1982 Ford Bronco Ugly Betty build
 

So I've been a member on this board for quite some time...about 04...regardless of what my join date says.

I bought this diamond in the rough last year from a guy down in richmond who had it in alright condition. Let's just say it started and drove from Richmond to Alexandria...brakes were squishy and scared the hell out of me. I've been apart of another forum, a bronco forum, since all those guys do is talk about broncos, what better source for me to tap into? So here is my build thread I thought I'd share with you guys. Enjoy.
The actual thread link is here if you want to see EVERYTHING. I'm not gonna cut and paste everything over from that forum to here... :facepalm: so i got the backbone thread post and gonna go from there.

http://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum/...d.php?t=190034

:cool:


So I have made some progress with Betty. I bought her and drove her home and found a few things that I could fix. Took her to the dealership and paid the 102 bones to get a bumper to bumper check up. I am quite pleased as it isn't 2-5 pages long...just 1 page. :thumbup
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...5/IMG_5625.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...5/IMG_5647.jpg
So here is the list and I will update with pics as I go along. I will get before pics up either tonight or tomorrow *gotta snag my camera from my old man at his house*

Honey To Do List:
*Driver Side Door Hinges
*Re-gear front differential to match the rear @ 4.56
*Steering Column Has Play in the Upper Bearings
*Parking brake in dashboard is Inoperable
*High Beam indicator in dashboard in Inoperable
*Holes in Floorboards, Rockerpanels, and Tailgate
*Both Headlamps have moisture in them
*EGR valve is disconnected
*Air pump is missing
*Has major oil leaks
*Power Steering leaks, hoses, pump and steering box
*Tires have weather cracks and down to wear bars
*Transfer Case out put seals leaking front and rear
*Exhaust hangers broken and loose at manifold
*Both Front brake hoses are cracked
*Front brake pads passenger side inner at 3mm
*upper ball joint bad
*Wheel Bearing loose
**Added**
******New brake lines

Lol I never said it wasn't going to be a cheap fix, but I got a hell of a deal on it, basically was given to me.

SO I will keep yall posted and updated on each project...I will post before pics and pics of the job in the appropriate slots.

And I will not do this...:whiteflag ....unless it is absolutely necessary :)

Here is a quick snap shot:
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...7_536128_n.jpg

update :)
Replaced the Brake lines.
It ended up being a big PITA. The bleeder valves on the front two calipers were stripped and it took forever to get them off and have them swapped out. But i ended up getting them off.

Changed the Spark plugs and Wires
OMG I can't believe how easy this was *never done them before* and what a major difference it was with just starting the truck up. I still have to adjust the timing, and I have to wait for a buddy to help me because I'm clueless with that one

Switched out Brake master cylinder and power booster
Driving down 495 in the d.c. area in the a.m. and applied my brakes...and they were not working...down shifted to a stop on the shoulder and was able to jerry rig something *not sure what* and was able to limp it to work *bout 3 miles* with careful driving and very minimal use of emergency brake. Changed the MC and Booster the next day in the parking lot of work. Took a total of 2 hours with the help of a buddy who was needed to bleed brakes. Stops like a champ now :)

Swap'd out the stock seats for some leather ones from a jeep cheeroke
Finally decided to retire the stock ripped up and soaking wet cloth seats from the bronco, and use something from a jeep...the only thing they are good for...their seats. lol. It was an interesting install. Took the seat rails off bronco seats. Driver side had more customization than the passenger, Had to drill 2 holes in the tub to secure it. Then 4 new holes in the rails to attach the seat to the rails. Passenger side was easier in the sense that i didn't have to drill in the tub. Just pop'd four holes in the bronco pass seat rails, attached to seat and secured them into the existing holes in the tub. Frozen bolts were the center of my frustration during this whole thing.

Heater core replaced
I was on the way to work and noticed some white smoke coming from the dash. Immediately thought it was an electrical fire as I've had that happen before on my high school car *1973 VW bug* VERY happy to find out that it was just my heater core.

VERY easy thing to replace as you don't have to take the whole dash off to replace it. :) just took the glove box apart, then the 8-10 bolts off the cover, removed the hoses from the passenger side of the engine bay ***after the coolant was drained*** then swapped the old core with the new one, hooked everything up and BAM it's in.

3g Alt upgrade
Thanks to Fireguy's 3g alt, my electrical problems went away....well sort of...

The swap was super easy as everything I ordered from him was tip top super awesome. Swapped out new belts while i was doing the upgrade.

Now I'm having a hard time to figure out where my wiring is wrong. I believe there is a ground somewhere that is the culprit.

I had Best buy install a Cd player for me and I think the tech screwed something up and I'm trying to eliminate the problem one wire at a time. But since the P.O. did a hack job with the wiring, this has proven to be a little bit more difficult that originally anticipated. Never the less, I will figure this out. Time is the only thing holding me back at the moment...that and the weather since i don't have a garage to work in, so about 1-2 hours of light after i get off work. I'll update as I make progress

**update 10/31/11** I keep having a good 2-3 miles of power then all of a sudden the truck just dies and there is absolutely NO power..very frustrating as I have to keep being towed back home :(

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...nger05/tow.jpg

Re: 1982 Ford Bronco Ugly Betty build
 

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...er05/seats.jpg

new seats in the truck :D

compared to the old ones
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...5/IMG_5644.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...5/IMG_5633.jpg

yanked em outta jeep cheeroke....i believe it was a 02.


It was a very interesting install. Lots of fabricating. Took about 4 hours to throw together.

The girlfriend was a big help as she was doing the "lets look outside the box" ideas for the install. So she earned her dinner ;) :histerica

My dad told me when i bought it, "you can only polish a turd but so much"...yeaaaaa we shall see ;)

Re: 1982 Ford Bronco Ugly Betty build
 

I think you need a taller jack.

Looking forward to more updates! Any goals you have for this?

Re: 1982 Ford Bronco Ugly Betty build
 

:D that jack in the pic was the only one i had at the time i bought it. I now have a Hi-Jack :D Still need to use the blocks of wood for the jack stands tho :facepalm: lol

Goals?? Well hopefully this next weekend i'll have some electrical nightmares straightened. The previous owner thought he was slick by hooking up the radio to the coil :facepalm: and that's just one of the many issues. So i have the EVTM to go throught all the wiring to find out what's correct and what is fubar'd.

I want it fully running and road worthy by may at the latest. The girlfriend wants something fun to tailgate in at some concerts this summer. Hopefully i will not disappoint her.

I'll post some pics as the progress continues

:thup: thanks for the comments bud

Re: 1982 Ford Bronco Ugly Betty build
 

I am sure that Charlie has one, but if not, I have a timing gun. just hook it up to the number 1 cylinder spark plug wire and go from there, just adjusting the distributor until your marks line up.

Re: 1982 Ford Bronco Ugly Betty build
 

You should just scrap this project and sell it to me ;)


I love bull nose Fords. Dunno why either. I almost bought one of these years back. Just a good camping truck (or at least what I'd use it for)

Re: 1982 Ford Bronco Ugly Betty build
 

Looks good man, should be a lot of fun when it's finished. I've still got mine and been throwing random money into it still. Money pit's to the max haha

Re: 1982 Ford Bronco Ugly Betty build
 

:thup: yea charlie turned me on to the EVTM, just gotta learn how to read a schematic. As far as the timing goes, i have a timing light...but sadly the timing marks went bye bye...so I had the woman turn the engine over manually **i bump started it to around where it should be. Had the #1 spark plug out...used a straight straw and found TDC. Marked it on the harmonic balancer in silver sharpie :D and tweaked the distributor to where it needed to be...mostly how well it sounded..haha
I love em <3 it's gonna be my trail beater...i'll take it back and forth to events...but legally i can't drive it to work :D antique plates ftw. no inspection, no emissions :D

lol i see that...i still want that winch of yours... :D

Re: 1982 Ford Bronco Ugly Betty build
 

Buy the truck, and I'll throw it in for free ;)

Re: 1982 Ford Bronco Ugly Betty build
 

lol trust me..i wish i had the $$ for it.. i love it.