GoFastBroncos.com

Sorry man I thought you were just starting on the cage.

Good to see this thing getting some love finally. And once again when you decide to go at something you certainly go at it!

Yeah, I work at about 1/10th that speed. I know it will be done by Labor day.
It looks awesome, but will need more pics to confirm level of awesomeness.




When's Labor day anyway? That's how confident I am...

haha thanks guys!
Labor day weekend is the end of this month. It's not a question of if it'll be ready, its a question of how many loose ends will be tied up and how close to "done" the whole bronco is.

Snagged a 220v extension cord from work and was able to weld the front part of the cage up. Notches and welds are all coming out great with very tightly tucked tubes, i'm excited. Threw some paint on the cage work done so far, and cleaned up the dash wiring harness some more in preparation for dash installation.
I also cut the steering up and made some overkill tie rod extenders. Still working on getting that done and back on.
New motorcraft PS box gets here tomorrow... then steering is done. I'll re-plumb the transmission cooler at the same time, so that's also ready to rock.

Windshield guy is coming tomorrow to pull the wasted windshield. Hopefully he can, being that the A pillars are completely blocked by the cage.

Then the dash goes back in, and i'll fabricate the steering column mounting and dash mounting.

A list of most of what's needed...

Headliner/sheet metal
Clearance/seal shell
Mount dash, column, install with wiring/interior pieces
Floor bars, door bars, seat mounts, harness mounts
Sheet metal work
Body tie-in plates
Rear cage
Extend steering
Install full interior
Stereo – Deck, amp, 8” sub, 6x9’s
Delete ABS
Heater box clearancing
Engine cage, Core support brace
Hydro bumps, straps
Rear shock crossmember, shocks
Hood pins
Battery cables, boat switch, and battery boxes
Heat/ac ducts
Swap in geared/trussed 8.8
Intercom
Install valance
Swap PS box, check fluids, Diff oil, tune-up
Transmission cooler plumbing
Front bumper
Paint rear bumper
Tune up electric windows
Replace windshield
Replace radius arm heims, paint frame
Spare tire and jack mounting
Windshield wipers

That's like what? A 12 pack of Mt. Dew and a weekend for you, right?

Nailed it!! haha.

Well with only having a few hours a night to work on it, not so much
But it won't be long till i'm cruisin' the streets and prerunning the Fallon race course in a couple weeks!

Welded the front parts of the tubes, plated the cage to the a-pillar, and now ready for the new windshield to get put in tomorrow.


Tucked!



Tried getting as much head room as physically possible.





Extended the steering. 1 1/2 .250 DOM slipped over with 8 plug welds per.


New PS box. Old one is blown out. About to have power steering for the first time.


Drove down to Modesto and scooped this up. Another bronco 8.8, but not leaking out the tubes, and 4.56's with factory posi for $100.

Unfortunately didn't get anything done tonight other than diagnose the 351w with the shop tech. However, that's not such a bad thing, as she now runs smooth!!!
Took us a bit (diagnosing/testing nearly every sensor and part that could possibly cause the extreme rich condition and stumble) but when he went to double check the fuel pressure regulator again, it sprayed fuel out the vacuum line. Boom... direct fuel leak into the intake. Put a fresh regulator on and no more rolling raw gasoline coal!!

He also replaced the rear pinion seal in the 8.8 i picked up. Also picked up new brake hardware and wheel cylinders, to swap on with the new drums and shoes that came with the bronco.
Checked the diff to confirm the "posi", and it definitely has something in her. We couldn't get it to slip by hand, so hopefully i've got myself a still somewhat tight posi.

Might not be a big night for you, but sure sounds like a good/productive night!

Took her on her maiden voyage around the block 10 times!!!! First time over 5mph.
Few mishaps, much epicness, and extremely fun to drive.
Report to come

During the hot laps around the block yesterday, I learned a few things.
First, the bronco soaks up an optima pretty damn well after said optima falls out. Twice.
While testing the raw powaaa of the 351w, secure the fiberglass hood, before it flys open, destroying the cowl. Thank goodness the brand new windshield, and fiberglass hood are fine. Just needs a new cowl.
Don't let all the lights dangle, they will melt things. All the things.
The transmission works, and the bronco does go over 5 mph.


Yesterday I got the 4.56 LS 8.8 cleaned up, spring-under peches/tabs cut off, tubes welded, gear oil changed, and all new brakes/hardware swapped on and under the bronco. Also did a lot of dash mock-up and built a steering column mount off the cage's dash tube, turned out stellar although it was a pain getting the column right where it's supposed to be. Thankfully i had a buddy help pull/reinstall the dash 20 times. Got a lot of the dash hooked up as well.
Also swapped in the new PS box, and re-plumbed the bad section of tranny lines.


Today i hammered down and did the sheet metal work on the floor, put in the b-pillars, A-B pillar spreaders, door bars, and got a good start on seat mounting. The cab area of the bronco is almost done.
Also got the lights I ordered to throw on the soon coming front bumper. They'll be very nice to have on labor day while chasing/prerunning/goofingoff at the race.

Man, I am retarded for not thinking of notching the roof like you did. That cage looks good!

If you need different covers for those lights, I have clear, yellow, red as well as replacement glass...

robertcrav wrote:If you need different covers for those lights, I have clear, yellow, red as well as replacement glass...

philofab wrote:Man, I am retarded for not thinking of notching the roof like you did. That cage looks good!

Thanks for the heads up, I have a box of a couple hundred of them amber and clear though. Was going to paint 3 black for covers, keep 3 clear, and have 3 ambers.

philofab wrote:Man, I am retarded for not thinking of notching the roof like you did. That cage looks good!

haha. I haven't cut the shell or checked the seal or anything yet. That's all tomorrow. Top of seal should be untouched though, so should still be sealed, i think. I'll figure it out either way. The extra inch is nice!


LONG night. Again.

Getting close... but for some reason the to-do list is a still a page long.

I cut mine to tuck the cage. No issues with the seal. This for the b-pillars and up to the deal in the center cab

Tonight I Took the "interior" back out, and added in tubes/tabs for the harnesses. Although all i have done currently are the lap belts. I'll do the shoulder belts when i do the back half of the cage.
Put the "interior" back in and bolted seats and harnesses in.

I also dimple die'd and welded in the side plates.

Then gave her an oil change, cleaned the spark plugs (new, but black from running rich with the bad fuel regulator), and filled the diff's with oil.

Also pulled and cut out the area of the shell that was interfering with the cage being tucked further up. Both seals still like original.


So close...

TrevorPiggott wrote:Tonight I Took the "interior" back out, and added in tubes/tabs for the harnesses. Although all i have done currently are the lap belts. I'll do the shoulder belts when i do the back half of the cage.
Put the "interior" back in and bolted seats and harnesses in.

I also dimple die'd and welded in the side plates.

Then gave her an oil change, cleaned the spark plugs (new, but black from running rich with the bad fuel regulator), and filled the diff's with oil.

Also pulled and cut out the area of the shell that was interfering with the cage being tucked further up. Both seals still like original.


So close...

Wrong account

Forgot all i've done now
Ran 1 gauge battery cable for dual batteries and mounted boxes.
Replaced chassis/body ground straps with 1 gauge/soldered ends
Wired starter solenoid
Mounted dash to cage
Installed stereo, amp, sub, all new speakers
Plated the frame, mounted hydro bumps
Replaced radius arm heims, plated top and bottom of arms
Built engine cage
Bolt check/once over


Still have a ton to do. Was able to drive it down the hill last night, but the right front caliper was dragging and then grabbed. Waiting for the parts store to open in 15 minutes so i can swap new calipers on, then head to work in the beast.
Haven't slept for more than 5 hours in a week and a half, and well, i didn't sleep tonight.
But hey, the bronco is almost ready. Just a thing or two, or 20, left to do before taking off to the middle of nevada tomorrow.









Heims seized, made for a hell of a night. Plated top and bottom while they were off.







[url=https://flic.kr/p/oEyChQ]




First time it's been driven in 9 years.


Built the "engine cage" in 4 hours flat.

Coming along nicely.