Gen. Forest Build

[MReeceW]

Got started on take the bronco apart today in order to get my front axle for the truck. And just because I could...

Bronco front end hanging there waiting to be pulled.

Also put in a tach and some 6.5" subs from wally world don't have a picture of the subs but I do have one for the tach

[MReeceW]

Now you see it...


Now you see it on the ground


Guess were on schedule? Guess what I'm doing tomorrow with FreJeep14?

[MReeceW]

Well did the front swap yesterday which has been the hardest part so far but its done.

God its like F&F Off Road, so excited.


Because 300lbs doesn't move easy


And now I have a 4x4 front end and 6" of lift

[MReeceW]

Well been a few days since that last post. Figured I would show whats going on right now with the truck. I changed out the "6" inch springs for my old 4"s and that helped a little with the angle. The angle I'm referring to is the angle of the body even after the shackle flip in the rear end. Ok so here comes the pics.

Heres the truck stock height




Heres the truck with stock height and a 33's rear



Heres the truck with the "6" springs and the shackle flip which is about 3.5 inchs of lift on the 33's



And now the 4" springs with that same shackle flip.



Also just because I took the pictures.

Top is stock obviously and the bottom is a 1.5"-2" lowering shackle (lol 2wd rear springs )



And the hanger and shackle after the flip

[MReeceW]

Just remembered Wrpoole posted this on youtube kinda just a cool memory thing.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg46sppQ6Sk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg46sppQ6Sk[/ame]

[MReeceW]

Heres some pictures of the CB and Storage Visor

Heres the CB itself


Now the Visor and CB


Also put in the fire extinguisher









Hopefully the next pictures are bumpers and frame repair.

[MReeceW]

Well. My transmission woes are over. I picked up an m5od out of an 88 bronco today, along with a BW1356 transfer case. I just need to get a rear driveshaft and then I will be putting in the remaining needed parts for 4x4.

[MReeceW]

I've got the front driveshaft for the truck now I'm just figuring what I'm doing with the rear. Hopefully I'll have the truck ready for the november mabel run.

[MReeceW]

Ok, no real progress on the truck, have had a lot of work at the house lately so I don't have time for it. But, the truck seems to have an electical problem, that being either the previous owners hack-assed radio set up or the alternator. I'm planning to fix that after the tranny swap and driveshafts, I have the front need a rear. After the electrical is fixed and the tranny is all set the truck is looking to get a dual battery set up from the bronco. But back on the 4x4 stuff, the truck right now has a 2.73 geared rear axle due to the torque of the big I6 and the 5 speeds gearing. The bronco being a 5.0 and having the AOD tranny got a factory gear set of 3.55 so thats whats in the front end and will be a step up from the little 2.73's which aren't going to do me any favors on the trail, so as you can assume the 3.55's will be a nice step up. Originally the plan was to take the rear axle out of the bronco. That made sence obviously on the cheap and efficient, but I've got a 9" sitting in the basement just waiting for me. So now I'm in the process of getting a 3.55 set of gears for the 9" and the install kit. Just a little update on what's going on.

[clean4drxj]

Deeper gears are always a plus when adding tire size.

[MReeceW]

Well there is now some progress! We got the 4x4 tranny up in the truck with the transfer case also. I have the front drive shaft in, I just need to put in the 8.8 from the bronco because there were funding problems and decided not to do the 9". Back to the 4x4 stuff. While putting in the tranny we found that crossmember from the 4x4 has a curve to it that allows the tranny to sit lower in the frame so that it is clear of the floor. We didn't have that. So we reused the 4x2 crossmember and clearenced the floor for the transfer case and the the shift linkage for the transfer case. Also do to the relocation in height I had to modify the 4x4 shifter to make it fit under the dash. Gained about 3-4 inchs of ground clearance with the transfer case compared to the type ford transfer case location. I'll try and find a comparison pic to post up.

Everything in its home.


A picture of the clearance from the transfer case.


The shifter for the 4x4

[MReeceW]

Heres the best i got for comparing the difference.

Bronco with the same t-case and same lift with 35's at 14" of clearance at the lowest point


Heres the f-150 same lift same t-case with 33's and 17 at the lowest point

[MReeceW]

I finished up the the 4x4 swap this weekend with extras. Oh I dont know if I mentioned the help my father (frejeep14) has been giving me when needed. We sectioned in the rear frame I don't know if that was mentioned that it needed to be done. I trimmed up the rear lower fenders and installed the bronco rear bumper.


The 4x4 stuff.
Ok so we got in the broncos 3.55 8.8 rear axle installed with the long travel rear shocks and also 1.5 inch angle blocks for pinion angle which also allowed me to use the 6 inch front springs.

The frame.
Ok well we had to replace the last 12 inches of the frame on one side and 8 inches on the other. When we did this we also incorporated the rear crossmember that holds the fuel tank straps this was good because we used 2x2 box and completely got rid of the rotted out leaky space taking up rear tank. That was a nightmare. We had to replace front spring hangers also do to one that wouldn't have lasted 50 miles. When we did that we moved them back about an inch to help my shackle angle.

Well I will be posting pics shortly.

[MReeceW]

Here's the rear frame and shackle flip at full droop (learned we need bigger jack stands)

[MReeceW]

The key to deleting or bypassing a fuel tank. It won't like running without the lines plugged. If you leave them well fuel spills out idk... Everywhere and if you loop them together you will run about as smooth as you would if took out 2 or 3 spark plugs. So you need to plug them.