Clifford... Big Red Bronco

[ntsqd]

The race shop had a rule where you didn't put a bolt in unless you immediately tightened it to the spec. No "I'm just mocking this up, the bolt(s) don't have to be tight" kinds of failures.

I'm finding as I age that I'm grateful for that habit, but it's not 100% because I can, at times, still manage to be the better idiot.

 

[toddz69]

I dodged a bullet...

Driving back home from Napa, 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...

Glad everything is ok! I have had some of the same thoughts the past few years as I age too - did I torque those wheel nuts, etc.? Enough doubt that I've gone back to check myself a few times.

Todd Z.

 

[Yeller]

I follow TS’s rule, it goes in its tight, if it comes back off, get the wrenches out lol.

I too have had that happen, however, I think usually they break first, found several that were broken, especially with aftermarket brackets.

 

[green61bug]

Shewww I'm glad that wasn't any worse than it was. I've driven down the road in a vw a time or two and quickly realized I forgot to tighten the lug nuts. I believe that was because I was young and dumb back then. It's been a few years. Haha

 

[ntsqd]

The current fad (?) of witness marking torqued bolts with a paint pen is one way to try to counter the forgetfulness. Still relies on habit er training and isn't fool/idiot-proof.

 

[SLOWnEASY]

I follow a similar rule with a slight modification. Never hand tighten a bolt. I start the bolts two or three turns and then leave them protruding until it's time to tighten them. Something like a head has to have all the bolts started before I start tightening. So I make sure all the bolts are obviously loose until it's time to tighten them all up.

 

[ntsqd]

If this were nvrstuck's thread I have a related MISF story, since it's not.....

 

[Bruners4]

That was a close call!
It does pay off to not have those 20" rims that wouldn't have held in the caliper! Some of the hidden engineering to help keep us safe when things go wrong.
I'm of the school of tightening a bolt if it is installed.

 

[904Bronco]

Todd's Bronco is done, a few more miles on it this weekend and he gets it back next week. Yes, the final color will be Boxwood green, original color was Springtime yellow.

 

[Speedrdr]

I think the worst ‘oh, crap’ experience I had on a ‘72 EB was driving home after off roading and made a hard turn. There was a cloud of smoke from pass. rear side. Looked in the right hand mirror and noticed the wheel was about 10 inches past the fender. Had to tiptoe a mile to a friend’s place and get a ride home. Only took an axle and bearings and a backer plate to make it all better. Well, at least until the next time I broke something.

 

[904Bronco]

I finished putting miles on the 66. The owner, Todd and his two sons, showed up today to take it home. I walked them over the rig and answered all their questions. They took it out for an extended test drive, came back back raving how well it runs, and how different it is from the 289-2V. I was paid for my time and efforts, and his Boys drove the Bronco home (60 miles). They sent me video of it backing up the driveway . Another happy customer, with more family memories to be made... I really wasn't planning on doing this build for them, I was merely offering support so they could do it themselves. But you know how plans can change... Conservatively, I had about 90 hrs. into it. Felt good to help a brother firefighter out, wishing they lived closer as I believe they would have enjoyed doing more of the build with me.

Time to clean the shop and put things away. No word from my Painter yet and that is okay, as I can just keep putting the miles on Clifford. The "I don't want to sell him price", seems to have dried up the interest from those perspective buyers.
Fingers crossed, it Looks like the last drive to the Chico house is coming next week. Collect our last items from the house, and sign some papers. I see a lunch burger from the Bear, maybe a nice dinner at the Steak house on 5th street, with ice cream from Shubert's. (If you know, you know...) And my Wife wants to hit Arby's one last time, as we don't have one near us. After that, I think the 79 needs to come out of the garage...

 

[ntsqd]

um....... Shubert's.........
I think a big part of my "Freshmen Fifteen" came from there.

 

[ksagis]

Doug, can I kindly ask you to do much crappier builds so the rest of us don’t feel as bad about ourselves?

 

[904Bronco]

Doug, can I kindly ask you to do much crappier builds so the rest of us don’t feel as bad about ourselves?

It's the OCD in me, sorry... Carry over from the Fire Dept. - "Do it right the first time as there is no time to do it twice."

 

[ksagis]

I’m OCD too, but apparently with fewer skills!

 

[DirtDonk]

We lost all the Arby's around here too. Just as I re-discovered them!
Only one left is in Sunnyvale, so not too far away as the crow flies. But with so little time, that extra four or five miles is a real deal-breaker.

Paul

 

[ntsqd]

I'm only a little CDO, but only enough that I got the letters arranged alphabetically.
For decades the local Arby's was a semi-dismal place. It was in one of the cool original Arby's buildings but it hadn't been maintained well and was poorly sited on the lot. That got torn down and they erected an ugly Starbucks in its place. Then an Arby's popped up in a large shopping plaza about a mile away. I get by there every now and then.

 

[bfoldy]

Todd's Bronco is done, a few more miles on it this weekend and he gets it back next week. Yes, the final color will be Boxwood green, original color was Springtime yellow.

Nice work, as always! You have mastered the Explorer EFI swap and you keep inspiring me (and many others, I’m sure).

 

[904Bronco]

Nice work, as always! You have mastered the Explorer EFI swap and you keep inspiring me (and many others, I’m sure).

Your 66 Rig is pretty Top notch itself bfoldy!

Funny thing is when Todd contacted me last year about doing the conversion, I told him "Brother you don't have enough money in your wallet to pay me." I explained to him the time involved to secure parts, a donor rig, probably an engine rebuild and how much parts could cost. He seemed to embrace that challenge though... I sent him a spreadsheet from one of my builds so he had an idea. He reached out to Garry, The EFI Guy, to make sure he would do the work. He located a 96 Explorer in Eugene, OR and he and one of his sons flew up, made the purchase, and drove it home. A number of parts were ordered, he and his sons pulled the Explorer motor, took it to my local rebuilder to have it freshened. They pulled the 289 out, and had the engine compartment painted. I had a few phone calls along the way, but the big call came when they couldn't get the motor back in mated up with the AX15. I offered suggestions, but they had no luck.
Add to that, Mandatory OT in the FD boots up during the summer, Family plans can go south when you're told you're not going home this morning... I was then asked to intervene and help bring the project to an end. I was reluctant, but Todd assured me his timeline was flexible. I was communitive and sent pictures of the progress. And when we had road trips and activities planned he was good with that. And if we needed factory parts, like cooling tubes, we both went on the hunt. He would hit the P-n-Pull if no one here could help. In fact, when he called me from the PnP one day and asked if there was anything I needed, well his boys were more that happy to pull a complete upper and lower plenum for me . It was a collaborative effort, that the end result was a Happy Family, another Bronco buddy, and I suppose my local legacy has grown some more...

 

[bfoldy]

Thanks, man! I really appreciate it. Sounds like quite the journey on that build. Definitely a cool story and a great example of what makes the Bronco community so much fun.


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