Finally starting to tear into the B2...

[moogvo]

I finally got started on my B2 project. It needs head gaskets and maybe heads... You can check out the thread here: http://moogautomotive.net/forum/buildup-threads/tom%27s-bronco-ii-project/ complete with pictures.

PS... if anyone wants to come over and wrench, I have plenty of soda and iced tea! Woohoo!

 

[disciplerocks]

Keep us updated over here with some pics

 

[moogvo]

I ALMOST got the heads off yesterday. The exhaust manifolds stopped me cold in my tracks though. I will try again today after a trip to the store for some impact sockets.

 

[moogvo]

The exhaust manifolds will NOT come off. I have all but floated the truck in penetrating oil. I tried to get the flange bolts off with an impact wrench, but no love there either. I am probably going to have to cut the exhaust pipe with a sawzall to get the heads out with the manifolds attached and then work on the manifold bolts on the bench.

I had hoped to have the heads to the machine shop by now...

I suppose this would be a great time to look into headers for this project. I have found some that say they will fit an 88-90 B2... Mine is an 87. What is different that they won't fit? Any suggestions on headers?

Any suggestions on getting the manifolds off?!

here are a couple of pics of the work in progress. These shots are from Friday. Much more work has happened since then!

 

[country0001]

Heat. Put a propane torch on them. You'll more than likely break them off anyways.

You can also mix ATFand acetone in a 50/50 mix to use as a penetrante.

Good luck!

 

[Surrey]

Get some of these...

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...ng%2BBolt%2BRemover%252C%2B2-Pc.jsp?locale=en

Sears might sell them too? Mastercraft and Craftsman are the same thing, but I dont think sears carries all the same products as Crappy Tire...

edit - I recently tore down a 2.9, and ended up cutting the Y pipe to get the drivers side head out, due to stripped bolts. I dont own a set of those bolt removers... Yet.

 

[azbronco2]

Thats awesome got the daughter involved start them young!!!

 

[bobbywalter]

bust the bolts off or murder the manifold with a 2 pound....and goggles...


maybe a mouth protector

 

[moogvo]

Haahaahaa! I decided to take the exhaust loose at the flange. I destroyed a cheap-o impact gun, so I had to go to Lowe's to get another gun... only the Lowe's in my town was raped by a tornado over the weekend, so I had to drive to another Lowe's which was mobbed with people.

In any case, I got the flanges off and the heads came off today. One of the spark plugs had a mashed electrode, so there is the reason for the skipping... I put the heads on the bench and went at the manifolds with the impact wrench, but wound up breaking off all of the bolts. Machine shop wants $35.00 per bolt to extract them. I can buy re-manned heads for less. I am looking at Cylinder Heads international out of Dallas. the seem to be really knowledgeable and friendly enough. At $350.00 for the set and $20.00 for shipping (both ways), it doesn't seem like a bad deal.

I can't see any cracks in the heads, but some asshat put gobs of block seal in the engine and stopped up all of the cooling passages in the heads... I am probably better off ditching them for some re-manned ones anyway.

While I wait, I figured I would clean the engine bay and paint the engine parts. I also have a new water pump for it along with new belts and hoses. I am trying to figure out how to wash the engine block without getting any water into the cylinders. I am open to ideas...

 

[bobbywalter]

while best to go reman, may want to take a close look at the manifold bolts as that is a simple solution

 

[country0001]

Get some of these...

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...ng%2BBolt%2BRemover%252C%2B2-Pc.jsp?locale=en

Sears might sell them too? Mastercraft and Craftsman are the same thing, but I dont think sears carries all the same products as Crappy Tire...

.

Irwin makes some of those too. They rock!

 

[moogvo]

I got the heads off yesterday. I think every single seal on this engine leaks... some more than others!

Here is what happens to your water jackets when you fix your leaking water pump by pumping your radiator full of stop leak (I am guessing that this was the cause of the problem that got me this Bronco so cheap!):

I had already punched out most of the blockages with a screw driver before taking the pics...

 

[4.0B2]

looks like a 4.0 swap candidate to me......lol
keep us updated. looking forward to see what happens next..

4.0 swap aint hard...

 

[Surrey]

Machine shop wants $35.00 per bolt to extract them.

Better idea. Get some of these...

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/...artial&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber

I didn't suggest them before because they are useless to try and use inside the engine bay to get them out, but now that the heads are off and you can attack 'em on a bench, these should do the trick.

edit - these should be available at lowes or pretty much any other hardware store. Much easier to find than the previous tool I showed you.

 

[azbronco2]

ya put a 4.0L in it you will be happier