LEB Ben
Arrogant A-hole At-Large
I figured instead of a bunch of little threads, I'd consolidate in to one. As noted previously, it's time to get my rigs back on the road and DD worthy. Since I'm more comfortable with the Bronco being the go-fer and taking any dings/dents/scratches...I'm putting her back first. Remember, the Bronco is my low dollar, cheap date that I only have fun with. If the mods/fixes aren't cheap or free, and I can't do them myself...they're not getting done. And these are the plans/progress so far:
-First and foremost...needed tires. I'm actually a little disappointed in myself on how bad the tires were and I just kept rolling on them. The rears were darn near slicks and the tread was dry rotted and cracking. So I ditched the BFG MT's and got a set of TSL radials...and finally got to throw my turbines on.
-I rebuilt the top end of the 400 3 years ago. So the actual top end is good, but after the amount of time it sat, there are some weep marks and leaks. Over the last few weeks, everything has been taken care of, except the front seal on the intake (spit it out a while ago, who needs vacuum)...but I've been waiting to take care of that until I swap boosters to get a good vacuum reading.
-Brakes...non-existent. Drums were hanging and seized a few weeks back after sitting for a few months (after the blowout on the highway). Adjust the drums, good to go. The Booster has been shot for quite a while, so nothing but manual brakes for me...it just wasn't driven enough to justify replacement...as important as it is. Well, I have the parts for the threefiddy upgrade.
-Steering has about 75* of play in the steering wheel. I haven't really tracked that down yet, but I think it's somewhere in the shaft/joints/column. Should be easy enough to trace it.
-Transmission...it's on it's way out...but has been for the better part of 4 years...the C6 just won't die. Has a pretty nasty slip from 2 to 3 and starting to develop one from 1 to 2. Overheated that bad boy playing out in the sand of the OBX...and haven't let up on it. Actually pretty impressive. I want to rebuild using the E4OD internals, but with the plethora of good C6's out there and the fact there are other priorities...I'll just pick one up and swap in. Then build he current C6 as time permits.
-Completely rebuilt (short of gear replacement) the D44 about 2-2.5 years ago. I noticed a slight leak on the drivers side knuckle when I started driving it again. Maybe an axle seal...or coulda just been dried out from not driving it...will investigate further later.
-Noticed some weep on the rear 9"...probably time for new seals all the way around on that thing.
-NP205...pretty sure the thing keeping it together is 30+ years of sludge. Still works and shifts just fine...but never done anything more than change the gear oil. Not a priority but would like to show it some love eventurally.
-Interior...where oh where do I start. To save face, I won't post the atrocity that is the Bronco's interior. Some of you may remember, I tried using the duplicolor dye to get rid of the gold crushed velvet. It works...and has held up decently well...but it's time for something else. I have a perfect (what I believe to be) rear lariat seat...so I'd like to take cues from that. I'm thinking seat covers, but sturdy seat covers that won't just look like I'm trying to cover something up. Door panels and rear panels were the same gold crushed velvet and they were dyed as well. I really want to do something with these...not sure what though. Diamond plate looks tacky...and I don't want to throw plywood up there. Maybe just some sheet metal sprayed with bed liner...who knows.
-Interior part 2...the interior literally smells...from wet nasty things being left in there, to spilled axle grease, etc etc. The PO put down some 'carpet'...it resembles pool table felt over bare floor, that's going bye bye. So my intent was to lay some Peel n Seal sound deadener/insulation. Then roll/spray on bed liner. I know lots of folks said this idea wouldn't work. However, I did find an old JP Magazine article that did, and I have found a couple Jeep guys that have done it. I have yet to hear any long term effects...just alot of theories. I did call Dynamat, and they said if I scuffed the foil, it should stick no issues. I also had another buddy tell me just to leave a 1-2" gap between insulation strips to make sure there is good spot of adhesion and it'll encapsulate the area. Figured I'd do this from the windows down.
-Interior Part 3...Radio...it was a mess when I got it, and I can barely splice two wires together...so if anything it's gotten worse. I've got 2 6x9's flung in cargo area, 2 5x7's in the rear panels, 2 6.5's in the doors and a 5x7 in the dash. I've got about eleventeen hundred feet of wires...and that's all I have to say about that.
-Last part of the equation...exterior body. The paint has never been perfect, there have been dings and dents and scratches. That's fine by me...that's what this vehicle is about. It's my 'go anywhere, do anything, point it any direction you want to go and it'll get there' rig. What does bug me is over the last 2 years rust has formed in the typical spots...above the rear wheel wells and the bottom corners of the tailgate. I can live with the tailgate...but the wheel wells are becoming a problem. I haven't decided if I'm just going to cut it out, cut it out and add patch panels or cut it out and flare it.
So...sorry for the long post, but that's what's in store for the Bronco. I'm finding myself with a little more time and a little more money...so I may as well do something I enjoy. Prioritization is going to be mechanical soundness, comfort, then aesthetics.
-First and foremost...needed tires. I'm actually a little disappointed in myself on how bad the tires were and I just kept rolling on them. The rears were darn near slicks and the tread was dry rotted and cracking. So I ditched the BFG MT's and got a set of TSL radials...and finally got to throw my turbines on.
-I rebuilt the top end of the 400 3 years ago. So the actual top end is good, but after the amount of time it sat, there are some weep marks and leaks. Over the last few weeks, everything has been taken care of, except the front seal on the intake (spit it out a while ago, who needs vacuum)...but I've been waiting to take care of that until I swap boosters to get a good vacuum reading.
-Brakes...non-existent. Drums were hanging and seized a few weeks back after sitting for a few months (after the blowout on the highway). Adjust the drums, good to go. The Booster has been shot for quite a while, so nothing but manual brakes for me...it just wasn't driven enough to justify replacement...as important as it is. Well, I have the parts for the threefiddy upgrade.
-Steering has about 75* of play in the steering wheel. I haven't really tracked that down yet, but I think it's somewhere in the shaft/joints/column. Should be easy enough to trace it.
-Transmission...it's on it's way out...but has been for the better part of 4 years...the C6 just won't die. Has a pretty nasty slip from 2 to 3 and starting to develop one from 1 to 2. Overheated that bad boy playing out in the sand of the OBX...and haven't let up on it. Actually pretty impressive. I want to rebuild using the E4OD internals, but with the plethora of good C6's out there and the fact there are other priorities...I'll just pick one up and swap in. Then build he current C6 as time permits.
-Completely rebuilt (short of gear replacement) the D44 about 2-2.5 years ago. I noticed a slight leak on the drivers side knuckle when I started driving it again. Maybe an axle seal...or coulda just been dried out from not driving it...will investigate further later.
-Noticed some weep on the rear 9"...probably time for new seals all the way around on that thing.
-NP205...pretty sure the thing keeping it together is 30+ years of sludge. Still works and shifts just fine...but never done anything more than change the gear oil. Not a priority but would like to show it some love eventurally.
-Interior...where oh where do I start. To save face, I won't post the atrocity that is the Bronco's interior. Some of you may remember, I tried using the duplicolor dye to get rid of the gold crushed velvet. It works...and has held up decently well...but it's time for something else. I have a perfect (what I believe to be) rear lariat seat...so I'd like to take cues from that. I'm thinking seat covers, but sturdy seat covers that won't just look like I'm trying to cover something up. Door panels and rear panels were the same gold crushed velvet and they were dyed as well. I really want to do something with these...not sure what though. Diamond plate looks tacky...and I don't want to throw plywood up there. Maybe just some sheet metal sprayed with bed liner...who knows.
-Interior part 2...the interior literally smells...from wet nasty things being left in there, to spilled axle grease, etc etc. The PO put down some 'carpet'...it resembles pool table felt over bare floor, that's going bye bye. So my intent was to lay some Peel n Seal sound deadener/insulation. Then roll/spray on bed liner. I know lots of folks said this idea wouldn't work. However, I did find an old JP Magazine article that did, and I have found a couple Jeep guys that have done it. I have yet to hear any long term effects...just alot of theories. I did call Dynamat, and they said if I scuffed the foil, it should stick no issues. I also had another buddy tell me just to leave a 1-2" gap between insulation strips to make sure there is good spot of adhesion and it'll encapsulate the area. Figured I'd do this from the windows down.
-Interior Part 3...Radio...it was a mess when I got it, and I can barely splice two wires together...so if anything it's gotten worse. I've got 2 6x9's flung in cargo area, 2 5x7's in the rear panels, 2 6.5's in the doors and a 5x7 in the dash. I've got about eleventeen hundred feet of wires...and that's all I have to say about that.
-Last part of the equation...exterior body. The paint has never been perfect, there have been dings and dents and scratches. That's fine by me...that's what this vehicle is about. It's my 'go anywhere, do anything, point it any direction you want to go and it'll get there' rig. What does bug me is over the last 2 years rust has formed in the typical spots...above the rear wheel wells and the bottom corners of the tailgate. I can live with the tailgate...but the wheel wells are becoming a problem. I haven't decided if I'm just going to cut it out, cut it out and add patch panels or cut it out and flare it.
So...sorry for the long post, but that's what's in store for the Bronco. I'm finding myself with a little more time and a little more money...so I may as well do something I enjoy. Prioritization is going to be mechanical soundness, comfort, then aesthetics.
