migs Bronco Barn - a chronicle of what's happening at the new place

[Yeller]

Thanks migs! I was hoping you’d say 4” lol. Been looking for a 17x8 with 4” of BS. Not an easy call, most are 4-1/2 or 5-1/2

 

[migs]

I hear ya! Sounds like me trying (hoping) to find a cheap but decent looking aftermarket 17x8 with roughly this much back spacing

 

[migs]

What was the backspace on the 17x7 wheels? 5.5” seems like a lot.

Approximately 4-3/4” and 5-1/8” respectively measured the same two ways.
The 17x8’s with the deeper backspace do fit as is but I made some 3/16” spacers which is just enough to keep the fronts from hitting the lower shock mounts on the long arms at full steering lock and gives me a touch more clearance from the shocks in the rear when stuffing a tire.

 

[tasker]

stock wheel studs?

 

[migs]

Yes, and still have extra threads through the lug nut with the thin spacer.

 

[tasker]

Hope they work out!

 

[migs]

So after the test fitting of the new wheel I machined three more along with a potential future spare then blasted, prepped and painted them, then mounted the tires. Bolted them on with some new lug nuts and we're ready to roll out for some testing.
More cosmetic and functional changes are planned for the near future and I'll most likely be changing the differential gears sometime this summer.

 

[migs]

Stretching her legs to see what might hit. Rubs just a touch in the rear....should self clearance if need be

 

[blade]

Some ford center caps would look good in those wheels.
Your first set inspired me to look for a set of wheels.

 

[migs]

Some ford center caps would look good in those wheels.
Your first set inspired me to look for a set of wheels.

Funny you should say that...I did play around with a set of those center caps back when I started test fitting the new tires.

 

[migs]

So, back to some of those changes I spoke of. I decided to add a couple of D ring tabs to the rear bumper that I've been wanting to do for some time and this was a good opportunity to do so.

Also, the rear leaf springs have settled in quite a bit and have lost some of their original lift height. That combined with the fact that when I first installed them I had removed the very bottom tiny little leaf as it was actually shorter than the anti wrap perches and didn't really do anything except maybe provide about a 1/4 inch of height, the truck now is starting to squat a little in the rear with the added weight of the spare tire, passengers, gear, etc...
So, to at least gain that 1/4" back I made a new "leaf", spacer, or whatever you want to call it, one for each side. I pulled everything apart so that I could attach them to the spring packs with the center pin bolt and then reassembled it all. It's not much, but it's just enough to my eye and I'm pleased with the results.

 

[migs]

Here's how it sits now. Oh... and I painted the bumpers black to go along with the wheels and to give the Bronco a new look.

 

[gnsteam]

Good call going black on the bumpers. Looks really good with the wheels.

 

[phred]

Looks good!!!

 

[migs]

Thanks! Worked on some rocker panel protection today. Had this pair of 1/4" rock rails from Wild Horses sitting around for some time now. I had purchased them way back when things were cheaper and could also afford to pay for shipping of something this large across the country.

So I cut them up to fit, drilled a bunch of holes, installed some rivnuts then prepped and painted them black. I will install them tomorrow once they're dry enough to handle.

 

[migs]

Update... I did get those rock sliders installed. Hope to get to test them out!

 

[gnsteam]

Looking good Migs.

 

[bigmuddy]

Nice, I dig the color combination!

 

[Jsol]

Like the seat color a lot


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[Juiceman]

looks great.