Electric transfer case
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Power Lumbar
Tilt wheel
Cruise


What it needs:
- small interior parts/pieces
- transmission
- paint


Plans for it:
- Manual transmission swap
- Manual transfer case swap
- 2"-4" lift
- 32x11.50x15 tires
- 15x8 wheels
- paint (stock colors)


Here are the pictures when I picked it up this afternoon:

 

[mjones97]

Here is my yesterday's work.....

This is my $20 parts lot from the local junk yard: (the clutch/brake pedal assembly was a PITA to get out...i spend 1.5 hours on it where i only spend .5 hours on the other parts)

Then I installed most of the parts....the only picture i took was of the antenna...and then i broke it off inside the base by tightening it too tight....anyone know how to get that out?

Before:

After:

Then I mounted my antenna for the CB.......

 

[mjones97]

Update: 3/24/2008

Ordered tires & wheels this morning for the BII....

- Tire Rack had a KILLER deal on 31x10.50x15 BFG A/T's that I couldn't pass up...they had 3 of the QR speed rated versions for $75 each.....I got them and then 2 of the S speed rated BFG A/T's for $129 each.....The different speed rating didn't mean anything to me since i will never have the Bronco anywhere near those speeds...so i got 5 tires for $587.47 shipped...

- I got 5 Cragar Soft 8 Series 397 wheels, Cragar rear closed center caps, Cragar open front center caps, and 20 chrome lug nuts for $285.65 shipped from Jegs

All parts should be here by Wednesday....can't wait!

 

[Joe Dirt]

Sweet! BrooklynBay will like your Aerostar seats...

 

[mjones97]

Sweet! BrooklynBay will like your Aerostar seats...

i don't get it.....those are the factory seats...

 

[410Fortune]

those are BII EB seats for sure

those pictures bring back memories for sure, my BII looked EXACTLY like that when I got it except it was blue

That radio bezel is getting hard to find in perfect shape and so is the dash cover, if its not cracked or burnt consider yourself lucky

Awesome for $350, begging for a 93-94 4.0L OHV

 

[mjones97]

those are BII EB seats for sure

those pictures bring back memories for sure, my BII looked EXACTLY like that when I got it except it was blue

That radio bezel is getting hard to find in perfect shape and so is the dash cover, if its not cracked or burnt consider yourself lucky

Awesome for $350, begging for a 93-94 4.0L OHV

the 4.0 swap is in the future....this 2.9 still has plenty of life left in it...

 

[410Fortune]

I miss my 2.9L onlybecause it would rev to 6800
The day I got my old 4.0L running was the day I quit messing with the 2.9L, the 4.0L is such a perfect fit, the 2.9L just doesnt have the torque.

Nice truck regardless, I am jealous! Oh if I could start all over again!!

 

[mjones97]

how hard is the 4.0 swap?

 

[Joe Dirt]

Wow- I thought the B2's were shorter... So the Aerostars used BII seats? Didn't know that!

 

[mjones97]

Wow- I thought the B2's were shorter... So the Aerostars used BII seats? Didn't know that!

yea those are the stock Eddie Bauer seats.....

 

[mjones97]

I got the tires and wheels mounted, but they will not fit on the BII until I get the 4" lift kit on....Hopefully it will go on Friday...

I put on the Ranger 4.0 4wd coil springs I had off my old '97....it raised the front end exactly 1".....

I also put on a CARR light bar (like the KC light bar)....I will be ordering lights and other misc stuff for the lift kit on Monday! I got the CARR light bar for $95 shipped from http://www.car-stuff.com/carparts/fordexplorer19912001carrc2221034161790.html ....i recommend them, I had it in 2 days with regular ground shipping....

For thos of you who think the KC and CARR light bars stick up too high, the light bar only sticks up 1" off the cab....just enough to get your hand under it to wash the top...

 

[mjones97]

Yesterday (3/30/2008) i put on the back 2 new BFG's because one of the tires blew that came on the BII.....I also used a Meguires 3 step wax on the drivers rear quarter and the back hatch....it was an amazing improvement....a little black paint on the frame never hurt anyone...

Befor black paint yesterday:

After black paint:

See the difference:

Today (3/31/2008) I started the tear down for the front lift.....i called the place that did my Ranger 4 years ago (they did it then for $150) and they wanted $400 now so i am doing it.....I am really surprised the bolts are coming out without hardly any force....no impact, or no cheater bars...they are coming out like a new truck.....i think the odometer which says 68000 is more accurate than 168,000....my Ranger was a PITA when we installed the front gears.....the lift isn't susposed to be here till Thursday....here is todays work:

My Superunner steering setup waiting for the lift!

 

[mjones97]

I got the passenger side drop bracket off....grinding the rivets wasn't bad....when i got all 4 ground off, i just smacked the bracket and it popped off....

I also got the radius arm cross member off....the passenger side was 100% bolted on and the driver side had 2 bolts and 2 rivets....pissed me off....i couldn't get the angle grinder to 1 of the rivets so i just cut the bracket even with the frame until i replace the body mount bushings and then i can get the angle grinder in there to the rivet....

the person in these pictures is my buddy helping me.....

I got a box of goodies from Summit today.....man i was happy to see this stuff......

- 4 Skyjacker shocks
- ProComp pitman arm
- BellTech 6400 Chevy drop shackles
- 4 KC Daylighter 100w lights


I got the lights mocked up to the bar.....i need to take the bar off and tighten them down and re-install the bar....

This is the weekend end update (4-6-2008):

I started Saturday off at around 9:30am. I was working by myself because my help was on his way to Illinois to pick up his "new" Bronco II (I will post up pictures later).

So working by myself, I got as much done as humanly possibly by myself in about 9 hours with the occational time having to run to get things. Here is How I left the truck on Saturday night at 6:30pm:

This is what I did on Saturday. The lift brackets where a little rust when I got them, so I cleaned them up a bit.

Cleaned up and installed brackets!

What is the bracket for? You guessed her chester...

I had to modify my driver side radius arm bracket because there was NO way to get to the upper body mount rivet. So I figured that the bolt that went through the frame and bracket for the parking brake cable would do suffice, I did this:

This is the mounted pictures of the brackets:

Here is some springs to compare. The shorter one is a stock 4.0 Ranger spring and the longer one (from what I was told) is a 4" James Duff springs. After further review, the lift spring is about 6" longer than the stock Ranger spring. I think I have a 6" lift. Pictures of Sunday's work will show why.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, I got the new James Duff brake lines installed, and got the front wrapped up. My help was back today so it was nice. I have to order new shocks because the shocks I got where for a 4" lift kit, and I do believe I have a 6" kit. I haven't measured, but it definately isn't 4". I think it is an older Superlift 5.5" kit.

Old brake lines vs. new brake lines:

Pitman arm comparison:

There was a lot of this consumed in the last 2 days:

OOO....Nice steering!

Got her off the jack stands ready for tires/wheels:

Look at that front end height! Woo Hoo!

I am starting on the rear tomorrow after work. I had originally planed on just BellTech 6400 shackles, but I guess I am going to have to throw in a 2" block till I can afford new springs. I don't think 2" in the rear will be near enough.







I got the rear up on jack stands waiting for today after work. Going to hopefully have the rear up in the air tonight.

And a few more random shots:

 

[410Fortune]

heck yeah those are some nice first upgrades!

Any plans to go to a d35 ttb? If it is the early Superlift kit check your diff for clearance, you dont want to punch a hole on the diff, their pass beam drop bracket was re-designed like 4 times

 

[mjones97]

heck yeah those are some nice first upgrades!

Any plans to go to a d35 ttb? If it is the early Superlift kit check your diff for clearance, you dont want to punch a hole on the diff, their pass beam drop bracket was re-designed like 4 times

yea I am going to upgrade to an Explorer 8.8 (drum brakes) and a Dana 35...but that will be a while since the 8.8 is geared for 4.56 gears and I will need new gears for the front...

I am going to get a new passenger bracket before I upgrade the Dana 35...

 

[410Fortune]

You can also grab a transmission x memeber from a later Ranger or Explorer, it will bolt directly in place and ditch that under the frame rail/rubber bushing monster or a x member the BII came with (I am guessing it was for vibrations? who knows, regardless its heavy and it hangs down way too low)

 

[mjones97]

i have thought about that, but with my radius arm mounts being lower and almost right at the tranny crossmember, I see no reason why to switch it. I might when I put the manual transmission in.

 

[mjones97]

I got the add-a-leaf on yesterday (4-8-08). It was easier than I thought; first time ever installing an add-a-leaf. The back still gets the BellTech 6400 shackle, but i will probably do that after the alignment.

I also cleaned up the rear inner fender well and painted it black. It looks a ton better.

Before:

After:

Here is the truck with the tires on it and the add-a-leaf done. I measured the front and the fender opening now is setting at 40"

Here is my buddies '89 Bronco II 2wd. We are going to convert it to 4wd before the end of the summer. He is buying my Dana 28 when I get a Dana 35. Since he don't wheel, a Dana 28 is all he needs.

 

[rookieshooter]

Nice find on a B2 with that little rust. Looking good. You might want to drop the gas tank and check for rust. Mine was paper thin even though the body hardly had any rust.
Most of the rust was between the tank supports and tank. I replaced with a new tank and sending unit.