The Tricky EcoBoost Early Bronco Build

[Tricky Dick]

I’m intrigued. Like different swaps that I think will work well.

I'm excited for how this is pulling together. The face of the AX15 bell ends up about 4" in front of the current 3spd bell and the 2.3 block is about 19" long, but the high pressure fuel pump hangs off the back about 4", landing around where the 170 stops now.

I spoke with Emily Kincer tonight and am getting interested in the KE tank. Then again maybe I should just build my own....

 

[Scoop]

This is a switch! Most people try to work with not enough room (I.e. Coyote, Godzilla swaps) but you’re dealing with too much room! LOL

A good “problem” to have!

Not familiar with their fuel tanks, but Kincer does quality work.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Not that I need one for a looong time, but Northridge has a mega deal on Warn Evo winches right now so I bought another 10k for the EB. $270 after rebate! I paid about twice that for the same one that's on my 6G now. I'm hoping I have enough room to do a hidden install.

 

[Yeller]

Love hidden installs. I’d have one on mine if it would fit.

 

[Tricky Dick]

The power went out during football so I took it as a hint to go outside. 2 hours from EB on the trailer to in the garage to engine on the trailer. Easiest engine pull ever.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Started tearing down my NP205 last night but I don't have a thin wall 1-5/16 socket for the yokes so that stopped quickly.

I'm about ready to cut off my engine mounts and I'd like to keep them intact in case somebody needs them. Any tips to best accomplish that?

Here's a pic from another 2.3 build that shows the fitment. The HPFP hanging off the back of the block can be an issue for many swaps but that little pocket on the EB firewall looks like it was designed for it.

 

[Yeller]

Kinda like putting an SBC in one🫢🫢

 

[Tricky Dick]

Kinda like putting an SBC in one🫢🫢

But without that dirty GM feeling.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Whooo I found a socket at Napa but it was still a bit thick so I ghetto turned it down with drill and grinder.

Now that it's much lighter I mocked it up to the trans to see how much if any I wanted to clock it up. I learned a couple things:

1, the 205 won't clear the AX15 crossmember if directly mounted, it needs to be spaced out about an inch. The 6" from the Ecobox will cover that nicely.

2, without clocking at all it doesn't look like it will hang lower than the crossmember. If I do want to clock it up I'm going to have to shift the trans over a little more or it's going to hit the frame.

Tomorrow it goes into the parts washer, then the #1 most important, make or break question of the build...do I paint the 205 silver or black?

 

[Tricky Dick]

Let it soak in the parts washer all day then gave it a good scrubbing in and out. Smoothed off casting flash on the outside and trimmed the side mount nub down a bit in case I want to clock it up some more. I'll be supporting it in the center so that's not needed.

There was a surprising amount of casting flash inside too which broke off quite easily so I knocked it off too.

 

[Yeller]

You can cut the nub off and weld a plate over the resulting hole, have several of them out there that way. Cast iron gray would be my paint choice color

 

[Tricky Dick]

You can cut the nub off and weld a plate over the resulting hole, have several of them out there that way. Cast iron gray would be my paint choice color

I've seen that done but I don't think I need that much. I gained about an inch with what I took off.

 

[Tricky Dick]

I tore into (one of) my donor t-case for the Ecobox just now. NWF says to use a NP231 or NP241, but being a cheapass economically conscious, I went off a hunch and picked up a virtually worthless NP249J. Most of the parts look like they will work, but I was disappointed to find a 3 pinion planetary. A bonus though is the front double cardan yoke is a perfect fit on the NP205, and I confirmed the input slipped right on to my trans.

I had a contingency plan for the 3 pinion planetary and acquired a cheap NP241C, which should be a 6 pinion. I figured worst case I could use the 249 input and all the rest of the 241 guts. I'll open that one up tomorrow.

All the Jeepers are blowing up the 231Js and driving the price up. These two unloved bastards were less than half what I was looking at spending on a 231J.

 

[Tricky Dick]

I bolted the trans, ecobox, and t-case together onto the crossmember to get an idea of how everything lands...and it's crap. I'm going to have to notch a couple inches into the driver foot well to get what I want, it's not quite long enough to put the t-case under the seat.

Also the Tom's crossmember is somewhat wasteful of ground clearance. I'm going to use it for now but there's 2+ inches to be gained with a redesign.

 

[Yeller]

Had to trim the floor board on mine some as well to clear the atlas, cept it’s on the other side

 

[Tricky Dick]

Had to trim the floor board on mine some as well to clear the atlas, cept it’s on the other side

I didn't look at it close enough, I didn't figure you even had a Bronco floor pan.

 

[Yeller]

I didn't look at it close enough, I didn't figure you even had a Bronco floor pan.

Have that part lol. But for most of it you would be correct

 

[Tricky Dick]

Ok, good stuff. Got the 241C torn open and it was indeed a 6 pinion. The 249J input fits right into it. Also discovered that they have different shift collars, of which I'll need to use the 241C.

So in the end I'm only robbing the Jeep input from the 249, using everything else from the 241.

 

[ammowaster]

Really looking forward to the finished product. The 2.3 Ecoboost seems like the perfect motors for these to me and if I had skills I would certainly consider it.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Really looking forward to the finished product. The 2.3 Ecoboost seems like the perfect motors for these to me and if I had skills I would certainly consider it.

I'm quite fond of that motor. ~300hp, wide powerband, good efficiency, small packaging. I think it's going to be very peppy in a stockish EB too with the light weight.