Project Springtime or Busted!!!

[NY-Bronco]

Im seriously diggin your dash layout. I still cant believe how much you have managed to cram in that space. Which AC controls are you going with?

 

[stupidboy]

I really like what your doing with the dash Rob! Keep that kind of work up and I'll be shipping mine down to you to do it!;D

 

[broncoitis]

HGM,

Thanks for the advice on the Heater Control Valve. Called up the place that I have dealt with: SachseRodShop and they said that they have never seen one leak that they know of from the valve. Hopefully they are correct but I am gonna find out. LOL! ;D

Not gonna go with carpet on the interior so even if something should go wrong, shouldn't be too bad to clean it up.

I've been following, looking great.. One thing I'd reccomend giving some thought though.. I'm not sure about the heater control valve you've got. But, I've seen factory ones leak.. Might want to see if anyone has seen the type you have leak, or maybe rethink where you put it.. If your not going with carpet, I guess it wont matter much, but I'd hate to have coolant leaking in the truck after a nice rebuild..

 

[shamu]

HGM,

Thanks for the advice on the Heater Control Valve. Called up the place that I have dealt with: SachseRodShop and they said that they have never seen one leak that they know of from the valve. Hopefully they are correct but I am gonna find out. LOL! ;D

Not gonna go with carpet on the interior so even if something should go wrong, shouldn't be too bad to clean it up.

You still have TEXAS in you?

 

[broncoitis]

Thanks for takin a look guys! Glad that you like the dash so far. ;D Basically 10lbs of stuff in a 5lb area under there. However, believe it or not it isn't too tight.

Gonna be running the Vintage Air Horizontal Gen IV controls Herman. ;D Expensive but they take up the least amount of space. Actually, everything about the Gen IV system is expensive. LOL! :-[

Anyway, got some more crap done over the past couple of days! Was able to get the Lower Intake along with the timing cover and water pump mounted.

Also drilled and tapped the ACT Hole in the intake. Not completely pleased with how it came out. This is one of the many times that an extra set of hands woulda been nice! LOL. It is a little crooked but should be ok I hope.

Starting to look like an engine again! I think that the tall valve covers may be another casualty of the EFI swap. Gonna be close but I have a hunch they are gonna get in the way. Heck, gonna have to get another bronco to build and use all these parts on if I can't sell them. ;D

 

[shamu]

Keep on it. When are you gonna make it back to Dallas?

 

[NY-Bronco]

Thanks for takin a look guys! Glad that you like the dash so far. ;D Basically 10lbs of stuff in a 5lb area under there. However, believe it or not it isn't too tight.

Gonna be running the Vintage Air Horizontal Gen IV controls Herman. ;D Expensive but they take up the least amount of space. Actually, everything about the Gen IV system is expensive. LOL! :-[

Anyway, got some more crap done over the past couple of days! Was able to get the Lower Intake along with the timing cover and water pump mounted.

Also drilled and tapped the ACT Hole in the intake. Not completely pleased with how it came out. This is one of the many times that an extra set of hands woulda been nice! LOL. It is a little crooked but should be ok I hope.

Starting to look like an engine again! I think that the tall valve covers may be another casualty of the EFI swap. Gonna be close but I have a hunch they are gonna get in the way. Heck, gonna have to get another bronco to build and use all these parts on if I can't sell them. ;D

Thats lookin great man!! No worries on the ACT. As long as it can take a reading youre all good. As far as what it looks like after; you cant even see it ;D

I use the tall valve covers from Edelbrock and it fit. Not much room to spare but it worked out. I guess that depends on the upper you are using. If you really want to use those covers you can always use a spacer. Cant wait to see this thing man!

 

[broncoitis]

Shamu,

Hoping to take a trip out there maybe this summer to see some of the guys and gals. We will have to get together if it happens for sure. Definitely will stop by and see Jim if I can make it happen. ;D

Herman,

Yeah, gonna be using the explorer upper intake and I was looking it over tonight and guesstimating the clearance. %) Gonna be close for sure. Yeah, I hope that the ACT works out because it isn't terribly off but having somebody to hold the manifold steady would have allowed me to concentrate a bit more on the the angle of the bit and keeping it square and all. Either way I will see tomorrow if it is ok when I put the fuel rail and injectors in there.

We have to get together one of these days. I would love to see firsthand all the work you have done to your truck. Looks good for sure and I need a cheat sheet to look at. LOL! ;D

 

[NY-Bronco]

Shamu,

Hoping to take a trip out there maybe this summer to see some of the guys and gals. We will have to get together if it happens for sure. Definitely will stop by and see Jim if I can make it happen. ;D

Herman,

Yeah, gonna be using the explorer upper intake and I was looking it over tonight and guesstimating the clearance. %) Gonna be close for sure. Yeah, I hope that the ACT works out because it isn't terribly off but having somebody to hold the manifold steady would have allowed me to concentrate a bit more on the the angle of the bit and keeping it square and all. Either way I will see tomorrow if it is ok when I put the fuel rail and injectors in there.

We have to get together one of these days. I would love to see firsthand all the work you have done to your truck. Looks good for sure and I need a cheat sheet to look at. LOL! ;D

How about this weekend?

 

[broncoitis]

How about this weekend?

That sounds like a real possibility!

 

[broncoitis]

Ok, got to work on the Bronc for a few hours tonight! Got a little bit more done obviously. Things seem to be headed in the right direction. ;D

Anyway, as previously thought, the tall valve covers that I am running have to go! They don't clear the upper intake and are basically in the way.

Was able to get the alternator portion of the serpentine conversion mounted and really happy with the new location of the alternator. Compared to where it is originally mounted, this is superior in every way possible. Torqued the serpentine bracket bolts to 70 ft/lbs and the alternator bolts to 50 ft/lbs. Wasn't sure what the torque specs were so that is what I went with.

Mocked up the upper intake to see how things would work and obviously ran into the problems stated above.

Also got back the redone dash panels from the powdercoater and they look SWEET! Started to reinstall gauges and other items to get them squared away. It will be a good day when the dash is in for good! %)

 

[ryoungbronco]

That looks awesome! Keep the pics coming. I need some motivation!

 

[broncoitis]

Ok, was able to mock up the compressor to see if there were any issues with the current PS lines and fittings. Thankfully nothing came in contact and should be no problems with the new lines! Took apart the pulleys and they are getting sandblasted and I will repaint them tomorrow.

However, I did do something stupid that has me bummed out right now. While working on getting the A/C compressor mounted to the bracket I ran a die over the threads on the bolts. Not thinking at the time and my head firmly up my butt, the threads are METRIC and not Standard. I ran a 5/16-24
die over them and basically ruined all four bolts in the process and you can't easily find those bolts to replace, so I have to round up the A/C mounting bolts from the junkyard. OOPS!!! %)

I am going to see if the compressor can be removed without having to drill some access holes in the fender to remove/replace the compressor if there should be a problem. Currently it does not look like it will happen but there may be just enough room using a box end wrench.

Anyway, here are some pics of the temporarily mounted A/C Compressor

 

[broncoitis]

Got a little bit done on the EFI and A/C stuff today! To put the icing on the cake, got a chance to meet Herman and Gumby. Great guy and had a good time turning the wrenches and planning how to get my truck done. Although it doesn't look like much from the pics. progress was made. Gumby is every bit as nice as the pictures Herman has posted. He's done a damn good job for a gut with no mechanical skills! %)

Came up with plan for the heater hose routing. I had thought about using the setup from the mustang but thankfully Herman convinced me that was the way to go! Thanks Buddy! ;D

Installed the valve covers and mocked up the upper intake! The only part that makes me nervous about running the valve covers that I have is the fact that I have 1.7 ratio roller rockers and clearance is gonna be close but the covers fit after some changes on the passenger side cover. ;D

checked out a slightly different serpentine bracket but it did not work out unfortunately. However, really liked how it positioned the P/S pump and A/C compressor would be somewhat interesting to get the other side and see how everything worked out but still like the Explorer Serpentine setup.

Was also able to mock up the throttle body and throttle linkage that I came up with! Should work out well!

Have to order some stuff this week to finish up the Heat and A/C install in order to get the evaporator positioning finished up. Can't wait to get the misc. parts to get a bit further along! ;D

 

[broncoitis]

Gotta go and order some parts so that stuff ships tomorrow! ;D

This truck is gonna run this week if it KILLS me. Besides, it is my birthday coming up really soon and that would be AWESOME to hear it alive again. ;D

Goin Shoppin!

 

[NY-Bronco]

Hey man, it was good finally meeting you too dude! Sometimes you have to take a step back to be able to move forward in the right direction. Don't forget to check the clearance under them valve covers.

Try not to be such a perfectionist man.

Rob,s truck is sweet as hell! This is another one of these modest dudes with some great skills.

Your truck is going to be killer!! ;D

 

[broncoitis]

Ordered the injector rebuild kit today to finish that up. Also ordered alot of the necessary stuff I am gonna need to finish up the routing of the heater and A/C lines this weekend. Also need to place an order with Summit for the P/S line fittings to build the new lines.

Can't wait for the Brown Truck to come! Gonna be line Christmas in April to get it running again.

 

[broncoitis]

Got a little suprise for those running the Explorer Serpentine setups coming in the Brown Truck! ;D Can't wait to put it on the truck and post some pics.

 

[stupidboy]

What valve covers are you using?

 

[broncoitis]

Using the covers off of the Mustang engine that I bought! Hopefully no problems.