Project: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

[omureebe]

Please post more pictures with parts in the kitchen - it helps us all to show it's not just me.

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

Please post more pictures with parts in the kitchen - it helps us all to show it's not just me.

luckily the wife doesn't mind!

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

 

[Yeller]

Those look like works of art!

Kitchen and car part pics always make me feel right at home

What’s that white stuff?

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

Those look like works of art!

Kitchen and car part pics always make me feel right at home

What’s that white stuff?

leftovers from a storm on the valley floor. looks unfamiliar to me too!

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

more shnazzy parts..kitchen table unboxing this time


RAD Designs VX Shifter. Wait til you see the console it gets put in....

 

[sprdv1]

As seen in post #11 underneath the bronco.... I made a 3D exact size replica of an atlas 2 transfer case to use for mock-up. Though this was a fun winter indoor project, I never fully utilized my efforts. I continued to wait for the real thing from Advanced Adapters for mock-up

View attachment 892607

nice..

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

ProCar Seat mock-up to take some measurements for a custom center console build.

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

Transmission & Transfer Case mock-up to build a custom transmission crossmember. First photo is the design I came up with for the side plate/brackets to utilize the factory hole locations in the frame. Those were eventually redone to be lengthened because my measurements were off.

It took me a month in the garage getting it all mocked up. Fought issues using extreme motor mounts (too rigid, unforgiving. Kicked the setup too far to the drivers side). Went back to factory motor mounts and it solved my issues of misalignment. Took several tries trying different clocked positions for the Atlas transfer case.

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

Misalignment, you can see how crooked the plates are in relation to each other.

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

I will end this year (2022) off with some eye candy, one of my favorite parts of this build so far. Custom center console!

Made by CarrParts in Oregon. One of the most genuine bronco guys around. I knew I had to have one the moment I saw his personal console. All his consoles are one off, custom builds tailored to what you want.


I opt'd for a US Shift Quick 6 Mount up front. Stainless Steel cupholders up front and out of the way. JB Fab cable twin stick shifters, cable out the front. Incorporated my VX Shifter to be flush mounted to the console. I wanted some sort of rocker switch panel, he opt'd for a switch pros style AUX control panel (push button). USB charger with volt meter for charging phones. and a storage cubby with a padded lid and gas strut to keep the lid open. It is all rivnut assembled, for easy removal and access. I plan to paint or powdercoat the whole thing, though I do like the looks of it in raw metal. Really stoked on this. Always wanted a sweet center console so I went all out. why build it twice??







With all this said, my goal is large but I do better with deadlines. My goal is to be driving this bronco by the end of 2023. I really want to hit some snow by the end of next winter (I have been saying this for several years and the build keeps evolving with transmission changes, center consoles, etc...) My original plan for this bronco was an explorer swap, but I felt like I needed more power. Had a 4r70w built to the hilt for behind my stroker motor, but that wasn't enough, I decided to go 6r80w which lead down the path to order an Atlas. The transmission change from 4r70w/D20 to 6r80w/Atlas really killed my timelines but I am eager to get this done in the coming new year!!!

 

[77Bronco636]

Love this build!! And that center console is AWESOME!!!

Happy New Year to ya!!

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

I think I got myself into a bit of a pickle. I ordered parts a year ago and then bought a couple different sets of axles as I tried to figure out which route to go and finally settled on stock bronco housings for now. One of the parts I bought was a Duff HD track bar drop bracket. The front axle I bought has a WH track bar riser bracket already welded to the axle with ram assist brackets welded to it.

I just dropped off my track bar drop bracket (as well as other parts) to get installed onto my frame. Im sure its already welded to the frame at this point. The frame had an ugly hoaky drop bracket so I had my fab guy remove it and install the new HD mount. Axle also has TRO steering with 1 ton TRE's


Am I overthinking the situation or is my track bar angle doing to be darn near flat, causing me issues? What are my options?

 

[Yeller]

Probably need to have the bracket changed on the frame. It may interfere with the tie rod.

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

just got a message from my fab guy. HD track bar mount is completely welded to the frame already. hmm... thinking I will just modify the new mount to be shorter if needed. The stock one needed replaced, it was pretty hacked up.

 

[Yeller]

That’s easy to mod to make steering geometry as close to perfect as possible, even better than just going back to stock

 

[Gupster88]

Nice looking welds !

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

Nice looking welds !

I agree. Got a great guy who I can trust and has the talent I lack.

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

I would like to use this rig to revive or start a new "bronco" club for snow play days and such. There used to be an old local club called "cascade classic broncos". I really like the name, its catchy but they fizzled out. Something that has no fees or dues. No drama just a common interest, old classic broncos.



If you're in Western Oregon and want to be apart of a small group for annual get togethers, pm me. Maybe we can put together a group.

 

[Yeller]

Sounds way catchier than Gray Hair Bronco Club that some how I became a big part of . We have a great time though.