Ricks Bronco: 1and 1/2

[rookieshooter]

While I'm waiting for a rebuild kit for the CO.
Going to make my own adjustable coilover replacement shock just in case something like this happens again. Might just get me or someone else out of a jamb. can always just carry this gadget in the back or behind seats, that's if it works. Plus I'm getting tired of not driving this thing.

Forget the first plate that's in the first pic. Found these plates at my local Tractor Supply. Hoping that they work better.
Adding some 3/8" steel to the plate so a 3/4" heim can be attached.
Could be an effort in futility.

 

[rookieshooter]

Just got back from driving around the block
Need to add one or two more things and she'll be done. No use leaving this truck in garage while I wait on the Coilover parts, I can at least ride around town.

This is how I did the bottom coil bracket. I can adjust the height by turning the nut on the heim.

I have several different sets of coil springs for the Fox CO's, both in length and poundage.
The spring that worked the best for this application was a shorter and much stronger spring. The one that was in the coilover was a 150# and this short stocky spring is 500#.
Now remember that this is just an emergency fix, mainly to get back on the trail if need be. But it will do just fine until I get the rebuild kit.
There are also spring tabs that keep the spring in the bucket. Might add some more length to it and also some chain to keep the frame from getting to high in case it takes an unexpected bounce on the road.

Took this pic after riding around the neighborhood.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v81/honda2nr4life/Flex/?action=view&current=M2U00066.mp4

Surprised me how it does not bounce all over the place. Then again a 500# spring might just have something to do with it. But the other coilovers are picking up some of the energy also.
Click the vid and you can see what I mean.

Now to be at Dunkin first thing in the morn
But seriously, I'll just undo the two brackets and put spring and brackets in a bag and stow in the below bed area that has the lid once the CO is back on. Hope I won't need it, but who knows.

 

[rookieshooter]

Double posted Oops.

 

[janderson4010]

ill build that and run it 24/7. awesome

 

[rookieshooter]

I'll take that as a vote of confidence 4010. It's comforting to know that over 100 lbs of weld that went into making this truck, which most was was suspension mods, not one weld ever broke. Only suspension part including axles that broke was the 5/8" after market hardened shaft of the shock Ouch.
I thought when I heard and felt the loud crack that a shock tab must have broke, but they were fine.
Pardon me while I get my arm back off my back LOL

Two things I can't stand, rattles and a leaning vehicle. There's not enough adjustment and the back was down 3/4" from level. And when one rear corner is down in the rear it causes the front diagonal corner to raise. So I added a large 3/4" nut to the plate that took care of that problem.

So now I'm going to Dunkin, but first to need to climb back on the rocks that caused this minor set back in the first place and see if the rocks win again It's like falling off a bcycle, you just got to get back on it and ride

I need to know that this spring won't come out while going over a
Walmart speed bump. That would be just all kind of bad

Could even weld up a temp. shock tab for one of my Rancho's...na, no use in getting carried away...No not me ha ha.

 

[janderson4010]

you know really thats basically how a jeep suspension system works, your just minus a shock, coil springs w a 4 link. Thats how my front suspension is going to be, coils on a radius arm suspension.

 

[rookieshooter]

you know really thats basically how a jeep suspension system works, your just minus a shock, coil springs w a 4 link. Thats how my front suspension is going to be, coils on a radius arm suspension.

Thats how my front suspension is going to be

that's if Heath can help ya LOL

The new wheel base and weight distribution is so fun going up backwards.
Just because i totaled a coilover don't mean it needs to parked in a garage and wishing i was out wheeling.
Any one that ever took trail pics knows the pics never seem to justify the angles correctly.
Just left it in R idling, got out and snapped shot.
Love the new BF K2 tires. Even with a high pressure of 20lbs and wet grass there was no slip going up.

Any ideas on what i can add to the tailgate?

Even getting gas is more fun now with the swing out gate and center mounted cell making for an ambidextrous full delivery...right or left hand side of pumps :

 

[janderson4010]

that's if Heath can help ya LOL

that guys is useless as **** on a bull, just ask him

 

[rookieshooter]

that guys is useless as **** on a bull, just ask him

I don't think I have the guts to ask him, judging by some of the pics I've seen of him, he may have slightly enlarged mammory glands though

 

[janderson4010]

I don't think I have the guts to ask him, judging by some of the pics I've seen of him, he may have slightly enlarged mammory glands though

bigger than my wifes probably...

 

[Keeper0311]

Any ideas on what i can add to the tailgate?

The kitchen sink? I recall that you said you may be adding a storage rack for a jerry can. Maybe mounting point for a trusty shovel.

 

[rookieshooter]

The kitchen sink? I recall that you said you may be adding a storage rack for a jerry can. Maybe mounting point for a trusty shovel.

Shovel sounds good. Need to find a military surplus store.

 

[Keeper0311]

Check out Cheaperthandirt You may find some useful stuff around that site.

 

[rookieshooter]

That's a cool site.
May not have enough room for a Jersy can cause of the way the tire tilts down.
But one of those 50 cal ammo cans for tools/recovery stuff might just work. If not at least mounted to the bed. Maybe a couple of them.

http://www.bmgparts.com/products/canm1.jpg

 

[rookieshooter]

My 17 year old daughter has here Learners Lic. and ask me can we do some driving together, need to practice doing some 3 point turns but Moms got the car.
Hmm, light bulb goes off over my head. Hop in the Bronco Going to brush you up on some geometry also LOL. That's her in the B2.

But before learning 3pt turns in small areas we need to get rid of as much sheet metal as we can. No use banging it all up as you practice.
So off comes both doors, both fenders and what the heck...hood. You know how woman drivers are.

So here she goes off to practice all strapped in. Click pic.

Next we did a lesson on geometry. Here I'm explaining angles, as in approach, break over and departure angles ha ha. the ridge is only about 3' wide.
103" wheel base is about as long as I want to stretch it. For me it's about as good as i want it.
Check out the wheel spin or should I say lack of. Click on pics.

I call this vid the Uh-oh.
I like this one. It's the classic C4 tranny popping out of gear thing when going vertical. The reason is simple. The pick up in tranny is in the front of the fluid pan so if it's not filled to proper amount or a tad more then gravity takes over.
But knowing this I'll always carry an extra qt. I added a qt right after this, and it was fine. Click pic.

This one I call...can't wait until I get the front locker ha ha. click on it.

Fun in reverse

When coming down you can see the front end wanting to unload. Could have had it strapped down but no big deal here.

And s much easier getting in and out when you want to check on all the item that might be hitting, rubbing or about to snap ha ha.
And this was done with the no rear pass. side shock, just he temp thingy untill I get parts for the Fox Coilover.

That Atlas is the coolest thing I've added on this truck...that i bought LOL

One the way home she asked me "Dad, would you rather be driving one of your race cars or this". Had to give it some thought, then it came to me, this cause we can ride together.
All and all it was a fun time being with my daughter.

 

[MrQ]

Lucky 17 year-old.

Tremendous job! There aren't enough words in the English language to properly say how awesome and cool your B2 is!

I am secretly thinking that I need to come and steal it. And then hit those mounds at 40mph and see how light your truck really is... :

 

[rookieshooter]

Thanks BigQ. And sometime just let the truck do the talking for ya.
The thing with removing the fenders is far more important then any looks. Maybe should have used another word ha ha. Cause a good Look where your going is just that important.
The vids are so informative for me to see the working dynamics of the whole system.
If you notice in the link below that I'm constantly looking to my left where I can actually see thru the inside of the tire to pick a line. I wanted to stay just to the left of the ridge peak being it was so narrow. A far better look then with fenders on. So it's worth the 10 to 12 seconds to take them off.
Can't wait to build my new tube doors also.


http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v81/honda2nr4life/Flex/?action=view&current=M2U00084.mp4

Looking at front of the Atlas skid plate, nothing big other then it did it's job judging by the marks.

But the back side is another story. Obviously this was done in reverse during break over.
So a little added protection will be in order today, if I can find some material Hmm.

I'm also going to talk to the engineers at Advance to see about an idea I have about a better way of adding and changing fluid in the Atlas.
Plus in the video and more so in the driver seat that latest state of the art Off road carb works just so great. Never once did it change beats no matter what angle or spill any fuel. It's just so simple a design. Just make sure the jets stay clean and the negative pressure in the ventura does it's thing every time. No electric is sometime a good thing ha ha. I know fuel injection works great also, but I like the coolness of a carbed engine. Although my stock 1957 Chevy came stock with an injected engine. Cool sounding with the way it whistled going down the street.

 

[rookieshooter]

Just received some cool Atlas decals from Advanced Adapters. Thought I should paste in back window.
It's all I could do for the help they have given me. And from the searching that I've done this is a common virtue that they have. Thanks Geno

Now after all that back slapping about how good the Atlas is, the only thing I don't like is the way you have to fill the the case by removing the top fitting of the sight tube.
Seems to me that in all that hunk of aluminum there could have been a fill port, but then again what do i know. Plus I do believe and I will check on this later that the little Blue anodized drain plug is above the lower sight fitting which would mean that some old fluid will not drain out. Might have to live with this but we'll see. Now I realize that this case can be clocked in so many positions that it would be hard to get "one drain fits all".

Now the other related Case issue is my fault and that is a better design on the skid plate as you can see from an earlier pic.

I would like to get the fill fitting thing resolved before I have to change the fluid if I can, so I'll start on that today and the skid plate next.

 

[rookieshooter]

Going to change the way I have to add fluid to the case. I don't like to take off these type fittings all the time to change fluid. Not counting it's a PITA to fill back up.

So went to my local hydraulic shop and picked up all new fittings, the main one is the tee. Disregard the black hose. That was just for sizing up.

Now with all new fittings and reinforced clear tubing it's a breeze to change fluid.
The tee at the top has one hose that penetrates floor and lay under seat that is capped. Now all I have to do after draining is to remove cap, insert funnel, add the 2 quarts... done with no mess and a whole lot less time and no more unscrewing of fittings.
The bottom fitting is a true swivel meaning it will turn after tightning the nut just in case it does take a hard hit.

 

[rookieshooter]

Just added the un-painted L shaped piece to the Atlas skid plate. This was the area that hit all the dirt a few pics back. This should protect those sight tube fittings and hose.

Also on the second quart of fluid I found a better way then the funnel method. Just stick the hose end from the pump into the larger hose going to case and pump away.
Not a single drop is lost. Then plug the long filler tube and it's done.