Gsmblue Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 Welcome to my project! Late last week I went to see a 1982 Bronco XLT Lariat 4x4 351.It was in rough shape, but for $900 I took the chance as in the last 12 months this is the only Bronco I could afford in Oregon! Heck, I had to fly to Portland when I bought my truck. The 2 mile drive home was interesting. The engine kept wanting to die. I mostly kept her in 2nd gear, staying light on the throttle, we made it with only 1 backfire. The good news is: Clean title and carfax report. 175k miles on her. She started, drove, changed gear and stopped on the one run we have done :) The body is pretty straight with only 2 patches of rust that will be an issue, the rear driver side corner and the tailgate. The rear tailgate window works The tires are new in the last year, even if they are not my choice of quality tire. Has power windows that work! Has power mirrors (not working) Has power locks (Not working and switches missing) Has underhood tool box Has locking hood release New battery New heater core New tie rods and bushings New front suspension bushings Speedo works Fuel gauge works Rear seat is in excellent condition with all belts intact Apparently the cruise control works.. so the previous owner told me The bad news is: The engine is not running well. The story the previous owner gave me is, “It was running rough so I rebuilt the carb, now it won’t run!” Missing AC compressor and related items Missing Smog pump and related items Electronic ignition has been disconnected and now has points! Lots of oil at the back of the passenger rocker cover None of the interior lights work. The steering has lots of play in it and the wheel doesn't sit straight The interior is in ok shape, a broken A pillar cover on the drivers side, missing switch bezels, missing rear b pillar trim. Dash pad is trash Warning lights in dash need the filters/screens re-attached but they are all there shifter knobs are missing Driver seat has a broken (cracked) base Need to check the tach and all the gauges/warning lights The previous owner was a heavy smoker so this thing STINKS! It has not been vacuumed since it was new… Exterior chrome is pretty shabby. Shocks are shot! This thing bounced all over the place! My local wreckers yard has a couple of Bullnoses at the moment :) So the short term plan is as follows I have almost everything on order to do the long list below: Engine bay: 1. Remove rocker covers and replace gaskets. While in there inspect the rockers and related areas and de gunk. New rocker covers are going on :) 2. Replace carb. I was going to service it but my friend talked me into a new one, so going with Edlebrock 1406. 3. Try and make sense of the wiring in the engine bay. There are a few “short cuts” and “customizations” 4. Inspect vacuum lines and the hoses, replace as needed 5. Inspect all fluids and filters, replace as needed 6. Check spark plugs and leads, replace as needed Exterior: 1. Replace all weather seals. 2. Inspect brakes and brake lines 3. Replace door strikers 4. Remove crappy aftermarket lights/stickers etc. 5. Replace tail lights 6. Replace wiper arms and blades 7. Replace washer fluid tank/coolant overflow tank 8. Inspect fuel lines Interior: 1. VACUUM EVERYTHING 2. BLEACH EVERYTHING 3. Pull all the seats out and shampoo carpet 4. Replace steering wheel, drivers seat 5. install power lock switches and bezels (will fix them another time) 6. Install power mirror switches and bezel 7. Remove crappy aftermarket wiring/lights/stickers/screws/brackets… 8. Go through all the fuses and bulbs and make sure they are all good. Most of the bulbs are missing The plan is to tackle all of this in April. I know sorting out the above will just open a new, more fundamental list of issues that need to be tackled, I regard this list as getting me to a clean slate... The end goal is to have this as a daily driver for the wife! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986F150Six Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 Great find. All of us will be following your progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 Congrat's! Looks like it is a highly-optioned truck, and should be fun to drive when you get all the layers on the onion peeled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford F834 Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 Very nice find! I’d say you did well for the price. When I was looking around a couple years ago anything in my price range was beat to death and not worth rebuilding. I ended up stumbling into a deal on my F150, but I’d still like to own a Bronco. Yours will be some work, but will make a great truck in the end. Looking forward to the progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzFace2 Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 Very nice find! I’d say you did well for the price. When I was looking around a couple years ago anything in my price range was beat to death and not worth rebuilding. I ended up stumbling into a deal on my F150, but I’d still like to own a Bronco. Yours will be some work, but will make a great truck in the end. Looking forward to the progress! Only $100 more than I paid for my project, 81 flare side that needed everything replaced.......that reads body off frame rebuild! I will be following your project to see how it progress. Dave ---- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gsmblue Posted April 11, 2018 Author Share Posted April 11, 2018 Only $100 more than I paid for my project, 81 flare side that needed everything replaced.......that reads body off frame rebuild! I will be following your project to see how it progress. Dave ---- I finally had time to work on Espy today. Degreased engine Installed new carb, gaskets, filters. Replaced broken seat frames Replaced washer/coolant bottle Replaced coolant (was empty as drain plug was loose) Installed power mirror switches (still not working) Replaced front indicator bulbs and lenses She fired up and ran good. I took her on 2 short runs and no problems. One observation - oil pressure seemed on the low side, it varied between the left of the N and middle of the O on the word “Normal”. Oil looks black and I am sure an oil change would help. I also picked up the following from the wreckers Clock module Ash tray Entire canopy with good windows, trim and bolts A pillar cover Front grill Ac pump Ash tray Swing out spare tire holder And the 2 seat frames mentioned at the start of this post. Ordered on line Electronic distributor Spark plugs Spark plug leads Windshield Washer hose and nozzle Wiper arms and blades Silicone vacuum hoses Next up is an oil change then I will pull the rocker covers and see how slushed up it is in there. Currently they are held on with a mismatched set of studs and bolts so need to pull them all out and work out what to use in there.. prob new studs.. Then the electronic ignition project will begin... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gsmblue Posted April 11, 2018 Author Share Posted April 11, 2018 I finally had time to work on Espy today. Degreased engine Installed new carb, gaskets, filters. Replaced broken seat frames Replaced washer/coolant bottle Replaced coolant (was empty as drain plug was loose) Installed power mirror switches (still not working) Replaced front indicator bulbs and lenses She fired up and ran good. I took her on 2 short runs and no problems. One observation - oil pressure seemed on the low side, it varied between the left of the N and middle of the O on the word “Normal”. Oil looks black and I am sure an oil change would help. I also picked up the following from the wreckers Clock module Ash tray Entire canopy with good windows, trim and bolts A pillar cover Front grill Ac pump Ash tray Swing out spare tire holder And the 2 seat frames mentioned at the start of this post. Ordered on line Electronic distributor Spark plugs Spark plug leads Windshield Washer hose and nozzle Wiper arms and blades Silicone vacuum hoses Next up is an oil change then I will pull the rocker covers and see how slushed up it is in there. Currently they are held on with a mismatched set of studs and bolts so need to pull them all out and work out what to use in there.. prob new studs.. Then the electronic ignition project will begin... A couple of pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted April 11, 2018 Share Posted April 11, 2018 A couple of pics LOL! I got confused. I read your signature and looked at the pic and said "That's not EFI!" Then I remembered that Espy is the new-to-you Bronco. Duh! But you got a LOT done today. That's a lot of work. The engine compartment looks a lot cleaner. On the oil pressure, that does look low. However, these gauges aren't the best, so I'd put an aftermarket set on before worrying. And an oil change would be the first thing to do. But, before you do, smell the oil. Does it smell like gas? I ask because I don't see a fuel pressure regulator, and Eddy's don't like more than about 5 1/2 psi. Unfortunately many fuel pumps put out more than that, which can cause an Eddy to overflow and put gas down into the crankcase, diluting the oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gsmblue Posted April 11, 2018 Author Share Posted April 11, 2018 LOL! I got confused. I read your signature and looked at the pic and said "That's not EFI!" Then I remembered that Espy is the new-to-you Bronco. Duh! But you got a LOT done today. That's a lot of work. The engine compartment looks a lot cleaner. On the oil pressure, that does look low. However, these gauges aren't the best, so I'd put an aftermarket set on before worrying. And an oil change would be the first thing to do. But, before you do, smell the oil. Does it smell like gas? I ask because I don't see a fuel pressure regulator, and Eddy's don't like more than about 5 1/2 psi. Unfortunately many fuel pumps put out more than that, which can cause an Eddy to overflow and put gas down into the crankcase, diluting the oil. I do need to update and shrink my signature! I can’t smell gas in the oil. The oil is thick and black so needs to be changed out ASAP! I should really get a decent after market gauge and measure fuel pressure, both added to the long list of things to do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gsmblue Posted April 13, 2018 Author Share Posted April 13, 2018 I do need to update and shrink my signature! I can’t smell gas in the oil. The oil is thick and black so needs to be changed out ASAP! I should really get a decent after market gauge and measure fuel pressure, both added to the long list of things to do! A little more progress today. I decided to tackle some easy stuff. Replaced rear light clusters and bulbs Replaced all the seals for the sliding rear window. Replaced ash tray. Cleaned up the tailgate insert panel So a nice 2 hours in the sun! 2 big take aways: 1. The replacement window seals are tight and the window is not able to go all the way up on its own. I am hoping it all frees up in time and it is not an old slow motor issue. 2. The internal electrics are a joke. none of the interior lights work (cabin or dash), the reverse lights don't work, the hazard lights don't work. There is extra aftermarket wiring near the fuse box and at the back bumper. I will prob have to ask for help on some of this... I will get some pics first... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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