Pilgrim's Progress

[El Kabong]

As always, no Broncos were harmed or finished in this post.

 

[BronCowie]

Are they ever finished Howard. When do you think you will be able to drive her?

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Mark, I am sooo close...... Runs great, steers, brakes seem to sorta work, haven't put the wheels back on yet (due to bleeding the brakes). It's got coolant in it, but not enuff yet because I still hope to sexy up the heater hoses. You probably never heard those words before, I'd bet. Got armrests today via EBuy. Should match the rest if the interior pretty decent +/-. I really am enjoying working on the wing windows. (Could that be why Broncos never get 'done'?) The new wing window rubbers are at the post office, pick 'em up tomorrow. Yesterday picked up a tool box for the trailer to store the basket-type over the wheel ratchet straps in. Tuesday we're going to Mayo (the clinic, not the condiment) for an open-ended visit. Also bought some roll bar clamps I hope use to attach the safari top to the roll cage. So, Mark, I'd say the completion date/drive date is the same as it's been for the last 12 years - probably in a month or so.

 

[NGABronco]

Good luck at the Mayo!!!

 

[El Kabong]

Good luck at the Mayo!!!

x2!

 

[bronkenn]

You're a poet and I didn't know it. Nice work Howard.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Whew. Go back to posts 539 & 540 on page 27. (540 posts on this thread already? My gosh, am I that slow?) Anywho, please don't make me do this again.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Windows in (sorta) doors open and close (sorta). Spent the last few days prepping for the next event on my Bronco calendar, the Hudsonville Swap Meet. Hoping to actually bring the horse and bunch of pieces and parts to peddle, Cleaned up a set of good looking turbines w/ junk tires and a set of aluminum spokes that are very nice w/ dated tires. As to the horse, this is how it's identfying. Plus I put on some rocker covers (NOT rock sliders) just because.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

The horse didn't get to Throwback, or the Hudsonville swap meet due to shifter linkage issues between the C4 tranny and the Mustang II console mounted shifter. Oh, and that focus thing. At the swap meet, I happened onto a 411 reverse cut ring and pinion for a a high pinion Dana 44 from an F150. Few years back I had picked up a HP D44 and a beefed up 9 inch from an F150 mudder. They gathered dust for a bit, but the new/old ring and pinion brought them out of the shadows. Lots of irons in the fire now, but the focus will still be (mostly) on the shift linkage and drivability in present condition. Here's a sampling of current pieces and parts and projects.
Me and Ma and the big Guy. Ran out of flag decal, more on order. And pieces. And parts. Focus, How, focus.

 

[Speedrdr]

Dang but if you don’t have as many projects at one time as I do, Howard! I’m beginning to believe this restoration thing is a sickness.

Randy

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Yeah, I got a whif of that from your recent post in the 'What have you done to your Bronco today' thread. I thought about responding to that but didn't want to distract you! I am a big fan of a tee shirt I saw a while back - "AD/HD - Highway to .. Oh, look, a squirrel!"

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Well, never mind the squirrel, I'm sure he'll be back..... Speaking of back, back to business, sorta, monkey business, sorta. I suspect those things the red arrows are pointing to are some type of bushing and are designed to be removable, Y/N?

 

[Yeller]

Howard, those are the bearing retainers. The Set20 bearing uses differential oil for lubrication so there is no seal in the axle tube so the bearing retainer is much larger than a sealed roller bearing. I suppose with the right bearing splitter and a big enough press they are removable, however I have always had to cut them off. Cut them with a cutofff wheel until they crack with a chisel and hammer.

Set20’s don’t have the propensity to walk off the axle like the sealed bearings do. I think I’m one of the few that has used them hard enough to crush the seal and lose the brearing preload. I’ve never had one walk off the axle, but I’ve never ran one until is was glowing red either lol.

 

[stout22]

Howard, I think you're going in so many directions that the squirrels are in awe.
"look it's Howard!"

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Howard, I think you're going in so many directions that the squirrels are in awe.

Rodgers, could well be so! Could also well be that it's making them dizzy. Maybe even nauseous....

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Howard, those are the bearing retainers. The Set20 bearing uses differential oil for lubrication so there is no seal in the axle tube so the bearing retainer is much larger than a sealed roller bearing. I suppose with the right bearing splitter and a big enough press they are removable, however I have always had to cut them off. Cut them with a cutofff wheel until they crack with a chisel and hammer.

Set20’s don’t have the propensity to walk off the axle like the sealed bearings do. I think I’m one of the few that has used them hard enough to crush the seal and lose the brearing preload. I’ve never had one walk off the axle, but I’ve never ran one until is was glowing red either lol.

Dadgummit Steve, you gotta be one of the most and best grizzled and nicest veterans hangin' 'round these parts! In my little pea-brained mind, those buggers hafta go in order to get the bearings off/changed/greased.* I considered taking a Dremel to the bearings to see if there was a secret, hidden passage way underneath them, but nixed it due uncertainty. To paraphrase Simon & Garfunkel, 'Hello Google, my old friend. I've come to talk with you again.'

* I am not planning on using the 9 inch, just wanna move it down the road to someone in need.

 

[Yeller]

Awe shucks Howard, your gunna make me blush. I just got a lot of stuff crammed in the ol noggin and when it starts spilling it just keeps flowing like a broken old dam

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Looks easy enuff....

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Awrighty-then. Rest assured that, inspite of multiple distractions, there are things getting done. Precious ffew, but some.
Tailgate, for instance. Well, that's not the whole tailgate, but I was distracted. Maybe a pic in its entirety manana. And I've been making pieces and parts. Like this. And painting them. And adding to them. And revamping them. The gold clevis on the top was like the silver clevis on the bottom at one time. And the red gizmo was conjoured up attach to the shift lever on the side of a C4 tranny. (That's transmission, lest anyone get confused.) And what's the purpose? Here's a little hint. Before: After: The idea was to get the shift cable properly aligned and secured by adding a heim joint. Heim. Hmmm, imagine that. Enuuf of this babble, howzabout a short video to cleanse our cerebral palate and distract us and make us wonder if there is life after (and during) Bronco. Please pass the popcorn.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1708930303178867

Here's a better shot of the heim joint.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Baby!s first bath!

Took the rollcage and the seats out to facilitate the vinyl floor installation.

Still putzing with the shift linkage, I may be putzing witth it 'till the end of my life here on earth, specifically beautiful west Michigan. Quite a PIA. And speaking of PIA, also trying to install the viny flooring. Made a few trips with Momma to Mayo and bunches of trips to the hardware and auto parts stores. Had to adjust the inside-out tailgate handle and ended up denting the tailgate with over-size screws. Two steps forward, one step back.