Ricks Bronco: 1and 1/2

[rookieshooter]

I vote for drive it to work

That's what I say If this truck pass my states modified inspection you'll liable to see this truck up and down I-81 north and south and then I-70 east and west. Need to put a real quick couple thousand miles on it to break that engine in Then comes the trails.

 

[410Fortune]

oh yeah I forgot gotta register it first

I drove mine to work a few times and risked it, I just couldnt resist

I guess I was thinking in court I would explain to the judge how cool the completedtruck is and how I just had too hahahaha then have the book promptly thrown at my face and told how I am not above any laws just because I get giddy excitement from finishing year long conversions....

 

[rookieshooter]

About time to install the Red Top and get rid of all that temporary wiring Would love to have two batteries but that will be later. I really don't much in the way of electrical accessories anyway.
Get this battery down in there and secured. Might even do away with that grounding quick disconnect Then install the top battery box cover.

Need to wash out all that dust from driving around these dirt roads and then put down some Herculine in the bed.

 

[410Fortune]

that old battery looks to be from the WWII era? hehehe

 

[rookieshooter]

that old battery looks to be from the WWII era? hehehe

That's funny. You might say that I'm a product of the WW11 era. Right after W11 my father came home and started promptly working on having me

It was so cool the other day driving on these back roads near my house and turning around and watching those rear outboard shocks soak up those bumps.
Hey 410 how far is Co. from WV. If I pass inspection need to put some miles on her. As of now the little driving I do I leave the transfer in Low to keep the RPMs up.
I have already changed the oil and filter. So far so good.
I still can remember that last day I drove the B2 in stock trim home from help building the Baltimore Ravens Stadium and parked it with all the oil smoke and tranny leaking. WOW! what a difference now.

 

[rookieshooter]

After reading that post about a $50 roller paint job and going out and getting that crap I gave it up. Too much time and effort for me.
So I went down to my local Auto Zone and spent $90 on a spray gun, dryer and regulator. Same make as my small home air compressor....Campbell Hausfeld.
Never used a spray gun in my life. I just asked my friend at Auto Zone a few questions, which he was glad to answerer. And even said he's off Wed. if I need help. Now that's what I call service. He just wants a ride in it. No problem I said.


Now this build needs a paint job that goes hand in hand with the build. A utilitarian Satin black is fine. I've done scratched it already and don't even have tags yet

Look at this carnage.....freshly painted body parts everywhere. Good thing a car did not come down the road, or I'd painted it also I was impressed on how easy it was. Now this is no trick paint job and I know I'm not even worthy of caring a pro. painters spray gun. Got a little heavy handed in some spots. So I guess I'll just let dry, sand and hit it again. But it's fine for this rig.

There's my new toy at the bottom of the tire. I just did that side. A whole lot better looking then the rattle can look.

This picture is about as true to life looking as I could take. Paint is only about one hour old.

Before

After. And it's still wet. That blue wire must have fallen down after I painted, or it would have been Satin black also. HA HA

 

[rookieshooter]

Finally this thing is coming to a close as the first part of the build is finishing up. Kinda sad really. Ok, I'll snap out of it. There's my Optima Red complete with starter solenoid, auxiliary fuse box and to the far upper right hand corner a 150 amp circuit breaker. That circuit breaker can also be used as an on/off switch and is weather proof, so they say .
One of the main goals was to have a sanitary engine compartment. "Old School". When I open the hood my eyes still go

Check out that battery hold down. It's a piece of oval metal that was about 5' long that had a tee at each end. When someone trashed this I just knew that somewhere along the build this could be utilized. Just cut to size and welded two bolts thru the holes at the tee part. Then fasten nuts from underside with out having to have a wrench on the other side. Used 3/8" all-thread to secure other end to bottom of box. Still need to put a small piece of angle at left side of battery at floor. Still have more room for other devices.

All tucked under that red cover. Just need to find the two bolts that went thru those two holes in front . I was able to utilize those two stock bolt holes complete with the two bolts complement of Ford .

This is an older pic but that large black lid you see will go over the area boxed around the red cover that is now over battery. This will give me about a 4" enclosed area for recovery, tools or other gizmos. That recessed area was also complements of Ford. Now when closed it will be flat with rest of bed.

 

[SBJ420]

Looks real good!

What did you use to get that stickey crap of the roof? Like under the headliner

 

[rookieshooter]

Looks real good!

What did you use to get that stickey crap of the roof? Like under the headliner

Thanks SBJ420.
Some of that crap is still there. I have a long handled gasket remover tool that Snap on makes that I stole from my son's tool box : No more then a glorified wood chisel that only has one side beveled. But the long handle about 12" long makes it a lot easier. I've been neglecting that part of the build so I can get this thing on the road. I have a lot of wires up there that has to be secured. May just leave it bare sheet metal. But these summer days can be brutal and may put some reflective covering up there and then some kind of covering over that. Since I do have wires penetrating the roof under each cab light and another spot for the overhead driving lights and work lights that are on roof cage. I was in no hurry to put any kind of cover up on the inside of the roof. If the heat is no factor I'll just leave it bare metal. So far no leaks also, thanks to RTV silicone. Amazing stuff.

 

[rookieshooter]

All LEDs in. I just love the way those lights have a unique glow, not mentioning about 0 amp draw. More amps to the motor Going to add two more on each side of truck. Actually their already there, but just don't work. Bought the wrong kinds, and as soon as they got wet. No workie no more. I found a set at the local 4x4 shop. If you look at the top of the B pillar you can see one and the other is in that body line above the rear wheel well. Really don't need them, but they sure do look sharp in the evening.

I've been looking at some other Flowmasters then the ones that I was going to install. Instead of going with two. The one that looks a whole lot easier to install, has two in and two out. 2.5" diameter.

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Check out this picture. I just was riding the beast around checking on some suspension stuff. Parked it and around 20 minutes later noticed these little bits of cotton strands that came off rag standing straight out. Hmmm. There was so much heat coming out of that hood scoop that they were standing straight out. If you look at the hood cowl in the far back there is one there that is flying up. Remember that I opened up that cowl area to the engine compartment also. When I put my hand there if felt like a little fan blowing. Now this is when it's standing still, just imagine moving along the highway or trails. Bet this winter there won't be too much ice on windshield

 

[rookieshooter]

While I'm on the subject of lights.......check out these Hella work lights that I have on the rear of my roof rack. And this is with out the engine running. There just not for bling. These will come in real handy during my camping and hunting trips. I think they have two 55 Halogen bulbs in each light. And they really light up a large area. So I guess that's why they call them work lights

I tried some color sanding on the John Deere Blitz Black and WOW, what a difference. So smooth and more luster. This was done in a small area. I used 1000 grit paper and plenty of water. So now during the heat of the day, you'll know what I'll be doing

 

[OldRedB2_84]

looks sweet man, great work!

 

[410Fortune]

truck is just plain sick I have B2 envy

 

[rookieshooter]

Need to start doing something about the inside of roof. that's the back of roof above seats.

Made this little bulkhead out of sheet metal. It covers those relays and most of that mess in the back. The inside roof really gets hot with that black paint. I have some of that thin reflective insulation that I'll glue up there, then need to find some kind of covering. May just go to Lowe's and see what they have. Any ideas out there?

Here's a pic that shows the tailgate down. Some days I'll just remove, like when doing trails.

Here's a different look. The truck reminds me of a giant Tonka Toy.
Or more appropretly.....A boy's toy

Got all the brake lights including that 3rd light working. Getting closer for that inspection.

 

[410Fortune]

Skid Plate Time

 

[SBJ420]

missin a lug nut on the back tire?

 

[rookieshooter]

OK guys. Picky picky picky HA HA.
Actually all four tires are missing one lug nut.
And now the rest of the story. Since I'm always taking these tires on and off while I'm still building it. The fifth lug nut is one of those locking kind that you need that special adapter to get it off. Well this became a PITA and now you no the rest of the story. The fifth will go back on later.

410 you were the second guy in the same amount of days that mentioned about the skid plate. The first was an old man who knew nothing of 4x4 and just walked up to me asking about what was I building. I told him about it and the first thing out of his mouth was, "don't you have to protect that gas tank". Then you come along about the skid plate. So I immediately stopped everything and bolted on that damn skid plate : And while I was at it, bolted on the diff. guard.

While I'm waiting for some more $$$ thought I'd touch up a few spots. There was about 1/8 to 1/4" gap between the slider and the bottom of the truck. Now I did cut off the bottom rocker panel and bent it under and then installed the slider. But that little crack would be a good spot for rust to start not mentioning pebbles and dirt in between the rocker and slider. So I took some sealant called "Right Stuff" and placed it between the two.
When it somewhat dried I got a putty knife and scraped off the excess and rattled can it with the black paint.

This little truck amazes me on how quite it rides. No squeks at all. Then again there's not much left to squeak

 

[SBJ420]

hahahaha nah I figured you broke em off with that 5.0L hahaha

 

[rookieshooter]

Going to hook-up the snorkel. This is the base of the air cleaner. The snout points down and toward fan.

What I did was to drill out the rivets that hold it to the main body that holds air cleaner. Flipped it around so now it points up and toward firewall.

It's not written in stone that I'll keep it this way. But it sure was cheap. Now it's also going to act as a cold air induction system also. I'm talking real outside air temp. None of that short ram induction that still draws some of the engine heat. With the hood scoop and window cowl louvers letting that hot engine air out and the cold air induction, hopefully this engine will run cooler.

 

[rookieshooter]

After looking at this the more, I'm thinking of relocating that part that I flipped around more to the back of the air cleaner and running PVC or sheet metal duct to the firewall connection. Then just patch the hole in the air cleaner where I took it off.

There's a good chance that I'll be leaving up to Carlisle Truck Nationals tomorrow with truck in tow. It's a matter of getting a trailer.