Project Guinea Pig

[prerunner]

Decided this morning that I'm going to set up the 73 Bronco D44 for the guinea pig 93. Easiest suspension is leaf springs (Ford78 recommended Full size Jeep) so thats the plan for now. I bought the axle missing a bunch of stuff, halfways changed to an S10 solid conversion for (I think) $140 a while back. Still has 4.09 gears inside that match the FX4 (4.10) axle I bought after Christmas.
Even if an early D44 wasn't as strong as the D35ttb, mounting it is far easier, cheaper and solves other issues like hubs, drop brackets and wonky steering. Its about the right width and saves me spending money I don't have on a ttb I'd eventually want to replace with a solid anyways. This isn't going to be my all-out rig (thats the 90 BroncoII) so the D44 is a fair choice made better with chromos. (One stock shaft is missing, so I bought chromos as replacements / insurance.)
Not in a great rush to do this, yet. The twin I beam will carry me a while.

As an update, most of the conversion is done and I'm just going over things that haven't gone so smoothly or that I might have missed like the old crank trigger plug that won't budge . A lot of the holdup is money. I've been out of work since Halloween.

I'll keep y'all posted.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I love my D-44 sas. It's way better off road and it looks mean as hell too!

 

[prerunner]

I totally agree. Nobody questions whether your truck has what it takes off road when they see an SAS.

Jim Oaks, if your reading this, I really wanted to click a "like button" for Rowdy's post. If you'd consider adding something like that, that'd be great.
Sorry buddy, best I can do for your post is add some rep and a thumbs up icon.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I haven't found a way to add a 'like' button for peoples posts. I think I know what you're talking about, I just don't know where the mod has came from.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Thank you!
Jim you could ask Facebook!? Jk lol

 

[prerunner]

Thanks guys. Hey, it was worth a try.

 

[prerunner]

Sold my SJ radius arms for some badly needed cash. Bought some hoses and fluids for the Ranger. Cambodian Tire didn't have an upper rad hose so I'll try Napa tomorrow if they're open Sunday, if not Monday.
Also sent in my disposable camera - should have pix up tomorrow eve. Picked up another for more pix in future too. And now... we wait.

 

[prerunner]

1973 U100 Bronco Dana 44. Outers are Chevy currently but need a Ford F150 rotor to convert it. Since the previous owner thoughtfully ground off the Ford mounts I'll continue with a leafspring conversion. This will be going into the Ranger after I pick up the things I need to finish rebuilding it, along with springs, shocks, Reid Racing knuckles and other miscellaneous swap crap. It has a 4.09 r & p in it (Dana Spicer gears, circa 1973) on an open carrier. Matches the 4.10 Torsen (2007 FX4) Ford 8.8 to go in around the same time.
I'm posting this to show it exists, just took it from my B II page.

In time I'll swap the open center for an Auburn posi I bought for this and maybe 4.88 gears (also have now.)

This is the direction I'm going here.

 

[prerunner]

Uploaded a bunch of pictures tonight Mostly from page 2 to 5. More updates to come...

 

[prerunner]

Had Tyller at North Shore Off Road price out full size Jeep leaf springs for me. He (again) recommends BDS, I think because NSOR is the distributor for BDS in Canada. Quote: " 4" front BDS springs = $227.25/spring (in stock.)"
I'm going to try a couple other places. Not sure if BDS is the way to go.
In checking a couple Jeep forums nobody seems to like them. I'll let ya know...

 

[prerunner]

Got a little time into it again today finally. Crossmember up and mounted, some missing bolts found and installed. I swear, I lose everything at least once a week. That little bolt for the speedo cable was in the damn lawn but I found it and its on the side of the tc now.
Passenger seat mounted too, though I gotta vacuum the broken glass out of it yet. I totally lucked out on these seats (07 FX4 gray leather,) they color match the interior plastic perfectly and look right at home in the 93.

If I get time tomorrow, I'll tackle the starter wiring. I couldn't just pull it down from the pass side, its mounted to a bracket on the block. Why, I don't know.
Its getting there, one screwup at a time.

 

[prerunner]

Spent a few hours on it again today. Got the positive cable moved over and just removed the negative off the right side. Okay, I guess the solenoid and fusebox must be on the right of the Sploders, that bracket was a factory thing - and a pita to get out. Its been a while and I kept moving it from side to side so I can't recall exactly.
Installed the skidplate which seems odd under the still 2wd pickup. I'll convert it to the 1354M after I dig the shifter out from under the Bronco.
Tomorrow, while the gf is at work I'm gonna clean the inside so I can install the console. Still chasing down conversion and things I've broken on it. I still hope to get it running this weekend. Don't know yet if the auto will work, seems like I skipped a step that connects the trans to the computer. Also, no kickdown(?) cable. Or, for that matter, a hood release mechanism.
Also need to finish "processing" the Sploder and get it converted to money. Money would be good about now.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Post up some pics of the consol when you get it in!

 

[prerunner]

Yes Sir!

 

[prerunner]

Well, I got some of Sunday to work on it and no, I didn't get it started up. I have a short in my electrical someplace thats causing the fuel gauge to max out. Turned the key to see if the pump would come on and it didn't. Starter doesn't bump either. Actually, only my lights work.
This thing has the remnants of two similar but different engine wiring harnesses in it, a different column and an automatic controlled by the computer. I should have expected problems in this area. Unfortunately I hate wiring and am not good at it.

I'll try to find more time for this sometime but have other pressing issues. (I need a job, the gf is really leaning on me hard.)
As I said before, if momma ain't happy - nobodys happy. (hey momma lol )