Ricks Bronco: 1and 1/2

[rookieshooter]

​

The numbers are in

3140, that's with no driver and about 1/2 gallon of gas. Now remember this is with a V8, big tires and steel 10" rims. Plus I have that heavy front bumper with a receiver hitch. Very pleased with this. On the Bronco site they had full size B2s that went from about 3600 to 4000 plus pounds.
I would like to know the weight of a standard B2 with V8, roll cage, heavy front bumper, 33s with steel 10" rims and some things I forgot ?

So I think I can say that there is at least 500 pounds removed, probably more.
So that would be equivelant of about two middle line backers and probably sitting high up

Now to get those much needed front coil springs for those Fox coilovers and trash those dummy ones.

Could lighten up the front even more with just a simple tube bumper with no receiver hitch. Also while riding this truck for short distances only I had the sway bar disconnected. Thinking of just taking the whole thing out That's even more weight.

Just added, That will be a good horsepower to weight ratio also.

 

[CopyKat]

specs for a 90 B2

Exterior
Length: 161.8 in. Width: 68 in.
Height: 70.4 in. Wheel Base: 94 in.
Curb Weight: 3385 lbs.
Interior
Front Head Room: 39.5 in. Front Hip Room: 52.7 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 54.6 in. Rear Head Room: 38.9 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 55.9 in. Rear Hip Room: 42.3 in.
Front Leg Room: 43.9 in. Rear Leg Room: 35 in.
Luggage Capacity: 23.8 cu. ft. Maximum Cargo Capacity: 57 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 4

Mine scales in at around 3800lbs. And mine is full bodied.

 

[rookieshooter]

Thanks for that info. Your a walking encyclopedia on B2s.

 

[CopyKat]

Mine scales in at around 3800lbs. And mine is full bodied.

OK Correction to that weight. That was when I first got it on the road and I've added alot more to the truck since then.

So I stopped by the scale on the way to work. She's a PIG! With half a tank of fuel and my sorry ass in the seat.

Front 1010 kg's (2222 Lbs)
Rear 1020 kg's (2244 Lbs)

Total 2030 kg's (4466 Lbs)

Yes i could get the whole truck on the scale. I did the front and rear first and then did the total. I was shocked at how ballanced it was. I had to pull off the scale and let it go back to 0 and try it again.

 

[410Fortune]

drool drool drool man so nice to see you actually driving her!! What a great feeling that is!!!
*****in BII, and PIAA for back up lights? Geesh where's the money tree in your yard? hahahaha

 

[rookieshooter]

Hey CopyCat appreciate the correction. That's one tuff B2 you have. I've been following your builds.

Hey 410 I'm sure you know the feeling. When Jack drove it around his backyard he could not believe how she floats over the bumps. You can steer her (still not sure if I should refer to my truck in a certain gender) with your little finger. The weight and cutting the rear leafs to only two springs helped. I'm checking on front coil springs today. I really can't do any off-roading to any serious degree untill I get them. Also still need exhaust work. I have some bends coming today also.

 

[rookieshooter]

About the PIAA back-up lights. Stole um on Ebay. HA HA

 

[410Fortune]

I do know the feeling! A few times over now! I still / do get the feeling this thread is just gettig started however hehehe
Running and wheeling is when the real project ideas start rolling in......need handle here, fix leaky fluid there, extend this, shorten that, protect this, wouldn't it be nice if....etc etc

please get some flex pics when you get the suspension buttoned up.
Just weld up an RTI ramp real quick

 

[rookieshooter]

Hey 410 I'm with you on the thread just starting to get going.
There's a pile of gravel in a vacant lot next door. Just had to drive one front wheel up on top while the other was flat on ground. It was the first time this thing was flexed to any degree. It was cool, first thing I noticed was the rear tire was stuffed up in the wheelwell with the Flexy Flair made by Pacer was doubled up on itself and pointing back up into the wheelwell at the extreme end towards rear bumper. Going to cut some of that rear fenderwell that turns down in rear. Not so much the curved part but the level part that runs parallel with road. Cut this up a few inches.
Your so right about finding out little things. That's why I'm doing some of them right here near my house while it's still not tagged.

My son took some nice pics of it doing it's first flex thing. He'll be back tomorrow evening to download pics.

Well that pile of gravel was neat, but there's this little hill in front of my house that goes up to the railroad tracks. It's been taunting me since the build. Not much of a hill but somewhat steep and made of this loose cinder stuff that I guess the old coal trains used?

Just have to see if all the fab work is going to handle any stress at all. And besides it's fun. Just imagine if it was yourself sitting in that seat and drove it stock for so many years, Then the next time you turned the key it came alive to a totaly different beast.

Just letting anyone know that this was never to be asphalt beater only. So glad that the first time it was ever drove was on DIRT
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v81/honda2nr4life/?action=view&current=69f2f6f6.flv

 

[rookieshooter]

Well I don't have one of those ramp thingies 410, but I do have my neighbors gravel pile to check out some flex. Hey, never seen a pic of my truck on that angle before. Noticed that I have to tie back in those roof cage light. Among a hundred other things.
The truck in this trim is about a thousand pounds lighter then a stock bodied B2 with trail goodies. And I must admit about a thousand time more fun then when this B2 was bone stock

One other thing is the Off-road Holley carb has worked great at all angles. So far.

Was wondering how the cage tied into the frame and cab would do.
You can see on the rear Flexy Flair the mark where it was tucked upinside the wheelwell. I'll trim about 4" up from the bottom of right side of that wheelwell and then test it out again. Testing is so fun.

Reminds me of an old Johny Cash song.

Thought I'd take a more picturesque ride back to the house.
And thanks to my Son Brian who took most of the pics and hung out the side and snapped the track riding pics. Who needs doors anyways this time of the year? Or for that matter roads.

One other thing about those train tracks. That is run by a private train co. The engineer of that train has seen this build everyday since I cut the top off. When he looked out and seen me riding he cupped his hand to his ear and I reved it up about 5000 grand. He gave me a big

 

[rookieshooter]

Ride along and you can hear the B&M shift kit do it's thing. About 2 seconds into the vid you can hear it shift to second. Then I get it a little more gas and it shifts to drive.
I also wired up the overhead driving lights on the roof cage and you can see it light up the road. Super bright for this time of day.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v81/honda2nr4life/swamp spider/?action=view&current=bb3fca20.flv

I called my friend at Anderson race cars in Winchester Va. and I mentioned about some front coil springs for the Fox shocks. He said come on down. So he might be able to set me up instead of the West coast co. He said the same thing as regard to weight and shock anglelation. So that's where I'm off to this morning.
To save room in the exhaust pipe build, I noticed flowmaster has a series 40 muffler that has two in and two out. Might research this one as to size and see if it's more applicable to the build. Love to get this ready for Carlise Truck show in Aug. Really don't need no exhaust up there any way to show.

 

[rookieshooter]

Ok, finaly got the right coils on the shocks and took it for a short ride. Very nice to say the least. Another hurdle out of the way.
Now to concentrate on that exhaust. Been a busy few weeks.

My long term plan was to go SAS. But I like those coilovers so much I think that will change and do a coilover in rear first then the SAS later. Coilovers all four corners. Talk about ride and flex.

 

[lifeguard379]

wow. its looking good!

 

[rookieshooter]

Just like 410 said, now I'm finding all kinds of stuff that needs attention after a few small rides.
On that little flex pic where I had the problem of the flair tucking back into itself hopefully wont happen again. Going to cut off 3" from bottom and that will take some of the radius off the wheel well.

On the metal I cut about 1/2" below scribed line and then fold back. Oops, I'm goofing up cutting the flair. I forgot to cut a 1/2" above the line. Drew the ling in the wrong spot. H AHA

Now I re-cut the flair and then notch the metal for fold.

These old tongs are nice for this.

Now I have some more clearance

 

[rookieshooter]

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.

Like I said after reading your post. Consider it done.
Seems that the pic you put on there of the photoshoped gussets did not come out in the quote. But look below. Just like you drew it up

That should strenthen it up.

Installing some of those Sexy flairs on the front fenders like I did the back. A tad bit long. Did I say Sexy, I mean Flexy flairs by Pacer.

Won't be much longer untill I'm ready for inspection. Going to try to make it up to the Truck Nationals at Carlise.

 

[FROADER]

Looking good.

My photoshopped picdidn't come through in your quote because it was an attachment.

 

[Trckmagik]

Looks Great sir. Love the sound of that V-8

 

[mynameisaric]

I thought you made sliders? I don't see them in any of the recent pictures

 

[rookieshooter]

Looks Great sir. Love the sound of that V-8

Thanks. I start it up about everyday while working on it just to hear it. I know soon it will be all corked up.

Aric. Good observation. I just have them off while doing work on it. But just to show you that you were not seeing things, there's the sliders

Seems like my Optimum Red top should be here tomorrow. So I'll start buttoning up that battery box.
I've also been RTVing the crap out of this build. All kinds of little holes to be filled. Not mentioning where the roll cage penetrated any sheet metal.

 

[410Fortune]

I vote for drive it to work