Nothing Special's '71 Bronco

[ArdWrknTrk]

Not THAT much. There's one lay of sound deadening and a layer of foam, but that doesn't kill the road noise of the tires nor the nice sounds that emerge from the headers & Magnaflows. So even with that, listening to the "radio" gets old pretty quickly as you have to crank it up.

When I'm by myself on drives I often do crank it up, but when someone else is in with me I don't bother as they either don't appreciate the combined loudness or want to talk - or both.

And then there was the issue with the Garmin Montana insisting on hogging the Bluetooth and the Sony couldn't connect to my iPhone. I finally figured out how to turn BT off on the Garmin so now I can use the Sony.

How's that Sony head unit working out for you?

I suppose the shallow frame allows even more room for 'Mission Control' wiring up in the dash.

[Gary Lewis]

How's that Sony head unit working out for you?

I suppose the shallow frame allows even more room for 'Mission Control' wiring up in the dash.

Worked well until I installed that Garmin, at which point the Sony appeared to forget the iPhone from time to time. I'd pair it again with the iPhone, although it might have already been paired, and we'd have a connection. Then later it wouldn't work again.

That's when I did some sleuthing and found the Garmin appeared to be hogging the Bluetooth. Don't know if it just doesn't play nicely or what, but it would pair with the Sony even when I'd told the Sony to forget it. Somehow the Garmin would convince the Sony they needed to dance and it would automatically pair.

Now that I've turned BT off in the Garmin it looks like the Sony connects to the iPhone reliably, but that's only been recently so the jury is still out.

[Nothing Special]

Worked well until I installed that Garmin, at which point the Sony appeared to forget the iPhone from time to time. I'd pair it again with the iPhone, although it might have already been paired, and we'd have a connection. Then later it wouldn't work again.

That's when I did some sleuthing and found the Garmin appeared to be hogging the Bluetooth. Don't know if it just doesn't play nicely or what, but it would pair with the Sony even when I'd told the Sony to forget it. Somehow the Garmin would convince the Sony they needed to dance and it would automatically pair.

Now that I've turned BT off in the Garmin it looks like the Sony connects to the iPhone reliably, but that's only been recently so the jury is still out.

Another small project knocked out. Last year when I built the front axle I figured out how high I needed to mount my front bump stops to get them functional again. But when I had it finished and tried cycling the suspension without the springs I realized that I had GREATLY underestimated the amount the bumpstops would compress. So I needed to raise them still more. After I got another round toit

Well I finally got that round toit. The first picture below shows an original bump stop on the bottom with my extended one on top. I tapped a sleeve so I could thread a piece of ready rod in to extend the stud. And I made a spacer (to the left and between the two bump stops) to actually raise it. The second picture shows the passenger's side bump stop installed.

[Gary Lewis]

Another small project knocked out. Last year when I built the front axle I figured out how high I needed to mount my front bump stops to get them functional again. But when I had it finished and tried cycling the suspension without the springs I realized that I had GREATLY underestimated the amount the bumpstops would compress. So I needed to raise them still more. After I got another round toit

Well I finally got that round toit. The first picture below shows an original bump stop on the bottom with my extended one on top. I tapped a sleeve so I could thread a piece of ready rod in to extend the stud. And I made a spacer (to the left and between the two bump stops) to actually raise it. The second picture shows the passenger's side bump stop installed.

That looks nice! And the bump stop is not only functional but adjustable.

[Nothing Special]

.... As for what name, it all makes sense. So, are you going to slap a decal on him?

Pluto already has his namesake hanging from the rear view mirror and a magnet with his picture on the ash tray in the dash. I may or may not add more "dog tags" in the future, but this is good for now!

Both of the "dog tags" on Pluto were inside, so it seemed like he needed something on the outside. And actually having his name seemed like a good idea. But Lesley thought we could do better than slapping a decal on.

So I touched up the scratched black paint on the bumper and Lesley made a stencil. After hitting it with some yellow spray paint, Pluto has a dog tag with his signature on it! (or maybe it's a tramp stamp??? No, Tramp is from a different Disney movie!)

[ArdWrknTrk]

.... As for what name, it all makes sense. So, are you going to slap a decal on him?

Pluto already has his namesake hanging from the rear view mirror and a magnet with his picture on the ash tray in the dash. I may or may not add more "dog tags" in the future, but this is good for now!

Both of the "dog tags" on Pluto were inside, so it seemed like he needed something on the outside. And actually having his name seemed like a good idea. But Lesley thought we could do better than slapping a decal on.

So I touched up the scratched black paint on the bumper and Lesley made a stencil. After hitting it with some yellow spray paint, Pluto has a dog tag with his signature on it! (or maybe it's a tramp stamp??? No, Tramp is from a different Disney movie!)

That's cute Bob.

Lesley did a great job too!

[Gary Lewis]

That's cute Bob.

Lesley did a great job too!

I agree! (From France.)

[grumpin]

.... As for what name, it all makes sense. So, are you going to slap a decal on him?

Pluto already has his namesake hanging from the rear view mirror and a magnet with his picture on the ash tray in the dash. I may or may not add more "dog tags" in the future, but this is good for now!

Both of the "dog tags" on Pluto were inside, so it seemed like he needed something on the outside. And actually having his name seemed like a good idea. But Lesley thought we could do better than slapping a decal on.

So I touched up the scratched black paint on the bumper and Lesley made a stencil. After hitting it with some yellow spray paint, Pluto has a dog tag with his signature on it! (or maybe it's a tramp stamp??? No, Tramp is from a different Disney movie!)

Cool!

I was driving from Arizona Saturday and saw a very nice early Bronco, then came up on one being towed.

Then two or three more. Must have been some get together somewhere.

I believe I was on 395 down around Olancha California when I saw them.

They all looked great!

[Nothing Special]

Cool!

I was driving from Arizona Saturday and saw a very nice early Bronco, then came up on one being towed.

Then two or three more. Must have been some get together somewhere.

I believe I was on 395 down around Olancha California when I saw them.

They all looked great!

Thanks all!

We just got back from another trip to Southern Missouri Off Road Ranch (SMORR) with Pluto. I'll do a trip report, but that'll probably take a while as I have a LOT of video to go through! But for now I'll say here that it was a great trip, Pluto did great, but he did receive the worst damage he's ever received (it seems like I keep saying that...).

(edit to add: here's the trip report)

The worst was a big dent on the top of the right front fender from a tree root (yes, a tree root on the top of the fender, the video will explain it when I get it posted). That one hurt a bit . The fender is open behind there, so I might try to push it out. We'll have to see what happens there.

I also broke one of my auxiliary backup lights. That wasn't a surprise (the surprise was that I didn't break the other one). But I knew they were vulnerable, so that's why I buy cheap tractor flood lights.

I don't know if the next issue was trail damage or just old parts wearing out, but the spare tire latch started letting go at inopportune times, letting the spare carrier swing around. For now a rope is making sure it stays put, but a new latch is in the near future.

And I finally actually bent the rear bumper. I've hit it a lot over the years, but until this trip it's just been scratches (I have bent both ends of the front bumper).

So here are the pictures of the damage. Dented fender:

Broken light:

Bent bumper:

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks all!

We just got back from another trip to Southern Missouri Off Road Ranch (SMORR) with Pluto. I'll do a trip report, but that'll probably take a while as I have a LOT of video to go through! But for now I'll say here that it was a great trip, Pluto did great, but he did receive the worst damage he's ever received (it seems like I keep saying that...).

(edit to add: here's the trip report)

The worst was a big dent on the top of the right front fender from a tree root (yes, a tree root on the top of the fender, the video will explain it when I get it posted). That one hurt a bit . The fender is open behind there, so I might try to push it out. We'll have to see what happens there.

I also broke one of my auxiliary backup lights. That wasn't a surprise (the surprise was that I didn't break the other one). But I knew they were vulnerable, so that's why I buy cheap tractor flood lights.

I don't know if the next issue was trail damage or just old parts wearing out, but the spare tire latch started letting go at inopportune times, letting the spare carrier swing around. For now a rope is making sure it stays put, but a new latch is in the near future.

And I finally actually bent the rear bumper. I've hit it a lot over the years, but until this trip it's just been scratches (I have bent both ends of the front bumper).

So here are the pictures of the damage. Dented fender:

Broken light:

Bent bumper:

Ouch! That has to hurt. Hope you get the worst of it repaired.