The Bronco build

[Lurch]

Back on the road is one of the reasons for the build

Pulled the masking tape and paper off this morning. Very happy with the results.

[Lurch]

Made some progress. Still need to bolt the cage down but it's in.

[OldGreen]

It will be an honor to follow that down the trail.

[tobyw]

[Lurch]

I've made lots of progress but don't have any pics. Cage is bolted down. Body armor is on. Fender flares are all on. Front bumper and winch are on. Rock slides are built and painted. They are going on tomorrow. Along with new steering linkage (bent the old one....again). I'll try and get some pics tomorrow.

[tobyw]

Can't wait to see it!! You'll be able to smell my envy all the way from Texas

[Lurch]

So that's what that smell is. I just thought it was tacos.

[Lurch]

Made lots of progress this weekend. Just have little stuff to finish up at this point.

Here are the rock slides.









And installed



This is how it sits currently.

[OldGreen]

Wow. . .

[Grumpy]

Very well done...

[Lurch]

I'm finishing up all the small stuff today. Wheel bearings, cb, stereo, check all the fluids. Then I'm gonna try and put a few miles on it this weekend to make sure everything else is good.

[tobyw]

How did the test driving go?

[Lurch]

Good, drove it all over the place this weekend. Actually really enjoyed just running around in it. Only issue was with the power going to my amp and that's already fixed. You don't realize how big it looks till you see it in a parking lot full of cars.

[Wrench]

OK, now I know you are holding out on us.

I saw a yellow intake manifold sitting on your shop floor, yet you drove the rig to work today. Whatcha got going on under the hood??

Pics, please?

[Lurch]

I don't know whatcha talkin bout

[Lurch]

So it all started at pick up a mountain when I started looking for the cause of my hard start when hot. I found my exhaust had been tweaked and was almost touching my fuel line causing (fixed now) it to vapor lock. I also found my dist cap had a crack in it. Not to mention the original 90' spark plug wires. Time for a tune up, since I was gonna be in there..... I know a lot of you think that a v8 means big power. But to me the stock 5.0 is a little week. So I installed a few of the parts I have been collecting along with the normal tune up stuff. I've been holding out for a set of gt40 heads but got impatient. I replaced the stock stamped rockers with 1.7 roller rockers for a little more lift. I also replaced the upper and lower intake manifold with a gt40 take off from a ford explorer. Tossed in a 180 t-stat over the 192 in an attempt to keep things cooler. Advanced the timing to 14 degrees base timing (up from the factory recommended 10) and pulled the screen out of the mass air flow sensor for better air flow. I'm happy with the results. Throttle response is better and it pulls harder all the way around. Oh and since it was apart I polished the factory valve covers and top plate.

Here is a couple pics.











I also fixed my leaking fuel cap issue with this piece of bling

[SPR]

Cool stuff.

[Wrench]

So, GT40 intake but not the heads?

Just curious, but what cam and valve springs are you using? My Exploder needs an upgrade. I think it's going to end up with full-width 44/9inch SAS down the road, and I want to start prepping the engine.

[Lurch]

I plan on doing heads eventually just haven't found a set for a decent price. Or didn't have the money when I did. I still have the stock valve springs in it. I did a lot of Internet reading before I decided to leave them. I generally don't spend much time at high rpm and in all reality my engine has fairly low miles. These are what I plan to run when I do upgrade http://m.summitracing.com/parts/tfs-250 ... plication/
It still has the stock mustang cam in it right now. I had an e303 cam in a mustang a few years ago. It was lots of fun but not enough low end for a wheeler. I believe with the extra lift this cam works fine for now.

Eventually I want to build a 351w based stroker with 400 + ci. But that's a long ways off.

[Danny]

Tim, I might just know where you might be able to pick up the 351W really cheap...it's all torn down, so half the work's done, but it's all there. I just need to check with mini-me.