Chopped, slammed, bagged, tubbed, lowered floors, 418 w/blower, 6r80, 1/2 cab, Bronco Hot Rod

[Yeller]

looking good Brian and I second the respirator!

for the width and wheelbase of shorty, I wouldn't be overly concerned about the 4-1/2" of clearance, you may very occasionally find the perfect spot for it to drag, but its a nice shapely skid plate. if it becomes a problem due to flat tires, you got a bigger problem LOL. Back in my show car days the font crossmember was 3-1/2" off the ground, and was suspended, as in moved up and down, really had to watch manhole covers, girl I was dating ran to the store and found one but that was the only time it was ever an issue in 280,000 miles except some minor road rash. Even survived driving a winter living in Wisconsin.

 

[nvrstuk]

Great news to hear! I was wondering if I'd need to carry a big stick to help leverage it off of every parking lot curb cut!

 

[Yeller]

Great news to hear! I was wondering if I'd need to carry a big stick to help leverage it off of every parking lot curb cut!

shouldn't be an issue, shorty is pretty narrow, and well short.... LOL That was on my 72 2wd K5 so it was probably 12" wider and 12" longer.

 

[ntsqd]

I recall banging the bottom of the Ranchero's AOD bell-housing on a speed bump in the Taco Bell drive-thru one time. You learn to approach things at an angle so that the break-over angle doesn't bite you.

It is interesting that the torque arm doesn't simply have tabs to bolt to at the rear end of it that weld to the bottom-rear of the housing.

 

[nvrstuk]

The torque arm does for particular applications. Camaros, Mustangs, Fairlanes, etc.

Since mine is custom I get to make it fit my unique application. Got to listen to Mike Meaire yesterday as he called for a question I had on a part and he shared a ton of info mostly which was waaaaay above my head like "birdcage bearings" etc but he put my mind at ease when discussing lengths and angles of the torque arm. (which Gary had already done).

Anyway, the rear end is on the welding table getting 2" of the truss welded at a time, fitting the simple brackets for the 9" rear mount, forming a 1/8" pc of steel that is now welded to the bottom of the 9" to spread the load of the torque arm mount.

Other engine news- Got extremely distracted again today when Ford Performance called and we discussed sending my 460sb to them since they said my rods/pistons were well within spec and I need some resolution on this engine. So they are getting a freight company headed my way so they can take a ton of measurements and maybe make a decision Only been 3 months!

 

[Yeller]

Hopefully they get you something sooner than later. You have to have to back on the road by mid April

 

[ntsqd]

Maybe break-in Shorty's power plant with a snow bashing run or three?

Interesting, I've only heard of Bird-Cage bearings being used on Sprint Cars. Sure would eliminate any bind potential. Overkill for a hot rod, but sure would be cool! Probably best done on a traditional Roadster hot rod where there's a chance of it even being seen.

 

[nvrstuk]

Maybe break-in Shorty's power plant with a snow bashing run or three?

Interesting, I've only heard of Bird-Cage bearings being used on Sprint Cars. Sure would eliminate any bind potential. Overkill for a hot rod, but sure would be cool! Probably best done on a traditional Roadster hot rod where there's a chance of it even being seen.

Mike is/was using the birdcage in SCCA cars that he builds. The guy knows suspensions!!

Using Shorty's powerplant is an option I've been thinking about. I was planning on a blower and of course that all starts getting complicated for intake routing, TUNING, cam design, etc.... at today's prices since everything seems to be 50% more than a year ago I hate to have to redo something twice. Deci$ion$, deci$ion$.

Be so much simpler to drop a carb on it since I have at least 4 streetable carbs eady to go and would be easy for Shorty but not a perfect fix for severe off roading anymore. hmmm. I figure by the end of December I need to start ordering parts

 

[nvrstuk]

Steve- even a tighter timeline as we have reservations for Sand Hollow the 3rd week of February!!

 

[ntsqd]

Sand Hollow?!?!? That's a fair pull from your 10-20. Try NOT to get a Matt's t-shirt, OK?

Mike is/was using it on SCCA cars that he builds. The guy knows suspensions!!

That's interesting, I can see what he might be doing there.

 

[nvrstuk]

Sand Hollow?!?!? That's a fair pull from your 10-20. Try NOT to get a Matt's t-shirt, OK?


That's interesting, I can see what he might be doing there.

Love Sand Hollow wheeling. 1100 miles one way but worth it. We took the kayaks last year and it was 70deg out so my better half really got to enjoy the mild weather and paddling about.... but yeah, don't want to meet Matt or any of his crew except in his shop! lol

 

[ssray]

Just thought about it but don’t you use a Quarter horse controller for your tranny.? Seems like there was a post somewhere about them going out of business. Or I’m confused with a different business.

 

[nvrstuk]

I used the Qtrhorse to tune my engines then burned a chip so the Qrthorse isn't used anymore.

 

[nvrstuk]

Haven't done much lately.

I did send a Z460 off to Ford Performance. I can't wait to see what they say.

Meanwhile, I figured (again) that I ought to be working on my '68 - - doing the things I wanted to finish back in '2015 or earlier. I have 2 sheets single spaced on my yellow tablet filled with "to-do's". lol

Some of these "do's" really need to be done and since I can't drive it now is the time!

 

[stupidboy]

I used the Qtrhorse to tune my engines then burned a chip so the Qrthorse isn't used anymore.

Send that qh to me so I can borrow it to tune mine.

 

[nvrstuk]

I made a little progress lately but I am waiting to hear from Ford so I am prioritizing my other Bronco since Sand Hollow is in 2 months and Moab Safari is not long after that and I have no engine.

I r e a l l y don't want to give up camping/exploring & some wheeling for something out of my control (Ford Performance). I have another stroker I could finish and "drop in" but.... I have a list of stuff I haven't done for 10+ yrs and now that I'm not running now is the time to fix a few things. If I can get the top 5 done I'm feeling good so I'm putting Shorty on a back burner for a bit.... really, really ticks me off that I have to do this but it makes total sense.

Here's a couple pics.

Oh- who makes Ford 9" big bearing ends that you can butt weld on to replace worn out ends on a '74 housing. I will need to butt weld the new housing ends on to make sure alignment is SPOT ON. I don't think slip in or slip over ends will work. I've used several sets from Currie or Wild Horses in the past but they all slide in so alignment can't be changed.

I can buy Set 80 axle brg ends that butt weld but I haven't seen any Torino ends yet.

Anybody point me in the right direction here?? thanks all

 

[nvrstuk]

Here's a few pics out of order...

 

[ntsqd]

Machine the alignment spud off the housing end that you can easily buy? Then it's a butt-splice.

 

[Yeller]

Moser is who I've been using.

Housing Ends

I find it funny reading all the "proper" ways to build a housing. "You can't butt weld tube together" LOL, most 9" have butt welds all over and every full float spindle is but welded at the factory.... most of the time FF spindles are spin welded but its still a butt weld with no filler added. A lot of big name builders butt weld tubes together all the time and charge big money for it. Properly done it works just fine.

 

[nvrstuk]

That's what I was thinking TS and Steve.

Like butt welding beams is strong enough but not a housing end???