Landsharks 76er Refresh and Build

[landshark]

Color Code is "U" which is Glen Green apparently, however I have not really found any really good photos.. still looking for some good examples. I think it will be returning to Glen Green when time and money allow...

[landshark]

here are the glen green examples I have found so far...

my76side.jpeg

GlenGreenMaybe.jpeg

neither are very good pics.. i have been through allot of CB.com

If anyone sees any please post up.. iam collecting photos to get a good idea of the color.

In other news I submitted my first order for parts, got in on the new rear spring sale on toms figured saving close to $80 was a good enough reason to order now rather than wait on that.

My plans are 2.5 in suspension lift and 1 in body lift, all new bearings, bushing and steering components, rebuild both axles, check ring and pinon for wear and any damage, reseal with new bearings, races seals in both axles, all new ujoints including rebuilding both driveshafts and axle shafts etc etc...

I'm a little blown away about the ridiculous price the inverted Y steering is.. considering other options right now as I built a bulletproof 1 ton front end with dom on my fullsize for less than they are asking for 76 steering... I will have to see how bad the front end TRE's are once i get it on jack stands...

How much of a difference does a t style steering setup really make on the street? I expect to keep this truck 90% steet 10% dirt roads...

[Jesus_man]

I am colorblind and green is among my worst colors, but google had this:


Thought it would be easier to find more and I'm not sure it's the right color...

[landshark]

I have only found a handful... i know they are out there.. i might post up over on CB.com or in a thread to see if i can find someone who has one.. would like to see more examples

Image2.jpeg

[landshark]

well the tear down has started!

Got the bronco in the garage yesterday and started tearing into it. Going to take it slow, iam putting everything I take off into freezer bags and labeling them to keep track of bolts and parts etc.. been through this before and really want to avoid the traditional "where's this go?".

A few questions.

I have already received my rear 11 pack 2.5 inch leaf springs and was wondering if I should go with the 3.5" coils up front to make sure Iam level? anyone have any experience in this? I want to avoid the traditional rake these broncos love.. dont plan to run a winch or anything for the foreseeable future... but i know the springs will settle.

My plan is to strip the truck from underneath, fuel tanks, fuel lines, most wiring, axles etc etc.. and then start cleaning up the frame and bottom of the tub. I think iam going to por15 the axles, radius arms and frame.. what about the underside of the tub? I do not have the luxury of removing the the tub, just dont have the space (will take a pic to show you where iam working) so would I be able to reach up into the spaces under the tub without spraying? My only concern is I will be missing some of the areas if I can't get the tub off.. i might be able to lift it up off the frame.. but only about 4-6"

my other concern is the few rust areas i do have.. should i just take care of them now and then seal the underside of the tub? the rust areas i know about are the side walls of the engine bay (about a 12" x 12" area on both sides) and the seam in the rear quarter panels...

I do not have a welder and I have never welded.. so not sure what I could do in my garage unless someone would be willing to do a couple small welds?

here are the two spots in the engine bay.





Suggestions?

[landshark]

So this is going to be slow going, so again i will make one more excuse for the mundane photos.. I'm documenting everything as i go not only to know where things go when I put it back together but also to make sure I do it right ;)

I got the bronco into the garage, took the tire carrier off, wheels and tires and started to pull the front end out of it...

tight fit but I think it will work out...




i think all the grease and gunk have saved the axles and frame ;)







some people have paint.. I prefer gunk







I think the bushings are a bit worn...



and the front axle is detached.. just need to remove the radius arms and pull the axle out.. then I will go through it and start to rebuild it, good news so far - no stubborn bolts or nuts... I'm still amazed that the truck is in as good condition as it is.

hope to have the axle done by the weekend and hopefully painted.. then move onto removing the transmission and transfer case and get those cleaned up and sent out to Viper...

[ZOSO]

Looks like a good start. Grease does save things from rusting out. Im surprised you havent found any stubborn bolts yet.

[landshark]

yup started tearing the D44 apart.. found a seized bearing on the passenger side.. black grease and the bearing was stuck on the spindle pretty good.. will have to take a good look at the spindle and do some light sanding to make sure its good to go! looks like the hubs have never been off the axle but had no trouble pulling them apart...

Picking up new rotors, rebuild kit for the calipers and some other bits and pieces I need to replace today and hopefully get the axle cleaned, painted and most of the new bearings, seals and other parts back on it before next week. Would love to start cleaning up the underside of the bronco however I want to do one thing at a time to keep myself sane!

[landshark]

axle is stripped down, everything came apart pretty well, now to start digging the crud off!



Picked up my POR-15 supplies and the rest of my axle parts today, so hoping to make some good progress this weekend if I can get the lights up and decorations on the tree ;)

[landshark]

Got the exhaust, transmission/transfer case and a bunch of other stuff off the bronco... now i need to start cleaning them up to get them to Viper ;)

I also have both drive shafts off.. they are dirty.. one more than the other.. and there is allot of caked on oil and dirt on one.. am i able to get these blasted or do they frown upon caked no oil dirt and mess?

Here are some progress pics...









so next up is more cleaning.. then removing the rear axle and springs, then drop the tanks.. and then.. more cleaning...

[landshark]

So seems like nothing has gotten done but been really busy cleaning cleaning and more cleaning.. small spaces require creative solutions when tearing apart a truck and have to keep things organized for the day i start to put everything back together..

anyway got everything stripped off the underbody and frame and started pulling the body mounts off.. so far so good. Tomorrow I'm hanging plastic around the bronco so I can sand blast the underbody and frame and get it all prepped for por15 and chassis saver.. Hope the compressor is up to the task, its going to be working double overtime!

Anyway most of these pics are boring.. but not much else to take pics of right now.. just a very dirty garage ;)

[Viperwolf1]

Uh oh. That looks like one of those oddball 10.5" bolt pattern flexplates. Which means it requires the oddball converter. Neither is available any longer.

[landshark]

So do i need a new flex plate or something else? iam pulling the engine to go through it and rebuild, replace and refresh what i need to... if i need a new one then i need a new one...

[Viperwolf1]

I can get you a new 11 7/16" pattern flexplate pretty cheap, $30-ish dollars. Measure the one you have first but the drain plug holes spaced away from the bolt holes tell me it's the 10.5" pattern.

[landshark]

so i just measure the distance the larger holes are from each other? like a bolt pattern i presume?

[Viperwolf1]

so i just measure the distance the larger holes are from each other? like a bolt pattern i presume?

The larger ones are the drain plug holes. The bolt holes are the smaller.

[landshark]

yup thats what i meant.. ok i will measure today thanks.

[ClayJ]

Color Code is "U" which is Glen Green apparently, however I have not really found any really good photos.. still looking for some good examples. I think it will be returning to Glen Green when time and money allow...

Wasn't Billy's Bronco Glen Green?

[Booger]

Man that thing is almost rust free.

[Moab Mike]

I can get you a new 11 7/16" pattern flexplate pretty cheap, $30-ish dollars. Measure the one you have first but the drain plug holes spaced away from the bolt holes tell me it's the 10.5" pattern.

I ran into the same problem with my Bronco. 75' and 76' ran the smaller flex plate and torque converter, something to do with the thermactor (or smog). 73', 74' and 77' ran the larger flex plate and torque converter. My flex plate had the mounting holes chewed up and I couldn't find a replacement. I ended up replacing it with the larger flex plate and torque converter.

Chris, I'll buy your old flex plate and TC if you want to sell it.

[Viperwolf1]

My '74 had the smaller pattern too.

[landshark]

i keep forgetting to measure but i assume its the smaller flex plate.. any problems then going to the larger one? do i need to?

[Moab Mike]

i keep forgetting to measure but i assume its the smaller flex plate.. any problems then going to the larger one? do i need to?

The flexplate bolt pattern needs to match the torque converter. I don't think the smaller flexplate bolt pattern matches the larger TC or the opposite way either. You'll need to purchase both to swap.

[landshark]

what would be the pros and cons of swapping? if iam keeping the motor as is.. for now.. maybe a new cam and heads, maybe serp setup.. then would there be a reason to change that stuff out?

[Viperwolf1]

Always use a new converter after a trans rebuild. They collect a lot of junk inside them that you don't want in the new trans. Old style converter is not available. Best to convert it now. There are no issues. Old flexplate comes off and new one goes on. Everything else bolts on just like before.

[landshark]

Perfect, just wondering! What do torque convertors run?

[landshark]

well cleaning is coming along however the more I d around the door pillars the worse they seem. So it would seem I will probably replacing both door pillars here shortly. I kept on poking in them and finding more and more rot. I think it would just save time and headaches to replace the whole thing. Oh well knew I would be finding some surprises!

[landshark]

Dropped the frame away from the body today thanks to Justin for the extra jackstands and the hand!

Went pretty smooth, went slow and made sure we didn't die.

















Started to really around the rust areas.. looks like a Door post replacement is in the future.. I will patch up the fender holes before I finish sealing the underbody...







Making progress on the underbody after experimenting with various stripping techniques… best one I found for getting the undercoat off was a paint scraper.. hitting the hard to reach nooks and crannies with the blaster.







































well now that i have access to the whole frame I will concentrate cleaning it up and then move back to the body sides and rear fenders.. then touchup, cleaning everything in the garage after my blasting sessions and then marine clean, metal prep and POR-15… still haven't decided what to coat the body with, leaning toward a spray on product.. something not goopy and can easily be blasted off...

[Jesus_man]

Viola! 8" body lift (or frame drop as it were). Looks like you got some work ahead of you, but man it'll be awesome when you're done!

[airbur]

I love Bronco porn....nice work so far:)