Pilgrim's Progress

[Howard2x4x4]

You're a good man. sprdv1!

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Can't claim much progress (due to deck revamp) but, did move the chains a little bit yesterday! Couple days back, I posted a thread in the tech section about removing a stuck heater hose fitting from an aluminum intake manilold https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/seized-heater-hose-fitting.319609/. Just as hoped for and expected, the gurus, poobahs and wizards came through with Yoda-ish advice! It was not pretty, and almost became a whole lot less pretty, but mission accomplished! Here's the dasterdly stuck hose fitting. So what made the fitting give up the fight?

Pig-headedness and a plumbers helper! No, not a plunger, one of those wrenches for use under sinks when changing faucets. And some PB Blaster, And a wrench. A big wrench. Sprayed some penetrating oil on that bugger and let it sit a bit.... tapped the fitting lightly with a hammer...... little more PB (PB Blaster, not Peanut Butter) and then sicced the plumbers help wrench on it. Oh, and put a big enuuf bolt in the fitting to keep it from collapsing. That was part of the Yoda-ish advice. Here's a close-up of the monkey wrench-ish head of the sink wrench. When the wrench would bite enuff, I'd put a big ole crescent wrench on that square shaft and give it a big ole bunch of oomph. Success! Finally broke it lose, but it didn't surrender - it fought pert-near all the way out!

And the almost disaster part? You know those handy little straws that come with WD 40, PB Blaster, etc, when you want to get up close and personal? Well, that little bugger fell of the spay nozzle and into the water pump hole! I could not have done that even if I was trying (which I wasn't). Fat Dutch fingers couldn't reach it, magnet wouldn't help, so I used one of those spring-loaded grabber things.
And then taped the hole.

 

[El Kabong]

and a plumbers helper!

Haha. As a youg man working in a hardware store the term "plumber's helper" came up a lot. There were about 20 different things that fell under that term. It was always a challenge to figure out what the guy wanted without looking like you didn't know what you were doing.

That particular one is a basin wrench. Very creative approach to an automotive problem. Congrats!

 

[Yeller]

Stubbornness and creativity to the rescue

 

[BronCowie]

Thinking outside of the box came through for you Howard. The sink wrench was a cool idea which I will remember for future. Congrats Bud!

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Roped a few in-laws and an outlaw or two to help set the front clip where it oughta be.
And the windshield

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Aw, heck! busted off a screw in a door hinge plate.....

Phew! Learning some anti-seize lessons. Haven't felt very chatty lately. Getting the front clip on is a spirit booster, but it also brought to mind all the loose ends that need to be buttoned up. Well, one bolt, one clip, one day at a time.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Yeah, one bolt, one clip, one lower radiator hose, one day at a time. Installed the lower hose I got from BC Broncos.
Gonna be some slow goin' until the deck gets done.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Well, the deck isn't done yet, but my daughter sent me a video of moi, son, son-in-law, grandson-in-law and soon-to-be grandson-in-law, working on the front clip, hood and windshield. Not much time for popcorn here.

 

[bronkenn]

Coming along nicely Howard.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Yeah, me too, Ken! I guess I'm an incurable Luddite! I tried 27 +/- ways to get it upright, to no avail!

 

[Bajabrewer]

This should work for you - Looks like a nice family project. They'll remember doing this when it's done & driving down the road.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Merci beaucoup Baja! That's much more gooder, even without time for popcorn!

 

[sprdv1]

Stubbornness and creativity to the rescue

and he has a lot of both, great build and modifications..

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Thanks Sprdv1. Gotta say I'm goin' thru a bit of Broncitis withdrawal while doin' some honey-dews and springtime clean-up. Prolly next week start finigalling on it again.

 

[gnsteam]

Progress is progress no matter how small. Looking great Howard.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Hokey-smokey, where'd the summer go? Well, the deck project sucked up a lot of it, is to blame for a lot of me not being present. I did manage to move the Bronco ball just a little bit, but ran into another pothole - dadgum phone would NOT download pics to the laptop. grrrrrr..... I'm as much of a Luddite as anyone here, and can't explain it, but now the web-o-verse is letting me download a pic or two, sometimes.

Today I bolted the body on (again) Good enuff for the girls Jr. knows. Change it later if need be.

 

[Yeller]

Nice looking deck Howard

Good to see your still chugging away

 

[bronkenn]

Good to hear yer back at it. You gonna have any cage fighting on the deck?

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Thanks Steve! The deck was fun, but a bit on the labor-intensive side. I kept putzing on the Bronco at the same time, stuff like bolting on the tailgate. Also, a HUGE milestone, got the hydroboost low enuff to clear the hood. Phew. Used banjo bolts instead of bent ss hardlines. I'd show the pic, but that's one the 'putor decided not to download.

Good question, Ken! I hope not, since it's only me and the Mrs. (I hope that's the abbreviation for 'missus', not 'misters', not that there's anything wrong with that, mind you) and she can whup me easily. I also made a storage area underneath the deck for kayaks, pond supplies, etc., and mis-behaving grandkids.
Also, a big shout-out to Dennis (Fordfan) for his expert counsel on under-cowl insulation. I used marine-grade, non-combustible, vinyl-backed foam insulation.