What did you do to the Bronco Today?
 

I searched all over but couldn't find a thread like this on the Bronco side. If there is one that I didn't find just have one of the mods delete this one please.

With all that said, post up here and let us know what you did to, or with, your Bronco today. Anything from completing an axle swap to starting it to move it over in the driveway. There are lots of build threads to keep up with so feel free to keep it a short update here as a reminder for the rest of us to check your build thread for the complete update.

Today I started cleaning off the firewall to weld some reinforcement plate on due to my hydraulic clutch conversion. No pics yet as the camera is acting up but I will post them.

Let the fun begin.:-X22

I cleaned up the engine bay, getting ready to replace the header gasket. Had to order some nice copper gaskets, hopefully they last.

Haha. Have to have pics.

I cleaned up the firewall to prep it to weld in some reinforcing metal. I was only cleaning around the holes and the perimeter where I will be welding so the rest is still covered to help prevent rust issues.
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...8-23141923.jpg
Tomorrow starts the welding.:-X22

I stare at it in the garage, waiting in anticipation for the motor. Pick it up the 31st. Dropping it in that weekend and coming out the garage tires blazing. :-X04

Too funny boss...guys its been along time since I have been on the site! My Bronco has been parked in the stall for the last 2 years. If any of you recall I did a full body resto complete with bedlining on the whole thing!

I had to park it because of other mechanical work that needed to be done...needless to say I run or ride my bike to work over the last 2 years...now, its time to bring it back out. Gotta do an oil change, new oil pan, TPS change, steering gear gasket...blah, blah. You'll see me more active in the coming months.

Anyway...I just stared at it and day dreamed... safari rack to come too!

I started welding on the firewall, figured I would post a pic on the lunch break. I also need to let it cool before I continue tack welding it in place.
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...8-24123358.jpg
Keep up the work guys!

I repaired my rear window motor by opening it up, cleaning out the crunched up bits of plastic, and replacing the bushings with 1/4" nuts. Works better than ever.

Replace my ignition coil w/ a MSD, cleaned the throttle body, and replaced the IAC valve. Also replaced a couple of missing screws in the D/S door panel

today i got a wire wheel, got rid of the rust on my back rear, and leaf springs, paint them black along with some other things underneath, getting read to paint the frame, shackles, front springs all yellow

installed a new stereo w/dvd,.and some speakers,.weird that,.there is a wire they want you to hook to your parking brake light, so you wont watch dvd's while driving,.,LOL I grounded it and it works just fine while driving, LOL (mobile porn),.but really i'm getting a dvd monitor for the back for camping and such,.it works good and for a 3.5" screen its really clear,.

Hello hello. Today, i did half of a hub rebuild on TGM. I had 2 broken studs so now i got all 5 new ones along with a brake rotor and bearings. Tomorrow will be the driver side. I would drop some pics but i just posted 27 of them here..
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ct-tgm-13.html

It was my first time doing hubs. not as bad as i thought.

Abandoned, is it more noisy now?.

Well, I went to the window and watched the Bronco, she looks nice all cleaned up. It hasn't been that clean in months.

Not at all, the nuts don't rotate, they're just internal bracing for the motor to gear. Nice cheap fix and stronger than original!

I know, I have it on my truck, but I was told so and since I can't remember, I ask.

HD BUMPER
 

old warn enforcer bumper i made some sides and put some tubing on it
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/9...6-17.24.50.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/9...6-17.25.11.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/9...6-17.24.59.jpg
still not done..

Finished up rebuilding my hubs. It was a pain but i got it done. I also drove down to AutoZone to buy my neighbor a new Spindle Nut Socket. I kinda jacked his up...

Put a new copper exhaust gasket on one side today.

Bought Timing Tape, and a MSD Digital 6AL box (one with the Rev Limiter) for the Bronco. Going to Order a 3in Electric Dump later on this week}>. And prepping tools and the garage for the motor install this upcoming weekend.

I tried and failed at replacing some fuses. I have the glass ones and the PO decided he was too cheap to buy some so he used tin foil. Of course this doesn't jive with me too well so i figured i would take a look and fix it. Turns out i don't have the correct fuse either... I did however pull the tin foil out for safety sake. once i get some more fuses that will work i can fix it. One was for the instrument cluster and the other i am not sure about. All it said was coast Lbs and it was i think 15 amp.

I finished welding the firewall and painted it. I went back to working on my front hub rebuild. TGM is inspiring me. :-X22 I dug out the bumper I am going to be using on the rear of my Bronco and started figuring out how to modify it to work.

Glad to hear that something positive is happening from TGM :-X22

Thought about starting it, but was too lazy to
Get the keys. Maybe tomorrow.
Maybe not, two other trucks need oil changes.

Ordered all of the wheel bearings and seals to rebuild 1 side of the front axle. Since I am converting it to 8 on 6 1/2 outers from a Dana 44 HD to make the front match the Dana 60 rear. I figured this would be a great time to rebuild everything. I only got 1 side cause it will probably be another few months before I got to the other side...

Hope to finish installing teh new gaskets today. The Wife wants to learn how to work on cars so its going slow.

Yeah learning how to work on cars. Putting headers/gaskets on is the best place to start! :D I haven't done it yet, but i plan to use TGM today to help a friend and co-worker of mine move out of her apartment. Now that i can safely drive it, it is the only truck she knows up that can haul her bed and chair.

Figured out it needs u-joint(s) really bad. SWEEEEEEk

Aw man, u joints are never fun... Especially that double cardon joint.. What a pain.

I picked up my wheel bearings from Auto Zone then got in trouble when I got home for spending too much time in the garage. I agreed to spend time with my wife and son in the house tonight. I made dinner, gave him a bath, and put him to bed. Then I sat on the couch with my wife while she watched her TV shows and I started typing up my build thread (finally) on the laptop while sitting next to her.
Here it is.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...big-truck.html
At least that is the start, I'll keep updating it as I have time until I get it to where I am now.
Stay safe and keep working on those Bronco's!:-drink

Bigzirb, Already following your build,looks Good! Mine started out the color too.

Playing with the bronco today, Switched the vacuum advance from a ported vacuum on the carb to full time manifold vacuum. Found out the advance in the dizzy is bad. So that could be why it pops so much When I get on it?
Hope to find the other dizzy this weekend!

My wife wants to learn remodeling/construction and woodwork, actually
She is pretty good at woodworking, she did say she wants to learn how
To weld. I need to build a few steel jigs, this may be a good time for
Her to learn.

Bronco battery was dead, dragged out the battery charger to get
It started.

We need to drive that thing more often. (our Explorer is much nicer to
Ride around in)

Thanks for the encouragement...lol..that is what I have to do the ones coming from the T-case. Oh well. should be fun. Any advise on some good ones?
Or different thread. I was think Napa's Precision Ujoints

Excellent choice:-X22 Precision or Spicer are the way to go.

Haha yeah... I did that about two years ago. I needed to buy a dremel tool to get the stupid ball type joint from the double cardon joint out. The guy at home depot told me to leave it alone and bring it to a drvieshaft shop and that I wouldn't be able to do it. Well I bought the dremel tool anyway and it ended up working and everything has been running great ever since!

I'm just waiting on hearing about my seats! I'll then have those installed today. Maybe install some of the power options I have been accumulating. My power mirrors came in today, but I don't really want to install them until I get the door actuators, window motors and regulators etc..

Haha. Advice you say? Alright. Well get a big hammer and a chisel or a punch to get the old ones out. You will need a spark plug socket, I think it is 9/16 or something. AND i have some part numbers to help you avoid the issues i had. But since yours is 81 and mine is 78 i don't know if the u-joints will be the same. I recommend taking all 3 old joints to Napa and matching them. Anyways so you have 3 u-joints and 1 CV ball joint. You got 2 u-joints of the same kind, one in the cardon joint and one in the other side of the driveline. Then there is the one closest to the T-case that should be a smaller one but only slightly. Her are the numbers.

CV Centering Yoke: 607
Smaller u-joint: 353
Bigger u-joint: 354

Mind you these are the greasable Precision joints from Napa. Like i said, bring in your old ones to make super sure they are going to fit.

You might know this already but to get them in/out after you get the spring clip out, put a socket on the cap and hammer the ever loving crap out of the sucker till the comes out of the other side. then pull the cap and slide it out. To install is the reverse. I wish i had a better way to describe it but i didn't get pictures when i did mine. I was pissed cause mine weren't going in. I ended up having the wrong ones.

Next. BE EXTRA CAREFUL you don't want to lose ANY of the little needles to fall out. If they do then you will either need to buy a new u-joint or try to find and clean the one you lost. Anywho, i'm sure you now how to do this :P Just take your time and if you start getting angry, take a break and walk around or something.

Never listen to anyone who says you can't do something. There is always a way to do it at home :) Good luck on them seats. I bet they will be real nice.

Double cardan joints are more complicated but still the same, Emphasis on don't lose the needles! I always pack the caps full of grease before trying to install them, have had one needle fall over while installing and that kinda ruins the whole bearing.
ANYHO...
Replaced the passenger side pads and rotor and drivers side pads. Found a bad tierod end while working on it too. good news is it's the short end nearest the drivers tire.

My tie rod ends are trashed but according to the tech at a shop i worked at, said it wasn't anything to worry about just yet. I had bigger problems.

When i did my u-joints, i did put grease in and yes i will admit i had some needles fall over but i got them back in place just fine. As long as they don't fall out of the cap itself i would imagine you would be ok.

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/...-23_184515.jpg

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/...-23_184459.jpg

This little bugger here is a pain in the butt to deal with.
http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/...-21_182135.jpg

I've broken those grease fittings off so many times that I use the needle type, looks like a small bowl with a ball in the middle. saved them off of different "extreme duty" u-joints I've tried.Only drawback to these fitting is you need a adapter or a separate grease gun to lube them. Have to say I've had the best luck with the Precision brand joints and the "red and tacky" grease.

These are the precision ones from Napa that i bought. I haven't had issues with the zirc fittings yet but i haven't had to use them much.

I pulled off the bombs (natural gas tanks). Going to touch up the frame a bit with some black paint. It looks a whole bunch better without them hanging off the frame.