'69 Derelict Rescue

[Grey owl]

I made a verbal deal on the Bronc after seeing it in person last week. Today was the planned completion of the deal. The day did not go as planned.

The seller and the Bronc were about 110 miles away. The trailer I was borrowing is a rather heavy unit, and I was concerned about overstressing my poor old Tacoma in the forecasted 100°F heat today. So I conscripted a friend and his big Duramax Silverado for the trip.

It did not start out well. My friend called a few minutes before he was planning to meet at my place to get me and the trailer, saying the Chevy made an odd noise, threw a CEL and started missing badly. So he was heading back home to plug in his code reader. Fearing something major, I started looking for an alternative, and warned the seller that it was looking like it wasn't going to happen today.

About 45 minutes later, while I was still looking for an available truck, my friend called me to say that the code reader said it was low voltage or open circuit on injector bank B (or something like that). Which did not sound good to me. But then he continued to say that while he did not clear the code, as soon as he read it, the truck began to run normally again. He took it for an errand as a test, all seemed totally normal and the code cleared itself during the drive.

We decided to take a chance on it. We figured (hoped) that if it did OK on the drive across town to my place that maybe it would be OK on the trip. Got to my place, still running fine, so we hooked up the trailer and hit the road, about 2 hours later than planned.

The Chevy ran fine the whole way up. I exchanged cash for signed papers, started the Bronc and drove it on the trailer, tied it down and loaded a whole mess of spare parts into the Bronc and the bed of the Chevy. Not sure how many of the loose parts are any good, but I can determine that later.

Started the trip back home with the Bronc filling the mirror. All going well. We stop at a truck stop where parking with a trailer is easy for lunch. After lunch we found that the freeway on ramp there was closed for road work, and started on a very circuitous detour to try to get back on the freeway. While snaking all over the county (or so it seemed), the next issue popped up. We blew a tire on the dual axle trailer. No spare, and I don't know if the Silverado jack would have been able to lift it anyway. Siri found us a tire store about 7 miles away, so we crept down the shoulder with the flashers on to get to the tire store.

Yes, they had a tire, but when they looked at the hub they pointed out that the borrowed trailer only had 3 of 5 lug nuts on that wheel, because 2 of the studs were badly borked up. They wouldn't put a tire on it with 2 missing nuts. I had no tools with me. While silently cursing the trailer's owner under my breath, and myself as well for not inspecting it closer before hitting the road with it, we agreed with the tire people that the wheel studs would need to be replaced, and then the replacement tire installed.

Of course, there was only an hour left until closing, and there was no way they could finish it today. So the trailer w/Bronco was left in their fenced compound, and they will start on it tomorrow. We completed the trip home w/o trailer. I'm hoping they can get it done by mid-day tomorrow so I can go pick it back up tomorrow afternoon, but it might not be ready in time tomorrow and I'll need to go on Saturday instead.

On the plus side, the Chevy ran fine the whole trip. Hopefully it will do so again on part 2. Here's a couple initial pics...

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When things don't go as planned and it involves woman or a vehicle, I believe the correct way to referr to such events as an Adventure....Lol.

 

[serial car restorer]

Big milestone today. Bronco is registered and insured, first time since 2004. Period-correct plates, new sticker will arrive by mail.

 

[serial car restorer]

Today I finished the bodywork. It's not perfect, but perfection is not and was not the goal. It just needs to be good enough. I've taken it as far as I can with my skills and tools. Time to start shopping for a painter.

 

[.94 OR]

Salem too far out of your way?
I know the owner of the red one. It just got done about 6 weeks ago.

 

[serial car restorer]

Farther than I'd prefer, over an hour on the freeway. I'd probably need to trailer it to Salem, but I could drive it to a local painter with everything pulled except rear lights...

 

[serial car restorer]

Twenty-three years and three owners after the fire that gutted my Bronco's interior, today was its first drive that wasn't a quick test drive around the block. Not far, only about 7 miles for gas, round trip. But the success in finally getting it back on the road feels huge to me.

Impressions: Bouncy, a little noisy (no windows), a bit smelly (typical old carb smells), pretty quick steering (4-turn power box). But tracks pretty well, without wandering. Brakes are good, everything works, runs well. A bit more civilized than the '64 FJ40 I restored a few years back, or my dad's '63 Land Rover. But that's not saying much.

 

[serial car restorer]

Delivered it to the painter today. More to come later.

 

[serial car restorer]

Painter started with the grill, so it can be masked off easily for the rest of the blue body.

 

[danroot]

Finding a painter can be a real challenge. Looking good!

 

[serial car restorer]

Finding a painter can be a real challenge.

Don't I know it! This is the 8th project I've done since I retired 10 years ago, and 10th total counting a couple done prior to retirement. Eight of those have needed full paint jobs. I'm on my 5th painter now, for various reasons. (I don't think it's because I'm hard to work with, but you never know. )

 

[serial car restorer]

Latest. Not perfect, but plenty good for a driver.

 

[BronCowie]

Not bad for a derelict!

 

[serial car restorer]

As I reported in the what-I-did-today thread, I retrieved the Bronco from the painter today, and have started putting it back together. Mostly happy with it, although my decision to try to use the original hood (to retain as much original sheet metal as possible) was probably a mistake. Just too many waves, dings and distractions. I will probably buy a new hood shortly.

 

[BigB]

Looks good from here.

 

[.94 OR]

I got mine painted in January in Idaho.
No top, windshield, hood, fenders, doors, or tailgate.
Just me and below freezing temps for the 2 mile country drive home from the painters.
Awesome feeling but I did spend some time by the wood stove when I got home.
Enjoy!

 

[serial car restorer]

Reassembly continues. Exterior mostly done. No glass other than the windshield yet, and the antenna won't be installed until I'm done fitting the new hood I picked up from Tom's at the show in Florence yesterday. Mostly working on weatherstrips and seat upholstery now.

 

[serial car restorer]

First seat done. Ugh! Man, is that new foam dense!

 

[BGBronco]

New seat foam makes me happy!

 

[serial car restorer]

And today, the second seat was finished. They feel nice with the new, firm foam. But seriously, I don't think there is any part of my refresh/restoration projects that beats my hands up as badly as upholstery does. Scrapes, little nicks, cuts and finger and wrist strain. I can not imagine doing that work every day for a living.

 

[serial car restorer]

Out and about today. Not completely done yet, but the end is in sight.