Rugged Radios Stretched Bronco - Factory Race Support, Tacos, and Coffee!

[SteveG]

I’ll try to post some photos after KOH. Basically, they’re under the floor, outboard of the frame rails, in front of the tail lamps.

[ChaseTruck754]

I'm interested to see them now, based on that description. In a regular bronco that real estate is full due to the body and then the shackle. I'm wondering due to the stretch the axle on Wilson is a bit forward of the tail lights compared to a standard bronco.

[PaulW]

4 link with coils means that area is pretty open

[ChaseTruck754]

Forgot about 4 link, and I guess you can just drop them down below the body at that point. Pretty willing to bet the guys asking to see the pics don't have links and may not be going there though...

That being said - here's how they were done on the Baja F-250. This is under the cab

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[ChaseTruck754]

*Edit* - Baja F250 ones are under the BED, not cab. They are up close to the cab though. There is more room up there (in front of the front spring hanger that is) since that truck is a long bed.

[SteveG]

4 link with coils means that area is pretty open

Yup. I’ll post photos one of these days....

[SteveG]

4 link with coils means that area is pretty open

I still need to post those photos. I’ll be working on the rear battery cables soon. Will post then.

Baja 1000 prerun prep is in full swing. You guys know the drill. Time is a commodity I have little of, so I’m focusing on the critical items. But, I hate to do things twice and I’d much rather work on it at home that in Baja so, I’m putting in a couple hours at home most weeknights. The approach has been do at least one thing every night, regardless of how small. How do you eat an Elephant? One bite at a time....

So one of the items on my list was to add a secondary fuel pump that could be [relatively] easily switched to in the event of a fuel pump failure. The plan was simple. Mount it in-line along the fuel hose where it could easily be spliced in if needed. Well, Bondobob and/or Paul probably told me the following a while ago but I probably forgot.

Wilson has two fuel pumps in the tank (that sound you hear is angels singing). The setup is fantastic. Both are fully functioning, plumbed and and ready to roll. Fuel hoses from each pump meet up in a Y-block. In each hose, before the Y-block is a ball valve. One valve must remain open, the other closed. Power connectors for each are also present near the Y-block. One connected, one waiting for it’s turn.

When one fuel pump fails, you close one valve, open the other, swap the connector from one fuel pump to the other and done. It took me about 30 seconds. Freakin’ glorious!

I get to cross one time-consuming project off the list... couldn’t be happier! Instead, I’ll spend a few minutes checking all the fuel lines, adding zip-ties and abrasion protection as needed and swap the connectors to Deutsch simply because I like and have a good stock of them.

Thanks for setting this thing up so well, Paul! We will be in El Dorado Ranch Nov. 17. Hopefully we’ll see you.

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[Pickuptrucker]

That is smart

[SteveG]

Here’s a long overdue photo of the battery relocation. Wilson has two batteries. One in each rear corner.

There are heavy duty, positive battery cables connecting both rear batteries, up the left side and across the engine bay... probably 20 feet of it. If any part of the cable is damaged and shorted to the chassis or body... no bueno! So, we installed 100 Amp Mega fuses at each battery so there’s only short jumpers to the fuses that are not protected... I’ll sleep better now. Ha!

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[ChaseTruck754]

Good call! My uncle learned the mega fuse deal the hard way unfortunately! Had a just finished project car (Renault r5 turbo with a nissan transplant in it) catch fire on a test drive. He made sure to show me and have me learn from his mistake. I was doing the battery move in the alfa at that time and it got a short jumper to megafuse too.

[SteveG]

Good call! My uncle learned the mega fuse deal the hard way unfortunately! Had a just finished project car (Renault r5 turbo with a nissan transplant in it) catch fire on a test drive. He made sure to show me and have me learn from his mistake. I was doing the battery move in the alfa at that time and it got a short jumper to megafuse too.

Yeah, all that live power cable make me uneasy even just parking it in the yard. There's a 1/0 positive cable running across the back of the car, connecting both batteries... right behind 32 gallons of fuel. If it ever got tagged from the back, it could make for a good show and sad day.

[BDKW1]

Why a fuse instead of a circuit breaker?

[SteveG]

Why a fuse instead of a circuit breaker?

I worried about the jarring setting them off like the old Ford inertia switches... was a serious consideration, though.

[BDKW1]

I have used the Bussman breakers on ore vehicles than I can remember. Have yet to see one trip from impact, not even something that I had considered.

[SteveG]

I have used the Bussman breakers on ore vehicles than I can remember. Have yet to see one trip from impact, not even something that I had considered.

Good to know. I based my decision on my experience with the Ford breakers.

[Becks_Bronco]

Nicely done on the dual pumps!! Are those spare bungee cords zip-tied under there too?

[SteveG]

The dual pumps was all Paul. I just recently realized it had this (even though Paul had already told me).

Haha. The bungees are to pull the limit straps inward so they don't flop out to the tires and get shredded.

[SteveG]

Soooo many hours in Wilson... tired of working on it, in fact! But, all the updates are good and we’re really happy about getting to use it soon.

There’s a still a lot on the to-do list, but they’re mostly small things and except for a small handful of things, it’s pretty much ready for the Baja 1000 prerun and #ruggedtacotour.

I need to take and post photos of the updates, but for now, here’s a couple fun ones.

So this year, instead of Bechard and I driving / co-dogging Wilson, I’m taking one of my daughters... so stoked about this!

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Also, because this Bronco is named Wilson... he now wears his mascot proudly! Ignore the shite all around him...we’re bursting at the seams in our current building... can’t wait for the new one!

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[mounty71]

Is there an original build thread for this thing somewhere?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SteveG]

Is there an original build thread for this thing somewhere?

There's no original build thread. There's another under Bondobob (who Rugged bought Wilson from) here on GFB.