Build Thread - Phase 1 Undoing Teenage Mistakes

[theshadow]

Taking everyone along for the ride of my '77 Bronco's first foray into undoing many of the mistakes I made during my teenage years.

I first bought the then "engineless" steed when I was 16, and I had enlisted my diesel mechanic uncle to finish an EFI conversion the PO never figured out. Eventually we got the SD Town Car motor running, and I began making many choices/modifications I now regret.

On the docket for Phase 1 (drivetrain - taking on body work in Phase 2):

- Rebuilding 2001 Explorer block to 347
- 4R70w conversion from old 3 speed
- Hydro boost install
- Various other supporting improvements

Here's to me for good luck - I will need it! I started in September 2020, and moving forward while trying to keep a 5 and 2 year old entertained has proved a formidable task!

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[ared77]

Ah, teenage mistakes. I made many of those, starting with buying my first car for $300 and selling it a few months later for $100.%) Did I mention it was a '67 Mustang GTA fastback? Stupid, stupid, stupid! ;D

Well, I'm glad you still have your Bronco and I wish you much luck in getting it fixed up. Your little one will love going for rides with dad later on!

 

[No Hay]

Chuckling at the thread title. Neat you kept the rig and are starting the undoing.

My first ride at 17 in 1977 was a Bronco also, and it sure provided me and my friends a lot of mistakes ;D

Enjoy the undoing!

 

[.94 OR]

I bought mine at 19. It is still sitting in the garage and I'm still fixing things from PO and my younger self. Looking forward to your journey, just don't take too long, the kids grow fast.

 

[theshadow]

Thanks for the encouragement friends! Got it at 16, and had it running by 17. I quickly put the fan in the radiator "jumping" a log, and rolled it over by 20. Kills me that I lost the hardtop on that trip

Goal is to be running by March, but the rabbit hole is getting deeper, although I think the dig pace is slowing.

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[U13FL735]

Hi, My name is Bob, and I was a stupid teenager.
Bought a 66 Roadster in the fall, rolled it by spring, spend a few years cobbing it up as a hot rod, left it sit in pieces for 40+ years.
Began restoring it 2 years ago. Looks like I'm in good company.

 

[theshadow]

The biggest thing I regret is painting over the ORIGINAL light jade paint with black marine paint. I mean, black is waaaay cooler right? It was even in really good shape still, just wanted "cool factor" points

Half considering sanding it all down to see if I can expose the original jade...



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[gnpenning]

Love the title. I wish I only made mistakes as a teenager.....


Should be fun to watch.

 

[theshadow]

Well heading to three shops on Monday, dropping off the heads for valve work and springs, block for build prep, and found a steering shop 2 hours away to rebuild the steering gear.

Hoping to pull the old drivetrain out this weekend, everything is disconnected and prepped to yank out.

Parts I've collected for the new build so far:

-

2001 Explorer block

GT40p heads (new valves and springs)

Eagle 347 Rotating assembly

Ed Curtis (Flowtech Induction) custom cam

Howard Cams double roller billet timing chain

Siemens Deka 80lb injectors

Explorer upper/lower intake

Explorer throttle body

4R70w with dana 20 adapter

-

Using my existing EEC-IV EFI harness, with new ECU to run the tranny. Decipha over at efidynotuning.com tuning combo, he's got a startup tune already waiting for me once I'm finished with the build.

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[Rustytruck]

based on the chipping black paint might try a razor blade on it. it has to go anyway for a solid paint job.

 

[Rustytruck]

I got mine at 18 that was 42 years ago. 6 years ago i fixed my young forays in automotive choices. always regretted bashing in the rocker panels.

 

[theshadow]

based on the chipping black paint might try a razor blade on it. it has to go anyway for a solid paint job.

Good call - I was reading on an antique car forum where guys were having success wet sanding the "new" paint off to expose the original.

I'll probably try some exploratory scraping and sanding this spring.

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[theshadow]

Dropped off the block, heads, and steering gear to their respective shops on Monday. Had to travel 240 miles round-trip, but worth it to get to the right people.

Got to spend an hour BSing with the owner at the bottom end shop, easy to forget how important those human connections are.

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[thegreatjustino]

Good call - I was reading on an antique car forum where guys were having success wet sanding the "new" paint off to expose the original.

It will take forever, but wet standing with soapy water and 600 grit sand paper will gently take off layers of paint.

 

[Scoop]

Good luck with your corrections!

I pity the poor subsequent owner(s) of my first project car - a 1965 MGB. A patched together engine and tranny swap and, not knowing yet how to weld, a ripped fender repair using a backing plate and screws and lots of bondo! I’m sure I’ve been the subject of the “What did your PO do?” thread on an MG forum!

 

[71 CA Bronco]

Dropped off the block, heads, and steering gear to their respective shops on Monday. Had to travel 240 miles round-trip, but worth it to get to the right people.

Got to spend an hour BSing with the owner at the bottom end shop, easy to forget how important those human connections are.

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Does your wife know you had the greasy block in here car? ;D
Looks like something I would do then get my butt chewed when I got home.

Looking good. This will be fun to follow.

 

[theshadow]

It will take forever, but wet standing with soapy water and 600 grit sand paper will gently take off layers of paint.

That's great - this black is killing me. Sounds like something I can trick my son into doing

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[theshadow]

Does your wife know you had the greasy block in here car? ;D
Looks like something I would do then get my butt chewed when I got home.

Looking good. This will be fund to follow.

Ha! That's my DD, 2006 Outback with the 3.0 horizontal 6. It's actually a badass little motor.

I did get my butt chewed when she discovered she left her purse and keys in my car, had no way to get my son to preschool, and I was two hours away

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[theshadow]

Well the dana 20 slid off a little faster than expected, good thing I had a cradle to catch it so it only fell 8 inches or so .

Exposed hard parts appear to be in condition -

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[theshadow]

And the rest of the drivetrain came out with some light massaging...phew

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