Pilgrim's Progress

[sprdv1]

Thank you all for the good thoughts, well wishes, prayers, and good vibes. Truth be told, we are learning that there are a BUNCH of Angels here on earth with wonderful, thoughtful hearts, and it all helps. We are dealing with the big C one day at a time. Lots of ups and downs, and lots of hope and unexpected blessings.

So, back to the Bronc -
A big part of the time suck and CBF absence was due to the dad-gum, blankety-blank wiring issue(s). Yeah, the American Autowire harness may be fine, just fine, but that don't mean it's fun. Or fast. Or friendly. Or fire-proof. That last one was the one that really got me. I installed the harness +/-, connected wires +/-, spliced here and there, and sought counsel, here at CBF and among friends. One of my buddys whose been there and done that asked if I had a fire extinguisher. Well, yeah, I do, 3 or 4 of them in fact, some of them old enough to vote. Was that too old to work? Dunno. Prolly awda buy a new one..... What about insurance? I knew my old wedding Bronc was covered, but this one is a new old Bronc with different vin numbers. Howzat gonna work? Not well, thought. Gotta update that.

So I muddled, uncertain where to head next.

And then the big C diagnosis. And Momma came through with a great idea! Townsend! And maybe twice! And Nashville!

Got more to say, but later...... Howard in beautiful west Michigan

count the blessings for sure man You got this

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Got a care package in the mail today from Amazart - spiffy lookin' horn button for a vintage Grant wheel and some window felt. Piece by piece, part by part. Added brake fluid and jacked it up and pulled the wheels off in preparation for bleeding the brakes tomorrow - just in case the horn stops working. Also been working on the family cage. I think it may be haunted because just can't get it to fit and look the way I would like.

 

[rydog1130]

just popped in to see how things are going! truck is looking good Howard!

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Thanks Ryan, part by part, piece by piece. Bled the brakes today. The chair is used primarily for pondering. And lunch. Maybe nap, Maybe. In anticipation of gettin' 'er runnin' put some gas in the tank. What's the saying, "Man plans, God laughs"? Well, we gave it our best most of the day and could NOT get it to fire. ('Fire may not be the best word to use in this instance.) Problem was no spark. Bunches of wire chasing later, decided to pull the dizzy, which was FROZE UP! Don't ask me why, don't ask me how, just was. To boot, the gear had teeth missing. Really didn't need a big time suck, but got one anyway. So I reckon a big chunk of tomorrow will be spent fixing what I didn't know was broken. (Hmm, just occurrred to me - 'broken' is a lot like "Bronkenn'. Focus, Howard, focus!) Talked to my buddy Mark and he said it's a fairly comment thing in 351 Ws What say you Poobahs, Wizards and Gurus??

 

[NGABronco]

Wrong metal gear for the cam???

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Wrong metal gear for the cam???

Don't know. I have heard that the gear itself can be replaced, but, the dizzy is still froze. I reckon first stop will be Ford dealer parts department. Thanks for chiming in!

 

[tasker]

looks like wrong gear to me.....did you prime the pump first? The rest of that metal went someplace....sorry

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Wrong metal gear for the cam???

looks like wrong gear to me.....

You guys are at the top of your game! I can't say for sure, but, based on the digging I have done - perhaps. The Xspurts I've talked to have all asked a similar question.

.....did you prime the pump first?

No. My helping hand buddy did not go there and I did not insist. May have made a difference, maybe not. The froze-up dizzy has me stumpified and flummoxed.

I can see that this 'pothole' may be part and parcel of a 13 year build. I know that the dizzy has been out a time or three, can't say I noticed any issues. I don't even know if it's the original dizzy. Got a new rebuilt one coming this morning. I've been weighing MSD, y/n. Poobahs, wizards and gurus, what say you? Any benefits? In the meantime, a few cage pics for no good reason other than ....... well, for no good reason.

 

[Yeller]

Pics are never for no good reason… we are simple, we like pics

 

[Howard2x4x4]

And the plot thickens! See post #21. https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/buck-n-a-bronco.286019/page-2 From May 6, 2018.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

And speaking of a thicker plot! And more pics! Be careful what you ask for! Found this pic!

And this pic. Imho, that's a cage only a mother could love. I bought the cage from a Bronco guy way back when Jeffs Bronco Graveyard was still having his Bronco fest. I miss that. Gave it up due to vandelism I heard. Pics are from 2019. I cut the cage down once since then and now revamping again. I hope evolution doesn't end up at extinction. Was told it would fit a soft top, but not a hard top. I have a couple hard top(s) I'm working on , a safari top done, except for mounting details, and a saggy baggy old mans pants Rampage Ginger Spice soft top.

 

[m_m70]

The rest of that metal went someplace....sorry

Yeah, this sucks for sure.
What does the cam gear look like??
Isn't there's usually a shear pin that holds the dizzy gear on that will break if it freezes up?
I've had the oil pump shaft twist up and break when the oil pump seized up.
Never had the gears get torched like that though.
Sorry this happened and like Tasker said, that metal had to go somewhere.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Yeah, this sucks for sure.
What does the cam gear look like??
Isn't there's usually a shear pin that holds the dizzy gear on that will break if it freezes up?
I've had the oil pump shaft twist up and break when the oil pump seized up.
Never had the gears get torched like that though.
Sorry this happened and like Tasker said, that metal had to go somewhere.

Gonna try to do a damage assessment tomorrow. Cautiously optimistic, mostly because being cranky and/or pouting won't do any good anyway.

 

[Kbpony]

Yeah, this sucks for sure.
What does the cam gear look like??
Isn't there's usually a shear pin that holds the dizzy gear on that will break if it freezes up?
I've had the oil pump shaft twist up and break when the oil pump seized up.
Never had the gears get torched like that though.
Sorry this happened and like Tasker said, that metal had to go somewhere.

looks like a cast dizzy gear. If you have a steel cam (vs cast) you need to have a steel gear. You can get a gear for a late 80’s-early 90’s 5.0 that should be steel. By all rights, you should open things up and flush out the chips. I’m guessing from the looks of the damage, they may be big pieces and may not be able to go through the pickup screen, but you really don’t know. At bare minimum, I would use a scope or something to get a good look at your cam gear. Any damage, it has to come apart. If I didn’t see any cam damage, I might be tempted to drain the oil, flush, and refill. I wonder if the dizzy just froze up with no lube and sitting a while?

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Did some putzing on the roll cage today, working on the 'missing link' between the middle bar and front seats. Conjoured up some tabs to secure the missing link to an angle fabbed earlier that runs the lenghth of the windshield. Welded the brackets to the angle and drilled holes in each to facilitate bolting them to the missing link. Added nuts to the missing link so that it could be bolted. Set the angle back where it belongs And now the missing link is no longer missing. At least this missing link. I don't know about Tasker.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

looks like a cast dizzy gear. If you have a steel cam (vs cast) you need to have a steel gear. You can get a gear for a late 80’s-early 90’s 5.0 that should be steel. By all rights, you should open things up and flush out the chips. I’m guessing from the looks of the damage, they may be big pieces and may not be able to go through the pickup screen, but you really don’t know. At bare minimum, I would use a scope or something to get a good look at your cam gear. Any damage, it has to come apart. If I didn’t see any cam damage, I might be tempted to drain the oil, flush, and refill. I wonder if the dizzy just froze up with no lube and sitting a while?

Kb, you're reading my mind. Wonder where I can beg, borrow or steal a scope? I'm not sure that any metal pieces would drain out with the oil. I've been wondering about a magnet. I supposed I could pull the pan, but what a time suck. I do have a bit of a drip at the rear main seal; perhaps I could deal with both issues at the same time.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1803770253459377

 

[Howard2x4x4]

What a saga, ya just can't make this stuff up..... Brought Momma to chemo yesterday, 10ish, and went the barn to putze. Well, I ended up being a putze. Tripped on an extension cord and landed pretty hard on my knee. Not a thing I'd choose to do often, but no blood, no bones sticking out, so lets keep the ole ball rollin. I could walk, albeit with pronounced limp. Went to pick up Momma and could barely make it into the clinic. Asked for and got an ice pack to chill things down a bit. after chemo, struggled back to the car with Momma, could barely get in the car due to my knee not bending. Drove home, dropped ML (Marylynn) off and got in the truck and drove to my buddy's tire and repair shop for new rubber for the Townsend trip. Walking was a b!+ch, so I didn't. Tires installed (very spiffy, btw, wish I had a pic) I needed help getting back in the truck. Home again, couldn't walk to the house. ML stuffed me in the back of the car, ambulance-ish, and off to the emergency room. Hours and xrays later found out nothing broken, suck it up big boy. Ace bandage and ibuprofen and some sleep +/-. Walker today, ibuprofen and gonna try it again at the barn. Ken (the wiring wizard) might stop by to adjust timing, etc. Gotta hit it as hard as I can 'cause Townsend won't wait and we're registered for both.

 

[stout22]

Dang Howard! You've got to watch out for those traps you've set up in the barn.
I've got to ask, what did you do about the missing pieces of distributor gear?

 

[LUBr LuvR]

Hope you and the missus are on the mend after a challenging week. Keep after it, and watch out for those garage gremlins. Looking forward to seeing all 3 of you in TN!