Commitclothing
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2009
- Messages
- 26
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Vehicle Year
- 1989
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Transmission
- Manual
Also posted on BroncoII.org
Newbie Here :hi:,
Never been a Ford guy.....Sorry if anyone takes offense to that :bigfinger:, but day by day, this little Bronco II is converting me. Picked her up for $400.
Looks like:
5"-6" SJ lift.
Stock 2.9 with @least 250k + on it. Got it with a nasty 2.9 lifter tick...Shocking!
Welded stock axles front and rear. Front Drivers side was spun...bad!
Solid 5spd and BW 1354 manual shift already installed.
Smitty built tubes Front and rear
33" x 12.5" 15 Big O muds
TONS of "Redneck engineering"
Wonder where I got the name from!! I couldnt pass this thing up with this awesome stencil on it! I heard it even gives it more HP!
It looks to me like someone built this thing for a local tough truck competition!
The long of the short....A buddy of mine got this and some guns in trade for an F600 flatbed. He was gonna keep it to mash in the hills, but decided to build a Wrangler instead....More streetable for less in his opinion.
So, I Pick-N-Pulled 2 new Drivers front axles, one replacement and one spare. Also got three manual locking hubs. Does anyone know why this thing would have shown up on stock axles with one manual locking hub and one automatic hub cover? The only thing I can think of is when they spun the axle they pulled it and threw on an auto cover, just dont know why, but there is a lot of things done to this rig that I have to question!!
I took it on one trip to the Hot Springs, Super Chill spot in the Sierras, Natural springs and pools right over the river. Awesome!
The little beast crawled the whole 20+ miles to the springs, and crossed the river...water just started entering the cab @ the deepest point.
By this point, I'm stoked! Wouldnt you know, as soon as we got to the springs, I ripped a sidewall on one of my awesome mall crawler tires! I know, I know, Radical self reliance is key....but it didnt really work out for me this time! after abandoning the Bronco @ midnight on a Sunday night( I own a business and my Girl is a teacher, so a No Call No Show for either one uf us is out of the question!) I returned Monday afternoon with some buddies and a spare. Crossed the river around sun set on Monday without a hitch. Enter problem #2
NO HEADLIGHTS!
With the use of one 12v spotlight and a generous buddy hangin out the door the whole way home, we made it.
Enter Problem #3
LOST AN OIL PUMP!
by this point I just wanted this damn thing home, so i drove it! It doesnt have an oil pressure gauge, so I dont't know how bad it really was, but if it was lugging, right before stall, my oil "Dummy" light would come on. She smelled pretty bad by the time we got home, but we got home.
This is where the project starts!
I have a spare 2.8 @ my disposal, but knowing myself, that just would not suffice! So after a whole 2 days of CL shopping I found a guy that started a 95 Exploder 4.0 into his ranger, 'til he figured out how much of a pain in the a*s that is on a truck that came stock with a 3.0. I got the motor, Tranny, and the stock Eshift T-Case for $300, with 54k on them all!! I really wanted to do this swap with a donor car, but this setup was too cheap to pass up. Ebayed a full engine wiring harness for a best offer bid of $60 out of a 95 exploder manual. Haven't received it yet, but the pictures look awesome. The guy is even throwing in the fuse panels. Also got an ECU for $50.
PLANS:
The whole idea for this build is to build a rig that I can sink in the river, and not worry about getting to work on Monday. Build it cheap. Build it strong. I figure with the explorer drive train underneath and a bit of cleanup, gears and lockers when the budget can handle it, this thing should Mash through a majority of the trails around here(Dont forget I live by Lake Tahoe, I am spoiled with my trail selection around here!)
The motor swap is starting this weekend.
Still looking for a D35/8.8 setup for cheap if anyone come across a set in Northern Nevada/California.
And an explorer dash.
Roll cage is coming out for a lighter, more coverage setup.
Got atleast a few days of metal work cleanup just on the roof!
Looking for a used set of 33" swampers.
Doubler
Body is HAMMERED!
Surprised with the flex from the D20 TTB
This is my first non native motor swap. So if anyone in the greater Reno/Lake Tahoe area has any expertise...I am your new best firend!
anyone else have any suggestions for cheap - useful - mods for the new beater?
Newbie Here :hi:,
Never been a Ford guy.....Sorry if anyone takes offense to that :bigfinger:, but day by day, this little Bronco II is converting me. Picked her up for $400.
Looks like:
5"-6" SJ lift.
Stock 2.9 with @least 250k + on it. Got it with a nasty 2.9 lifter tick...Shocking!
Welded stock axles front and rear. Front Drivers side was spun...bad!
Solid 5spd and BW 1354 manual shift already installed.
Smitty built tubes Front and rear
33" x 12.5" 15 Big O muds
TONS of "Redneck engineering"
Wonder where I got the name from!! I couldnt pass this thing up with this awesome stencil on it! I heard it even gives it more HP!
It looks to me like someone built this thing for a local tough truck competition!
The long of the short....A buddy of mine got this and some guns in trade for an F600 flatbed. He was gonna keep it to mash in the hills, but decided to build a Wrangler instead....More streetable for less in his opinion.
So, I Pick-N-Pulled 2 new Drivers front axles, one replacement and one spare. Also got three manual locking hubs. Does anyone know why this thing would have shown up on stock axles with one manual locking hub and one automatic hub cover? The only thing I can think of is when they spun the axle they pulled it and threw on an auto cover, just dont know why, but there is a lot of things done to this rig that I have to question!!
I took it on one trip to the Hot Springs, Super Chill spot in the Sierras, Natural springs and pools right over the river. Awesome!
The little beast crawled the whole 20+ miles to the springs, and crossed the river...water just started entering the cab @ the deepest point.
By this point, I'm stoked! Wouldnt you know, as soon as we got to the springs, I ripped a sidewall on one of my awesome mall crawler tires! I know, I know, Radical self reliance is key....but it didnt really work out for me this time! after abandoning the Bronco @ midnight on a Sunday night( I own a business and my Girl is a teacher, so a No Call No Show for either one uf us is out of the question!) I returned Monday afternoon with some buddies and a spare. Crossed the river around sun set on Monday without a hitch. Enter problem #2
NO HEADLIGHTS!
With the use of one 12v spotlight and a generous buddy hangin out the door the whole way home, we made it.
Enter Problem #3
LOST AN OIL PUMP!
by this point I just wanted this damn thing home, so i drove it! It doesnt have an oil pressure gauge, so I dont't know how bad it really was, but if it was lugging, right before stall, my oil "Dummy" light would come on. She smelled pretty bad by the time we got home, but we got home.
This is where the project starts!
I have a spare 2.8 @ my disposal, but knowing myself, that just would not suffice! So after a whole 2 days of CL shopping I found a guy that started a 95 Exploder 4.0 into his ranger, 'til he figured out how much of a pain in the a*s that is on a truck that came stock with a 3.0. I got the motor, Tranny, and the stock Eshift T-Case for $300, with 54k on them all!! I really wanted to do this swap with a donor car, but this setup was too cheap to pass up. Ebayed a full engine wiring harness for a best offer bid of $60 out of a 95 exploder manual. Haven't received it yet, but the pictures look awesome. The guy is even throwing in the fuse panels. Also got an ECU for $50.
PLANS:
The whole idea for this build is to build a rig that I can sink in the river, and not worry about getting to work on Monday. Build it cheap. Build it strong. I figure with the explorer drive train underneath and a bit of cleanup, gears and lockers when the budget can handle it, this thing should Mash through a majority of the trails around here(Dont forget I live by Lake Tahoe, I am spoiled with my trail selection around here!)
The motor swap is starting this weekend.
Still looking for a D35/8.8 setup for cheap if anyone come across a set in Northern Nevada/California.
And an explorer dash.
Roll cage is coming out for a lighter, more coverage setup.
Got atleast a few days of metal work cleanup just on the roof!
Looking for a used set of 33" swampers.
Doubler
Body is HAMMERED!
Surprised with the flex from the D20 TTB
This is my first non native motor swap. So if anyone in the greater Reno/Lake Tahoe area has any expertise...I am your new best firend!
anyone else have any suggestions for cheap - useful - mods for the new beater?