Pilgrim's Progress

[Howard2x4x4]

And, speaking of getting in over my head (although technically it's better said below my buttocks) the seat wiring is something I'll have to take a swing at. All those dad-gum wires with no place to go, and me with just a rudimentary comprehension of positive and negative. Let's see here - power seats with forward/backward and tilt, heated seats, airbag seats, seat belt light wires. I'd like to keep the power and heat, and discard the rest. Don't want to do something stupid (better said as something else stupid) and set off the airbags. Hmmm, how'm I gonna do that?

DRIVER SEAT

PASSENGER SEAT


Maybe I should just rethink this and use an up-side down bucket.

 

[wsager]

Stay away from those yellow plugs. That’s all I got.

 

[fordfan]

Wow Howard! It's not in your vocabulary to, 'keep it simple'..... You build a round deck from wood, and you are doing heated, cooling, massaging, power lumbar, reclining, power adjustable seats in a Bronco?!?! I'm sorry, I couldn't help it! It's looking good and you will be riding in those seats before long! Keep at it in Beautiful Western Michigan!

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Dennis, I do try, but all those shiney bells and whistles sometimes are irresistable! Oh, and don't forget the ejection seat! Soon as I get 'er rollin', I'll swing by and give you a ride to remember!

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Dennis, you are absolutely right! Paul (Dirtdonk) has suggested the same thing, Ken (BronKenn) also, and likely even more on the sidelines. I have been sub-consciencely thinking all pieces and parts and projects would cross the finish line together. Clearly, not so. I have been trying to re-prioritize toward what is mandatory to run and drive, and leaving the 'bells and whistles' for a later time. It's not so easy with a lot of balls in the air, limited skill set and budget limitations re: hiring professionals. Not to mention my proclivity to be distracted. Oh look, a squirrel! Plus a huge desire for a built, not bought sign.

I'm sure it will all be okay, and most of it will be done and some of it will never be done. Like one of the members here says, "Bronco done is just a theory". Sure am glad to be a part of this gang of grown-up children, enjoying their toys, no matter how done or not. Thanks all, for keeping me almost on track, almost sane, and almost done! Howard in beautiful West Michigan

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Oh, and before I forget again, Mark (Broncowie) and Steve (Yeller) have also been huge incentivisers. There. 'Nuff said.

Oh, one more, final, final, final thing - those seats with enuff wiring to cook a convict wasn't entirely my fault. I requested Freestyle seats, and that's what came. There. Done.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

And now, back to the long, drawn out story. Almost felt like I won the lottery yesterday! I figured that the heated seats I don't know how to hook up would have to have a switch, or sumpin' like that. Checked with the local Ford dealer, and the parts guru sent me to the local pick n pull for an Explorer dash switch. He also gave me 5-6 pages of wiring diagrams that looked to me like hierogliphics. Any one here speak Eygyptian?

Tada! Now I just need to hope for a miracle and connect the bazzillion wires! And as a HUGE bonus, I discovered a Ford

Fusion/Lincoln something-or -other that had center console automatic shifters AND console mounted emergency brakes!

Two birds with one stone!

 

[BronCowie]

Oh, and before I forget again, Mark (Broncowie) and Steve (Yeller) have also been huge incentivisers. There. 'Nuff said.

Oh, one more, final, final, final thing - those seats with enuff wiring to cook a convict wasn't entirely my fault. I requested Freestyle seats, and that's what came. There. Done.

I'm all for your gameplan 2.0 Howard.
1) Get the essentials done so you can drive it.
2) Drive and just try and wipe that silly-@ss grin off your face.
3) Chip away at bells and whistles as time allows.

 

[bronkenn]

Yeah, let the wind blow through those eyebrows.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

I'm all for your gameplan 2.0 Howard.
1) Get the essentials done so you can drive it.
2) Drive and just try and wipe that silly-@ss grin off your face.
3) Chip away at bells and whistles as time allows.

Only 2.0? Sometimes seems more like 2K.0. Thanks Mark, great advice!

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Yeah, let the wind blow through those eyebrows.

Ken, you knocked it out of the park! Again!

 

[LUBr LuvR]

Is this a build thread, or did I stray off into “you should laugh everyday”?

Love tuning in here to see the progress and get a good dose of humor. Keep on keepin’on in beautiful west Michigan, Howard!

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Thanks LUBr LuvR for the encouragement! As I'm sure you know, it's a long and winding road, and pretty easy to get sucked into the ditches. And that's pretty much what happened to me. Of course, I can (almost) justfy it all, but it's still some what of a time suck.

Remember Gameplan 2.0? Well, it lasted about an hour, maybe an hour and a half. I'm to the point where I'd like to have the dash somewhere near where it belongs, due to the new wiring harness and wires required to get the engine fired, seats located and so on and so forth. Well, got the seats pretty near to where they belong, and the mounts fabricated, so why not keep that ball rollin? Decided to add the sound and heat insulation, pretty much to just get it out of my way. Not sure of the brand of the foil-faced sticky butyl stuff, but I began with that. Oh, and I added a little 'fill' in the floor pan stiffening ribs.


Not sure it will help, but pretty sure it won't hurt. Used up most of the stuff I had bought

back when the earth was still cooling in the driver/passenger area. Okay, good enuff, but then I came across this grey

pad/mat/cushiony thing I bought from JBG, again when the earth was cooling. Figured I got it, may as well use it. As

luck (bad luck, that is) would have it, wasn't big enuff to cover the entire driver/ passenger area. Had to make a trip to Lane Automotive to get something similar (that's the black stuff) to fill the voids. Also pick up more of the foil-backed butyl stuff.

 

[wsager]

Found a couple of seat wiring diagrams that may be helpful. Going to try and link them below.
https://f01.justanswer.com/thenry1228/9464e12c-7fcf-4213-af0f-2a6f190d2736_freestyle.png

https://f01.justanswer.com/thenry1228/77700a98-7097-404f-b8d5-719e1347d87e_freestyle2.png

 

[LUBr LuvR]

Thanks LUBr LuvR for the encouragement! As I'm sure you know, it's a long and winding road, and pretty easy to get sucked into the ditches. And that's pretty much what happened to me. Of course, I can (almost) justfy it all, but it's still some what of a time suck.

Remember Gameplan 2.0? Well, it lasted about an hour, maybe an hour and a half.

View attachment 908471 Not sure it will help, but pretty sure it won't hurt. View attachment 908472 Used up most of the stuff I had bought

back when the earth was still cooling in the driver/passenger area. View attachment 908480 Okay, good enuff, but then I came across this grey

pad/mat/cushiony thing I bought from JBG, again when the earth was cooling. View attachment 908481 Figured I got it, may as well use it. As

luck (bad luck, that is) wasn't big enuff to cover the entire driver/ passenger area. Had to make a trip to Lane Automotive to get something similar (that's the black stuff) to fill the voids. Also pick up more of the foil-backed butyl stuff.

Dang those ditches! Just keep consuming that elephant one bite at a time.....

Deciding what insulation to use can be tough. After spending a week’s time removing PO’s overly abundant adhesive, I didn’t want to stick down anything. Wound up making my own out of 1/4” neoprene closed cell foam - like the roll you have. Used contact cement to form floor pan “trays” that will lift out separately from the platform if needed.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

I'm sure some of you can install those full-size adhesive butyl sheets just fine. Me, not so much. I could see myself getting one of those full-sized sheets wrapped around my head and face and adhered to what little hair I have left. So I decided to sneak up on it.
Cut strips the width of the 'valleys' and stuck them buggers in there. Followed up with the same method for the 'hills'. Had to conjer up a way to cut holes for the seat and

seat belt bolts. All in all, good enuff for the girls Jr. knows. And then the bed area valley-filler mat, also prehistoric. That'll do, Pig, that'll do.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Dang those ditches! Just keep consuming that elephant one bite at a time.....

Deciding what insulation to use can be tough. After spending a week’s time removing PO’s overly abundant adhesive, I didn’t want to stick down anything. Wound up making my own out of 1/4” neoprene closed cell foam - like the roll you have. Used contact cement to form floor pan “trays” that will lift out separately from the platform if needed.

Excellent LUBr LuvR! That crossed my mind also. Nixed it due to uncertainty as to heat and sound insulating properties. Gotta say, the way I went was spendy. Just the Lane Automotive material to do only 1/2 +/- dinged me $280. Was it worth it? I dunno.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Found a couple of seat wiring diagrams that may be helpful. Going to try and link them below.
https://f01.justanswer.com/thenry1228/9464e12c-7fcf-4213-af0f-2a6f190d2736_freestyle.png

https://f01.justanswer.com/thenry1228/77700a98-7097-404f-b8d5-719e1347d87e_freestyle2.png

Thanks Wsager, that may be just the ticket! More simple, though still not simple, than the sheets from Ford. Like Lubr Lover said, 'one bite at a time'.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Didn't really 'take a bite of the elephant' today, but I did nibble on it just a little. Figured the skinny pedal had to be connected to the carbolator somehow, and so I connected them. Missing the skinny pedal boot - on order from JBG. Also figured it was as good a time as any to install the driver side fresh air vent. Not exactly a done deal yet, as I'd like to 'pretty up' the connection between the hole in the hood and the inlet opening of the fresh air vent. Guess I'm not very good at following game plan 2k.0, but I'll keep on a-nibblin'.

Howard in beautiful West Michigan

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Dang those ditches! Just keep consuming that elephant one bite at a time.....

Deciding what insulation to use can be tough. After spending a week’s time removing PO’s overly abundant adhesive, I didn’t want to stick down anything. Wound up making my own out of 1/4” neoprene closed cell foam - like the roll you have. Used contact cement to form floor pan “trays” that will lift out separately from the platform if needed.

Looks REALLY good!