Project Guinea Pig

[prerunner]

Made the decision yesterday to give up on the Bronco II. Reality check: I don't have time, space or money for two projects. Hell, I'm struggling with one. It'll hit Craplist probably on the weekend. Shame since its a last month of production (feb, 90?) one with a factory D35.

On a positive note, I picked up Mustang convertible motor mounts yesterday.

Edit: Oil filter relocation kit today. My first time in Mopac Surrey. Wow.
They have the Hedman 88400 hedders in stock but I'm tapped out till next weekend.
NSOR quoted $280 for a body lift. Thats a wow of a different kind.

 

[prerunner]

I've had this persistent thought that I could get the '86 Dana 60HP underneath this toilet fairly simply and, relatively speaking, cheaply. Googled the sh*t out of possible methods and then finally crawled under it with a tape measure.
The outside to outside of the frame is 30" wide. Turns out that Ranger rear spring hangers give a 36 1/2" center to center spring width. Perfect. Who knew? lol
Well thats the rear mount bracket but the front is a PITA because of the "crumple zone" (messed up, dimpled and holed) front of the frame. If it was flat I'd use the same brackets on the front but it ain't. So I'm not quite back to the drawing board but it'll drive me nuts until I figure something out. I really want this to bolt together because I don't weld.

So I've bought two more spring hangers and another Belltech 6400 shackle kit. I need a leaf pack with about 24" from the spring eye to the center pin and longer is better at the other end. I'm gonna try the Dakota / Durango leaves to start. 24"/ 32". (http://littlekeylime.com/MrN/mrnimages/leaf_springs.png) $30 each at the Pick a Part.

I'm not quite ready to gank the 4.0 out since every time I crawl under it I start trying to figure the spring SAS out. There really ought to be an accepted method like there is with the D44. This probably isn't going to be it.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

You'll get it figured out. But if you know someone who has a shop, you could get the materials, measurements and build s crossmember that has spring hangers under it and make it bolt to the frame.


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[prerunner]

You'll get it figured out. But if you know someone who has a shop, you could get the materials, measurements and build s crossmember that has spring hangers under it and make it bolt to the frame. /QUOTE]

Good to see you back, buds.
I yanked the bumper for a better look at the frame and using the factory brackets (in reverse) isn't out of the question with a lot of tweaking.
I considered having something made too and have it as plan b. I barely know anybody around here though.

But I'm running out of time. I have to have it all together and operable by September 4th. Even doing all swaps as quick and dirty as possible I'll probably run out of weekends first in which case I need to concentrate on getting my crap out of the gf's yard and cleaning the mess thats left.

Seriously considering moving away from here to escape the fascist neighborhood. I warned her for years that if my "junk" goes, I go with it.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Well that's a bummer!


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[prerunner]

bye bye 5.0 sploder.

Well, I totaled the sploder on the way home from work yesterday. Have today off with some aches and pains. I'm supposed to go get my crap out of it today, I'll take pix then.
Not too sure about the procedure but I want it back for its drivetrain.

 

[RockRanger]

Bummer. Hope you heal quickly.

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[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Dang sorry to hear that bud! Glad you're ok!


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[prerunner]

Thanks guys.

That which does not kill you makes you stronger. (not that I feel stronger today...)
(thats me butchering a quote by Nietzsche.)

 

[prerunner]

I'm supposed to go get my crap out of it today, I'll take pix then.

Well I waited an extra day to go to the truck as I no longer have wheels. The gf is quite put out having to help me.
I took two pictures and somehow scrubbed all the pictures off the disc before I got home.
No idea how I did that.

I should be able to get it back easily but probably never insurable again. Although I didn't think the damage was all that bad personally.

Hopefully I should have another dd by the end of the day.

 

[prerunner]

The Sploder will come home tonight. Its going to solve the engine transmission part of the Ranger debacle. The F350 will give up wheels and axles. I'm off most of this week so I gotta be quick toasting these turds out.
Still haven't found a dd, not that I haven't tried. Typical craplist flakes wanting to sell stuff but not returning messages. SMH.

Pix tomorrow.

 

[prerunner]

It came back earlier than the tow co said so here's the mess:

Looks like the rad support on the drivers side is shoved back a bit.
The tow co got me pretty good for storage & towing. Not sure how much of a dd beater I can afford right now. I'm betting not very much.
This needs a rethink.

 

[prerunner]

I think I have to fix it since I didn't have collision coverage. Ugh.

Its

I can pretty much promise it won't be pretty afterwards.

Well I guess it just became a project.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Lol don't go and piss the gf off!


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[prerunner]

Ya. She gave me attitude when she pulled up this morning while I was disassembling the front end. "Call the junk shop, get rid of all these things. Then you can get a better one."

My answer was "Thats your answer for everything. Make me start over again from scratch. (unsaid: while taking another money loss.) And you wonder why I'm moving out."

She glared then drove in the garage.
I can half-assed fix the Sploder. I can't fix the rift growing between her and I.
I started a thread for the "daily demo car" in the "Explorer's Under Construction" forum or whatever its called.