1988 Bronco II Virginia Trail Build

[RumPunch]

Didn't know that was an option @bobbywalter do you have? I may can junkyard scavenge one just didn't know there was such a thing to be looking for!

 

[Uncle Gump]

As bobby said... it is factory.

 

[bobbywalter]

I probably do have one laying around somewhere .... But no idea when I will be home again.

 

[bobbywalter]

Not sure how far you are from wheeling....but my bronco is either on wheeling island or the days inn over in stclairsville.....you can come and steal it for yourself.

 

[RumPunch]

Lol a little ways. I don't need one (well hopefully not) but will just keep my eye out for one at a junkyard. Likely will have a hole in it to drain the fuel..

 

[bobbywalter]

You still get b2s in the yard.....nice. they will likely be in the hatch

 

[RumPunch]

Been at it a few hours today. Working on cleaning the garage a little, and cleaning up some wiring portions of this Bronco. Got rear bumper lights wired, front bumper lights fixed, and an interior light installed and wired. Good progress for a few hours.

 

[Uncle Gump]

So what is the red box?

And... you got a tool box mounted to the floor in the back?

 

[RumPunch]

@Uncle Gump
Red box is a hot buss bar to steal power from. Off of a 30 amp resettable circuit breaker off of the kill switch. Not mounted yet but I plan to either mount to floor or make a slide out haven’t decided.

 

[RumPunch]

So had to mock this up again.. not happy with amount of material I have to mount with so I am going to make a couple templates. It's held on now with 4 3/8's bolts. Obviously I'm not about to wheel or drive all around but allows me to move on further. Will make brackets and resecure. Tire mounted up perfectly, it's pretty stout I'm happy with it for holding the 31".


Also mounted rear power panel and ran power to it.

 

[RumPunch]

Attempted to see how the hitch would fit on the bumper, no luck. Did end up getting the CB wired and installed and the antenna. Small accomplishments and check things off the list.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Ok... I'm just full of questions. Is this a bunch of pre-made jumpers in a fancy case?

You've inspired me to straighten up the garage and get busy on my console... and start building the wire harness. I haven't totally figured out how I want power at the liftgate but I want to put lugs to clamp my air compressor leads to.

 

[RumPunch]

@Uncle Gump

Yes it's a kit to connect meter to pretty much any terminal. Roughly $200 worth every penny not to have to hold pins on meter. That and a 2 wire wind up 30' lead I worked on AG and CF heavy equipment so harnesses could be 20-30 feet long on checking stuff on a 40' wide planter made it hard with typical meter leads.

So my console "looks" a little messy at first but infact each section is run off of its own Deutsch connector for all switches/gauges so if I need to work in there I can remove at a time etc. Once a section is removed the all the "loose" wires move out the way, plus all harnesses are long enough to remove the panel yet still be connected. The fuse portion gives power to the relay panel and several other components (CB radio etc) that didn't need a relay. Relays are individual for all functions( lights) with the exception of the fan which is wired under the hood to its own control (plus an override switch) but the under hood relay doesn't work so I have that to figure out but the override works fine for now.. just don't want to forget and run hot. May just wire it up to key on and be done with it.. Bus bar was my plan for connecting compressor in the rear not sure what route I will go as of now... Relay panel and harnesses took the most time but SO worth the effort. Build as much as you can on the bench, just saying..

 

[Uncle Gump]

I have another question for you Mr. Punch...

Is your oil pressure sender for you gauge a two wire (signal and ground) or single wire (signal) sender?

I finally got my vise mounted to my bench and was going to drill and tap a hole for a ground wire on the coolant hose adaptor and got to thinking about the oil filter adaptor. There is no ground lug on that either and I have a single wire sender. So... it will get its path to ground through the adaptor. I just don't see how it will provide a good ground for the sender with the big square cut o-ring and all the powder coating. I used the sandwich adaptor with a mechanical gauge and one with a two wire sender and they worked great. I'm just not sure it's going to work as well for single wire oil pressure sender.

 

[RumPunch]

I have another question for you Mr. Punch...

View attachment 83702

Is your oil pressure sender for you gauge a two wire (signal and ground) or single wire (signal) sender?

I finally got my vise mounted to my bench and was going to drill and tap a hole for a ground wire on the coolant hose adaptor and got to thinking about the oil filter adaptor. There is no ground lug on that either and I have a single wire sender. So... it will get its path to ground through the adaptor. I just don't see how it will provide a good ground for the sender with the big square cut o-ring and all the powder coating. I used the sandwich adaptor with a mechanical gauge and one with a two wire sender and they worked great. I'm just not sure it's going to work as well for single wire oil pressure sender.

My oil pressure sender is a 1 wire and I have continual issues getting a constant reading. You bring up a good point being it's through the oring and threads of the filter. Maybe why I am getting a mixed reading. I want to test this and add a ground to see if it fixes the issue. Give me a little to rest this and holler at any discrepancy.