Clifford... Big Red Bronco

[nvrstuk]

Congrats on the first 700 trouble free miles! Many more to come!!

 

[904Bronco]

Still waiting on my Painter... I could say something negative, but you know the saying "that good things come to those that wait."

A few pictures of my buddies 66 EB project. Motor is in, made batt cables, started bolting stuff on, ordering parts, and he has been real good about hitting the Pick n Pull for those little bits and pieces needed for the conversion.

Now that the home improvement projects seem to be done, all the Renters (all graduated) are moving out of our Chico house, and my Wife says it is time to sell it. So I guess I will be working remotely so to speak. Already have a list started for the eateries and bars to hit one last time... Since there will be no reason to go up that way.

Hope you all have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July!

 

[lars]

Still waiting on my Painter... I could say something negative, but you know the saying "that good things come to those that wait."

A few pictures of my buddies 66 EB project. Motor is in, made batt cables, started bolting stuff on, ordering parts, and he has been real good about hitting the Pick n Pull for those little bits and pieces needed for the conversion.

Now that the home improvement projects seem to be done, all the Renters (all graduated) are moving out of our Chico house, and my Wife says it is time to sell it. So I guess I will be working remotely so to speak. Already have a list started for the eateries and bars to hit one last time... Since there will be no reason to go up that way.

Hope you all have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July!

Looking good. I think I can remember when mine looked that nice but I'm not sure lol.

If you find yourself bored and lonely in Chico maybe I'll drive up and help you patronize some of your fave establishments.

 

[ntsqd]

The Bear, or more like Joe's? I'm doubting Riley's or the Horse, but maybe.......

oh..... Duffy's!*


*ETA some Chico lore: When Bobby Seals got his first check from Gerber for his MTB "Cool Tool" he bought the house at Duffy's to celebrate.

 

[nvrstuk]

Rig is looking good! Clean...

So Chico will soon be in the dust but...where ya planting roots next?

 

[904Bronco]

The Bear, or more like Joe's? I'm doubting Riley's or the Horse, but maybe.......

oh..... Duffy's!*


*ETA some Chico lore: When Bobby Seals got his first check from Gerber for his MTB "Cool Tool" he bought the house at Duffy's to celebrate.

The Bear and the Burger Hut... are high on the list. Mom's for breakfast too.

Rig is looking good! Clean...

So Chico will soon be in the dust but...where ya planting roots next?

Wife doesn't want to leave MH / San Martin for now, so my guess is she will invest the $$ until another location is agreed upon.

And guess who called me this morning? My buddy the Painter! Said it is looking like August for Clifford's new suit.

 

[nvrstuk]

Boxwood on the outside? Gonna be nice!

 

[904Bronco]

Minor Saturday Rant about Napa....

Ordered some 1/4", 3/16" inverted flare plugs for the brake lines when I lift the body off the frame on my Buddies rig, to run fuel lines, this was before I left on my trip North. The week goes by, Wednesday evening I come home and I call to ask do they have them, No.

I called Thursday for follow up, oh waiting on the counter guy I ordered them from to come back from lunch. Only he didn't, went home sick.
Spoke with the manager, oh we have them in stock. Please confirm that you actually have them... An hour goes by... I call back, oh inventory says we have 3 of the 3/16" but we can't find them. 1/4" are sitting on the will call bench. Order them in please.
Now it is Friday, no call, so I call them back... nothing in stock at the warehouse, its Monday now before they can get them.

Checked the local O'Reilly's, Vatozone, Ace hardware, etc. Nope. Amazon, Wednesday next week. It is a Holiday weekend you know...

I have had an account for years, been through 4 owners and now it is a corporate store. They all know me by name, they even know my account # without looking it up. Customer service just sucks these days...

 

[904Bronco]

The Napa saga continued...
I went in yesterday to pick up my parts and was told that the 3/16" plugs were now coming in Tuesday, today. The 4th of July Holiday had affected all the shipments.
The Dorman fuel line fittings I asked them to get for me Sunday, one was in stock and the others would be coming overnight from the Fresno warehouse. Well at noon they had one set of fittings, the other one the packaged had been opened. The wrong size fittings were in it. I was questioned how did I know that? Well I have bought these before and on the small print on the package it says: 3/8" steel to 5/16" nylon. These are 3/8 > 3/8... Finally, the package of fittings that inventory said were on the shelf were Not. The counter person did not pull them as I asked... I remained Professional, but I communicated to the Manager that I was not happy. She said she would reorder the parts for me.
On the drive home, on a whim, I stopped at Gilroy's O'Reilly's, they had the two 3/16" brake line plugs in stock, but the counter guy had to dig in the back for them. So yes, I bought them.
Yesterday afternoon, near the end of their work day, the manager called me and said ALL of my parts were in. Including the brass plugs I asked, she said yes. Well what happened with Tuesday? She said the Salinas store had them, so she sent one of the Driver's down to pick them up. (Probably a 3 hr round trip.) Okay maybe Customer service does still exist... I will be doing pick up shortly.

 

[nvrstuk]

Nice of that manager to send a flunky down to get your parts! There is some hope for the world.

 

[904Bronco]

All parts were in and Correct!!! Hope to get the fuel/vapor lines finished this weekend.

Manager was apologetic, then we talked about O'Reilly's bid to buy Napa. Her opinion was that it is a Good thing.

 

[ntsqd]

O'Reillys bid to buy the whole Napa enterprise, or just that local store?

We had a Napa in town, was my preference to deal with them. Then they closed and we're left with the chain stores. My early experiences with O'Reillys were not good, so it was some trepidation that I went into that store. It's been a few years, and in spite of it looking like a chain store they were competent about getting me the parts that I needed. I still use the Napa near work for more often, that's too far to drive just for a small part.

 

[904Bronco]

O'Reillys bid to buy the whole Napa enterprise, or just that local store?

We had a Napa in town, was my preference to deal with them. Then they closed and we're left with the chain stores. My early experiences with O'Reillys were not good, so it was some trepidation that I went into that store. It's been a few years, and in spite of it looking like a chain store they were competent about getting me the parts that I needed. I still use the Napa near work for more often, that's too far to drive just for a small part.

O'Reilly's has apparently made a 10 Billion dollar offer to buy all of Napa.

Napa is old school, the books still have a place, even though they use the computer too. As long as you talk to the older guys and gals. Newer folks don't seem to be engaged, that cell phone thing...
I have tuned them up when they tell me they have the part I need and it's not there, (See above) I make the 15-20 minute drive only to find out they didn't confirm what the inventory says.
"V" is in her 20's, when I arrived to do pickup, she was on break, I waited.. When she came back, I asked where is my part, Oh I went on break. She told me she is entitled to a break. I asked her how was it? Did you get a snack or a coffee. Were you feeling depleted? "What, why do you want to know."
Because, I had to waste 30 minutes of my time driving to pick up a part that isn't here. Your customer service is lacking, so I just wanted to see if you were weren't feeling good before I chew you out for screwing me... You should have seen her Manager's face, she had to hide her smile.

 

[904Bronco]

Updates....

I had a worst experience at O'Reilly's in town... (Napa was closed) I needed a 5/8" heater hose with a 90* bend in it. Guy asks for a vehicle, I said there isn't one. Well then I can't help you. I replied Gates makes a number of 90* bend hoses, can't you go back and pull one off the rack, Sir, we have hundreds of hoses back there... How about we go back there and look? I can't do that... I need an application, okay it is a 66 Bronco with 1996 explorer 5.0. (The other counter guy snickers) I said you are not going to find anything. He replies then I can't help you. I replied, I find your Custom service lacking, if you can't leave your screen, to take a look. I was pissed.
Next morning, Sunday, I walk into Napa... Mark (counter guy), Can I go in back and look for a preformed 5/8 heater hose? "Sure Doug" I find in in under 5 minutes. and I was out the door shortly there after...

Getting close to firing off the 66 Bronco, a few delayed parts from Summit are needed, plus the shroud install.

We are in Escrow on the Chico house... That was quick, guy is preapproved for his loan.

My painter buddy says August now for paint. 900 miles on Clifford, and yes I finally changed the oil.
AND, Saturday, I got a call from a buddy who bought my 69 project. Hey, I got a guy who wants to buy a Bronco, I'm tired of him sending me pictures from FB, Craigslist, Bring-a-Trailer... Would you sell Clifford? Uhm, does he want it as is? Oh, here is his contact Ph#.
I told him you are the only one he should buy a Bronco from... Both guys are Brothers in the Fire Service. I suppose it can't hurt to at least talk to him? And provide some education on Broncos to a prospective buyer... Right.
When I told the Wife, she says I though you were going to keep this one? To which my Business finance major Son said, If the price is right, he can build another one.

 

[toddz69]

So I'm looking forward to your next build, Doug!

Todd Z.

 

[ntsqd]

Doug's new user title: "Semi-Serial Bronco Builder"?

 

[904Bronco]

So I'm looking forward to your next build, Doug!

Todd Z.

I spoke with the guy, he is coming by Thursday. He has never driven a Bronco, I told him he could take Clifford for a spin, get his feet wet.
I'm pretty certain he isn't going to be in my price range. Happy to educate a perspective buyer so he won't make the same mistakes that I did so many years ago...

 

[904Bronco]

So, still waiting on my Painter to tell me to bring the Bronco to him.
Guy in the above thread cancelled, scheduling conflicts. No reschedule at this point.

I have had a couple of folks make inquires on would I have interest in selling Clifford, from the site and locally. I guess no one likes my price, which is fine. I don't think most people have an understanding on what it takes to restore a vehicle. The time it takes, the knowledge needed, parts costs, lining up friends or other Contractors to do the work you can't, etc. I completely understand the desire to get a screaming deal on something . And there is what your budget can afford, everyone's budget is tight these days. I bought some ground beef last week and just about put it back on the shelf, given it's price!

So my Buddies 66 fired up Saturday, I have fixed two minor leaks, I put about 3 miles on it driving it around yesterday. I have to calibrate the speedo and hopefully in 97 miles or so he can take it home.

 

[ntsqd]

In the late 90's I was working part time in vintage car racing prep and restoration. My boss told me that he couldn't understand the whole "Ponycar" restoration surge going on at the time. The cars, when finished, weren't worth enough to make it worthwhile. His math said that for it to be worth doing, i.e. the cost of the decrepit vehicle plus the restoration cost had to result in a restored car worth at least $300k for it to make any economic sense.
I can imagine that number has only increased.

 

[904Bronco]

I dodged a bullet...

Driving back home from Napa auto parts, which is about 15 minutes away from me, I hit a bump in the road. Next comes a clank and as I start slowing for the next intersection, I start hearing noises... I pull over, look over the rig, but I don't see anything. So its time for the back roads, residential neighborhood route back home, at a reduced speed.
Now that my Buddies bronco is mobile, I put Clifford on the lift. Checking the suspension over, I find nothing. I pulled the driver's side wheel and "Oh Shit". The lower caliper bolt on the GM front disc conversion is gone . The caliper has been pivoting on the top bolt into the rotor and rim!! It took the wheel weights off the rim.
Now I have done a few brake jobs on GM products and I have done a few disc brake conversions, but never had this happen. As you can guess, there was disassembly and some parts were replaced. Maybe some questioning of my thoroughness and age, did I forget to do something? Passenger side was checked and there were no issues. Since it was on the lift, I went through the suspension components and retorqued everything.
Murphy's law is always around...