1970 Bronco BMW Diesel Swap

[Dylan_Shaffer]

Stripping the leaf springs sucked!

 

[Speedrdr]

I don’t mind saying better you than me…but they are looking mighty spiffy

 

[Dylan_Shaffer]

Oil pan clearance for days!

 

[Dylan_Shaffer]

Rear end wrapped up. The motive gearset set up super easy

 

[Dylan_Shaffer]

Been fighting the ball joints for the last week. Finally got the drivers side knuckle to have 20 lbs of pull force. Passenger side is closer to 65 lbs when I torque the top nut down. Have tried 3 different adjuster sleeves. They just go through the bottom of the top hole before reaching torque. Going to try to order a Dana spicer branded sleeve. Went with the mevotech ball joints.

 

[phyler]

Been fighting the ball joints for the last week. Finally got the drivers side knuckle to have 20 lbs of pull force. Passenger side is closer to 65 lbs when I torque the top nut down. Have tried 3 different adjuster sleeves. They just go through the bottom of the top hole before reaching torque. Going to try to order a Dana spicer branded sleeve. Went with the mevotech ball joints.
View attachment 959066

I recently had the same issue with the Mevotech joint. Had my old sleeve from a Spicer joint and used it. It came out the bottom a bit but did torque properly at 40 ft lbs and then everything was good with the top nut at proper torque.

 

[Dylan_Shaffer]

I recently had the same issue with the Mevotech joint. Had my old sleeve from a Spicer joint and used it. It came out the bottom a bit but did torque properly at 40 ft lbs and then everything was good with the top nut at proper torque.

Hoping the Dana sleeve helps, if it protrudes too far out the bottom I may cut a couple threads off the bottom. Wild everyone seems to have issues with these.

 

[Dylan_Shaffer]

Installed the Dana adjuster sleeve. Knuckle is still way too tight, any recommendations on next steps?
Pull force is right at 60 lbs, thinking of just running it and hoping it wears in.

 

[Dylan_Shaffer]

Quick mockup, more space than expected. This bmw fan is gnarly! 20.5” diameter

 

[Dylan_Shaffer]

Steering and brakes done (mostly). Made an adapter plate for the Tesla brake booster to the firewall.

 

[Jakedog]

Steering and brakes done (mostly). Made an adapter plate for the Tesla brake booster to the firewall.

This is an impressive build.
I'm calling it Frankenstein.

 

[Geiri]

Steering and brakes done (mostly). Made an adapter plate for the Tesla brake booster to the firewall.

Interesting.....
What did you pull that Breake booster out of? What year and did you get the harness with it?
Is there a write up on this somewhere?

 

[Dylan_Shaffer]

Interesting.....
What did you pull that Breake booster out of? What year and did you get the harness with it?
Is there a write up on this somewhere?

It’s out of a Tesla model 3, relatively inexpensive on eBay. I bought the connectors separately so I can do my best to make the wiring look clean. There are several companies offering ready to go wiring harnesses for them. Lot of good info here, only 3 wires to make it work. I haven’t driven it yet but I did wire it up and the pedal assist feels super good compared to my old vacuum booster.

 

[Dylan_Shaffer]

Getting close to firing it up just in time for record diesel prices!

 

[BigB]

Getting close to firing it up just in time for record diesel prices!

That is what winning feels like.

 

[Dylan_Shaffer]

Got some primer down! (Realized shortly after I forgot to prime the glove box door and ash tray)

 

[Dylan_Shaffer]

New T-case has arrived. I’ve decided a clutch pack awd case probably isn’t the move long term

 

[DirtDonk]

That thing’s kind of sexy looking!
But how wide is it? And what exactly did it come out of?

 

[Dylan_Shaffer]

That thing’s kind of sexy looking!
But how wide is it? And what exactly did it come out of?

It’s out of an ineos grenadier, I haven’t measured it yet but I’m 90% sure it’s too wide. It has a center diff which adds to the width. Excited to open it up and see what’s inside since it’s one of very few modern gear driven cases.

 

[DirtDonk]

Sounds pretty cool. But yeah, most, if not all, late model aluminum transfer cases are “too wide” for the Bronco frame. Some solutions have been found, but they are definitely more work.
Yours looks like it could be worth it unless it’s just far too wide.