The Tricky EcoBoost Early Bronco Build

[Tricky Dick]

Gotta love a good lathe

Or in my case a router.

 

[Speedrdr]

Wish I had seen this before now. Never thought about using a router. I’ve done two Dodge rims using an angle grinder and a die grinder. Ain’t pretty, but it clears the hub. Thinking I’ll get a metal cutting bit and work on the other two.

Randy

 

[Tricky Dick]

Wish I had seen this before now. Never thought about using a router. I’ve done two Dodge rims using an angle grinder and a die grinder. Ain’t pretty, but it clears the hub. Thinking I’ll get a metal cutting bit and work on the other two.

Randy

I saw a few videos on youtube and it didn't look hard. And it wasn't, just very slow going, but I also used a wood bit.

 

[jba6555]

I saw a few videos on youtube and it didn't look hard. And it wasn't, just very slow going, but I also used a wood bit.

How did you set up your guide?

 

[Tricky Dick]

How did you set up your guide?

I used a 3/4" bearing on a 1/2" bit and guided off the original bore. The original was 93mm so it it made a hole about 87-88mm.

 

[spap]

Thought the lines in the metal were going the wrong way , great thinking

 

[Tricky Dick]

How did you set up your guide?

These particular wheels had a lot of meat to remove.

 

[1sicbronconut]

Glad I have a machinist that will do this for $25 Mark the one armed machinist, he ripped his arm off on a lathe years ago and was back at work two weeks after doing it!

 

[Tricky Dick]

Glad I have a machinist that will do this for $25 Mark the one armed machinist, he ripped his arm off on a lathe years ago and was back at work two weeks after doing it!

If I had that kind of hook up I'd be all over it. But this only took a couple hours to do 5 so not bad. I'm thinking about going over them again and putting a stepped lip to click center caps into, if I can find center caps the right size that is. I think worst case I can use 3.25" trailer wheel push through caps.

 

[DirtDonk]

I have a nice set of antiwrap perches and heavy duty top plates on hand but they are 2.5" wide instead of 2.25".

Are you measuring the top plate u-bolt holes inside to inside? Or center to center?
I assume inside to inside.

I've seen a couple instance where people say it's fine but I'd like some reassurance...

I think a lot of people have run it that way over the years. But I’d rather see the inside of the U-bolt pushed up almost against the springs.
The fact that the bolt holes and the spring perches match is great, but I’d rather see them slightly narrower to better match the springs.

Maybe there’s an argument from the hard-core four wheeling crowd of leaving the clamping bits wider, so that the springs are more “free-floating” so to speak, and not touching the U-bolt. But I don’t know if that’s even a thing.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Are you measuring the top plate u-bolt holes inside to inside? Or center to center?
I assume inside to inside.

Inside to inside. I know they're for 2.5" springs because I bought them for another project once upon a time.

 

[DirtDonk]

Ahh, sorry I misunderstood. Thought you were wondering why Bronco-specific bolts and plates we 2.5” wide.

 

[Yeller]

I’ve done it. I used some 1/8” strap and made some shims to hold the leaves straight. If you have good clamps on the leaves it will be fine with out them.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Toured the new property today and envisioned placement for home and shop. I'm a little creeped out though.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Ruffstuff suckered me in with their 18% off sale and I went ahead and ordered the correct 2.25" spring hardware, plus a few other things I needed.

Debating if I want to move the coil buckets forward and out, maybe even up.

 

[Yeller]

Moving the coil buckets up does so much for performance, allows the weight to hang down between them like a hammock. Best way I can explain it is compare it to sitting on a ball, not very stable and your core is getting a work out, it just wants to roll. Now sit on a swing, it’s stable and not falling over. I’ve also compared it to picking up a baby and holding them out at arms length. Pick them up by the hips and they are floppy and look around like a wobbly crazy cat looking for the escape door. Pick them up by the rib cage under their arms, they are now stable and giving you a stare down.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Moving the coil buckets up does so much for performance, allows the weight to hang down between them like a hammock. Best way I can explain it is compare it to sitting on a ball, not very stable and your core is getting a work out, it just wants to roll. Now sit on a swing, it’s stable and not falling over. I’ve also compared it to picking up a baby and holding them out at arms length. Pick them up by the hips and they are floppy and look around like a wobbly crazy cat looking for the escape door. Pick them up by the rib cage under their arms, they are now stable and giving you a stare down.

I'm thinking 3" so I can run 5.5" springs with only 2.5" lift. I know 2.5+1 is kind of tight for 37s though.

 

[Yeller]

I'm thinking 3" so I can run 5.5" springs with only 2.5" lift. I know 2.5+1 is kind of tight for 37s though.

Just means you need to cut more sheet metal, 37’s fit with 0+0

 

[Tricky Dick]

Just means you need to cut more sheet metal

I can do that!

 

[Tricky Dick]

This looks like the ticket. ~3" higher and ~2" wider than stock.