Project: 76, Orange Special Decor

[gnsteam]

$50 bucks later, and home from the weld shop. I provide the shop with a 1/4" x 1" x 4" piece of cold roll steel, to fill the gap that existed between the bracket and the housing. They did a great job.
kudos to Havelock Welding and Hitch, Lincoln, NE

 

[Rox Crusher]

Nice looking weld job, especially for fifty scoots

 

[gnsteam]

I was expecting a higher price, in today economy. So no complaining here.;D

 

[gnsteam]

Back to where I was last weekend. When I realized I need the track bar riser bracket. Bracket area painted for now and axle back under the Bronco. I will be pulling it all apart again when I start the frame off later this year.

 

[gnsteam]

Last night I finished with a parcel install of the Duck Tuff 2.5" suspension. I will go back and install the front and rear sway bars at a later date. I figured it would be interesting to drive it without the sway bars at first so that I can gage the difference the sway bars make. Here are before and after pictures of the Bronco's stance. I still have a slight lean to the right rear, but not as much. I will get measurements tonight to compare them to my before measurements.
I did my best to get the radius arms parallel but the best I could achieve, was 3/8". With the driver side being the high side.

 

[Rox Crusher]

Are you going to move the rear axle back to center it in the opening ?

Mine has always had a lean to the left rear. Has nothing to do with driver weight I swear

 

[gnsteam]

Are you going to move the rear axle back to center it in the opening ?

Mine has always had a lean to the left rear. Has nothing to do with driver weight I swear

Yes I am. I purchased new leaf spring punches from Ruffs Tuff. I will install them when I remove the body and proceed with full drive train restoration. I will need the 5.0/4r70w installed so I can set the optimum pinion angle. Next week I will have the alignment checked.

The right lean is not as severe after the suspension install. It may have something to do with the damaged right, front leaf hanger. I will address this during the restoration. Tomorrow I will take some follow up measurements to see how much change the lift made.

 

[gnsteam]

I drove it for the first time today. The ride is improved and the steering is much tighter. You can really feel how bad my tires are though. I hope to have the new BFG’s install in a couple weeks. Then will see how it rides.

 

[gnsteam]

Today was a long time coming. I picked up these Indy Slot wheels from BC Broncos when they work with US Mag to bring them back, in a 17"x9". So I got in on the mass buy, receiving them in August of 2014. Seven years later, the suspension lift is in and new BFG's mounted. Due to the shortage of 35" x 12.5"s. I settled for the P-metric size of 315/70 x 17. Close enough. I ran out of time tonight to mount them on the Bronco. So hopefully tomorrow evening. Here are a few pictures.

 

[JeffG]

The 17" slots are going to look great! The 315/70/17 BFGs are the tire Ford puts on the Raptor. I picked up a set of Raptor wheels and these tires for my F150 and I love them.

So, for spares etc. Keep that in mind to check CL for take off Raptor tires in the future.

Looks like cutting the front fender and adding a flare will be in your future.

 

[toddz69]

Smart move on the Raptor tires. If you're going with metric 35s, they're the ones to get as they're load range C tires, which are hard to find in the 17" size. The additional bonus is the option for takeoffs, as you note.

I did the same thing with the metric 33s for my truck that come stock on the Jeep JK/JLs. Bought a set off CL with about 20-30 miles on them for what I used to pay for tires 20 years ago.

Todd Z.

 

[gnsteam]

Great points about the metric tires. I never thought of these options when I ordered them. Good to know I made a wise choice, by total accident.

Well here it is, 2.5 inch Duck Tuff suspension, 17"x9" wheels, 315/70/17 KO2s and no body lift.

 

[broncobsession]

She's a beaut! Looks great.

 

[gnsteam]

Before I installed the lift. I took measurements at each end of the front and rear bumpers. So I could see how much the lift changed the stance. All measurements where made with the original tires installed.

Before lift the Bronco had a front to back rake of -1.875 driver and 2.375 passenger. And a lean driver to passenger of -.750 driver and -1.125 rear.

After the lift install the rake front to back is, +.25 driver and "0", level on the passenger side.

But here is the disappointing part. The driver to passenger lean is worse than before. Driver to passenger front is -1.125, rear -1.375. I took my time installing the C bushing. Trying to keep the radius arms as parallel as possible during assembly. After several attempts, the best that I could achieve, was a 1/4-3/8 difference between the arms with the driver side being the high side. You would think that this slight difference would be causing over an inch of lean. When I commit to the full frame off. I will be checking over the frame and all the spring mounts to see if anything is out of square. Until then I'll have to lean a little to one side when I look at the Bronco.

Over all the front saw an increase in height of 1.375-1.750 and the rear increased by 3.75-3.875. The slight increase in the front is due to the fact that my Bronco did not have the original stock height springs. I was told they are F-150 springs.

 

[JeffG]

Regarding the lean. Since you still have a slight lean after addressing all the suspension components, have you checked to make sure none of the areas where the body meets the frame mounts are not collapsed?

Also, have you replaced the body mount bushings? if not, check to make sure none have collapsed causing the lean.

There are stainless steel shims available if you need to shim a few areas to get everything lined up.

https://northeastclassicfordparts.c...73-1974-1975-1976-1977-early-ford-bronco.html

 

[gnsteam]

Regarding the lean. Since you still have a slight lean after addressing all the suspension components, have you checked to make sure none of the areas where the body meets the frame mounts are not collapsed?

Also, have you replaced the body mount bushings? if not, check to make sure none have collapsed causing the lean.

There are stainless steel shims available if you need to shim a few areas to get everything lined up.

https://northeastclassicfordparts.c...73-1974-1975-1976-1977-early-ford-bronco.html

Hi JeffG, thanks for the suggestions. I have looked at the body mounts, and they are in good condition. All the measurements where taken at the top of the bumpers, which are new and straight. I suspect it is suspension related, just not sure where the issue is. I will just live with it for now. When I get to the frame off it will be easier to look into all the spring mounts. I know I need to replace the rear front leaf spring mount so this may be a contributing factor.

Saturday I had the alignment checked. Here are the results.

Driver: Camber .8 deg., Caster 5.9 deg., Toe .09
Passenger: Camber .9 deg., Caster 5.7 deg., Toe .09
Total Toe .180

I installed 7 degree C bushing with the T-Rex arms at 2.5” lift. Should I stay with the 7 degree bushing or back off to the 4 degree?
My Bronco has never driven better. I am so pleased with the ride quality of the Duck Tuff suspension using the Eibach shocks. And the tie rod over Heim steering, really tightened up my steering. Can't wait to see how much better it gets when the steering box is rebuilt and the Wild Horse steering shaft is installed.

 

[gnsteam]

Hello everyone, I hope all of you are doing well.

My Bronco on the other hand not so well. I was hoping to drive the Bronco every day possible until the snow flies. But the transmission said I'm done. Friday driving home from work, the slippage was so bad I barely made it home. And to top it off the radiator started leaking again. So Saturday I spent the afternoon doing a deep pressure washer cleaning in preparation for the full frame off. After a short drive around the neighborhood to dry things off and reconfirm that the tranny is done. Its in the garage ready for the tear down.

 

[BronCowie]

Good luck with that... do have any timeline you want to meet or just go as you please?

 

[gnsteam]

Good luck with that... do have any timeline you want to meet or just go as you please?

Yes I do, a week from Tuesday, I wish. Realistically no later than this time next year. I would like to attend SC West next year. The only hold up may be the body work and paint. The shop I have lined up has a six to nine month wait list. I've been on the list for two months so far. Over the winter and spring, I will be restoring the frame and drive train. Motor is about finished at the machine shop. Transmission has been on a four month wait list with the rebuilder, so any day now. And I'm expecting a call from Gary EFI guy any day as well. He has a long wait list too. I've never done a full vehicle restore but I'm looking forward to get started. The fun begins tomorrow night.;D

 

[gnsteam]

I got started on the tear down this evening, by doing a little rearranging of the garage. To make room for parts storage. Then I cleared out personal items from the interior and glove box. Then next I put the old shoes back on her.

Not to much to show for this evening but its a start.