1982 Bronco 351 4x4 - Code name Esperanza

[Gsmblue]

Those are two things I don’t have... it looks like the type of job where having the right tools is 90% of the equation. The parts are cheap.

Pesky onion!

[Gsmblue]

New springs with bushings are only $200...

[Gsmblue]

Ah-ha! The leak is higher than here, not to many places to check!

[Gary Lewis]

Cover/cap to cab seal?

[ArdWrknTrk]

Caulk in the rain gutter or cab side to back seam.

[Gsmblue]

Yeah, that caulk is dried up and yucky. Definitely suspect!

What is the right way to go about resealing the rain gutter and that seam at the top of the a-pillar?

[ArdWrknTrk]

I raked it out with a little plaster tool and replaced it with urethane caulk.

https://hydetools.com/product/crack-opener/

Do NOT use silicone.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Where does it go at the back, in a Bronco?

[Gsmblue]

Thank you! I have some picks i can use. I learnt the Si deal the hard way a few years ago..

[Gsmblue]

I have 2 pictures to share.

One is the finds off craigslist:


So now I have a working tach (it is the later open back style). I switched the printed circuit out too so now my ammeter works and my oil pressure is not so high.
The other pic is the temp out of my AC vents!


Even with the new blower it does not move a lot of air, but it is cold.  I think I need to dig through the vents and clean them out and fix that blend door...

Happy progress :)

[Gary Lewis]

That is good progress, and as Jim says, progress is good!

Good score on the Craigslist parts.  Some of those parts are hard to find.  And getting the tach and ammeter working is a big plus.  

[Gsmblue]

Another small step last night.

I replaced the motors in the drivers side window and the rear window. They reached a point where they could not close on their own.

Once the old motors were pulled I opened them and sure enough the plastic balls had completely disintegrated!

Now the windows close and the AC works :)

I notice in the tailgate that there is a switch connected to the handle that has been bypassed. I would like to fix that. I would also like to fix the rear defogger. Neither are high priority, but I would like to get to them at some point.

I am running out of interior projects... That rear axle and transmission rebuild are floating up the list...

[Gsmblue]

Here is the updated Espy work list:

Espy to-do/progress list:

Short term

Sound deadening trunk
Vacuum hoses all need to be replaced so they are all blue (50% done😎)
Fix heater’s blend door thingy
Shift indicator needs replacing
Paint rear speaker grills
Paint inside of tailgate with bed liner (the crappy blue that is there is annoying me!)


Medium term

Prep rust on body work
Install radius arm bushings (will need help here due to stupid rivets)
Prep rust under carpet
Sound deadening in foot wells/floor of cab
Replace carpet
Blue top steering box
Rear axle overhaul
Drivers Map light still dead
Wire up KC daylighters !
Paint remaining interior trim (I have a whole new F150 grey interior from the JY)


Long term (who knows!)

Transmission overhaul (shop job)
Rear window defrost needs fixing
Replace rear window
Paint body work
Replace body mounts
Dash pad replacement
Find sliding windows for back
Engine rebuild


Completed (most recent at bottom)

Installed Stainless steel braided brake lines and flushed the system.
Replaced brake booster
Replaced rear brake slaves
New rear brake shoes and springs
New rear brake adjusters
New center console
Center Console and glove box locks replaced
Driver side power lock actuator replaced
Windshield leak fixed
Re-align steering wheel, 3 times…
Custom plates
New custom diamond pattern padded headliner
Replace power window switches and bezels
Replace power mirror switches
Replace power lock switches and bezels
New Alpine BT149 stereo
New speakers (Infinity Reference 6.5 front 6x9 rear) and wires
Painted dash needles
Fixed idiot light films on dash
Replace power steering return hose
Replace headlights
Replace side marker lenses and bulbs
Replace rear light clusters and bulbs
Remove all old extra lights, switches and wiring
Replace all 6 shocks with KYB Gas-A-Just
Replace window wiper arms and blades
Installed all new weather stripping
Replace vacuum modulator for transmission
Installed center console
Replace battery terminal clamps
Installed new Edelbrock valve covers with new gaskets
Re-installed Edlebrock performer intake manifold with new gaskets
Installed new Edlebrock 1406 carb and a new air filter
Installed HEI dizzy/ignition
Installed new steering column top assembly
Installed Borg intermediate steering shaft
Installed factory grill
Replace steering wheel with padded version
Replaced Tachometer
Carburetor adjustment to lean idle
Drilled out tire swing arm bolts. 2 were rusted in
Paint/mount tire swing arm first silver then later black
New wheels (Ford 10 hole 15x8)
New tires  (Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac 31x10.5x15)
Installed washer jets
Replaced washer bottle/coolant overflow
New seals for the removable top
Painted the top bright white!
Replaced back up light switch
New Radiator (Sprectra Premium CU560)
New radiator cap (13lbs with manual pressure release)
Alternator cable replaced
New alternator
New alternator belt
New starter
New starter relay
New voltage regulator
New ground straps
Sound deadening on front doors and rear 3/4 panels
Replace Anti sway bar bushings front with MOOG
Replace Anti sway bar bushings rear with MOOG
Upgraded audio again (New Pioneer DEH7800 stereo, alpine did not cut it. Infinity reference amp and 8” active sub)
Install map pockets on doors
Install new front seats
Clean carpet
Clean up and paint rear seat hardware
Install new +ve battery terminal
New cargo liner
transfer case shifter boot
Washed seat covers
Install new rear defrost switch
New husky floor mats for front
Install 6x8 speakers in rear (with boom mats)
new intake studs
new valve cover studs
new carb studs
new intake gaskets (2nd time!)
Install intake while we are at it
1 inch carb spacer with 4 round holes
spark lead tidy things
2 more captain chairs arm rest covers
New paclock padlock on the spare wheel - paclock make great locks!
Dash light for hi-beam replaced
Replace PCV valve/breathers
replace breather hoses
Install AC parts from breakers
Update AC hardware to cope with r134a
Replace fuel line and move regulator
Replace battery tray
Charge AC system (had to get JY compressor, new drier, 1 new hose)
Replace Rear bumper (ordered from JY!)
Replace window motors

[Gary Lewis]

Wow, that's a loooooong list!  But it is good to be planning ahead.

However, the blend door isn't an easy or fun project.  

[Gsmblue]

Yeah, I am going to pull the whole dash this spring as I have a replacement in better shape. It is grey and needs painting though. I will deal with the blend door then as I will have full access. I am not worried about that one :)

I am hoping that I still have a job at the end of the month, then I can plan on getting transmission/rear axle serviced!

Until then I am scrambling through my parts boxes to work out what I can do. I will probably do some work on the truck as I have new door panels and sound deadening to install!

[1986F150Six]

Whew! It makes me tired reading that long list!

[Gsmblue]

Right!

I am driving the most expensive $900 Bronco in the state and I still have the big ticket items to go!

As I don't have a shop and real tools (presses, air tools, lift) I am limited with what I can do with a set of wrenches, sockets and a breaker bar. My back has a percent gravel texture these days!

The wife has agreed to let me build a shop. So maybe next year I will have a 20x20 4inch thick concrete pad poured and take it from there.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Pitch  the slab out the door and make sure to have a decent sized apron out front.

8x20x.33333 is only 2 extra yards and the concrete itself is cheap if you're compacting the base and setting forms anyhow.

Trust me on this.

[Gsmblue]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Pitch  the slab out the door and make sure to have a decent sized apron out front.

8x20x.33333 is only 2 extra yards and the concrete itself is cheap if you're compacting the base and setting forms anyhow.

Trust me on this.

Awesome, thanks.

I have added this to my notes on shop plans. When I get to this stage I will post on here again to refresh. Prob looking no sooner than next spring..

[Gsmblue]

Look what I picked up today for $10!!



It is in perfect working order. I painted the needle and installed it. A little thing that makes it better for the wife!