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Fireball's '76 build thread - "Piece by Piece" - PAINTED, ASSEMBLED & ON THE ROAD!

xcntrk

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Greetings from PA - another new EB owner - 76'

Got an email today from UPS with a tracking number for 181.6 pounds of excitement....my 2.5" lift kit and other bits from JBG will be here Thursday!

Sounds like Friday is a day off! :)
 
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Fireball05

Fireball05

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X - you didn't get the message?? I've got an appointment at your garage set for Friday morning! :) Then once we get the suspension finished you can throw together a front and rear bumper for me!

Seriously though, do you happen to know the length of your shocks? The reason I ask is that I had to guess at the front shock length, seeing as I don't have the F250 mounts installed yet and am hoping to get this apart and back together relatively quickly.

The JBG 2.5" kit comes with 23" extended-14" collapsed. The next jump up is 26"-15.5" so that's what I went with. Going to try the BDS shocks that come with the kit first, if I hate them will then decide on Ranchos or Bilsteins. Can't justify the extra cost until I make sure the BDS shocks aren't up to par!
 
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Fireball05

Fireball05

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2into1 Exhaust system with Flowmaster 50

I had the exhaust done back in December, but finally got around to taking and posting some videos and sound clips, so thought I'd add that information to my build thread:

Overall I'm very happy with the new setup. Custom 2 into 1 with Flowmaster 50 muffler. The shop I took it to was very nice and friendly and tested out 4 different mufflers. I ended up with the Flowmaster 50s. I much prefered the Flowmaster to the Magnaflow, it's a different tone, the FM seems a bit more proper to me on the Ford V8.

I took the shop the following photo's that I stole from Tony's build thread, and they basically replicated that: http://classicbroncos.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=207986

A few tweaks - they added the clamp per my request so that the tailpipe section could be easily removed if needed. He also put the "Y" location a few inches further downstream because I told him a set of headers were likely in the not-too-distant future. And a little angle cut at the end of the tailpipe to match the curve of the body line. 2.5" into 3" tailpipe section. Honestly the 3" looks a bit oversized to me. Sound is good, if not still a bit loud on a vehicle with no interior.

I was previously running true duals that turned down under the car. After getting a new gas cap and the new exhaust system with the side exit, the fumes are gone! Very happy about that!

Here are the video links, first one cruising down the highway b/w 60-70mph:
[youtube]-cY8XH5s54g[/youtube]
http://youtu.be/-cY8XH5s54g

And this one pulling out from a stop up to around 40mph:
[youtube]FbAWDwLhftc[/youtube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbAWDwLhftc
 

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Fireball05

Fireball05

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Greetings from PA - another new EB owner - 76'

4.11 with 30" tires. Not the ideal street combo with the original three speed column shift.

Just got to ride in a NV3550-equipped rig today, someone please hide my credit card!
 
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broncoitis

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Jul 23, 2010
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Exhaust sounds really good! I like the Magnaflow on mine but I need some insulation to deaden it down a bit.

What have you been up to?

No updates?

Your slacking off!!! ;) :p
 
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Fireball05

Fireball05

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Greetings from PA - another new EB owner - 76'

Things got serious today ;)

u9agumud.jpg
 

tasker

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know you know i love your Bronco, but i want pics of the Econoline!
 
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Fireball05

Fireball05

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Tasker - the Bronco is at my friend's garage, he is helping me do almost all the work on it, so the Econoline is his. I'll get some more photos and some details on it next time I'm over. He's had it for a few years now, and it's been in about the same shape and exact same location for the last few years!
 
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Castle Rock
EB Newbie

I too am enjoying my new baby - just bought a 1973 Bronco Ranger from the original owner. The only thing he changed was the radio. Did replace the engine and had the tranny rebuilt, but everything else is original. Uncut, not lifted or modified. I absolutely LOVE her. I've wanted an EB for years and am finally at a place where I could splurge.

Taking her to my mechanic on Friday to see what needs to be done under the hood - will take care of any issues there before I start the fun stuff. My 2011 Toyota Rav4 has been relegated to sitting outside the garage in the snow - may never see the inside of our garage ever again!

I will appreciate any help I will find here and I'm sure I will be looking for lots of advice.

Too bad it's snowing like crazy today, otherwise we'd be out in it.
 
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Fireball05

Fireball05

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new body mounts

Time for another update!

Been getting a decent amount of work in over the past few weeks, slow and steady at least. After much deliberation I ended up going with the JBG 2.5" superflex kit. Did a lot of reading and a lot of research and because of the Deaver leafs and springs I think it'll be a good ride for my 99% road application. I am going to try out the included BDS shocks, but anticipate eventually going with some Bilsteins. Wanted to try out the $30 shocks before convincing myself I needed to spend 2 or 3+ times that for better shocks!

Before tacking the suspension kit install, I started this thread to inquire about my existing body mounts. The collective wisdom seemed to be to replace the mounts. After some more research, I decided to go with a kit that member "Frenchy" sells. I'm very happy with the kit, arrived nicely packaged with instructions and looks really good! It's a nice compromise b/w stock mounts and a 1" body lift.

Here's a closeup of the front driver side mount, installed but not yet tightened down:


I've also attached two photos showing just the driver side completed to get a comparison b/w stock slightly worn out vs. this kit, and then another photo showing both sides complete. A quick note to say that an ancillary benefit of the "Frenchy kit" is that the included hardware won't fit down into the frame on the mounts behind the front seats, so there is no need to tape up the top of the frame and worry about loosing and subsequently needing to fish out hardware into the frame.
 

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Fireball05

Fireball05

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rear suspension install

So with the new body mounts installed, onward with the rear suspension install:


Out came the entire axle so that everything could be disassembled, cleaned and painted. Here it is stripped and ready for paint:


We rebuilt the rear drums with new a new spring kit and self adjuster kit and wheel cylinders. Also had some rubbing on the backing plates, so took those off, added some weld and smoothed it all out, painted and reassembled. Some details found on this thread.

Replaced the axle bearings and seals, reassembled everything and installed new hard brake lines. Put everything back down on the ground and measured the rear pinion angle....9 degrees:


Not ideal, but having done my homework knew this was a possibility, and a quick call over to Dirtdonk at Wild Horses, had a new set of 6 degree shims in the mail and headed my way.

Here it is back down on the ground and ready to go!
 
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Fireball05

Fireball05

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front suspension install

With the rear end completed, time to do the front. I'm tracking that progress in a separate thread found here: http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=223420

While I'm at it, I'll be cutting off the front axillary shock mounts and installing the taller F250 mounts in the stock location. Also cleaning up the frame rails, inner fender area and going through about 4 or 5 flap discs cleaning up the frame and removing all the OEM weld splatter!

This is underway right now, everything up in the air, front end disassembled and ready for paint and a batch of parts sent off for powder coating. Stay tuned!
 

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Stutsmo

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Jan 24, 2009
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Hey I have those body mounts too! Re reading your thread I am noticing a lot of similarities in our Broncos. Nice work man , definitely one of my favorites!
 

tasker

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he did not give you steak tips! that should give Pete and I an edge! ;D
 
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