Ricks Bronco: 1and 1/2

[rookieshooter]

I've been following this thread for over a year, but it doesn't seem like that long, and now the thread is really getting exciting. Its looking very good. I still like that paint. Still thinking that might be my truck's next color.

You must have a lot of time on your hands to follow this thread Thanks for being patient.

I'm looking at the truck and saying, how can it not be black.
All four rims are mounted. I may put some temporary front coil springs on those front shocks just to see what it looks like. Plus I need something there to test drive it in front of the house.

Sets up nice. It's off those jack stands for first time in a long long time.

It's getting harder to sleep at nights. HA HA
I'll put the front tires on tomorrow and get a pic with all four on. Need to check on flares and finish bolting on all kinds of small stuff yet. Still need one good day of finish up welding with the stick welder.

Can't wait just to see it move off the driveway where the entire build took place.

 

[Nick26]

You must have a lot of time on your hands to follow this thread Thanks for being patient.

i've been following this thread since the start too... its exciting to see it coming together now.

I'm looking at the truck and saying, how can it not be black.

I like the black on black on black... of course you might say I'm somewhat biased although I would have done black lettering out too but to each his own.

 

[rookieshooter]

They were supposed to be black out. Wonder if there is something they make just for that, or just use a black marking pen? Sand off maybe? I'm not lugging these things back down there to have turned around.

 

[mynameisaric]

curb check them a few times. Took care of my white lettering

 

[fischerry]

well they arent directional tires right?mount them black letters out.my bfg are mounted black out.

 

[Nick26]

well they arent directional tires right?mount them black letters out.my bfg are mounted black out.

its too late, they are already mounted and the rims aren't reversible.

 

[rookieshooter]

It was totally awesome!!!! Even though it's not ready for a full fledged trail or even a drive down the road. I rigged up some temporary coils for the coilovers that were way to short. You can see how the front end is sitting to low. I sat in it, hit the switches, it came to life with the sound of open headers. And then the moment we all waited for. I slipped it into reverse. WOW! the very first thing I noticed, besides the beating of my heart was the effortless way the steering handled when backing up and then pulling forward while turning. Do to it's new weight no dought. I turned it off to check for any leaks and there was absolutely none. I did this several times and then the big moment of heading out on the dirt road near my house. Keeping a close watch on the gauges I noticed that my vacuum gauge was low and erratic. I guess once the tranny started working the idle was too low. Got out and turned it back up. Wallah, vacuum is fine. I manually went thru all the gears without a hitch. Now it was time to sneak out to the paved road. I put it in Drive and took off. This beast is totally awesome. It's got a good first to second shift that will put you back in the seat. Thanks to the trick stuff that's in the tranny. This initial trial run was just to short, only about 100 yards. Just to many cops out there What I did notice that I knew was going to happen was the hard back springs. They are Explorer springs with a few leafs out. But way to stiff. Further work will be done in this area with a long time goal of coilovers in rear and 4 or 3 point. The front even with the wrong springs worked like a dream. Now remember the last time I turned the key and drove this was years ago in stock trim. With those extended RA and coilovers it just floated over some 6 x 6 wooden beams laying in the drive way that was holding this truck up for last 2 years. Now I know this was no test, to speak of, but I just wish everyone that's been following this thread was in the passenger seat.

OK, a little foolish pride.

This was a fun test. I put the truck in first, foot on the brake and gave it some gas. Talk about torquing the body. Then blasted off. Those traction bars stopped any spring warp. But further testing in this department will come.
The next major step will be putting this on the trailer and getting weighed for those front springs. This should happen next week.

Once this truck is ready for the trails there will be plenty of pics and vids. This build could not have happened with out a lot of help from you guys.

I'll get some vids of it moving later today. Nothing hard yet, just too many things to check out before that happens. Was just too concerned about getting it right before taking any vids. yestrerday.

 

[rookieshooter]

This vid was taken with my small dig camera.
This is no way ready to take out on street or trails. But yes, it is a big moment. I just loved riding in this truck with the back all layed down, no doors, tail gate off and even no front fenders. Turn up the volume
When it is ready I promise I'll have some good videos. With a good camera.

Gotta love the sound of a V8.

 

[rookieshooter]

I know the quality of that video was not all that good, but here is a better shot of how I drove it when I had the back window out, bulkhead behind seat folded down and no tailgate. That short drive was a blast driving it like this. It was hard to see the back in that short vid.
Going to try to get trailer tomorrow to have it weighed.

 

[Pollarican]

Hell yeah! Congrats man, I've been watching this thing for a while and I'm glad you finally got her rolling. Can't wait until shes totally perfected.

 

[mynameisaric]

Congrats! it looks real good and i LOVE the stance.

 

[rookieshooter]

Thanks guys. What a blast driving this truck around the back roads near my house. Installed the front drive shaft. Put it in low 4 and up this little ATV trail near my house, was not much of a climb but what a feeling when the little truck just went right on up with out a miss.

Since the build is going to be mainly a DD first then trail rig. This truck is registered an 84 Bronco 2 and has to meet the states inspection policy. Even though it's highly modified it still meets the states guidelines. As for tires, ride height and so on. So with that said I need some back-up lights. I had these narrow PIAA halogen lights and thought they would do better then those lame back-up lights that come stock.

Thinking of mounting behind and in between the tubed bumpers for added protection.

Just as I thought, the rear springs that were EX. springs were way too stiff with the first bottom spring removed. Liked to jar my teeth out. Now the front were a dream with those coilovers and extended arms.
I cut them all out except the main spring and the next one. What a difference. So now I guess you have what you can call a Bi-srping.

 

[Turdle]

I had to watch the videos again!

 

[rookieshooter]

Mounted these slim little PIAA halogen lights between rear tubed bumper and body.

Got um wired up to the reverse in the shifter. Really bright. I'll make sure there pointing down and not blinding somebody behind me.

Now for the good stuff. To pass inspection which I hope to do I need to have some fender flares. Got these Pacer flares. It just comes in a long section and you install to fit and then cut off to length. These are the extra wide 4" ones. I know they go on the truck and not the tire

This if my first time with these type flares. Really flexy and are about 1/4" thick. The guy at the 4x4 shop said there Pacer but on the box it said Flexy Flare, what ever there really tuff.

The only thing that I suggest is to use the larger 5/16 self tapping screws rather then the ones that came with the kit. Worked a whole lot better

Now I'll order the same witdth for the front. I wanted to see how they came out on the rear before ordering front.

 

[rookieshooter]

I'm on the final leg of this build. It was the first time that this truck has been off my driveway during the entire build. Towed it up to my buddy Jacks house where I have been helping him on his 41 Willys build. Were going over the whole truck for the final welding. I just have a 120 mig at my house so now it's time to go over some of them that need a really deep penetration.
In the back ground is the Tig/stick welder he is using. Also this is where so many of those parts were powder coated. It's been a long build but I knew that when I started it. Just too many untried things. But the satisfaction is more then I'd ever anticipated including all the other rides I have been associated with. The other thing is that I wanted all or most all of the mods done when I do take it out.
Love those Pacer Flexy flares. Wont be any of that flare breaking stuff like a lot of those bolt on ones do when passing a little too close to a tree.
The body on this B2 is in excellent condition for an East coast truck.
Not mentioning I'll be able to actually put gas in that new tank. So far I just had it in a 5 gallon tank in the back. Just to much welding going on arount the new tank.

Here he is going over the lower coilover shock mounts. This I had miged welded.
If you notice where the three bolts for the door hinge is there is a strange piece of metal with a funny S shaped thingy mounted on a stand off. That's one of the pieces of hardware that the quick-release is part of for the fender. That mod is one of my favorites. It comes in so handy. That was one of my goals in the build to be able to work on this truck so easily.

Pass after pass of weld was done here on those lower shock mounts.
Did a neat little trick here after welding. While it was still hot and guesstamateed the temperture to be around 400 deg. I sprinkled some powder coating on those welds. What do you know it worked great. Now there won't be no rust around them. Not as good looking as in the powder coating oven but hey, anything is better then rust. There is not a thing on the market that will beat it for protection. Might even do that on some of the welds left to do on the roll cage. Then just paint over it the same color as the rest of it.

What was even neater was when I blasted it through his neighborhood.

Need to go out to Lowes this morning for more welding rod. Going to get that part of the build done today. I'll keep in touch.

 

[rookieshooter]

With my new 33s I had to cut the the left had side of the wheelwell pass. side front fender and of course Rt side of driver side.
Before the tire would hit when turnig as most of you know that have larger tires. Here it is all finished cut and turned in. Now all I have to do is to get some more of those flares.

Then once I got the pass. side where I wanted it, I just made a mirror copy and transfered it to the Rt. side of driver side. I allready started cutting into the fender. You can see two lines. The one closest to the cut is where I cut to and then the other line is where I notch back to and then fold back to the second line.

 

[FROADER]

Looking good sir.

I was looking at this pic of your rear shock upper mounts and have seen similar designs break.

An easy fix/assurance that it won't, would be to just put a couple gussets or bars in there like this.

 

[rookieshooter]

Super idea considered it done. Just need to get some more tubing.

 

[yfzut]

that thing is awsome, i would do anything to have a rig like that some day.

what kind of fuel pump is that.

 

[rookieshooter]

It's a Holley Blue pump located near the tank with the braided steel lines hooked to a relocated bottom feed. Used an aluminum bulkhead fitting. Was a little antzie about whether it was going to leak around the washers that are on either side of tank. Worked great.

Might just be able to get the all important weight of this sweet little truck today.