Ricks Bronco: 1and 1/2

[rookieshooter]

nice!

Thanks Kirby and stocksports

 

[rookieshooter]

It also helps to have a sense of Humor

 

[rookieshooter]

Installing the pistons

 

[rookieshooter]

This is looking from engine compartment towards grill. This is where the 29"+ long radiator will go tucked under the hood and latch support, which will be welded back in after rad. is in place. It fits nicly between the two existing right angle flanges, their about 30" apart. I did have to cut a lot a lot of metal between them. If you look below the wiring loom there is a lower rad.support frame to frame that I made from some angle iron which has the stock rad. supports welded to it. This is the same rad. that the engine and Aod came from which also had ac. So I don't think there should be much of a problem of over heating. I will either mod. the top hood and latch support for access to the rad. cap, or install one in the hose. If I do the hose thing I will put a higher pressure cap one on the existing opening and less press. cap in the hose.

 

[rookieshooter]

Bottom end done. Ordered a degree wheel so I can find true top dead center and also to make sure the cam is opening and closing as per specs. I have found more then one cam that was not as said.

 

[BigDakota]

I like the "bare and naked" motors!!! I think you have to much time on your hands.....listening to your motor and BII talk!! ha ha....

 

[rookieshooter]

I like the "bare and naked" motors!!! I think you have to much time on your hands.....listening to your motor and BII talk!! ha ha....

You ought to hear it when I get into the conversation Actually it was my daughters idea, I have a hard enough time posting pics. let alone funny stuff. Yea its tuff being retired. Dakota I really think the springs are going to be too stiff. The back are Ex. springs with the first spring removed, the one close to the axel. I get up in the bed and it hardly goes down. I am about 190. Do you have any ideas on some other spring? My friend who builds hotrods has all these heim ends he is going to give me. (I do some sheet metal work on his projects and trade off) I am really thinking of a 4 point Suspension (heim ends)and use the existing springs but put another shackel in the front of the springs also so it articulates better. Or a big coil over shock elliminating the leafs alltogether. then use a pan rod. What do you think.? Remember this thing is light.

 

[BigDakota]

I know how light the back of the BII is.....now you have a V8 and part of the rear body is missing!! You need to pour some concrete in your rear tube bumpers to give you some weight back there! You definately need some flexability in your suspension, but not have alot of body roll...It is definately a roll bar/cage candidate if you were going to do alot of technical trails!..I guess its up to your pocket book and what you are going to use the BII for. "mainly in town,light offroad and trail driving or serious articulation on the trail" I would stay with the leafs and work on moving some weight to the back....!!!

 

[410Fortune]

That and Colorado winters are why my BII still has a roof, traction.
Looking great so far, working quickly.
Just wait until you drive it
I dont know why you guys are so scared of EFI (joke)

Keep it comin!

 

[rookieshooter]

What I've read and what Dakota and you say all makes sense. I am moving as much to the rear. I have spun it around on bumpy roads when it had a top. It started jumping up and down and here comes the rear. But then the body did roll alot from side to side but that was all stock stuff. the lower COG might help. I would love to take a stock B11...put it on scales front and thenthe back, and see what the percent is on the front compared to back also total weight as compared to mine. I don't know what the weight differance is on a stock B11 motor with ac. and cast iron exhaust. Compared to my 302 that has an aluminum manifold, tubed headers,no battery up front, no ac compressor and brackets and all those little relays and gadgets. I really don't think the differance is going to be that great. I guess when it goes on the scale we'll find out. I think if i play with the springs I might be able to get a handle on it. I have been measuring for a rear window today and mounting a lid on the bat. box. Later I 'll mess with the engine somemore. As for its use mainly around town, trial driving mixed with a whole lot of hunting and fishing. And sure there will be occasional "Let see what you'v got" Its just so much fun to work on. Sounds Like Jamie has a real bear of a B11
Oh ya, those Co. winters....got snowed in on top of one of those falt-top mountains while on a hunting trip around Antlers or Debique one year, damn near froze to death. I was by myself and had to spend the night there.

 

[410Fortune]

my plan is to take out the rear windows, make them soft for the trail, glass in winter.
Custom two piece rear gate, lower half missing mostly, the 35" spare will poke its head through the bottom over the rear bumper a little.
The upper hatch will be hinged like stock with a removable window as well.
Cage will begin at the front bumper and end at the rear.
In the front picking up the coilovers and in the back the some bypass shocks.
The floor of the cargo area and the bedisdes will get cut, I plan to pull the metal bedsides similar to a Ranger to help clear the rear tires and match the front glass.

Now just need the time and $$$ hahaha

The ultimate plans are a modified Dana 44 TTB up front with coilovers and bump stops, custom steering, and 8" wider than stock. I want to push the front beams forward about 2" as well.
In the rear a 9" will be used and possibly a full 4 link rear, but only if I decide I can't make it work with leafs, the rear axle can move back about an 1".

All in due time
I want to find another BII to chop up, remove most of the body, tube it, 4.0L, C4, Dana 20, Dana 30 up front, 8.8 in back and go bash it against some trees and rocks

 

[BigDakota]

Sounds like 410 is building a bullet proof BII!!!! I had this sweet"but stock"
except for 15x8 rims and 12.5x15 tires, 90 BII,auto, with 39,000 original miles, I purchased from someone who had to many cars to drive . I took it wheeling with a buddy and his Pathfinder in Colorado, above Silverton somewhere by some old mines. I almost did a front flip with the BII. My buddy was behind me and said he saw all of my drivetrain, including the oilpan as my back end came up almost to the point of no return...I had some driving lights on the bottom of the front bumper that became flattened brackets and glass fragments . My passenger almost ripped the "OH CRAP" handle from the door frame Ahhhhh, sweet memories! ...
You will get your BII dialed in to what you need Rookie....You are chomping at the bit now to drive it

 

[410Fortune]

You mean something like this?:
Mike pulled that handle out about 4 times ont hat trip, it was seriously his first time wheeling and he decided to join me in Truckhaven, he has never been the same. On this hill they say dont lock em up, dont lock em up, what do you think I did? Locked em up...the cooler went all over the dash.

or this?:

hahaha

 

[BigDakota]

Ha ha ha..Those are great pics ..Thats what Rookies rig is gonna do over the speed bumps in town ..just kidding ..Rookie!!!!!!
You had some white knuckle moments on that run 410.....I wish I had some pics of my "NARLEY"moments...All my pics got tossed after a divorce.....my passenger on some runs was my wife at the time
I did the full front..even bumper..solid bottoming out trick when I showed my BII underside. I was going down hill then topped over another little ridge before the main road..and then the little ridge caved away and left me going almost straight down onto the road. The BII did a little hop and slide forwards before slamming back down on the fuel tank slider.!!!
I am smiling at what you said about your cooler contents being on the front dash..ha..ha.ha..ha.. ...Wake up call!!! bang.bang..crunch.

Hey Rookie..I hope we did not take to much away from your thread..I guess we have examples of how the BUTT of the BII can rise and shine at any moment on the trail!!!!

 

[rookieshooter]

Completed battery box. I used the existing threaded holes and bolts. I guess I'll have to use a battery cutoff switch since the top is bolted down...it would take too long to get off in an emergency. Sounds like jamie has some really big plans on his B11 I am always looking for new ideas. Might just have to keep an eye on that guy HA HA You guys are scaring me HA HA

 

[rookieshooter]

Wrong pic

 

[rookieshooter]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/honda2nr4life/PICT3762.jpg[/IM
wrong pic try again

 

[rookieshooter]

Lets see if this is the right pic. This is a better pic of the 4 shock lay-out on the 8.8 Still waiting on some parts to arrive.

 

[BigDakota]

Its looking good!!!! The battery box idea seems to have worked out well!!!

 

[rookieshooter]

Here is some pics of the axel truss my friend Jack and myself made with some input from James T when he answered a thread that I put out about above or below axel trusses. It is made from 5/8" round solid steel rod that goes from top of diff to spring perch, and then 1/2" round seamless tubing for the inverted V support. Typical both sides.

This is the 5/8 rod that we nothced and placed against raised protrusion on diff. then welded.

Here is where we welded to the spring perch. These spring perches were welded to the top of the housing when we installed this 8.8 in the B11