I am trying to to build a mud truck out of a 79 bronco. you mud runners out there do anything crafty to mud proof the engine compartment? I'm thinking to close this one up a little with some sheet metal but didnt know if it was just overkill.


thanks Jeff

 

I wanna hear too

 

If you make the truck high enough it's tough for the mud to reach.

Some guys hang carpet under their front bumper so when they drive it rides under them and keeps some of the splash from going up into the engine compartment. This is pretty common to see in mud drags. If your inner fenders are in place you shouldn't have to worry about the tires spinning any mud into the engine. If you wanted to get really fancy you could build sheet metal shields to mount under the engine and block mud from flying in there. I've seen this done with chopped up street signs (aluminum) and it seemed to work out fine. My concern about closing in the engine compartment is always heat trapped in there. If you leave the radiator up front all that hot air builds up in there.

 

Ivanribic thanks If I have headers thru the hood and the botton closed up you think it will ballance out the heat ? or should I leave a little open under there in the rear for the air to go thru?


Jeff

 

If the truck is strictly for mud drags I don't think you'll be running it long enough to have to worry about heat buildup. There will still be enough airflow for the short time you're running it. Better yet move that radiator to the bed and then you don't have to worry about it at all.

 

good point ! I will do that.

 

my radiator is in the bed and I blocked the front totally off with sheet metal, I don't have the factory inner fenderwells so I built sheet metal that goes from the fender mount bolts to the frame, if you leave the inner fenders in I suggest getting some thick rubber like mud flaps from a semi, and attach them between the frame and the inner fenderwell this will block off that opening. you can also build one to go from the grill to the oil pan although I don't have that one in my truck anymore.
And the number one thing you can do no matter where your radiator is, GET RID OF THE BELT DRIVEN FAN, that thing scatters more water and mud than you can shake a stick at.
yes the holes in the hood for upright headers will let 90% of the heat out.

 

see I never thought about the fan . I will ad that to the list. what did you use for radiator lines to get it that back there ?

 

the lower radiator hose I used metal conduit, Pro used copper pipe, and I think Ivan did too. upper hose I am running AN-20 kevlar braided hose.

 

If you use rubber hose some/most places require that it be shielded from the driver (depending on where you run it), if this is your case just use some PVC pipe or something and run the rubber hose through that.

if you look in my gallery (bits 'n pieces gallery) you will see what i did with some swather canvass, which i like better then mud flaps as the canvas has ruber/fiber glass ribs that you can cut to make a nicely shaped inner fender.

 

cool thanx I will check it out

 

Keep your inner fenders, sheetmetal off the open grill, and get rid of the fan up front. All you really need to do.

 

mustange70 thats a nice truck ! I hate to change topics here in the middle but ok I have a 400 in the Bronco 750 carb headers bigger than stock cam but I dont know how much its pretty rammy but here is part 2 of the question smaller tires more wheel speed or tall hit the bottum of the pit low gears?

 

proeliator. I will do that ! what about gears in the front? how much higher than the rear to keep it up out of the mud? I'm sorry to keep switching topics but I have lots of questions.

Jeff