Boulder Racing

[Grimm]

We are really starting to tear our truck up and finally getting something going with the build so I decided to start a build/update thread for us.
A little history of us I guess is in order. Our namesake comes from where we (my buddy and myself) originally started talking about racing some 10 odd years ago. Boulder, CO. A bit far from the desert but closer than where I'm at now. Our project is currently being built in Florida but will eventually end up back in Colorado as our home base. A little hard to find a race shop down here but we are managing, slowly but surely.
Having always wanted a Bronco and being born in 1978, we dicided to build off of a '78 Bronco platform, knowing that in stock form it had stout components.
Details:
So far we are running a built 434 400m block.
Rear end will be a Full Float 9"
Front D44
C-6 NP205
Deaver rear leafs with 3" bypass'
Front 2.5" coilovers w 3" bypass'

So things have been slowely progressing and vearing on and off course but its a start.
I'll Post some pics in a few days once i figure this camera stuff out.

[Broncodawg]

Great platform to start from, gonna give the Moss bros a run huh;)
Post some pics, Greg

[Grimm]

Here are a few pics before we start on the cage. Nothing much or too interesting, just wanted to post some before pics. Thanks to everyone who showed me how to post pics. More pics to come with progress.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC00010.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC00006.jpg
After taking the dash out

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC00002-1.jpg
Cut the bed out

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC00005.jpg
I could not for the life of me figure out how to get the body mounts off.

[Grimm]

The exterior. Not sure what colors to run....We'll figure that out last.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/Boulderracingsponsorphoto-08.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/Boulderracingsponsorphoto-05.jpg

[Grimm]

Ooops, those two were a little big. But it works.

[Blanco]

I like the color its got now. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/m2c.gif

[petepecas]

The truck looks beautiful, Why change the color??
Classic is Classy!

Hope to see it running in the near future!

[straightaxle]

That looks SO familiar!

Those body mounts are a biatch. You kind of have to drill them out, which is a pain because they want to spin.

The current color looks great, but yeah, once you pull the trim off and have all those little holes, and the crooked paint lines, etc.

[AngerIssues]

That looks SO familiar!

Those body mounts are a biatch. You kind of have to drill them out, which is a pain because they want to spin.

The current color looks great, but yeah, once you pull the trim off and have all those little holes, and the crooked paint lines, etc.

I would consider a sawzall (through the rubber) and follow the frame. Or try a torch, but that could get ugly. I think I sawzalled....

if you paint that you are nuts. It is awesome.

please tell us what method you DID use for the pics. those are nice-sized. supermotors works, but sucks going there to post.. and then coming back here to link (zzzzzz)

[Blanco]

please tell us what method you DID use for the pics. those are nice-sized. supermotors works, but sucks going there to post.. and then coming back here to link (zzzzzz)

He use'es PhotoBucket. :cool:

[Grimm]

Ya, photobucket. Roaringrory did a great job of explaining it to me in the "off topic" section. Very easy, i just open two browsers and just copy from their and paste here.

In real life the paint is not as nice as those pictures would lead you to believe, but it does look good in those pics (I think they were enhanced by photo shop or something). I figured we'd probably keep the same color skeem and maybe add a racing stripe down the hood just for laughs. Straightaxle is right. Once the trim is off there is the original ugly green paint under it and all.

Thanks for the replies guys. Any ideas or constructive or other criticisms would be appreciated.

[pigracing]

That is a good looking truck man!!

[Blanco]

Straightaxle is right. Once the trim is off there is the original ugly green paint under it and all.

Do SCORE rules require you remove the trim? :confused:

[straightaxle]

Do SCORE rules require you remove the trim? :confused:

I don't think they do, you could always wait and use the Mexican cactus to remove a single trim piece at a time........

[AngerIssues]

Straightaxle is right. Once the trim is off there is the original ugly green paint under it and all.

Someone on this site might be offended by the reference to GREEN....:D

I don't recall whose build it was...(it looks nicer than my truck, but my eyes are still burning from the photos :)

Hope you can take a little teasing with a color like that Roach. It will all be funny to YOU when you pass me, I'm sure!

ken

[Grimm]

The first of the cage work has started.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cage-5.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cage-2.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cage-1.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cage-4.jpg
Removed the front fenders and grill and all that junk

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cage-3.jpg

[AngerIssues]

cool! Don't get discouraged!!! You gotta long ways to go, but it will be worth it when you take that first green flag - even more so when you take a first checkered flag, no matter where you finish.

[Grimm]

Coming along nicely. If you guys see anything that raises some concerns or legality, please let me know. I'm new to this stuff.
Thanks.
Scott

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cagework2-6.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cagework2-5.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cagework2-4.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cagework2-3.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cagework2-2.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cagework2-1.jpg

[straightaxle]

Looks good (and REALLY familiar). What you have there is all that is required by SCORE, as long as it is 2" x .120 wall and you have gussets in all the main intersections.

[3amigo]

Are you using 2X3" to land your hoops on? From the pics it looks like that is what you used to connect from the frame out to the hoop.

I like it. Very similar to what is going into mine, shrunk down to isuzu size of course:)

[Grimm]

It's a 3x3 tube, ya. Worked out nice, fit right between our front leaf spring mount. We will probably end up fabing a mount up for them to the bottom of 3x3.

[3amigo]

How much tube do you have in your cage? I need to get mine ordered.

[peteh]

i like it:D

[Grimm]

We bought If i remember correctly 5 sticks of 20ft 2" .120 and 1 of 1-3/4 .95 for the non contributory parts of the cage. There is still a lot of smaller pieces of the 2" lying around that we will more than likely use at some point.

I did not realize how heavy this stuff is...jeez. I'm glad we have striped most of the excess sheet metal to help compensate.

[Grimm]

Got some of the front cage done, a few more bars in the back and the quarter panel mounts done. I'm not crazy about the way we ended up stabalizing the rear quarter panels, I'm in the process of re thinking those, although it is very solid the way it is now.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cage2-5.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cage2-4.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cage2-3.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/cage2-2.jpg

[BajaBronco13]

Looking good Grimm. Moss Bros are going to have some competition. :)

What are your plans for mounting your spare tire(s)?

[Grimm]

Well, We were originally going to mount them one on each side hanging out the back, which is right where those quarter panel braces are. That is what I really want. If we don't switch those braces, we will likely mount them right behind the center together hanging out the back, but with them turned sideways. So if you are looking at the rear of the truck you will see the rim of the tire. I have a picture in my head of what i want. It really should be function first but I can't help but want a little style to go with it. Thats probably confusing but hopefully some pics soon.

[AngerIssues]

Ya... seems like you got yourselves into a bit of a pickle... having the battery boxes there, yet supporting the rear fenders the way you do.

I know you don't want to hear it now... but leaving the rear cross-member/body mount (for lack of a better word)... intact across the back worked out very well for us. The fender mounts (stock) at the back bottom are pretty damn strong. I will look for a picture, but I don't think I have one that describes what I'm trying to say... Plus, my jack mounts to that same piece (it's not cross-member like underneath... it's cross member/body member where the bottom of the tail-gate butts up to. argh. hate attaching pics here!

[Grimm]

Ya, thats how i had it cut out originally when i brought it to my fab guy to build the cage. We talked about it and I told him what I thought about that rear cross member staying intact. The next thing I know he's cut every piece of sheetmetal off this thing except for the fenders.:eek: He is real big on saving as much weight as possible. Not much I can do now. Those battery trays might go behind the drivers compartment, not mounted yet. It does save a ton of weight, but now i've got to re think the spare tire mounting. Thats what happens when people with two different ideas don't communicate enough. :mad: Oh well, we'll see what happens. Otherwise its comming out pretty close to what I wanted.

[Grimm]

Had all the sheet metal, bolts, dash, ect. that we cut out weighed today going to the trash. It weighed in at 450lbs!! That did not include the front and rear bumbers (which weigh probably 45lbs a piece) or the entire sheat metal of the back bed that I had already cut out. So we cut probably 600 lbs. of weight off this truck. Dang

[Broncodawg]

If mounting spares sideways together out back, best if each strapped down and accessible w/out having to move/handle the other one during the race.
Easier to do that by mounting them side by side like the other 4.
Further outback transfers weight rearward for airtime ;) and mounting in center will help body roll.
NICE Build, keep the progress posts coming!

[Grimm]

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/radiator-2.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/radiator-1.jpg

Any disadvantage of running the radiator in the back, besides not being able to see behind you as well?

[Broncodawg]

Chuck has his rad. out back and worked great at the 1K until one of the two fans quit and truck heated up. With the hoses mounted low along the frame, we ran into a problem purging the air out of the hot system while trying to refill wth water. Had a purge valve on intake manifold, but still gave us grief.
He's doing some fan mods for the Mint

Nice having rad. protected outback and his is mounted low enough for rear view. The hose runs add a lot of coolant volume to the system that probably makes for better cooling.

[AngerIssues]

That is where most are - I think a the advantages outweigh the other... but that is a lot of hose to run (which is more fluid, but also more places for it to "go"). I'd have to say the majority of the big boys run them back there.

[wiley-moeracing]

If you can make it work there great, but the radiator guys insist that for the best cooling it should be up front in the air flow. But that is the best case scenerio, in the back may be the best for the protection of the unit?

[Moss2]

I dont feel there is any advantage to having the radiator in the back, unless you run into things a lot or absolutely dont have room up front. Nobody gets it right the first time. Moving your tool bag back from the cab to the rear bumper would have a bigger weight balance effect. I bet there is less than 10lbs of water in that 10lb radiator. Anyway you do it keep workin, your making progress. I keep reminding myself this is being built in Florida!

[Grimm]

Haha, Ya, I'm a Looooong way from anyone that knows anything about desert racing. I know that it will be hard to get right the first time, thats what i'm worried about. The concept is easy but the reality is a different story putting it back there. I think the chances of something going wrong with it in the back go up significantly. I need to just Keep It Simple.

[Grimm]

Starting to look a little more like a truck

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/dash-2.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/dash-3.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/dash-1.jpg

[Grimm]

Just a picture or two. Things have been moving slower now. Starting to wire everything up and plumb all the cooler lines and all of the other smaller things that come with the build. Got her fired back up yesterday for the first time since December. Sounded great with the new headers on.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/guagescoolers-5.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/guagescoolers-1.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/centerdash-1.jpg

SORRY, didn't mean to make the pics that Big....

[AngerIssues]

awesome... this is when it starts to get fun again... sitting in the seats, hearing the motor run. don't let anybody catch you in the garage, late at night "pretending" you are in a race! he he :D

[Blanco]

I must ask?
Do you have really short arms?
I mean that steering wheels gonna be in your face. http://bestsmileys.com/lol/5.gif
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/dash-1.jpg

Got any pics of it from futher back so we can see how she looks?
& what your 1st race planned to be?

[Moss2]

I must ask?
Do you have really short arms?
I mean that steering wheels gonna be in your face.


He hasnt cut the shaft yet. You install the shaft then sit in the seat with the wheel/hub loose on the shaft and mark where it feels right.

[Blanco]

He hasnt cut the shaft yet. You install the shaft then sit in the seat with the wheel/hub loose on the shaft and mark where it feels right.

How could you not of noticed this little guy. http://bestsmileys.com/lol/5.gif
I was JOKING! :rolleyes:

[Moss2]

Cam,frankly I try to ignore all those little guys, sorry.
It has a drivetrain and runs thats good progress keep it up!

[Grimm]

Just havn't found the time to cut the shaft yet, I guess its not high on the priority list. Almost ready get crackin on painting the cage and everything. That should be fun, sanding and basically taking everything back off to paint. I wish i could say i'm at the buying of the suspension part yet, but still about a month or two from that and still up in the air as to what to get. Decisions Decisions...First race is maybe gonna be the MINT 400 next year, sounded like a good race. Gonna stay in the states for most of the first few races so we can work out all the bugs on American Soil. Nothing like being stranded in a foriegn country.

[4x4dudester]

Can't wait to see this thing in action! I wounder if the Moss Bros are beefing their Bronco up just to stay competitive!:D:D:D

[Grimm]

So I got the truck back a month or so ago. All the coolers, cage and a bunch of misc. stuff is done. Now its time to prep and paint all the bare metal. Gonna take a looooong time for this, but its already looking pretty sharp with the gloss black paint on the cage and stuff.

I'm still up in the air about the suspension. I go back and forth about weather or not to get bypasses all around ($$$$) or get some good smooth body resivoirs and save some coin so I can get ready for the '09 season. This is very tough desicion and I just cannot come to grips with. Same goes for the axles. I am battling over floating vs non floating 9" rearend and the HUGE price difference between the two. Somebody please make my mind up for me. haha

I'll put some more pics up when the cage is painted.

[Blanco]

I'm still up in the air about the suspension. I go back and forth about weather or not to get bypasses all around ($$$$) or get some good smooth body resivoirs and save some coin so I can get ready for the '09 season. This is very tough desicion and I just cannot come to grips with. Same goes for the axles. I am battling over floating vs non floating 9" rearend and the HUGE price difference between the two. Somebody please make my mind up for me. haha


From my experience, I'd say go with the By-Pass'es & floaters..
Unless you wanna do it twice?

If you plan to actually be be competitive the By-pass'es will help you dial it in faster vs myself constantly taking them out again to send them back again for better valving.. ( granted it's partly my fault because i'm not sure how to tell Bilstein what I need. :o )

sure it cost more but just think of the adjustablility. :)

& Floaters are the only way to go. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/m2c.gif
Once again that comming from a guy running 35 spline semi-floaters. :o

[Dave G]

I go back and forth about weather or not to get bypasses all around ($$$$) or get some good smooth body resivoirs and save some coin so I can get ready for the '09 season. Same goes for the axles... floating vs non floating 9".

It all comes down to one question.... Which do you like better, racing or dreaming about racing!

If your answer is racing, then go with the smooth body resis, (We ran those for a few seasons) and the semi-floater! You can pick up a set of used shocks pretty cheap if you watch RDC classifieds - (they're fairly easy to rebuild and revalve if you take the time and have a clean working area within your shop/garage).

As far as the axle goes... sure, you could buy a fully prepped semifloater, but if you're resourceful, I'd be willing to bet you could put together a decent full floater for under $1000 (without 3rd member, of course)

Get out there and race!

[fj40]

This thread is awesome!!!!! don´t change the size of the pics, they show great detail of your build, good work by the way.
Checkout YIKES rear suspension build... its very straightforward.

[petepecas]

Yes, get the smoothies to save some money, get a FF diff and get racing!
I just got a smoking deal for my racer, substituting 2.5"x10" triple bypass with 3"x14" smooth bodies for the rear suspension.
I'm hoping to dial the valving on the rear and still have the adjustability of the bypasses on the front, which take more of the hits and, in my case, have less travel.

[Grimm]

A few pics with the new paint, not sure if it will look any different from these photos, I'll get some closer ones tommorow.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/campingandbronco-10.jpg


http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/campingandbronco-09.jpg


http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/campingandbronco-08.jpg

[Grimm]

Just got my coilovers from KING. 2.5's x 14". Damn they are sexy. :D Waiting on some radius arms from WCB as well. The suspension build has begun, we'll see how long it takes to get it all together.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/coilovers-1.jpg

[Blanco]

You need some C3R steeeekers on that rig. :D

[straightaxle]

Just got my coilovers from KING. 2.5's x 14". Damn they are sexy. :D Waiting on some radius arms from WCB as well. The suspension build has begun, we'll see how long it takes to get it all together.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/coilovers-1.jpg

Nice! They aren't sending you our old radius arms, are they?! We sent our first set back so they could display them. We must be pretty confident in them because we don't have or carry spares!

[Grimm]

I hope not, although it would be an honor to run one of your used parts.:D


Nice! They aren't sending you our old radius arms, are they?! We sent our first set back so they could display them. We must be pretty confident in them because we don't have or carry spares!

[Grimm]

We're about ready to go back to the shop and finish up the suspension. Here is a pick of the WCB radius arms. Very Nice arms. Should have the Deaver Rear Leafs by the weekend and the Solo Motorsports Shackles by Monday.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02269.jpg


http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02270.jpg

And a pick of the New Simpson 1 Piece Racing suit. We're gettin' serious now!!


http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02271.jpg

[retroblazer]

Personally, I would not mount the rad on the down bars in back at an angle. I would move it so that the radiator was vertical at the back of the cab. Unless you have ducting to direct air to the radiator at the mount angle, I would argue that you are now only going to get air movement from the fan.

[Grimm]

We are planning on having some air directed to the radiator via sheetmetal, but having it verticle is probably a better idea.

[Grimm]

Got the Deavers about a week ago. Sent the truck back into the shop to hook up the suspension and get it a step closer.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02273.jpg

[Grimm]

Started to work on the rear suspension. Got the deaver springs and solo shackles and drop hangar brackets tacked in place and mocked up. Got the old rear end out. Due to money restrictions this phase of the build we will have to try and get by with the stock 9" that we have. I have a new 31 spline spool, 4.86 geared, 1350 yoked, 3rd member coming from Schriener Enterprises. Not what we wanted but will cross our fingers a little. I'm just trying to get the primary suspensions front and rear finished up and the truck driveable so we can test out what we have. If it breaks or sucks, oh well, lesson learned, just don't have the scratch for the real deal right now. Weddings taking a priority on the cash flow:D It might actually be a good thing. I can come back to a realistic budget for this truck, hahaha.:rolleyes:

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/soloshackles-4-1.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/soloshackles-3-1.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/soloshackles-2.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/soloshackles-1.jpg

[Grimm]

Got the 3rd member. We'll see how it holds up.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02358.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02357.jpg

[Grimm]

Got started on phase 3 or is it 4? Anyway, tore out the entire front end, springs, shocks coil buckets ect. and am in the process of rebuilding the D44. Got a TON of work done over the last few days. Left my camera at the garage, will post some pics in a few days.

[Grimm]

Got the front end rebuilt, new 4.88 gears, open, new u joints, ect. No fancy axle shafts yet, just enough to get her running. Learned a lot today. Gonna try and get it mocked up with the WCB radius arms tommorow.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02380.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02379.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02377.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02378.jpg

Here is one of the rear axle after a new paint job and the new 3rd member, all installed
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02381.jpg

[retroblazer]

What are you planning to do to truss or reinforce those pretty axles of yours?

[Moss2]

What are you planning to do to truss or reinforce those pretty axles of yours?

Yes, go check out the V2Reno thread 2007 or Raffo's Baja 1000 story (and a Primm too?)...

[Grimm]

The truss' are coming just don't have the time to work on them right now. The Rear axle will likely be replaced by a FF before any race, if not we'll truss it when we weld on the new leaf pads. I've got a spare front housing that i'm gonna try and template a truss from while we get the suspension mocked up. Probably making more work for myself but time is limited right now.

[Grimm]

got the front axle back under with the radius arms tacked in place.
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02384.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02383.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02382.jpg

[straightaxle]

The truss' are coming just don't have the time to work on them right now. The Rear axle will likely be replaced by a FF before any race, if not we'll truss it when we weld on the new leaf pads. I've got a spare front housing that i'm gonna try and template a truss from while we get the suspension mocked up. Probably making more work for myself but time is limited right now.

You know that we market pre-cut truss sections for 78-79 D44 axles? You weld yourself. It's a very limited market though........ See the threads already referenced.

[retroblazer]

In the last six years I have, or maybe my co-drivers have broken three front end housings. It is the single most stressed part in my driveline outside of my front leafs. I have spoken with both Dynatrac and Spidertrax about their products, but have come to the conclusion that for the money, a stock reinforced housing was my best choice. The hardest part is to decide when to swap in a new piece before the old one breaks. I would highly recommend that you start with Moss's kit. I'm sure that you can copy what you see on the threads that they have posted on reinforcing a front end, but I would think that you would be money ahead to get their kit. And no, I'm not getting a referral fee for sales.

[straightaxle]

Here's the links to the broken axle and what it looked like while it was being built. It took a while to find the pics because they were over on TWW.

http://www.class3racing.com/showthread.php?t=391&page=3

Your front axle? - The Web Wheeler


Version 3.0 has a strap over the top as well. The trussing on the bottom does fine for the hits from landing off of jumps, but we found that the rock hit pushes up on the housing. We did not have any bracing there, but do now, and V 3.0 is holding up very well. Dave G's plasma bit the dust and would have to do them with a torch, but we may have someone that can do the parts with a water jet if you are serious.

[Grimm]

Here is the latest on the project. Phase 3 complete, ( Axles re-geared/rebuilt, Front and Rear primary suspension done, Driveshafts, and some minor stuff). Like I said before, the rear axle is likely temporary, the front needs a truss and some chromo shafts and its done. Still need the shocks, debating on this as usual as far as 2.5" or 3", bypass vs smoothy, $ vs $$$. I've got some minor work to do while its back in my garage, the exhaust and cosmetic stuff, ect. Gonna be a few more months before it gets the final susp done. I would really like to get to a race in 2010 and need to get it Tagged by Score next year sooooo maybe Primm. It seems like it takes 3-4 months just to do something that I think would take 3-4 weeks. This is the first time i've really had a chance to drive it in probably 1.5 years, even if it was just around the block a few times. Felt good, and has SICK acceleration with the 4.88 gears even with the engine not running perfectly yet.

Oh ya, I had to put it on some doughnuts in order to get it to fit in my garage, and even then I had to air them down a little. HAHA. It sits a little higher than I'd like but I'll live with it for now.:D

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/broncophase3-1.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/broncophase3-2.jpg

[Blanco]

AWESOME!!
Great to see you still wrenching away on that thing.
Can wait to see it in action! http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/16.gif

[bajascott]

great build. whick leaf pack did you end getting from deaver?

[Grimm]

I got a custom race pack, 2.5" springs 11 or 12 leafs.

[bajascott]

ok thanks, i am helping a guy put a cl-3 bronco back together and he has a new set of f53 he has purchased. i was curious....
i am watching the thread with intrest!! great build man!!!!

[Grimm]

Well, its been slow going on the build since I got engaged. The wedding is in July so a few more months of down time and then back on it. In the meantime, i've taken care of some of the little things here and there, got the engine tuned up with a new carb (I couldn't figure out the Deamon Carb), got the exhaust done with a Magnaflow 3". Pulled it out of the garage and put the real tires on it and drove it around the neighborhood on a sunday afternoon. Everyone just stares and the little kids run inside, its not even that loud anymore.:D It sits a little tall right now but I'm hoping when its fully loaded down and the springs break in a little it will be right where i want it.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02865.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02867.jpg

[Blanco]

Great looking truck, I love the blue & white paint job.
It will allow you to run many different colored stickers.

[Clydesdale4x4]

that is a sharp Bronco!!!!

[Broncodawg]

Congrats on the engagement. Any woman who will put up with the Desert addiction is a keeper. Sneak away and come out for the Mint!

[Grimm]

Just trying to find a way to fit the front shocks onto the axle. Any suggestions or criticisms? I posted this on Go Fast as well.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02962.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/Scottdgrimm/DSC02961.jpg

[Grimm]

Well, Phase III has started today.
We are back in the shop putting the final touches on the suspension. Got some new smoothies to go front and rear, new CrMo track bar, will truss the rear 9" and move the pinion angle up with a new set of perches. Decided to go with smoothies rather than bypass' to save cost and get us racing sooner, otherwise i'd still be saving for the bypasses, and I'm ready to drive this sucka.
Gonna get the front and rear bumpers made up and mount the spares.
finish the interior consol for all the electronic stuff and add some brackets for this and that.
We should be ready to go test by January, this shouldn't take more than a few weeks to put together. No pics yet but i'll take some when were done.

[Grimm]

FINALLY!!! Going to go do some testing and actually DRIVE this SOB tomorrow. Lots of additional stuff going on with it, more info and pics after our , hopefully, uneventful testing session.
Looking back at my last post, Man does time fly and delays come in handfuls, i should stop being so opptimistic, hahah.

[Blanco]

How cool! :D
Take some pics & Video if you can.

Hope all goes well for you.

[Grimm]

OMG!!!!! haha, what a blast it was to finally take this truck out. Its been 5 years in the making and a lot of setbacks and changed plan here and there , but it was all worth it. We went out to a huge area with lots of wide open trails here in Florida. I would think it is about as close to the desert trails that i can find, big wooped out sections, deep deep sand, a little wetter for sure but a great place to test.

Our first run back on this stretch of road was with some good sized whooops and sandy, the ass end was pogoing, up and down and was waaaay to uncontrolled. Sooo, we adjusted the bypass' ( yes i ended up going with bypasses in the rear, ha) dialed some compression in and BAM, this thing hooked up and just floated over the bumps! A few more runs and we dailed another turn in the compression tubes and handled a tad better again. Ended up runing at 57mph over some pretty rough stuff. I can tell you am gonna have to learn to drive this thing, cause right now the engine and the suspension can handle waaay more than my pucker facter is comfortable with, ha. The front Bilstein coilovers with the ACV reserviors didn't need to be touched as far as i'm concerned, and with no secondary shock up front to help out, they kicked ass!!!

Casualties of todays testing session include a loose tranny shifter linkage, which eventually ended the day, because we couldn't get it to shift into drive without crawling under it. And, the brand new stock, remanufactured steering gear box looks like it blew a seal around the sector shaft, cause it is leaking everywhere.

All in all not a bad day. I'm grinning ear to ear and am unbelievably impressed with the way it soaked up the bumps. I guess we did something right with it :)
No action pics, couldn't get anyone to take a picture running, but i'll put a few up of it on the trailer and some of the new parts.

[Blanco]

How cool!
I'm very happy for you! :D

Reminds me how much I wish I went with external By-Passes on the back of mine because its so nice to make adjustments right then & try it until you get it right instead of having to rebuild them & hope you get it right.

So whats the plan?
Whats gonna be the 1st race you'd like to enter?

[fj40]

Great to hear your truck is running good and bummer about the lack of testing pictures, he he.

[Yikes]

Sweet!!! Super excited for you. So awesome to read this. Gives me a little motivation to never give up. Baja 1000?

[Grimm]

Definitly gives us some more motivation to keep going. The never ending pull on the wallet without any reward was getting old. We are really gonna try and get it ready for Primm, but that is coming up sooo fast. Baja 1000 is better on time frame but $$$$. We'll see how it comes along in the next few weeks.

[vistaracing1]

i agree with don on the trim removal method!

[vistaracing1]

guess that last post was a little outdated on the trim, congrats on your test drive, i know what a long build feels like (3+ yrs for us)

[Grimm]

After a second testing session about 6 weeks ago we've got a few more changes to make. Oil pan, tranny pan, and output seal on the np205 are all leaking and need new gaskets, bummer. It ran good again aside from some bump steer issues. We are going g to drop the ride height down a few inches and see if that helps it. I've got a short video taking off from the pit if I can get it off my phone. We really tried hard to get out to a race this year but it wasn't in the cards. Plenty of races in 2012 .

New project in the works which may put a dent in the 2012 plans.....the wife and I are expecting. My first her second. Due in June so might be able to catch a race at the end of next year. Ill have to see how expensive this little one is : )

[Blanco]

Looking forward to that video! :D

& Congrats on the new addition to the family being on its way.

[DREWZILLA]

Looks very nice!