86 Bronco II... G-Unit

[snoranger]

I'm not ruling anything out right now... thanks bobby

I did text the PO and he said he thinks it was Durabak liner... with the smooth finish. He rolled it. I dropped an email to Durabak and explained my situation. I'm going to see what they have to say. I know their site says you can rough up a previous Durabak coating... prep it and recoat.

I also went through the info dump of paper work he sent. I was glad to see the rear disc conversion information. It was a TSM kit... uses early 80's GM Toronado/Riviera/Eldorado rear calipers. At least i will have a clue if/when I need parts for it.

I sprayed the bed of my old company S10 with Durabak. It held up pretty good until someone spilled diesel fuel in the bed and left it there... that pretty much ate right through it.

 

[bobbywalter]

Diesel is cheap if it works

 

[bobbywalter]

Lugnut 4x4 has a modernized much better working version of the eldo calipers... I will be putting my rear calipers up front and those eldo style calipers in the back eventually on my ranger... The original setups are not always available.

 

[Fast Eddie]

You have a really nice score there but, IMHO, the bedliner paint job should probably go. Then again, if you're going to trail it, a nice paint job is just going to get scratched. Tough choice.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You have a really nice score there but, IMHO, the bedliner paint job should probably go. Then again, if you're going to trail it, a nice paint job is just going to get scratched. Tough choice.

That is the sucky part of bedliner, there isn't really any going back to paint.

 

[Uncle Gump]

You can come back from it but it's a major operation. Then paint is a bunch of money. It's all a lot of time too.

I'm gonna use this truck... I might not go thrash it off road... but it's going off road. It also needs to be my classic ride...

I don't want to get to far into it I don't want to scratch it. That would defeat everything I got it for.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Well I did make it to the SOS today. New drivers license... title transfer... new plates.

I guess the old G-Unit qualifies for what they call an Expanded Antique Plate. This one lets you drive anywhere anytime from April 1 to October 31. It also says if can be used for emergencies/travel for repairs and such in the off months. It was one third the price of the regular plate... win. It's even gray with black... pretty happy about the entire deal.

Tomorrow we do a little work and take a little drive.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Well time was a bit limited the past few days. My rant is in the Tailgate as to why time was limited.

Anyway... I got the chance to screw the plates on... torque the lugs. All the fluids are full and look new... I don't see any leaks... and all the major stuff is there and didn't see anything loose. So I jumped in was about to fire it up. Then thought I really need to drain the fuel and then thought... I'm just gonna drive it down the road and back... it will be ok. It fires up and is hitting on four maybe five of the six. I run it a bit and it cleans itself up and back to hitting on all six and I shut it down.

Came inside and ordered a few parts. A new sending unit seal and lock ring... new vent valve and grommet... a fresh set of plugs and two fuel filters. I'm just going to drop the tank and give it a proper cleaning. The fuel gauge did work the last time I ran it so maybe a poor connection or just started working on it's own after a dozen or so years of not being used. I'll know more when the tank is removed... and I hope to get to it this afternoon. My parts should be here tomorrow.

 

[RobbieD]

"Alive! . . . It's ALIVE!"

- from one of my favorite movies


Thanks for the update, and looking forward to hearing how it runs and drives.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I forgot to mention... I may have hit my first crossroad. The clutch fan is locked up. I would like to go electric cooling fans... eventually. Not sure if I should source parts over the winter and convert it or just buy a new fan clutch and call it a day for now.

 

[fastpakr]

Get a good fan clutch to get it running properly. Then you're in no rush to do the conversion when you're completely happy with the plan.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I think I'm on board with your thinking. It's fairly inexpensive and I would be happier getting my windows running up and down smoothly with door panels on the doors.

I have no problem figuring out ways to spend money on this thing... my list just keeps growing.

 

[ecgreen]

I have no problem figuring out ways to spend money on this thing... my list just keeps growing.

Boy do I know how that feels

 

[Uncle Gump]

Boy do I know how that feels

I watched enough of folks pulling out the bank roll enough to know how my project will work. I'm just thankful the G-Unit had a pretty sizeable start when I got it.

 

[ecgreen]

I watched enough of folks pulling out the bank roll enough to know how my project will work. I'm just thankful the G-Unit had a pretty sizeable start when I got it.

I paid 1500 bucks for my 89 with a blown motor (back before people thought a B2 was worth 10k rusted out and busted up). I am in at least another 5000 at this point; probably more. It will be another 5000 to 8000 by the time I am done. Good thing I am a patient man lol. I would also love to let a real body man at the rust at some pont. That would be another 3 to 5k...geesh.

Your truck is a heck of a starter! You found a gem IMHO.