What have you done to/with your Bronco today?

[BTIMMONS]

I like this color and ... I may just buy me a 'half cab' to change up my look.  This is darker than mine but I like the consistent color scheme throughout.

[JustaFordGuy]

That's a sweet lookin half cab for sure..

[Climax]

I like those valve covers and the speaker box.  I may want to look at it at some point if that is ok.

[JustaFordGuy]

I like those valve covers and the speaker box.  I may want to look at it at some point if that is ok.

I like the way the speaker pod turned out. It's just a simple three piece panel. I made it in three pieces so it would be easy to take out of the way if I need to work under the dash. It's 1/4 ply wood covered with black vinyl. It took me about 20 minutes to make it and install.

[JustaFordGuy]

Dropped Broncinstein off at Nationwide this AM; sort of curious as to what is going on inside that transmission.  Mike was sort of  curious as to my symptoms.

  Note to self: tighten bell housing bolts...tighten drain plug for X-fer case...in fact, go over everything on Bronco including re-check lug nuts on wheels.

What did Mike say about the tranny?

[BTIMMONS]

it is not in the valve body...got to pull the trans out.

Thanks to Parker for setting the jack out - I hope to have it out tonight ready to go back to Mike...something had to have broke knowing my luck.  Oh well, this will give me time to also assess where all that oil is coming from...May have to give Gary a call if I have to drop that crank down...since I seem to have the magical touch for disaster these days on Fords...LOL

Sure hate this step backwards as I am ready to drive this thing!

[BTIMMONS]

Busy wkend...
Pulled main caps off and plastigaged.  Noticed a split opinion when research plastigage use on forums... some think it is good, some think it is a waste as it fluctuates (not sure is see this unless there is a wrong way to use it).  I think it is useful in showing the eveness of the journal and how it applies to the rod, main bearing.
Note Rod cap in pic - will replace this one (motor has maybe 45 mins on it??).  It plastigaged with in specs but if you notice the round dark spot is what looks like 'trash' as it is raised up and you can fell it with your nail; also note the copper/brass color in the corner by the bearing groove - may not be visible in the rod pics...since there are marks on the opposing corner of this same cap - I am going to say this bearing got twisted or slightly tweaked when it was installed first.  For 6 bucks I think I will replace #4 rod bearing.  I only pulled three rods caps (all I could get to) but I think I may pull the remaining 5 tonight just to be sure and look at the wear patterns while I have the pan off.
Bought a new Melling HV oil pump while I was at it so hopefully my oil pressure will be good.

[JustaFordGuy]

If you haven't installed the rear main cap yet be sure to put a little rtv on the joint between the two halves of the seal.

[BTIMMONS]

yep, did that and offset the seal about 3/8s inch as specified.  put all mains back on last night - have not rotated the assembly yet.  will put new rod bearing in #4 and rotate to look at other rod caps and bearings.
The seal went in fairly easy as it has 45 minutes ... maybe? on it.  I WILL MAKE SURE TO USE RTV ON THE FLEX PLATE BOLTS AS THE THREADED HOLES GO STRAIGHT THROUGH TO THE INSIDE OF THE CRANKCASE.  Still got to get the trans from Mike tonight - clutches were locked with surface rust so he cleaned and freshened it back up at NC - really was my fault it sat for a while.  I will do my BEST to not let it sit that long this time...esp since the bronco is still on my trailer in my drive way!!!

[JustaFordGuy]

If you let it sit to long this time I'm taking that Bronco away from you.

[lonesouth]

let me know when I can swing by and get the trans jack back brett.

[BTIMMONS]

Parker I hope to have the trans back in tonight or tomorrow...
Replaced rear main seal, plastigaged mains and rods, replaced rod bearings 3 and 4, put in a Melling HV oil pump...and Mike cleaned up the trans from sitting...

Moral of story: Don't let a freshly built motor and rebuilt trans to be stored for 3 years with out some kind of fluids in them....   Let's hope I am rewarded for all this hard work with the engine running normal and the transmission at least giving me park, forward and reverse!

[BTIMMONS]

Hey Gary! what stereo did you get for da Bronco? Heard it was pretty good...does it do Bluetooth to the receiver from your phone?

[JustaFordGuy]

Yeah, you need to see it, for the money it does everything very well. Hands free calling, blue tooth for pandora, amazon music, etc, blue tooth smart phone app that controls everything on the radio from your phone, remote, multi colored led display, reads text messages from phone, gets contacts from phone for voice dialing, all kinds of other crap and only $129. I also added some nice 6x9 sony 3way speakers and 5 1/4 sony 3way speaker and it sounds awesome, better than my $4500 Sony system in the Raptor, minus the bass from the sub.

http://amzn.com/B00HQXUH84

[lonesouth]

better than my $4500 Sony system in the Raptor minus the bass from the sub.

I've got a few subs and amps laying around if you want to fix that.