The Tricky EcoBoost Early Bronco Build

[Tricky Dick]

Axle is in. Initial clearance all around looks good but obviously I'll need to flex it to see where bumpstops are needed. Liking the caster and pinion angle, the low lift helps with that.

Started thinking about steering, scrounged around the garage and found everything to piece together a GM 1 ton Y link, except for one LH jam nut.

Then figured I'd pull the doors off and stash them, for one to get them out of the way and for two getting them in good working order is another thing I don't have to deal with right away. Well those screws aren't budging. Tried a hand impact driver too, nada. So I figured I'd take the bolts out of the doors and leave the hinges in place for now. The driver side cooperated, but one bolt snapped off on the passenger side, but sticking out too far to get the door free. So that's enough for today.

I have a little adjusting to do on the coil buckets to get them sitting exactly how I want but with any luck I'll get them tacked in tomorrow.

 

[nvrstuk]

Progress!!

 

[Tricky Dick]

You might want to delete this part even if you had a ice condition. Don't forget to have me delete my post.

Done.

 

[Tricky Dick]

It's been raining the last couple days and I work with the garage door open so I haven't done much. The coil buckets are ready to weld on though. I also put in an order with CJs for a few odds and ends to get my lights installed on the new grill.

After crunching the numbers I've decided against an insurance claim. They already raised my rates 100/mo starting next month and that's without any dings on my record. I'm going to end up paying out those nose for a long time if I make the claim, vs 3 grand now and it's over.

 

[nvrstuk]

I'm so freakin' old I remember when if you had to make a first-time claim on your insurance whether it be house, car, whatever that these next two sentences didn't happen:

1- your rates doubled immediately

2- that you wouldn't be dropped when the claim was settled.

Insurance companies suck and I'm sure our laws and lack of enforcement of those laws and a whole lot of other political crap makes "it" what it is... vent is over, sorry you have to pay when you carry insurance for that. I know if I do major damage to my Bronco it's an "out of pocket" expense.

 

[lars]

It's been raining the last couple days and I work with the garage door open so I haven't done much. The coil buckets are ready to weld on though. I also put in an order with CJs for a few odds and ends to get my lights installed on the new grill.

After crunching the numbers I've decided against an insurance claim. They already raised my rates 100/mo starting next month and that's without any dings on my record. I'm going to end up paying out those nose for a long time if I make the claim, vs 3 grand now and it's over.

Been there, done that, with my freshly restomodded EB on the Rubicon in 2003. Paid out of pocket for the same reason. Ugh.

 

[nvrstuk]

That's where we first met. lol

I remember talking with ya that night before we were setting up camp on how the roll happened earlier that day. I think you just showed up out of the middle of nowhere as we had a group from PNW guys (Quinn, Roger, Steve, Scott, etc and you showed up about dark. Who was wheeling with you?

I think that was our "Manly Man Run" where we all drove 1,000 miles in our Broncos, wheeled the week and drove home. Did you meet Eric Neasham with me on that trip? If so, then I have the dates and trip all correct. If not, I'll blame it on.... something!

 

[Tricky Dick]

Got the buckets "heavy tacked" so they can support the weight. It's 2" higher in the front than the rear so I'll be looking for 3.5 or 4.5 springs depending how much it settles once all the weight has been added back.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Also going to try to buy this. I want to narrow it to Bronco width, put a Bronco top on it, and deck it out as a camp rig.

 

[Yeller]

Are you going to convert to 6 lug to share wheels with the 6g?

 

[Tricky Dick]

Are you going to convert to 6 lug to share wheels with the 6g?

Yeah I think that's the way to go. Take off 6G wheels are getting to be dirt cheap. It has a funky axle under it now anyway.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Playing with steering. I either need to raise the panhard way up or go back to under the knuckle tie rod, because I only have 2-3" of uptravel before the tie rod hits the panhard bracket. I think I will raise the panhard, I can trim that bracket a little more and get the top hole a tad higher and then cut off the other 2 holes. It should tuck in right behind the crossmember at full bump on the passenger side.

 

[Tricky Dick]

WH has a riser for 78-79 axles for about $100 delivered. Do I hit the easy button or fab something up? https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/78-79...6e08cd7450cbbdddc64c6cf2e8891f6d48747c6d56d2c

Apologies to those that love stock tail lights, this is happening.

 

[Yeller]

Whatever gets it done and makes you smile on the track bar bracket. I buy a lot of my brackets and tabs. Comes from doing work and charging by the hour. If I can’t make it for less, buy it. If it looks better than I think I will take the time to make, buy it. That’s my thoughts. On my own stuff it comes down to time. If I have the raw materials and the time I make it, if materials or time are an issue buy it.

 

[Speedrdr]

Yeah I think that's the way to go. Take off 6G wheels are getting to be dirt cheap. It has a funky axle under it now anyway.

View attachment 934067

Looks like about a 1964 Ford straight front axle.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Looks like about a 1964 Ford straight front axle.

That would make sense, probably from the front of the truck the bed came from. I had my brother go pick it up this morning, I'm curious to see how they fixed the steering when I pick it up. Could be a few months, he's 400 miles away.

 

[Tricky Dick]

I got tired of watching the Packers get whooped so I went back out and did some CAD work. I did a 2" rise.

Anyone feel 3/4" heims are too light duty for a panhard? I have a bunch of them with bungs.

 

[Yeller]

Chomoly ones are fine, been running the same ones for probably 15 years. Same with steering. I have crashed it hard enough to rip the track bar mount off the frame once.

 

[ntsqd]

Going with rubber torsion mount tail lights?

 

[Tricky Dick]

Going with rubber torsion mount tail lights?

That's the plan. I wonder if I should move them up or down and add a 2nd small round light, maybe built in chase lights? Like they do with XJs. But there might not be enough room...

Productive day. I wish I could have got the panhard closer to the draglink in length but it's just too hard to package with the radius arms.