The Garage Projects: The Saga Continues...

[HGM]

Funny you mention that.. I'm seriously thinking about a moonroof for mine.. Need a top first.. Well, need's alot of other things first, but I'm going to run the wiring, just in case.. I think it would be neat, even if I dont need or use it..

 

[englewoodcowboy]

well the bronco is finally at the farm.. though since I work from home, I will miss seeing it every morning in the driveway.... but it is at the farm waiting its turn for the barn. The donor car is loaded on the trailer and going to the scrap yard tomorrow. The car had 4 catalytic converters I cut out so I am curious as to how much I will be getting back for scrap....

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Just some updates and more progress on the barn. I got my bench finished and installed, it is nice to have a working vise and bolted to something I can really pry on. Also got some more work done on my sons B2. And we also got the ever important tune generator up and running! Here are some pics:

 

[englewoodcowboy]

and some more..... Teaching the boy how to de-scale rust getting his new to him running gear ready for paint. We are tossing the stock gear (a ford 7" rear and Dana 28 front stuffed with open diffs and 3:45 gears) for new ford gear (an 8" with factory L/S and 3:73 gears and a Dana 35 IFS front). Lots of work to do before the 73 gets its turn in the shop but it is all in good fun..... I think.:-X

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Pictures to come after Townsend BUT we have blasted the gear clean and are working on rebuilding it. Today I ordered a 4" SL from Rough Country, all new Duff Tuff Bushings from Suzy, (if they made a blue bushing for it, I bought it), new shocks with blue boots, new ceramic coated header, performance chip... now to get the rest of my tools on order next week (shrinker/stretcher, blast cabinet, parts washer, engine hoist, engine stand, metal brake,hydraulic press, bead roller, pneumatic hole punch, pneumatic metal shear and lots of abrasive consumables) so we can get serious about getting his done and mine in the shop by summer. Still lots to do!

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Worked on the barn all day today. Got my new hoist and engine stand, finally hooked up the old green compressor and she fired off fine (was great to hear it running again aftr 7 years collecting dust after the rebuild) and plumbed in some air lines. Got home to see that Fed-Up delivered my parts washer and my blast cabinet and some other goodies are due here on Tuesday. Tomorrows plan is to get my sons B2 degreased, pull the motor, strip it with easy-off and get t on the stand to perform surgery. I will also take my camera tomorrow for some porn updates... things are starting to move again!

After Townsend, my arse is getting in high gear to get my EB in the barn.... I will also be pouring the other half of the barn in a few weeks....

 

[englewoodcowboy]

As promised, here are some more pictures. The barn is coming along with some necessities as well as some cool swag my son scored.... The wood pile is shrinking so the rest of my slab will soon be laid....

 

[englewoodcowboy]

My sons B2 is progressing too... just not how I hoped so we pulled the motor today to find some hidden rust in the driver floor board... needless to sayhis frame-on just graduated to a frame-off. More money and time will be going into it....

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Forward Progress

Well I have been lurking here but mostly just checking in from time to time as I have been busy. We have my sone B2 comletely disassembled and it is all over my garage floor. I have alot of pics and of coarse when you start scratching the surface of things, you always find more trouble. All of the body mounts on the frame except 2 were rotted out that if he were to jump the thing, the body would have fell off.... I also finished ouring my garage floor so have it all in concrete is very nice!

 

[englewoodcowboy]

The nice thing is, this is great practice for when my 73 rolls in under the torch.... There are some before and after pics of the frame repairs I am doing, I have a few filler welds to do on the back of the frame so they will grind out smooth, not necessary for function but I see it and gotta have it right. There are also some pics of new equipment and things around the shop as well as his new suspension, rebuilt front end, Duffs bushings etc. Hope you all enjoy!

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Got some more progress done today. Frame has been repaired and painted, spring perches were relocated and it was painted as well as the springs, pressed the old bushings out and what a pita they were even with a 12 ton press.

*** Just about finished the suspension today. Pulled the rear axle bearings and seals. Have to blast and paint the backer plates, the brake cams and axle flanges. Alot to do yet, tore the motor down to a long block, taking it to the machinist tomorrow. One thing for certain, it sux I am getting this much done and its not mine...Ha!

 

[Blue71]

Lookin great Tom. Keep up the great work. Also..keep the old man in line

Andy
Blue71

 

[HGM]

Hey, while you've got em both apart.... Are there any similarities in the fuel tanks, dimensionally?? If I remember right, the BII had a 20+ gallon tank. Just wondered if it might be a candidate for a swap??

 

[englewoodcowboy]

I appreciate the compliments. The tank does not look like it is a candidate for a swap. I am not real impressed with it to be honest, had to buy a new one and though a NOS tank was $100.00 it is a goofy shape that could have been improved on, they certainly have the available realestate for a 30 gallon tank if I wanted to have one made.

Motor is at the machinis, waiting on initial tear down and assesment. Found 1 company who makes a cam for the little V6 that is computer safe and will improve torqu in the bottom end. Between the cam, headers and a duff chip, this thing should be a decent rig for my son to cut his teeth on. Righ t now it is an enjoyable project to work with him on, it just needs to get done so I can start my 73.......

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Well its been a long while since I have posted on this or rather had something to post. Work has been tough and keeping me pinned down. The machinist who said I would have the motor back in 2 to 3 weeks, well his concept of time and mine turned out to be 2 to 3 months. The motor is back awaiting a new paint job. I know Ford used grey in this year but it has to be blue. I am hoping between the shiny ceramic headers and some other shiny pieces when you pop the hood it will look purdy and back to origional ford colors. The T-Case came apart rather easily, I have tore down New Process before and figured this was the same, Borg Warner makes a close unit but there are definitely some major differences. Anyway,it got rebuilt yesterday, sand blasted and painted. The tranny was opened up and flushed, all looked good so I buttoned it back up, blasted it, re-attached the Tcase and painted them. Now I have to get a new slave cylinder and paint the motor then all of that can be married backtogether and dropped back into the frame. Enjoy the pics! We also decided come hell or high water this thing will be at Townsend this coming spring, preferrably on its own but if I have to trailer it, it will be there.

 

[HGM]

Looking good.. Working on your drivetrain and painting must feel like you've got some traction..Progress always makes the project feel better.. Thats why I decided to tackle the back of mine before finishing the front.. Got too consumed in the front and couldnt see the changes anymore..

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Tell me about it. I have been staring at the frame and axles sitting in the middle of the shop all summer long waiting on the engine to get done. I could have done other things but when you have a step by step plan it really ticks me off to change it. Now I am moving back in the right direction. Get the motor paintedand reassemble the tranny, clutch etc. and drop it into the frame so I can get my new drive shafts made. Then I get to bag it and shove it into the corner and get the bottom of the tub repaired, blasted, and raptor lined as well as paint the jams and engine bay, drop it on the frame bolt it down and rehang the doors, fenders and hood and start final body work. Once thats done, paint it, color sand and buff and start final assembly. Seems simple enough but man its still alot of work ahead, at least the only other major expenses ahead are paint materials and tires. Besides some misc. odds and ends it is mostly sweat equity left to get it finished.....

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Not much to report as of late. Long story short, my farm is about an hour from where I live, been building a new house on it but because of our wonderful economy, every dime I had for the house has been re-directed into my business to keep it alive till things get moving again. I was hoping to be living out here by now but the house is on indefinite hold... least the basement is done and it is providing a good shelter for my '73. Now for some other news and life changes, the family we bought the farm from kept a few acres and their dwellings. One of them went into foreclosure (almost 2 years ago now) and we have been trying to purchase the doublewide and 3 acres to renovate and turn into the company office. Well November 22 we finally purchased the property from the bank. Since it is a home on hte property I have been working every weekend on it from closing on and I can say we are finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Blue71 came up this past weekend and helped me get the rainforest repaired underneath... after about 20' of frozen pipe replacement we have hot and cold running water. A little more paint left to smear and data witring for my office and we will be moving in 3 to 4 weeks. SOOOOOO once I am in and settled I will be full steam ahead back on the B2. Since my last post I painted the motor and was awaiting parts. I have disassembled the alt and have all new parts to put it back together as well as the slave cylinder, so the first available weekend I get to wrench, I should have the motor in the frame and starting the exhaust. Life has a funny way of getting in the way of our dreams from time to time but in the end it is all good...LOL

 

[broncoitis]

Lookin good man! Keep at it, your gettin there! ;D

 

[Justafordguy]

Looking good for sure, keep us posted and hang in there.;D