Next Steps for my Bronco?

[Baja]

Hello, I am a FSB transplant. A big tanks fot Brokenbronco for directing me over here.

Anyway, I just posted this on FSB today and thought that I would cut and paste it here.

Hello -

I would like to get some feedback from you members with more experience with Broncos and F150s. I would like to improve on my ride and would like some opinions on how I should go about it.

For starters, I will shed some light on what I already have:

1995 XLT with 110k miles

5.8

K&N Intake

MSD Distributor and wires

E4OD (Rebuilt)

Switched from electric transfer case to a manual lever

4:10s

8.8 rear end with drums.

C&T beams that I think are stock length, but not sure (my tie rods have been lengthened, so I don't know if that means the beams are wider, or if it is just to make up for the lift) When I bought the truck, I was told that Perry McNeil did the front end at one time.

Custom coil buckets with dual shock mounts (behind the bucket, side by side and mounted to the radius arm) Also supposedly Perry McNeil

I think 5 or so inch coils that may be Deaver's

Stock radius arms that have been modified and beefed up, but are stock length with bushings.

Deaver's in the rear

Crap, off the shelf shocks. x2 per wheel in the front and x1 per wheel in the rear.

Glass on all four corners ( the fronts have some gaping and fitment issues.

Stock interior that is a little dirty.

The truck runs great, but does need new rotors and I have some popping and creaking noises from the suspension and I am not sure what it is. I was thinking bushings, or loose rivets, etc. Aside from that, it handles well on the road, with the exception of a little play in the steering, but it is not all over the road and tracks great.

I would post pics of my Bronco and shock mounts and spring buckets, but I do not have access to a hosting site here at work. If someone would like to post them for me, please PM me your email and I would be greatful

So, my plan is to do the following:
Fix the brakes

Improve upon the suspension

Get a glass hood, maybe some better fitting front fenders and paint the truck. It is currently all flat black. (This is important to me. I like a nice looking ride Not as important as the mechanical items, but important.

I would also like to replace the front seats with some nice Mastercrafts or equivalent. Note: I do plan a cage in the future, but not at this time. I was thinking of having someone fabricate some nice mounts for the new seats, that maybe could be integrated into a cage down the road, or maybe just adapt the seats to the OEM mounts, if it is possible. What are your thoughts on the mounting?

So, now for the bigger questions:

1) Front Suspension Options: (I figured I could go a few different ways with it) Also keep in mind that I am not sure if I will go coil over in the future, or not. Note that I want to keep my AC

A) Keep what I have for beams in the front, get some extended radius arms with heims and mount one 2.5" bypass per front wheel, using the the shock mount behind the coil that I already have.

B) Keep what I have for beams in the front, get some extended radius arms with heims and mount dual 2.5 resis per front wheel, using the the shock mount behind the coil that I already have.

C) Keep what I have for beams in the front, get some extended radius arms with heims, modify my buckets by removing the rear shock mounts and have some shock hoops/engine cage installed, then install one of the following shock options:

i) Also remove the buckets and install a single 2.5" Race Runner coil over per front wheel.

ii) Keep the buckets and install a threaded 2.5 Race Runner resi shock wth no coils (Would be ready to go coil over in the future)

iii) Keep the buckets and install a threaded 2.5 FOA resi shock and add either an additional 2.5 Race Runner piggy back or 2.5 Race Runner bypass, if the budget allows.

iv) Keep the buckets and the current behind the bucket shock mounts, install a longer shock mount on the front of the bucket, install a long shock in front of the bucket and a shorter one behind the bucket (Autofab style)

I will maybe add some bump cans to the front, if I can afford it.

Keep in mind that I am trying to accomplish this by only spending what I have to, in order to have a decent performing front suspension, but not have to re-invent the wheel and replace everything I have, if I want to go coil over in the future.

This is not my pimary vehicle, but it has become my daily driver on some days. It will probably see about 60% street and 40% prerunning for races and off roading on hunting trips, etc.

So what would you all choose for my mods on the front of the Bronco? Would I be better off just designing a kick a$$ coil bucket set up, or should I plan on going coil over in the future? If so, which route on both options?

As for the rear, here is what I have planned: (Already have the Bronco 2.5 wide Deaver's)

Higher shock mount in the rear, but still under the tub and using x1 12" stroke 2.5 Race Runner piggy back Resis or bypass per wheel (bypass depends on budget) and adding a 2 link.

I will maybe add some bump cans to the rear, if I can afford it.

Now I just have to decide on a builder. From reading a lot on this site, I know of most of the different builders. I live in Corona and work in OC, so geography as well as price will have a bearing on my decision. I may flex on location, if the price is good enough.

I also have some questions on shock placement for the front:

I see a lot of different methods out there. Some builders are doing the coil over in the front and a bypass in the rear and others are doing the opposite. Which is better for what reason?

The same goes when using buckets. I see one shock behind the bucket, two behind it, as well as one behind, with a longer one in front of it. What are the advantages of each method?

Also, what sizes of shocks should be used when going coil over and what sizes should be used when going with custom buckets?

I know this is a long post and I respectfully thank in advance, anyone who shares there thoughts or advice with me.

xrider

[SteveG]

I'm pretty sure you now own the GFB record for longest post ever.

[Baja]

lol....can you imagine how I feel when I lay awake at night, thinking about this crap? I'm sure you do.

[Nick]

lol....can you imagine how I feel when I lay awake at night, thinking about this crap? I'm sure you do.

I know i sure do!

[bajascott]

how can we point and laugh without pics?????
welcome .........

[Baja]

how can we point and laugh without pics?????
welcome .........

If you would like to post the pics for me, that would be great. I do not have access to any web picture hosting sites here at the office.

BTW, go ahead and laugh. The Bronco is my secondary project. I actually feel a little guilty for spending the money on it. My primary work in progress is a nice Baja Shop/Hustler 4 seat buggy. Now if you laughed at that, I would get butt hurt. I should paint the buggy and do my roof rack, etc, but there is just something about that Bronco that makes me want to feed it

Any thoughts on my plans for the Bronco?

[Nick]

You know we're just joking about pointing and laughing. We would never do that...at least not in front of you!

Give people some time to digest all of your questions, there were a lot of em

It sounds though that you have a pretty good start. From what i've learned, it's best to figure out what you are going to do with your bronco. Are you going to chase, pit, pre-run? Then figure out what your budget is, for most of us, that's what dictates what we do.

[bajascott]

you seem to have a good foundation laid,with the work that was done by perry's, i'd tune it up abit, and do the rear shocks like you said,and add the bumps. and be done with it, for a while.
perry does good work.
and i can laugh all i want,cuz im full piss and vineger.and my bronco is better than your baja shop 4 seater buggy....................
( there is sarcasm there )
welcome to the site and post some pics when you can...........

[Nick]

cuz im full of shit

Fixed it for you.

[Baja]

You know we're just joking about pointing and laughing. We would never do that...at least not in front of you!

Give people some time to digest all of your questions, there were a lot of em

It sounds though that you have a pretty good start. From what i've learned, it's best to figure out what you are going to do with your bronco. Are you going to chase, pit, pre-run? Then figure out what your budget is, for most of us, that's what dictates what we do.

I know that you guys are just ribbing me Just like you said, I plan to use it for pitting, prerunning and when I go hunting. I will also drive it to work, when I dont want to drive my other truck.

you seem to have a good foundation laid,with the work that was done by perry's, i'd tune it up abit, and do the rear shocks like you said,and add the bumps. and be done with it, for a while.
perry does good work.
and i can laugh all i want,cuz im full piss and vineger.and my bronco is better than your baja shop 4 seater buggy....................
( there is sarcasm there )
welcome to the site and post some pics when you can...........

Thanks, Scott! The rear is easy. I am just not sure what to do in the front. If I understand you correctly, you are saying keep the buckets and use the existing shock mounts with some better shocks. Did I get that right? If
I go that route, how many and what size per front wheel? Should I get 2x 2.5 resis for the front and 1 per wheel for the back? Or would I be better served with 1x 2.5 bypass per wheel in the front and 1x 2.5 resis per wheel in the back?

Thanks, again!

[Baja]

As if I didnt already have enough questions. Here is another; Is it better to get more shock and not do bumps, or a little less shock with bumps? If my budget made me choose one over the other.

[bajascott]

there are a lot older style set ups that work really well.
take PBR'S bronco, multiple shocks per wheel,and they are 2.0 shocks. as for the radius arms i'd look for some longer arms,but othere than that, i'd keep it simple.(but thats just me, if it aint broke dont fix it)
and yea a 2.5 in the rear.

[Broncodawg]

Welcome, I posted pics right off my computer w/out a hosting sight.
Click on the browse button at bottom of page, but can't do it in quick reply mode.
Let's see some pics.

[Baja]

Okay, I think I know which direction I am going to go with this. I have decided to just go coil over up front and ditch the buckets now. This is what I think I am going to do so far:

Front:

Keeping my stock width, cut and turned beams
New radius arms with big heims, pivot mounts w/ a crossover brace
New engine cage/shock mounts
New 2.5 SAW remote Resi Coil overs, 1x per wheel

Rear:

Keeping my Deavers
New shock mount, just under rear seat (autofab style)
New 2.5 SAW piggy back resi shocks, 1x per wheel

If my budget allows it, I will add bump cans to the front and or rear.

I will have the front shock mounts designed so that I can bolt on a bypass, when the time comes.

So, what do you all think of this plan?

Does anyone know what is the most common length of shocks (coil over and bypass) used on a coil over set up, when running the coil over in the rear and the bypass in front of it?

Also, what is everyone using for spring rates and valving for a single coil over, without a second shock?

Here are some pics of my Bronco, as it is currently equipped:

Brocno_quarter front left_resize.jpeg (151.05 KiB) Viewed 2036 times

Bronco_spring [attachment=0]Brocno_quarter rear_resize.jpeg

bucket and shock mounts_resize.jpeg[/attachment]

[Dezertbronco]

I think you are on the right track, I personally have seen alot of junk that has come out of the Mc Neil shop, but I have seen some great vehicles as well. I would double check all of your fabwork and buy some good shocks and call it good.

[Nick]

Did you buy the bronco in the last year or so?

[Baja]

It was actually almost exactly 2 years ago. Are you familiar with it?

[Nick]

I remember seeing it for sale, and thinking it was a pretty good value.

Opinions on the Mcneils stuff are all over the board. There's really nothing wrong with a coil bucket front end. Unless you have your heart set on coil overs, i'd really think about maybe re-working those shock mounts to run a 2.5, or if you can find a deal, a 3.0. Or, making the shock mounts double shear, and run some properly valved 2.0's.

For sure go with exxtended radius arms. I know that Solo was having a deal on them, but i'd also strongly suggest Southwest performance. Mark is a member here, you can pm him, his screenname is MKeifer.

What you have planed for the back end is pretty standard. Did you say you are running 2.5" leafs? If so, i'd suggest some new extended shackles. They really make a difference. You can also get those from Mark.

[Baja]

Thanks for the suggestions, Nick. It looks like I am may be getting a decent deal from my builder for the coil over set up and rear mounts. The shackle is a good idea though. I will probably pick a set of those up.

We were going to just build a stand alone shock hoop/engine cage, in order to run a larger shock in front of the existing bucket, so that we could change it to CO in the future with little fuss, but my guy said that due to the bucket, we would have to run the shock to vertical, as opposed to leaning it back. That meant that it would have to be re-worked if I went CO, so that pretty much made up my mind to just do it now.

One other thing I never noticed, is that the radius arms are extended a little. Only about half of what is typical now. The pivot mounts is just under the body mount. It is the stock mount moved back and welded.

As for the Bronco, it was a great deal. It had some electrical gremlins that I think the original owner gave up on, but between myself, FSB and the Haynes book, I got it all worked out and she runs great. There are cleaner broncos out there, but for the money and what I got, it was a great deal. Of course I am doing away with the buckets, but I still have the C&T beams, the Deavers, the glass and the bumpers. Heck, I paid less for the Bronco than those bumpers alone would have cost me to get built.

[tcm glx]

I remember seeing it for sale, and thinking it was a pretty good value.

Opinions on the Mcneils stuff are all over the board. There's really nothing wrong with a coil bucket front end. Unless you have your heart set on coil overs, i'd really think about maybe re-working those shock mounts to run a 2.5, or if you can find a deal, a 3.0. Or, making the shock mounts double shear, and run some properly valved 2.0's.

For sure go with exxtended radius arms. I know that Solo was having a deal on them, but i'd also strongly suggest Southwest performance. Mark is a member here, you can pm him, his screenname is MKeifer.

What you have planed for the back end is pretty standard. Did you say you are running 2.5" leafs? If so, i'd suggest some new extended shackles. They really make a difference. You can also get those from Mark.

Nick is on the right track here.... 2.5" fronts or a 3.0 if you can score a deal. Running dual 2.0s properly valved will also work, I would make sure they at least have resis.

Extended radius arms, and some shackles, and I think you will be a happy camper!