70 Sport resto/mod

[CityHick]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

I've been slacking on the Bronco this week. Ever since I installed my new steering wheel I've had a problem with the horn - it honks when I turn the steering wheel more than about 1/4 turn in either direction! Still troubleshooting that one - but I think I found the problem. The Grant steering wheel adapter seems to be running eccentric and this causes the two spring loaded horn contacts on the turn signal switch to touch the same side of the steering wheel adapter's horn contact surfaces.

The good news is that my rear ARB and shafts should arrive early next week

I can't wait to have working front and rear air lockers!

[CityHick]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

Well not much progress to report, but my 3rd member and axles are out awaiting their replacements.

The ring and pinion look perfect, the gear oil was clean and the whole thing came apart with no problems at all. I think I had the entire axle disassembled in about 45 mins. Reassembly won't go quite so quickly but I'd forgotten just how simple the 9" Ford axle is... I wish it all came apart this easily!

I can't wait for that 31 spline ARB and the accompanying alloy shafts to show up, I'm like a little kid anticipating Christmas morning!

I am not going to shave my housing or do anything like that, but I am thinking about adding a drain plug to my housing, and I'll be adding a pinion guard and possibly welding a chunk of steel to the lowest point of the diff housing for rock protection.

Pictures will come when the new parts get here. Everybody here knows what the inside of a 40 year old 9" axle looks like!

[blwngsket]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

An easy drain plug is to pull the stud at the lowest bolt on the third member, weld a nut inside the housing and use a bolt instead of the stud on that one hole. Just pull the bolt to drain. It doesn't get all of the oil, but it gets most, and it's easy.

[CityHick]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

I forgot about that old trick.. Maybe that's the winner.

[CityHick]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

The ARB is almost done!
Its slow going because I've got a friend helping and he's really just giving me instruction so that I learn how to set up a 9" axle myself. It has been a good learning experience, the 9" diff is cake to assemble...

[Fungus232]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

Hey Tony,
I'll take any good tech advice you've got! I was gonna take my 3rd member in soon to have a 31 spline Detroit thrown in. If you've got some good pointers I might just give it a swag myself...

Thanks,
Fungus

[CityHick]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

Hey Tony,
I'll take any good tech advice you've got! I was gonna take my 3rd member in soon to have a 31 spline Detroit thrown in. If you've got some good pointers I might just give it a swag myself...

Thanks,
Fungus

As my buddy who taught me said, its not so much skill as it is tools. You need a good dial indicator and a good inch pound torque wrench for final setup. It also helps to have a 300 pound friend hold the differential steady while you crank on a 6 foot long cheater bar to crush the crush sleeve. I'd also recommend having two crush sleeves on hand because everybody messes the first one up and it is a pretty critical step.

Yesterday was a long, busy day working on my diff. No pictures were taken during setup, unfortunately.

[earlybronco72]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

If I remember right, I clamped my yoke in the vice as I used a six foot cheater bar to crush the crush sleave. That part sucked for this scrawny little bastard.

[CityHick]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

I managed to get my differential back into the axle housing carefully using my floor jack to help. I then basically just tilted it onto the bolts. Went in with no problems what so ever. I slid the shafts in and discovered that I didn't get a new pair of axle flange gaskets, so I am now on the hunt for the axle flange/backing plate gaskets (whatever they are called). Kragen lists them but does not have them, and can't get them. Unfortunately the "good" parts store in town closes too friggin early. I guess I'm not driving the Bronco to work tomorrow like I'd hoped to

Oh well...

With the axles engaged in the splines I did however confirm that my air locker works. It engages so quietly that I actually was wondering if it was working. I'm getting anxious to get my rig back on the road. Really anxious!

[Bronco Brian]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

I'm getting anxious to get my rig back on the road. Really anxious!

PATIENCE GRASSHOPPER your time will come. Do know what you mean. Would like to get mine going soon but it will..................someday

[CityHick]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

LOL thanks Brian. I knew I should have driven it to work before I tore into something else... I'm hoping however to make my first camping trip in it end of next month.

[CityHick]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

Tonight I finally got my rig back out and driving under its own power!

The rear ARB is sweet... flip the switch and I've got an instant spool. Flip it again and its back to open. Maybe I'm just easily amused

As the box the ARB came in says, "anything else is a compromise". I am very pleased with this purchase and I am sure it'll give me years of enjoyment. Even better news, I think my fluid leaks are all resolved and behind me now.

A buddy asked me this evening "so what's left" and for the first time in a while, I didn't have an immediate answer. It feels good to have a fair chunk of this project behind me - that is until I break something! I'll get it out somewhere this weekend and snap some pix.

-Tony

[crawlin68]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

Right on Tony. That is a good feeling huh!? I have loved my ARB's ever sense I put them in about 3 years ago. It's the best of both worlds.

[Fungus232]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

Nice work Tony!

I can't wait to get mine back together with all the new "add-on's" and take her for a spin... Someday...

[CityHick]

Re: 70 Sport resto/mod

I drove down to the event in SJ this morning (thanks for the escort btw Ryan). It was a good time and the Bronco performed flawlessly. I've got to say I'm impressed with the way my rig drives on the freeway - not even a hint of bump steer, even at 80+ mph!


I finally got to put my rig on an RTI ramp today. It flexes pretty well but my shocks are definitely the limiting factor - too short at all 4 corners. Fully extended my front shocks were at 28.5". Seems like they need to be on the other side of 30". The rears, on the stock shock mounts are a joke. Having shocks be the limiting factor in suspension travel is a bad thing!

Anyway, here are some pictures.