Bullnose Enthusiasts Forum › Projects

Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Classic

List

Threaded

585 messages Options

12345678 ... 30

Gary Lewis

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Administrator

Awesome! Man, that turned out great! I'll bet that is better than you even dreamed.

And it looks like Lesley agrees. She sure has a big smile.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

Nothing Special

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

A big reason for the smile is that the Bronco and I are both out of the garage! This (and the driver's side, and the carb rebuild) were supposed to be done over the winter, and now it's mid-July before we can use the Bronco! I've decided that I'm not going to start on the driver's side for a while. I had to do the passenger side because the body was sagging so much that the door was binding. But the driver's side is still usable. It was one month ago today that I started on the passenger side. I want to be able to enjoy the Bronco some this summer rather than be working on the driver's side until some time in August.

Bob
Sorry, no '80 - '86 Ford trucks
"Oswald": 1997 F-250HD crew cab short box, 460, E4OD, 4.10 gears
"Pluto": 1971 Bronco, 302, NV3550 5 speed, Atlas 4.3:1 transfer case, 33" tires
"the motorhome": 2015 E-450-based 28' class C motorhome, 6.8L V-10
"the Dodge": 2007 Dodge 2500, 6.7L Cummins

Gary Lewis

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Administrator

I understand. Trust me, I really understand. Enjoy it.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Administrator

In reply to this post by Nothing Special

Top down (off?) In the sun, and a beautiful woman with a big smile!

I would say life is very good right now.

Congratulations on a job well done!

You deserve to take some time and enjoy it.

AND you don't have to puzzle through your approach on the left side.
I do hope you had the foresight to bend two rash rails..

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Nothing Special

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Top down (off?) In the sun, and a beautiful woman with a big smile!

I would say life is very good right now. ....

Yep, that's why I have it!

ArdWrknTrk wrote

....AND you don't have to puzzle through your approach on the left side.
I do hope you had the foresight to bend two rash rails..

I figure if the first side took a month the second ought to take 2 - 3 weeks. And yes, I have all of the material, including the bent rash rail (waiting on that and getting the steel tube took several of the 31 days for the first one)

Nothing Special

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

... Dairy Queen was tonight!

Gary Lewis

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Administrator

Nothing Special wrote

... Dairy Queen was tonight!

Where are the pics?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Nothing Special

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Sorry, no pics. But it really did happen!

Gary Lewis

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Administrator

Yeah, right. That's what they all say.

Seriously though, that must be a blast. Big Blue is a bit large for easily slipping into stalls at Sonic, although he will fit if you are careful. So we don't take my project truck there very often. But Janey asked last night when we'll be taking it out and I said "Maybe in August."

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Nothing Special

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

With most restaurants only open for drive-through we just did the DQ drive-through and drove back home while we drank our shakes. So not really an opportunity to take a picture even if I had brought a camera.

But yeah, I get the struggle of taking a full-size truck to a drive-in. Today I had to run past the bank on my way to work to deposit a couple of checks. With my crew cab F-250 I often park in the lot and go to the walk-up ATM. In the Bronco today the drive-through ATM is a piece of cake!

And hey, August isn't far away! How long has it been since Big Blue's been on the road? I know you're looking forward to driving him, because I know how I felt getting my Bronco out after being parked since November!

Gary Lewis

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Administrator

Not sure exactly how long BB's been off the road. But just about a year. The thread started in May of '19 and wandered around very badly so it is hard to say exactly when the tear-down started. But sometime last summer.

Yes, it will feel good to finally have him running, if not quite on the road.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Nothing Special

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

When people get new tires for a vehicle they often say "it's got new shoes." Well, these aren't new shoes, they're new boots. Hiking boots.

About 3 years ago I decided that my 33/10.50x15 BF Goodrich All-Terrains were too narrow, too tame and too worn out. Plus I wanted to quit beating up the Alcoa rims I'm using. So I wanted new tires. Didn't happen before Ouray in 2018. Didn't happen before Moab in 2019. But now it's happened!

Last week I picked up a set of ProComp Xtreme MT2 tires, in 33/12.50x15 on black steel wheels (i had been planning on beadlocks, but the budget suggested a different plan). They look quite a bit bigger than the old tires, but as the numbers indicate, they're the same diameter. The Bronco sits 1/4" higher with the new tires, but with ~1/2" tread depth on the new and the old being too close to bald, if these tires were bald and the old ones were new it would be reversed.

They are quite a bit wider (2" in theory, and that seems pretty close), and it's almost all on the outside, just like I wanted. They stick in MAYBE 1/4" more, so I might get a bit more rubbing on my radius arms, but they should clear everywhere else. And sticking out almost 2" more will help keep the sheetmetal off the rocks a little better.

The wheels didn't fit when I first brought them home. The stick-on balance weights hit the brake caliper bracket in front. So I had to take them back to be balanced with the weights farther in-board. Then I was able to put them on the Bronco last night.

So far not a lot of experience with them, just a 10 mile commute. I'd say the handling is OK. Definitely more steering input needed to keep going straight. They are significantly louder than the ATs, probably to the point of being annoying. For the most part they seem to run smooth, but I did get a vibration a little over 60 mph on one stretch of highway. It went away when I sped up or slowed down, and wasn't there about a mile later. Again, probably annoying if these were to get a lot of highway miles.

So obviously these are a worse compromise than the old ATs as far as the on-road performance is concerned. But my intent is for these tires to just be used on 'wheeling trips. So yes, they'll get some highway miles (especially on the tow bar). But for most of my driving I'll keep the nice Alcoa rims, and when the BFGs are completely worn out I'll replace them with a smaller, even more street-oriented tire. Something like an all-season in a P235/75x15. So for what these tires are (the hiking boots!) I think I'm going to like them!

Gary Lewis

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Administrator

Those look good, Cory! And, that sounds like a reasonable plan on tires for wheeling vs street use.

And with the noisy tires on just for wheeling it won't be a problem in the Bronco, but I assume the noise won't be heard in the tow vehicle?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Nothing Special

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Yeah, they aren't so loud that I expect I'll hear them from the motorhome especially. And probably not if I ever tow it with the truck again either. But there are "trail days" that involve a fair amount of highway driving. Top of the World is about an hour outside of Moab, and anything in the Black Hills or most of Colorado (Ouray being the exception) involves a lot of highway miles. So we'll "get to" listen to them plenty. I think they'll be acceptable for that, but time will tell. Plus this weekend I'm heading down to Missouri, driving the Bronco! (I'll be wearing ear plugs, which I'd do for the wind noise even without the tire noise)

(And no, you didn't get the wrong name in spite of my having my name in my signature. When I saw you called me "Cory" I realized that I don't have my name in my sig like I had assumed. So I just added it.)

Gary Lewis

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Administrator

Where are you headed in MO? We are looking for decent places to take Big Blue since the Oklahoma Adventure Trail is rather tame. (I assume you heard about that?)

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Bruce moose4x4

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Gary, there are three Off Road Parks in Southwest MO. Rush Springs Ranch, down near Pineville. Hooter Holler near Mountain Grove. and the local one for me is SMOOR AKA Southern Missouri Off Road Ranch. I have been to SMOOR several times, have not been to the others. I think they all have some mild to wild trails.

Bruce aka Moose--1978 F250 LWB Flareside, Dana 60's w/ 4:10's, 460, c6

Nothing Special

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

I'm heading to SMORR to meet with a group of virtual friends. Should be a fun trip, but unfortunately Lesley isn't joining me. If she was I'd take the motorhome, but since it's just me I thought I'd make it a bit of an adventure (and cheaper!).

Gary Lewis

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Administrator

In reply to this post by Bruce moose4x4

Bruce! You are still reading the mail! Cool!

Bob - Have a good, but safe, time.

But I don't think we are ready for an offroad park. Instead we are looking for some rugged roads that have some scenery. Maybe southeast OK?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

Administrator

In reply to this post by Nothing Special

Bob, the new boots look great on the little Bronco!

I love the stance it has now, and hope you have a great time at the off-road ranch!

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Bruce moose4x4

Re: Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Yes Gary, still checking in every night. You might check out Backroadadventures.net They have a couple of drives (not sure they are rugged roads by any means) River Run One starts at MO/ARK/OK corner and runs up to Roaring River State park. (Trout Hatchery) And also a Gladtop trail between Chadwick, MO and Ava, MO which is supposed to be one of the best for fall foilage.
Your truck is coming along nicely, Congrats.

Bruce aka Moose--1978 F250 LWB Flareside, Dana 60's w/ 4:10's, 460, c6

12345678 ... 30