• Welcome to ClassicBroncos! - You are currently viewing the forums as a GUEST. To take advantage of all the site features, please take a moment to register. It's fast, simple and absolutely free. So please join our community today!
    If you have problems registering or can't log into your account, please contact Admin.

Jekyl & Hyde builds

OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Got the t-Rex arms installed and level and axle back under the truck with springs and shocks installed. Got the axle centered and started working on the track bar and fighting it to get bolt hole lined up and took a break.

19bc4988d651c57fdce5d3f5186643c9.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Jekyl & Hyde builds

Problem after problem today, time for a beer or better yet bourbon.

The new Borgenson steering box won’t mount to frame, holes don’t line up. The worn out box was also a Borgenson and the mounting holes had been wallowed out more and it bolts right up.

Can’t mount to tie rod over the knuckle without relocating the lower track bar mount. The bolt in that mount has been welded in from the back side so I guess I’ll have to cut it off and drill it out of I’m going to relocate it.

Also realize I should have centered the axle and bolted up track bar before I installed springs and shocks. It’s fighting me with everything mounted and axle hanging or on a jack. Now I’ll wait until I get all the steering connect and tires under it and use the steering to center it. That means wait until the hydroboost setup arrives and I get that installed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Bronco4x4

Sr. Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2009
Messages
598
I use a heavy duty ratchet strap to get the track bar in. Same size used on a car trailer just shorter length.
 
OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Bought a 97 5.0 Mariner today for the trans and front dress. It runs and drives with no engine lights so will probably keep the starter, PS pump, and alternator as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Got the front end about done this weekend. Toe set at 3/16, axle centered, steering box back in and connected up, brakes installed. Everything is torqued down except the locking nuts on the heims. The geometry looks perfect to me, can’t even see the track bar in the pic their so parallel.

717544e12c275208e1882270c8eadb12.jpg


After I got all that done, I started digging into the pallet of parts I received from JD this week. Unboxed the Helwig sway bar so I could get it installed before I put the wheels back on. First step in instructions- remove springs . Got it all installed and before I tightened up the end links I notice the pitman arm is going to hit the sway bar. Scratched my head for a minute and realized I have it on backwards. About that time the wife pulls in with Thai for dinner and I called it a day.

Tomorrow my Blueprint motors will be here, but it will be a while before I install either of them. When I called to discuss the motors they told me 30 days to build them. Called a couple days later and ordered and they told me 2 had just come off the line and would ship next day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Back on the ground

eae45f59b5a6a5fb9254803cfec32a0f.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Motors arrived today. Wasn’t much fun picking them up and unloading them in the rain but I have to travel for work the next couple days so not much choice.

37ace61f7fb4f3b81cf830a533160a06.jpg
09aadb9f107319cc8787d9b72dd914d7.jpg
2e5f6e37d903285187672894ebd81531.jpg
ec648694ad8780b1f7b1c60c6fedbd94.jpg
fb89de972c8511ed7ff3405873029693.jpg
3417087d77b7a557af200f635699b225.jpg



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Got started on the rear axle this evening and disappointed to find I have a small bearing 9”. Planning to do a complete rebuild on it with 456s, true trac, 31 spline shafts, and disc brakes. I don’t want to sync that money into the small bearing so ordered a Super 9” housing from WH.

Set me back a week or so and some $$ but will be better off in the long run I think.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

sprdv1

Contributor
REBEL
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Messages
81,747
Looking good.. :)

Got the t-Rex arms installed and level and axle back under the truck with springs and shocks installed. Got the axle centered and started working on the track bar and fighting it to get bolt hole lined up and took a break.

19bc4988d651c57fdce5d3f5186643c9.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

sprdv1

Contributor
REBEL
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Messages
81,747
Now that's an exciting day.. Congrats..

Motors arrived today. Wasn’t much fun picking them up and unloading them in the rain but I have to travel for work the next couple days so not much choice.
 
OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Haven’t updated this in a while as progress has been slow. Spent too long getting the mountaineer torn down to get the trans and engine dress I needed and that delayed my progress on the bronco.

Over the last couple weeks I’ve completed the rebuild on the rear axle to include:

New WH big bearing 9” housing
.456 gears
Truetrac LSD
New WH 31 spline axles
Duff rear disc brake kit
New Duff (Deaver) 2.5” leaf springs
New Duff shocks

Got the leafs installed this weekend, that job took longer than I expected between the rusted shackle sleeves and lining up the leaf eyes.

Axle is completely assembled and will get bolted in this week.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Jekyl & Hyde builds

Made some more progress:

Rear axle is back in the truck
Had a buddy weld up the shock mounts this week
I welded on the brake line brackets
Installed new parking brake cables
Installed flex lines
Installed new Duff shocks
Got hydroboost mounted up
Sway bar mounted to axle, need to install frame side

It’s pretty busy around the back axle with everything installed, but got it all in there with no rubbing.
036f6c4116a6461e3b14f7fcf46fb847.jpg


Hope to plumb the hydroboost and bend new brake lines this weekend and drive it a while before tackling the next phase.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Jekyl & Hyde builds

Got the brake lines all plumbed up this weekend. Not show quality bends but they’re not leaking anywhere.

6e999c0b317319dd2131f5b11d8b5eac.jpg

4b0e9177d52c0383655a03917d8010d8.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Hydroboost all plumbed and started bleeding the system. Almost ready for a test drive.

4715c7feb79a3b8f4b40336d659d3a32.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Not much progress the last 2 weeks. Had a leaky brake line that I had to replace and now have to re-bleed the MC and front brakes.

I had taken some rough measurements on the front caster and suspected it was too much so ordered an BC caster tool. Sure enough, I have 10* of caster so I’ll start by removing the radius arm drop brackets. May be a couple weeks before I get to drive it now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

sprdv1

Contributor
REBEL
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Messages
81,747
Some progress better than none..

Keep plugging away

Not much progress the last 2 weeks. Had a leaky brake line that I had to replace and now have to re-bleed the MC and front brakes.

I had taken some rough measurements on the front caster and suspected it was too much so ordered an BC caster tool. Sure enough, I have 10* of caster so I’ll start by removing the radius arm drop brackets. May be a couple weeks before I get to drive it now.
 
OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Getting back to work on this thing little by little, mostly when weather doesn’t permit fishing. Started pulling it apart today getting ready to lift the body off. 4 of the body mounts came out fairly easy, 2 are spinning so I’ll have to cut.

Removed the floor mat and it’s worse than I had hoped. I knew it had been patched without removing the old floor, but what I found is riveted sheet metal. Also notice some cracking bondo and poked around a bit. Seems like the roll bar is bolted to bondo.
bb58540aa67d8335172fb85ae638a0a4.jpg

7c0ca502e14c1f89db538b9e989f0164.jpg

d7337b456881ae2bcac47492ce1b9555.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
Jaybr

Jaybr

Contributor
Full Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
533
Found more than one patch on the drivers side, all held in with various rivets and screws and a fair amount of bondo.

8a1ed17acc638a49c06110cbee47cdb1.jpg

dc7127d8ad5a4882ebbb2f9fcf1fa7db.jpg

9f1903b6f0438089919f763eaeee4e7e.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Top