The Duck Build.

[clarrance]

Did the hoarder tell you how any Bronco parts can fit in the back of a Toyota Camry? We all had some door skins shipped in the back of that car. That was a mega Bronco parts run for sure.

 

[Mountain Ram]

I had a great evening... pointed my truck in a southerly direction and dropped some templates off at a fab shop to get a special part made out of aluminum then bounced over to Abingdon and picked up MountainRam and took him to see the hoarder. While we were there I grabbed my new door skins and then we chewed the fat till 9 something. A great night because now I have all of my metal needed to get the big push to primer weekend under way.

Tom- I appreciate the ride along- a good time for sure. I haven't talked so much about Broncos since the SC!! It is probably a good thing that we all are spread out a little bit... Andy would end up getting divorced before he even had a chance to get married!!

My son was all upset this morning that he didn't get to see you and your dad... I told him we may make a special trip up to see yall this weekend!

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Did the hoarder tell you how any Bronco parts can fit in the back of a Toyota Camry? We all had some door skins shipped in the back of that car. That was a mega Bronco parts run for sure.

He didn't tell me y'all went there in a camry... bet that was cozy. LMAO! I would have rented a minivan for that trip. Either way, I am glad you guys were able to bring them back for me, saved me some $$ in shipping. If you ever venture up this way, holler at me. Would love to show you my shop.

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Tom- I appreciate the ride along- a good time for sure. I haven't talked so much about Broncos since the SC!! It is probably a good thing that we all are spread out a little bit... Andy would end up getting divorced before he even had a chance to get married!!

My son was all upset this morning that he didn't get to see you and your dad... I told him we may make a special trip up to see yall this weekend!

If you come by Monday, bring him a pair of trunks. If its hot, I will venture to the pool myself. Been dying to try out my floating beer cooler.... I bet he would also dig the little goats and ducks we have running around too...

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Well got some little things done and there are a lot of little things to do before primer. Here are one of the mods of welding in weld nuts for the hard top.

 

[Bator]

I like the weld in nuts for the hardtop, did you fab those up or did you buy those somewhere? Great job!

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Bought those from Fastenal.

 

[broncoitis]

Great work. The weld nuts are a great idea for sure! Just putting them in the first bolt hole by the striker post would be a huge benefit. Having them all the way down the fender is awesome. Now back to work! ;D

 

[Bferrari]

Hey Tom, now that your Dad's home, you going to get back on it?

 

[englewoodcowboy]

I will be venturing back to it very soon. I actually spent some time going over things this weekend looking at what I need to do next etc. and also noticed I am almost out of gas for my welder. Hoping to get some time in the next week or two to go get it refilled and buy some more abrasive consumables to get the metal work done and get it in epoxy primer. Since I missed the summer window for spraying it at home (unless I feel brave to try it with a heater in the shop this winter..) I plan on getting it primeed and set in the corner for now and start on the running gear and then body work it and spray it next summer when my dad has recovered. I thought about trying to spray it myself and want to but I know my dad was looking forward to doing that so I am hoping he will be able to next summer. I still have a ton of things to do to it as you all know how that is. I still have door skins to fit, one door to get a new bottom section, still need to buy a tailgate and grill and am now thinking of getting fenders just to save some body work time. I am still planning on getting the running gear done this winter and rebuilding the motor as well. Looking ahead at finances, I am back to rethinking my transmission. I know I wanted a manual but I have a brand new AOD sitting and I may decide to go that route instead of the 5spd just for more creature comfort and a few less holes in the floors... Its hard to decide exactly, so many things have changed this summer that I want to get it done and not exactly wanting to compromise on anything but rather maximize on what I already have...

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Well my Bronco Bretheren, I am back in full swing on my bronco. I have a big problem I discovered today and am needing some input from those who know where I am at. My door gaps are averaging between 1/8" to 3/16" and I plan on making them consistant after I replace the door skins which is my next big project. When I get into the tub, my gaps close and the doors rub at the top edge above the striker. Now my tub is pinned to the frame, not bolted and is sitting on the old rubber mounts. Is this flex I am getting due to that and will not happen when I bolt it down with new rubber bushings etc? If my gaps are too tight, I need to fix it now while it is easier rather than trying to do it after paint and the hard work of making the gaps parallel to each other and even. Please , anyone who has been where I am at, let me know if I have made more work for myself or if it is the old bushings and I dont need to worry. The frame is is supported at the ends with my carts so I am epecting to have a little spring effect being it is not on its suspension.

 

[englewoodcowboy]

I spoke with Blue71 and we both decided it had to be the lack of support in the center of the frame due to the fact it has nothing under it at the moment. I placed my hydraulic floor jack just under the front spring pearch for the rear spring pack and climbed aboard and there is no movement at all. All is good and I am now ready to move forward and make some serious gains in a short amount of time.

 

[NGABronco]

Hey Tom, you may find that you'll need to add "washers" to those new body bushing to get your gap right, but that's more in the final stages!!!
Good Luck!!;D;D

 

[englewoodcowboy]

I was thinking about that Ben, right now I have the frame on stands like Nick uses and was wondering how much it could be sagging under its own weight, but figured if it is slightly off, I could correct it with washers etc, hopefully I wont need to do that. I am planning on using rubber body bushings just to limit road noise transfer if it is even an issue in our boxes but anything that can be done to make them less noisy will be helpful. Getting ready to order a seam die for my air hammer to get going on the door skins.

 

[Bferrari]

Atta Boy! Glad to see your back on it! I was in the same predicament on mine so i ordered new body mounts and was able to get my gaps about 90% there. They are close enough for me to fine tune. Although mine is on a rotisserie, it uses the frame and is only mounted at ends. I didn't get any flex in mine that is noticeable. i would say if you are close then keep rolling with it, a couple washers on the body mount can finish off the fine tuning if needed.

 

[englewoodcowboy]

My biggest fear was having the door posts too far back though I did use my braces etc. when replacing them and it should have been ok but you never know, all we do is worry till we know for sure and now I do. I was hoping to work on it some tonight and I may still but my lawn mower had a sidewall get cut on the front tire (ZTR Kubota) and my new replacements with tubes arrived. My lawn is needing its hopefully final cut for the year and I can't do that till the tire is fixed.

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Well I am back at it. Got a little photobomb visitor... glad he was able to spend some time in the shop, he had a smile on his face the whole time.

Onto my dilemma, I have new door skins and thought my driver door just needed a few small patches and a new skin, upon getting it opened up and better to see, I am now contemplating if it is worth trying to save. I can re-sell my skins or use them on another project etc. and buy new door shells. What is the consensus on the reproduction shells? I am typing this and have not even looked to see how much they are but I need to make a decision fast. If I should keep going and fix what I have, I will take them to get the inside blasted, then work on them. Here are some pics.

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Well scratch that idea, I just looked up the price and saw that I would have over 1K into new ones. I can spend a lot of time for that amount so on to the blasters to get them cleaned up and get started patching.

 

[Mountain Ram]

That's tough Tom... Those doors are going to be a lot of work. I had one great set of doors (someday to go on the '75), but the ones I got with the crawler are so full of mud and bonds it's unreal. Good luck- good to see the old man out and about!

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Well since deciding to go for the repair I now have the pass side door skinned and ready for the blaster. It was bad enough I had already bought the lower patch panel from DC and I will be using it. On the drivers door, I will make small patched for the few spots that need them and for both doors, the inner diagonal brace will be fabricated and replaced as soon as I get them blasted and cleaned up. I bought a skin zipper tool that is supposed to be here tomorrow and I was hoping to put it to use right away but it will be later in the week unless my blaster has an opening and can squeeze the doors in tomorrow, will have to wait and see.

Todd, before you dive those good doors into your crawler, give Andy a call, might be worth a trade and some $$ perhaps, I saw those doors and wish I had them for mine.. Also I know you chopped the upper window frame on the crawler and if you get a mon. take a look at Bronco Design, he has upper slide in vinyl windows you could make work if you ever decide to go with a custom top and be able to knock some of the weather off of you... just a thought.

A few more photos...