My 88 Bronco II Build

[88 BII]

thanks krawler, even more will get done this weekend. i just got off the phone with ECGS, i'm going to get some 1.5" DOM to make my drag link, track bar and tie rod after work today. should get a whole lot done tomorrow and sunday

 

[88 BII]

tube is here

 

[userbmx1315]

never seen a B2 that makes me want to build one. but this one seems to have me interested. nice job. hurry up and get it wheelin. hahahah
what size tires do you plan on running? maybe i missed it.

 

[88 BII]

never seen a B2 that makes me want to build one. but this one seems to have me interested. nice job. hurry up and get it wheelin. hahahah
what size tires do you plan on running? maybe i missed it.

thanks man, yeah i wanna hurry up and finish too. this damn heat is killing me though. i cant wait for fall to get here.

probably gonna run 32's or 33's eventually. i have 31's for it right now. i have a buddy that works at just tires, he's gonna hook me up with some goodyear kevlars or duratracs on the cheap-cheap. leaning towards the kevlars, but the duratracs are a tad cheaper

 

[88 BII]

welded up the track bar today:

added some plate to it just for safe measure

then made my driver side upper link bracket. very stout, it wont be going anywhere. it may hit the frame while flexed though, we'll see.

then started on the track bar. tack it into place

i still need to get a factory bushing for it, advanced auto is the only place that has it in stock. bout to go get it now

started looking at how it was gonna sit though. gonna have to make a new frame mount for it.

 

[Caver Dave]

Well?

 

[250krawler]

Well?

I know right....

 

[88 BII]

i've been trying to log in all day, we got new computers at work and i couldnt remember my password here. got it now. lol

last nights work:

started on the frame mount for the track bar. started late, so i was welding in the dark pretty much, that's why the welds look like shit in some places.

gonna tack it to the frame tomorrow and get my track bar where i want it. then i'll add more gussets up at the top.

looks like the DL and TB should match up pretty close

i also installed new ball joints the other night and got the pass side knuckle back on. my heims should be here from ballistic any day now. plan on doing that this weekend.

just went and got a new track bar bushing from autozone. so i can get the track bar cut to length this evening and hopefully installed.

 

[88 BII]

worked til late again tonight, so the pics are dark, but you can kinda get the idea

i rebuilt the axle mount for the track bar, the new energy susp. bushing wouldnt fit in the 2x2 tube.

then cut down the TB so it was easier to work with. still need to trim an inch or two off. i'm gonna have issues with the cross member, so i'll either need to move the TB frame mount or cut up the cross member. you can sorta tell in the pics, but they're dark.

the steering angles also look like they're gonna match up pretty close though, so that's good. my heims should be here tomorrow or friday, so i'll be able to figure out more this weekend when i set up the steering links

 

[Caver Dave]

i'm gonna have issues with the cross member, so i'll either need to move the TB frame mount or cut up the cross member.

IIRC, that burly crossmember was only for hanging the TTB (doesn't actually mount the engine) and general frame stabilty, correct? If so, you should be good to clearance it as needed for the tracbar?

 

[88 BII]

IIRC, that burly crossmember was only for hanging the TTB (doesn't actually mount the engine) and general frame stabilty, correct? If so, you should be good to clearance it as needed for the tracbar?

you are correct there. you can see the old pivot bracket bolt holes in some of the pics. that's why i dont have a problem chopping on it. that cross member is also keeps one from changing the oil pan gasket without removing the motor (major PITA). i may look into removing it altogether, but i'll have to add some sort of cross member b/c it's the only one up front.

 

[88 BII]

here's what i got done this weekend:

got out there early today to beat some of the heat. gonna go back out later and try and finish up.

here's what i made to sit on top of the TR....should work fine. i'm gonna plate the back side of it.

fits right on top of the TR

right in line with the lower TB mount

TB and DL angles look pretty damn good to me:
parallel

and pretty much the same angle from the front.

gonna have to cut off the sway bar mounts, which is fine since i wasnt planning on running any.

i just need to shorten the TB and TR a half inch each. that should leave me plenty of room for adjustment. then the cross member is gonna be cut up a good bit, then reinforced with some plate or angle iron.



trimmed up the DL, TB and TR, then final welded the bungs in. so all the links are done. i cut off the lower sway bar mounts

everything looks pretty damn good too. i'm happy with it and surprised that i havent run into any problems yet as i really have no experience with this. lol

DL

welded up the bracket for the DL

mocked up everything and tacked it into place

then ran out of wire with an inch left :annoyed:

i really need to start using the 10 pound spools. it saves you about $60

got my orange paint too

wasnt able to get it on all fours, but hopefully that'll happen this week

 

[88 BII]

i'm calling myself officially SAS'd

come to find out, the TB actually doesnt hit anywhere

i'm gonna have to shorten it though, made it just a hair too long.

pass side:

driver side:

welded up the lower track bar mount

also finished up the steering linkage, just need to get the knuckles and pitman arm drilled out.

 

[250krawler]

i'm calling myself officially SAS'd

I'd Concur, I don't see how that track bar isn't going to hit that cross memeber though.

 

[88 BII]

oh it will hit it. the cross member is at least getting hacked up if not removed altogether and rebuilt closer to the front of the frame. i've never putting the TTB junk (ok, not junk, but it needs more TLC than i'm willing to give for it to perform right) back in it, so the it's only purpose is for frame strength at the front of the truck

 

[88 BII]

i forgot to post last nights work, copied from another thread:

did a little bit tonight. went and picked up the bung from ECGS after work. then shortened the track bar and welded it back up. it's bout perfect now. still have 1-1.5" of adjustment left in the heim, so it should be dead on when i tighten it a hair more.
i may rebuild the track bar frame mount, havent decided yet

i'm having to learn as i go here, it would be awesome if i had some experience doing this lol.
here's the coils now

then i flung a little paint

put the axleshafts back in on both sides

just for fun, i tossed the steering links in. i just clamped then on to get an idea of where everything will sit.

i think these coils are gonna be perfect, with the tires on, it should sit just about level. if i have to i'll add a 1" block in the back, but i think i'm gonna be good

going out of town of thursday and wont be back til sunday, but i'm taking monday off, so i should have it on wheels by monday night. we'll see if i can get the knuckles and PA drilled out.

 

[Chris_Keziah]

Looks good. I'm not sure if you posted this above but how did you go about figuring out link length and location?

 

[88 BII]

to make the links, i just measured my tube and cut them to the size i wanted. 32" without the axle end bushing or tube adapter/johnny joint on the frame end. they're about 36" now altogether. (i made them long because this thing isnt gonna see hardcore trails, it'll see the street more than anything.) then i hooked up the arms to the axle to see where they'd sit on the frame, made my new trans crossmember and bolted them in. then i cut out the metal for the trans support. hope that makes sense, i'm not good at putting thoughts into words lol

i may end up having to clearance where the front driveshaft will sit, it's pretty damn close

 

[Chris_Keziah]

Ok I wasn't sure if you went off of a calc or somebody's else design. Also if my info is correct you want to make the lower as long as possible and the upper half that with radius arm setups. Maybe somebody will chim in on whether that is correct.

 

[88 BII]

Ok I wasn't sure if you went off of a calc or somebody's else design. Also if my info is correct you want to make the lower as long as possible and the upper half that with radius arm setups. Maybe somebody will chim in on whether that is correct.

basically, i copied what someone else did lol. this is my first SAS and i'm doing it solo except for the pointers i get off posting my build on here and another forum. i pretty much copied this guys design: http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125972

he's done several D30 swaps into rangers and a mercury mountaineer with awesome results.

as you can see, his upper link is about the same length

the only reason you need that upper arm is to be able to adjust the caster

 

[88 BII]

well, she's on all fours finally!!!!!!!!

i've got about a foot between the top of the tire and the fender. gonna have to find some shorter coils i reckon. maybe some 2.5" or 3" ones. that or raise the rear a little with a block

it's got a nice bit of clearance on the bottom of the TR and the bottom of the diff and it's only on 31's.

i also cut up the front of the coil mount, no clearance issues now

the bad news:
the F-ing bolts for the tie rod are too high so the wheels wont turn

steering is hooked up and brake hoses are run (just not bleed yet). just need to get the driveshaft shortened and installed and it'll be drivable finally. then i'll just need to figure out shock placement and get the exhaust hooked up.

plan is to remove the misalignments from the knuckles and drill them out to 3/4". as for the lift, guess i'll have to find some 2 or 3" coils

 

[MarsFab]

well, she's on all fours finally!!!!!!!!

the bad news:
the F-ing bolts for the tie rod are too high so the wheels wont turn.

plan is to remove the misalignments from the knuckles and drill them out to 3/4". as for the lift, guess i'll have to find some 2 or 3" coils

Yea man, you really won't want the misalignment spacers on the tie rod anyways. With the drag link mounted to the top of the TR like that you'll get play in the steering wheel from the TR rocking back and forth. Without those spacers it'll help with that. It's looking good man. I like to see guys build stuff a little different and a B2 is something you don't see every day.
I may have missed it in the build, but what size tire are you shooting for??

 

[MarsFab]

Oh and I've got a few stock take out XJ, TJ and JK coils laying around the shop if you need a set.

 

[88 BII]

I may have missed it in the build, but what size tire are you shooting for??

thanks man. i love b2's....this one has a lot of sentimental value since it was my first vehicle. but there's a bunch of built ones out there that can tear it up. as for tire size, i was thinking i'd run 33's. i have a buddy at just tires that can get a good deal on some goodyear kevlars or duratracs, just need to figure out which ones. leaning towards the duratracs since this is gonna be mainly a street rig.

what would you want for the coil springs? i think a stock set may be just what i need since i've got 4.5" springs in there now. if i need to go higher i'll just get a spacer.

 

[MarsFab]

You can have a pair man. I just take them off stuff when I install lift kits and they sit in the corner. Do you ever get down this way? You're welcome to them.