Dual Steering Stabilizer

Got the Rough Country Dual Steering Stabilizer on right at dark.  It still needs to be leveled and adjusted.

It's Up There!

Finally got the frame and suspension done, except for the Track Bar and Drag Link.  Engine and Trans go on next week, Fuel Lines and Brake Lines, then the body gets put back on.

Dad said he was the first to drive it.

Shocks

James Duff Shocks are on.

Pulleys and Things

Gilmer Pulleys.
Pro Comp Distributor and Plug Wires.
Chrome Alternator.
Billet Brackets.

Engine Assembly: Ford Small Block 302 for the Bronco 2

Finally got the 302 nearly done for the B2.  Here's a list:
302 Block from Late Model Restoration, bored 40 over
Lunati Cam and matching Lifters
Hardened Pushrods
Mustang GT Heads and Headers
Edelbrock Intake
Edelbrock 600 cfm Carburetor with Electric Choke
High Volume Oil Pump and Pick-Up Tube
Valve Covers and Air Cleaner from KMJ Performance
High Volume Water Pump
ARP Bolts
Chrome Wire Looms from R&M Specialties
Chrome Dual Sump Oil Pan

The Distributor and Wires should be here soon, along with the Gilmer Pulleys.  Then I can install the Alternator, Power Steering Pump and Brackets.  I'm getting another Fuel Pump too, the one I have doesn't clear the Power Steering Pump.

Progress

The majority of the suspension is finally done.

Custom Rear End

James Duff Traction Bars and Leaf Springs.  Should give about 6 inches of lift.

                                                    

 

Front and Rear

          Finally got some more work done this weekend.  Not much though.  

Here is the Ford 9" Rear End.  It is freshly painted and the spring
perches have been  moved in and re-welded to fit the Bronco 2.

The Dana 44, painted.  We found some problems when we stripped it down.
One of the locks for the hub was shot, three ball joints were bad,
and the outer driver's side axle was cracked.

Background

          Nearly three years ago, I bought a 1986 Bronco 2.  I did a year of research and decided on a large amount of upgrades I wanted to make.  I also decided to do a frame-off restoration at the same time.  Here is a few pictures of the "Before" product:

Not my exact Bronco 2, I seem to have lost those pictures.
But I found this one on the internet.

This B2, which I also found on the internet, is actually
in a little better condition than mine was.

          

          The first thing was to remove the interior all together.  Luckily for me, the floor pans were in great condition, no rust at all.  After that, my dad and I removed the body and rolled the frame out from under it.

This little 2.9 liter V6 was removed and trashed.  There was so much rust inside the engine,
I don't even see how it was still running.

          I'm still building the engine, but I started with this:

          A Ford 302 Short Block bored .40.  I painted it with some really expensive paint called Por-15.  It looks great in the gloss black.  It's really good paint too.  It goes on smooth, levels out nicely, and dries fast.

I bought a set of cylinder heads off of ebay that were in great shape and painted them with the Por-15 as well.  I also bought a Lunati Cam Shaft and Lifters off of ebay for a nice price.

          This is another internet borrowed picture.  But this is an original Dana 28 from an 86 B2.  The rear end is also a small 7.5 inch.  I stripped these from the frame and got rid of them.  They will be replaced with something much better.  With everything removed from the chassis, I had this:

This was after a few weekends with a wire brush.

          I had to use a grinder to cut off some of the brackets.  On the front engine cross member, there is a large bracket for the Dana 28, which I will not be reusing.  I cut it off, as well as the original coil spring buckets.  They will be replaced by James Duff Coil Buckets and Springs.

          I used Por-15 first to stop all of the rust from getting any worse.  Over that, a good coat of primer and a couple coats of black top-coat.  

          I found a good deal on Craigslist for a Dana 44 Front End and a Ford 9" Rear End from a 1978 F150.  So that is what I will be putting under the B2.  My dad and I drove two hours to pick it up and two hours home.  But along the way I had to go right by James Duff, so I went ahead and picked up all the suspension parts I needed.  The James Duff place was amazing by the way.  And the people were very nice.   They gave us a tour of the whole place while we waited on our order.  We got to see all the amazing full size Broncos that they were working on.  We also got to see them make some of the parts.  All of their parts are made on site and shipped directly from James Duff, great stuff.

Dana 44

Ford 9"  
I will probably do a Disc Brake Conversion on it.