1988 Bronco II Virginia Trail Build

[RumPunch]

RumPunch,

If you have had the machine work done yet, find a machinist that can port and polish based on flow bench results. The end result will be more efficient.

For the engine, my heads were milled .035", 2.8L flat top pistons and flow benched port work with a performance valve job on a little more lift will make that 2.9 HAPPi!

Balancing the bottom end is money well spent. You can expect a 10% improvement in efficiency; this equals more hp, tq and fuel economy.

Oh yeah, loose the crank

 

[RumPunch]

I appreciate the heads up. All of my internals are already purchased. I got new heads I will be getting polished and gasket matched and an electric fan setup on a champion radiator.

 

[RumPunch]

Had a little progress this week picked my short block back up from Competition Engine Service in Ashland. .020 pistons and rings new wrist pins, cam, cam bearings, oil pump, timing chain, crank got polished, new freeze plugs, main bearings I think that's most of it. Found a heat only blower motor housing on eBay which I ordered immediately but have not received yet. Hoping to get that in before I'm ready to set the engine in. Have new heads ready to bolt on as well.

 

[RumPunch]

Hate cheap new parts but sometimes there really are no options. Trying to be preventative in repairs and replacing parts while the drivetrain is out and get the "best" heater core I can find online wrong size, have to bend the tubes to get it to go in place, had to replace the isolator with a thinner one to let it fit, all around cheap junk.... Probably should have left the (clearly) original one on place and would have been better off. I kept it don't worry..

 

[Uncle Gump]

On the positive side...

If you ever have to replace the core in the future... it's probably the easiest heater core to do.

I've just expected to be somewhat disappointed in replacement parts these days. They just don't make them like they use to...

 

[RumPunch]

@Uncle Gump you are absolutely correct sir, disappointment not so much because as you said it's sadly expected at this point.. I just wanted to get as much done while the drivetrain is out as possible because I'll only have myself to be mad at if something goes wrong after...

 

[RumPunch]

Well parts are coming in and there is a pile waiting on me.. still waiting on the heater box I ordered off of eBay weeks ago and the USPS is just steady not working so it's stuck in Richmond less than a 1/2 hour from me... And some free time, that sh!+$ hard to come by.

 

[RumPunch]

So the powder coater called and said my bumpers were done.. Now don't get me wrong I am NO where near the need for bumpers, but they are motivational and mounting the front one cleared up a little room in the garage (that's my excuse for mounting it tonight). Pretty pleased.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I'm going to be curious how well that rear bumper holds the weight of the spare when swung out. I have their earlier style rear bumper and did my own tire carrier and I get a lot of flex in the bumper. I also see some brackets next to the rear bumper... those appear to be for mounting the rear bumper? Did you fab those or are they an offering at AOR? They appear to be spaced for a body lift... no? Maybe if you have time you can tell me more about them.

Love the build you have going by the way...

 

[RumPunch]

@Uncle Gump
So the rear is the bumper/carrier for the Rangers... I spoke w/ Brady when ordering because I wanted the front bumper less light /pre-runner style tube and asked if they would fab one without it which they did no problem. He said they have had people use the rear from the later trucks and make it work so I wanted to mock it up and see what changes would have to be made but when it came in raw steel I didn't want stuff sitting around and rusting up and I am sure I will be quite a while before I get it mounted so I just went ahead and got it coated. All of the brackets came with it so I am not sure how exactly they will work or if I will have to modify any of them. I am hoping running a 32 I wont have to stiffen the carrier up but if I do it is what it is... The bumper has the pivot shaft welded all the way down the inside so hopefully it will be strong enough, but again we will see. I will be rather sad if I have to weld on them and grind the coating away but that's my fault for not test fitting. But t will be doing fuel tank, lines and brake lines before I put the new bumper on while the old ones off.. I just couldn't resist last night mounting the front on.

Also thanks I love the motivation of some of the complete trucks on here as well as people following along!

 

[Uncle Gump]

Well I sent them an email asking about the brackets and braces. When I bought mine it didn't come with mounting brackets. I see on their site that if you buy the bumper w/carrier it comes with the brackets. I used the factory mounting brackets and added the factory braces and did some welding to try and reinforce the factory stuff. I think most of the flex is coming from the bumper brackets and planned on making a new set to try and correct it. If I can just buy theirs... it makes life a bit easier. In my opinion they do super work and they probably have the flex/twist thing I'm having already figured out.

Thanks for the reply and I will still be following along as you continue.

 

[RumPunch]

Sounds good if they will not let me know I can get you pics and dimensions on these but I am sure they will. My experience they are a fantastic and super reasonably priced company and the work was excellent. No slag, no complaints at all with the product and it only took them 2 weeks to fab and ship the front so I was more than pleased.

 

[Uncle Gump]

@RumPunch

To me... those brackets look they are made for a bit of body lift... di you order them for a body lift or no?

 

[RumPunch]

@Uncle Gump I did not. I didn't specify anything and did not see any option for that when ordering. I can send you some better pics when I get home tonight if you want. Hopefully not but if so we'll break out the cutting wheel , and rattle can I guess..

 

[Uncle Gump]

Thank you sir...

Lets let my email to them soak for a day or so. If I need any more info on them I will let you know. I would appreciate your help with it though if I need more info.

In my experience with them... I'm pretty sure they will sell me what I need.