Pilgrim's Progress

[sprdv1]

Me too Sprdv1 and Kabong, thanks!
Also fabbed up some pieces and parts to make the F150 tilt steering wheel installation a bit more gooder. View attachment 897991

Made plates to secure the coloumn on both sides of the firewall. View attachment 897992 View attachment 897993

It looked like it would work without the column...... View attachment 897994 and without the dash..... View attachment 898000

.....and with the dash. View attachment 898001 View attachment 898002 Awright, gurus and poobahs and wizards,

is that gonna be close enough to the dash to leave enuff room for my belly. Howard in beautiful west Michigan

just trying to get me motivated aren't ya

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Hey howard, just checking in on the build... hope all is well....I won't be at the swap meet but if you make it to the take over in august ill be there!

Howdy Ryan, thanks for checking in! Hoping you and yours and your Bronco are all doing fine, just fine. I've been livin' the dream here in beautiful West Michigan, hopin' to make both the swap meet and the BTO.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

just trying to get me motivated aren't ya

You betcha Sprdv1! Ain't much better than gettin' a day closer to done, assuming there is such a thing!

 

[Howard2x4x4]

And speaking of a day closer, yeah, that happened today I reckon, but first let me back up a bit. I'm hoping to get the body back on the chassis soon. The painting is nearly done, other than mirrors and maybe some other stuff. Since the body and chassis will be together soon, I started lining up more pieces and parts. Got heater hoses ( https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/351w-heater-hose-routing.319040/#post-3479213), the upper radiator hose
( https://classicbroncos.com/forums/t...r-explorer-front-end-and-95-5-8l-351w.319066/ ), and ordered the lower hose from BC Broncos ( https://bcbroncos.com/shop/cooling/...-stock-conversion-pipelower-for-early-bronco/ ).

And since my man hands don't fit everywhere, figured it'd be a good idea to bolt some things where I won't be able to get once the body is on. Like steering column gaskets. I picked up a piece of roofing rubber and cut out gaskets for the engine side and interior side of the column.
I used a hole punch made from a piece of tube and a bolt. Figured my meathooks would not fit easily between the 351W and the firewall, so I installed the engine side gasket and cover plate. That was almost easy enuff, but what about the interior side gasket and cover plate? Came up with way to secure the engine side plate and gasket while still being able to add the interior side gasket and plate later when installing the column. NOTE: Expect sideways glances if you walk into an auto parts store and say you'd like some flat nuts. And maybe worse than sideways glances. Should be easy-peasy when it comes time to install the steering column.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Also, I haven't been particulatly enamored with the way the Lokar dipstick sits so close to the headers. A buddy of mine suggested

moving it to the firewalland I figured great! But how'm I gonna do that? Pondered for bit, sizing up the original

and the Lokar dipsticks and a few more pieces and parts.

Had to devise an extremely technical and scientific way to accurately measure the lenghth and the exact curve needed in order to effect the effect desired.

Another day closer and another tiny success. That'll do, Pig, that'll do.

 

[Jarrett h]

Good luck w/ the dipstick, i was in the same situation. I ended up bending the mount at the end to create the correct offset/length to mount to the head.

 

[rydog1130]

Howdy Ryan, thanks for checking in! Hoping you and yours and your Bronco are all doing fine, just fine. I've been livin' the dream here in beautiful West Michigan, hopin' to make both the swap meet and the BTO.

good...see you then bud!

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Sure wasn't another day closer to done, more like a few hours of frittering. Hopefully headed toward the body/chassis re-unification soon, so I installed a few lifting points to use when the time comes.
Not a lot, but more than nothing.

Rome and Broncos aren't built in a day. 'Specially at my pace. Hang in there Ken, just a little longer......

 

[sprdv1]

You betcha Sprdv1! Ain't much better than gettin' a day closer to done, assuming there is such a thing!

and quality work to boot. Enjoying seeing your progress

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Sprdv1. Not sure it qualifies, but I do know what does qualify - the shipping and packaging at BC Broncos when lower

radiator hose arrived today. The hoses, cross-over pipe and clamps look good and the packaging it came in looked great!

What didn't look so good was the mess I made getting stuck in my buddies driveway. Combination of wet,

snotty snow, soft ground, not great tires, 4 x 4 engagement has been hit and miss and a loose nut behind the wheel. I spent

$600 last week to get the 4 x 4 working okay. Mechanic said it'd take another $600 to get it working great. Howard in beautiful but slippery West

Michigan. Don't believe me? This was my back yard this morning.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Got the Lokar and the extension installed for now. Need the firewall to finalize it.
Stopped by a buddy's place to see his FSB

 

[kman67]

I hate how my lokar dipstick is so short. It’s a PITA to check the oil with the power brake master cylinder right above it. I like how you made an extension. What adapter did you use to add the flexible lokar rube?

Got the Lokar and the extension installed for now. Need the firewall to finalize it.
View attachment 898610


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Howard2x4x4]

I picked up the brass adapter at a local hydraulics parts store $3.00. I had been waiting for a local classic Cougar parts dealer to cut an oem fitting out of an abused oil pan and got sick of waiting. The female fitting is not available through Ford without buying the entire oil pan. I drilled the brass fitting to fit the oem dipstick and used JB Weld to secure it. If you want me to pick one up for you, let me know.

Btw, the engine is a 1987 351 W, if that matters. I believe that after 1988, they changed dipstick design.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Installed the painted Hagen fuel door.
looks like I should be more carefull with the taping.

 

[BronCowie]

Installed the painted Hagen fuel door.
looks like I should be more carefull with the taping.
View attachment 898763

Life is too short Howard. Be happy with your awesome results.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

No doubt, Mark, I agree. Not necessarily with the 'awesome' but thanks. I have been sorta dawdling for a reason - Sometime soon I hope to re-unite tub and chassis. Been waiting for a decent day but beautiful West Michigan weather hasn't been my friend. So I've been trying to do some small things that would be more difficult with the body on. Like the steering column plates. The gas door thing was just an opportune time filler, though I gotta say it took a much bigger chunk 'o' time than I thought it would. And I worked on it again today. Here's a knock-knock joke about the gas door.
( https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/buck-n-a-bronco.286019/page-22 post #435 ) Today saw installation of the front marker lights and some monkeyin' with the body biscuits in case I have to do the body installation by my lonesome.

Here's the new marker lights and the naked for now chassis.

Passenger's side, along with the coffee table made for my grand-daughter (mentioned only because of time spent not getting closer to done).

D.o.G., in beatiful West Michigan (D.o.G. is the acronym I use for me - Dear old Grandpa) That reminds me - Mark, please say Hi to Lucy and scratch her belly for me.)

 

[gnsteam]

Installed the painted Hagen fuel door.
looks like I should be more carefull with the taping.
View attachment 898763

Hi Howard, more pictures of the Hagan fuel door would be great. I'm in need of a fuel door option for my 76 project. Which is going into the body shop this month.

 

[BronCowie]

No doubt, Mark, I agree. Not necessarily with the 'awesome' but thanks. I have been sorta dawdling for a reason - Sometime soon I hope to re-unite tub and chassis. Been waiting for a decent day but beautiful West Michigan weather hasn't been my friend. So I've been trying to do some small things that would be more difficult with the body on. Like the steering column plates. The gas door thing was just an opportune time filler, though I gotta say it took a much bigger chunk 'o' time than I thought it would. And I worked on it again today. Here's a knock-knock joke about the gas door.
( https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/buck-n-a-bronco.286019/page-22 post #435 ) Today saw installation of the front marker lights and some monkeyin' with the body biscuits in case I have to do the body installation by my lonesome.

Here's the new marker lights View attachment 898805 and the naked for now chassis. View attachment 898806

Passenger's side, along with the coffee table made for my grand-daughter (mentioned only because of time spent not getting closer to done).

View attachment 898807

D.o.G., in beatiful West Michigan (D.o.G. is the acronym I use for me - Dear old Grandpa) That reminds me - Mark, please say Hi to Lucy and scratch her belly for me.)

Here she is just now... guarding my apartment in beautiful Vancouver, Washington.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Hi Howard, more pictures of the Hagan fuel door would be great. I'm in need of a fuel door option for my 76 project. Which is going into the body shop this month.

I will try to track some down Gnsteam. I know I have some somewhere, and I also would like to share with you some thoughts.

 

[gnsteam]

I will try to track some down Gnsteam. I know I have some somewhere, and I also would like to share with you some thoughts.

Great, thank you.