SEPTEMBER 22, 2009
I've owned my 1992 Bronco 5.0 XLT since it was new. I had it when I first lived in Long Island, then in the heart of NYC during my bachelor days, and now for the past ten years in upper Westchester with the family. It's led a mostly charmed life, romping on beaches in the Hamptons, driving over sidewalks and snowbanks in the city while avoiding the yellow dunes of death (taxis), and making the occasional trip to the trails.
While it has generally served me well and faithfully (it's been getting fatter, smellier, slower and rustier), I've always had a thing for prerunner style trucks, so I decided that I would give the old Beast another lease on life, and make her look young and run fast again, just like a good truck should.
Upgrades Planned/in Progress:
Chassis
- Deaver 4" leaf springs in the back to replace the 4" BDS Lift Blocks
- Camburg shackles to replace the OEM shackles in the rear
- Deaver 5.5" coil spring in the front to replace the BDS 4" coils
- Bilstein 5150 Shocks front and rear
- Gears changed from stock 3.55's to 4.88's
- Rear disc-brake conversion
- New 35x12.50R15 tires to replace existing 33's
- Almost all new hardware, fasteners and lines to be stainless steel
- New PLASTIC tank (no more rust!) - if you want my old one (inside is perfect) you can have it!
- GT-40X Heads Ported, Polished & Comp Valve Job
- Ford Racing Double Roller Timing Chain
- Stainless Steel ARP Head Bolts
- Ford Racing Windage Tray
- Ford Racing Motorsport Valve Covers
- New Silicone Hose kit from Goodyear (blue!)
- A WORKING Smog Pump (the old one was seized, and I never knew it)
- New 18" Aluminum Mechanical Fan
- New stainless braided vacuum hoses, etc..
Here are a couple of pics of the old Beast in her original unmodified state:
Here are a few after I put in a 4" BDS lift, Warn winch/bumper and 33" Wheels & Tires (in 2002)
please excuse/ignore my FAT EX-brother in law...
And now, here's are pictures of the truck just before I started her transformation (those are the kid's name on the fenders/quarters temporarily - they got a big kick out me spraying them on):
At this point in time (September 22, 2009) the truck is fully disassembled into 10,000 pieces and most of those parts have been either refreshed/repainted or have been replaced with new pieces or upgrades, and it's almost ready to put back together. I've taken pictures of everything along the way, and I'll add posts with each major step.
Sy