All right since I haven't been able to drive my truck this past week I NEED to talk about her!

I'm just waiting to get paid tomorrow to get my three new O2 sensors then I get to test out my new exhaust! I'm super excited but extremely nervous too. Without my O2 sensors she sounds like a boat because of the three gaping holes.

I ended up breaking one bolt off and gave up trying to drill it out after a few hours. I'll see how the Bassani gasket and bolts hold up to prevent a leak, and if they don't work I'll order some percy gaskets and stage 8 locking bolts. The Bassani Y-pipe didn't seem to line up perfectly to the headers either... so I just tightened it on pretty tight and hope it bended into place. Oh, and I think I had my third O2 sensor bung welded in the wrong place... I put it right before the high flow catalytic converter, instead of after, so I don't know what that's going to do. Hopefully IF I need to get it welded in after it won't cost too much since its on the truck now instead of bringing the pipe to the shop off the truck.

Now that I've done this exhaust though... I don't know what else to do for some more power!! I've got the K&N FIPK, MSD stuff (except the ignition box) and an electric fan.. Guess I'll just concentrate on getting new interior parts now. I don't know if I'm competent or rich enough to put in a cam or other engine parts.

Guess that's enough rambling for now.. I better go to sleep so I can wake up earlier and go to the bank then get my O2 sensors!

 

Sorry to tell ya this but your not done with your exhaust, without that last bolt it will NEVER seal, your gunna be taking it apart again.

 

Never say never, i'm sure it has happened before.


It's always nice to get a few words in about your bronco, especially if you don't get to drive much. Hopefully you get everything worked out. ANd maybe you should treat us loyal followers to some pics of the new pipes?

 

Haha... yeah, I know you're probably right about the exhaust leak. Kemicalburns managed to prevent an exhaust leak with the same bolt missing, but he has better gaskets and bolts... So I am thinking you're right and I probably will have to take it apart.. but maybe I'll be super lucky?! Instead of winning the lottery I could just "win" no exhaust leak for all my hard work? But if I have to take it apart I'll go rent some better tools to try to drill out that bolt again.

I'll post up some picture too when I get it all finished withing these next few days! I was going to take pictures during my progress.. but with all the trouble I was running into.. I got a little too frustrated! I'm about to head to the bank now so I get finally get those O2 sensors!

 

Well you don't know till you try right? Maybe you will get lucky.

 

Yes gaskets are important, check out remflex, bolts, ehh. However I'm really curious what he had, I could believe he was able with iron manifolds, but never headers unless they were the most awesome headers ever. 99% of headers have flanges no thicker then 1/4", no sealing bead, don't match the port shape, and aren't even flat.

 

My pacesetter long tubes are top notch and fit like a glove. However the cheapoi gaskets I used have blown out and need replaced. Looking at the aluminum ones now.

 

The Bassani headers seemed pretty top notch, the flange was quite thick and seemed really straight. They better be though because they were pretty pricy! I don't know how great the gaskets are though but they seemed decent enough.

I drove around today and I know I have a small leak at the drivers side collector where the Y-pipe meats the Header so Ill try and tighten that down some more for a better seating.. it is on pretty tight though.

Anyways... here are some pictures:

The tailpipe is too low for my taste so I will have a shop cut out some and reweld it so it sits higher. I went to Midas for them to do it but they said that had to cut the Y-pipe since it was sitting on the cross member or something before they could do anything else and that the Cat was too small and blah blah


My Aerochamber muffler, sounds pretty delicious I might say and doesn't drone too bad at highway speeds


Here is the cat where I need to weld in an o2 bung after.. instead of before.. but it should be fine for a few days


The Y-pipe


Drivers side Header!


Passenger side... Had to take out the starter to get it up there


Here's there collector where it was leaking slightly, the Y-pipe was about 1/2" too short but was managing to seat itself as I tightened the bolts, I think I need to tighten it more on this side though


Well I'll see if I can find some exhaust shop to weld in some better hangers and cut my tailpipe to have it sit higher. Otherwise I'm quite happy with the new exhaust, definitely notice more power!

 

Would you HAVE to cut it shorter? Can't you just add a hanger towards the end of the tailpipe and hang it higher?

 

Well the top of the tailpipe is basically hung as high as I can get it over the axle, it just bends and comes down pretty far. So I do have to have it cut where it comes down to have it sit any higher. I have a shop where I live that is going to do that, put on some better hangers and put my rear o2 sensor in the correct spot!

I think my next project is going to be my interior. I need bucket seats.. I hate having the bench seat with no cup holders! Plus, I really NEED rear quarter paneling, with the rear pockets and cup holders too for people who sit back there. The look of that black cardboard stuff is pretty.. well cheap.

 

Oh i see, i didn't think about that. I actually prefer my bench seat cause i can sleep on it and have the extra leg room, plus if i ever get a girlfriend then she will be able to slide over easy on a cruise. One can dream.

As for cup holders, i used a cheapo $3 thing from Walmart that has coin holders and all sorts of little spots to put stuff, i cut the front section off to jam it in between the shifter and the seat in my 88 ranger and it fit great. Now it floats around in the middle of my bench since i don't currently have anywhere else to put it nor do i have a GF to ride there NOR, do i even have the seatbelt for the middle... It is currently in the back until i find that lucky donor at the junk yard willing to give up some green seatbelts. I need to redo the back ones due to them being all mixed up then i want to get the front middle put back.


Anyways, good luck with your endeavors.

 

Yeah I thought about getting those cup holder things from walmart or target.. but I'm kind of OCD so I think it would bother me that they weren't originally supposed to be in the vehicle. Not all things bother me like like that, such as my CB or Explorer Overhead console.. but I think the cup holder thing would.

As for having a girlfriend sit there.. it has been nice, I would miss that, but I drive much more without her in there AND I'm kinda paranoid now about her or I not wearing a seatbelt. The only ticket I have ever got was because I didn't have my seatbelt on so I got pulled over and cited.... Not wearing a seatbelt is pretty stupid, and everyone should always wear one BUT I don't think the law should dictate what you can or can't do inside your own vehicle (which is an extension of your property) if it has no effect on anyone else. It's like you are expected to get in an accident.. Like I said though, I really do believe everyone should wear it, just not be forced to. I can think of a lot more dangerous things than not wearing a seatbelt that is not illegal such as smoking!!

Okay I'm done ranting I better head off to work now, maybe I can find some Pick-a-Part place that is open today after work.

 

I admit that I have a cheapo wlamart cup holder in my 68 coupe and I would be lost without it. Sure its not factory, but unitl I swap in a console itll work. lol NO one ever looks in my car and goes "WTF that isnt stock..." lol

However I have eddie bauer leather buckets and the factory console in the Bronco.

 

Oh yeah that is understandable, that is why i need to get mine fixed. They all work but the back ones are lap belts and i have them miss matched with other lapbelts. Pretty much it would hold you down in a crash but i get tired of telling people how to put them on when they get in the back.


Other than that, so far the only work i have done on the bronco was getting the Edelbrock kickdown adapter put on my carb, It was a PITA and i didn't even get pictures. A fellow FTE member was able to provide a small diagram on how it bolts up since i couldn't find one, i plan to take some pictures and post them incase anyone else needs them.

 

Oh man I would love to have Eddie Bauer seats and the console and stuff... I'm fine without automatic windows since they don't break, but power door locks would be nice. Yeah I have been really close to buying a cupholder from target or O'Reillys, but I think it would just bug me looking at it, especially since they are all mostly grey, and my interior is tan/beige. Plus, I really need somewhere to store random things like pens, my gun etc. so a console would be really nice... I've spilled one (okay probably like 10) too many teas though letting them sit on the bench seat.

Gruesome, didn't you put in a Saginaw pump too? Or am I confusing that with someone else? I've done quite a bit of work over the years to my Bronco now, but nothing super intense besides the exhaust. I really want to do more now, like get a cam, or Edelbrock intake or even better, Edelbrock heads.. but I don't know if I could handle any of that. I hear putting in a cam is probably the next best thing for horespower and next easiest, but I honestly have no clue what to do or where to start with that, or what one to get. I suppose I'll do more research and find what to do next. But until then I'll hopefully find some better seats!