| date: | type: | description: |
| 11/3/99 | meltage | Somehow a fuse for one of the electric fans was completely melted. Thankfully I have two fans. |
| 10/28/99 | breakage | Rear passenger side hub (part of the full floater kit) is dead. |
| 10/27/99 | mod | Installed Skyjacker 4" leaf springs in the rear. No more blocks in the rear anymore. Have to get the exhaust redone AGAIN because the new leaf springs are in the way of the pipes that exit in the rear. |
| 10/27/99 | repair | Driveshaft rebalanced, had the yoke at the differential end of the driveshaft replaced. |
| 10/23/99 | repair | Replaced toasted MSD-6A with a new MSD-6AL. I bought the 5000rpm rev limiter pack and currently have the 5000rpm module installed. With the new exhaust, it's a lot harder to listen to the engine rpm because it's so quiet. |
| 10/22/99 | repair | Replaced u-joint at the differential again. |
| 10/20/99 | new purchases | Ordered 4" Skyjacker leaf springs for the rear and a pair of L&L ladder bars. Axle wrap better be cured with these upgrades. |
| 10/12/99 | repair | Bad ground resulted in a fried TFI module and computer. Replaced both of them. Also toasted the MSD ignition box. |
| 10/3/99 | mod | Had the exhaust completely redone. True dual exhaust, 2.5" pipe, high flow cats, flowmaster 2 chamber mufflers, and it's all tucked up underneath the truck to stay out of harm's way while on the trails. |
| 10/1/99 | mod | Installed new headers. Ditched the full length headers because they were interfering with the front driveshaft. Now have shorty headers. |
| 9/10/99 | repair | Replaced u-joint at the differential again. |
| 9/5/99 | repairs | Replaced water pump. The previous water pump was the original as far as I know, the rig had still been over heating even with the new 2 core radiator. Also replaced the belt that had somehow slipped and frayed one of the edges. |
| 8/18/99 | repair | Fixed the speedo sensor. Swapped the old output casing from the old tcase to the new one so that it had the hole for the speedo sensor to be inserted. Took off the clip of the output shaft on the new tcase, put the speedo gear and locking ball in its place. Speedometer works now and the shifting is silky smooth. |
| 8/14/99 | repair | Toasted a u-joint trying to race Brett's F-250. Speedo sensor still isn't hooked up, under WOT this'll destroy ujoints all the time...gotta fix it soon. |
| 8/8/99 | repair | Bought a new 1996 BW 1356 tcase. Works beautifully except for the fact that the '96 Broncos didn't have the speedo sensor at the tcase like my '91. Without the speed sensor, there was is no cruise control, no working speedometer, and worst of all, the tranny doesn't know to smooth the shifts out because it is getting a speed reading of 0mph since the speedo gear isn't installed. It shifts HARD, but at least the rig is back in commission. |
| 8/1/99 | mod | Install of the Flex-a-lite 210 and 240 electric fans complete, as well as the install of the new 2 core radiator complete. |
| 8/1/99 | repair | Replaced belt. |
| 7/4/99 | breakage | Transfer case went out. |
| 6/26/99 | repair | Replaced driver's side header gasket that blew out the day after I replaced the passenger side header gasket. |
| 6/26/99 | repair | Replaced rear driveshaft with a new one. |
| 6/17/99 | breakage | Blew out 2 rear ujoints, double cardan joint, siezed up slip yoke on the rear driveshaft. |
| 6/17/99 | outing | Went to the mud pit at the Mud 'n' More event. |
| 6/16/99 | repair | Replaced passenger side header gasket. The old one was blown, and the rig had a fierce exhaust tick. All better. |
| 5/30/99 | repair | Literally melted a ujoint (the one on the rear driveshaft at the differential) and replaced it alongside the road -- the only repair for Memorial weekend. |
| 5/30/99 | body damage | Dented the front fender and rear quarter panel wheeling this weekend. Pics up soon. |
| 5/28/99 | outing | Memorial weekend at Dresser, WI for offroading. Pics and movies coming soon. |
| 5/28/99 | mod | Extended the breather hoses for the front and rearend so that they run up into the engine compartment by the air filter. Time for some deep water crossings! |
| 5/21/99 | mod | Swapped out the 8.8" rear and installed the dana 60 from Dynatrac. |
| 5/20/99 | mod | Finally installed my 220 amp alternator from AIS. |
| 5/9/99 | repairs | Replaced fuel filter, replaced both ujoints on the front driveshaft. |
| 5/6/99 | mod | Dana 44 now equipped with 4.88 gearing and a lockright locker. |
| 4/29/99 | repair | Replaced bad oxygen sensor; passed emissions. |
| 4/25/99 | mods | New bumper brackets made, TJM bumper now sits flush with the body (there used to be a 1.5" gap), had a bracket made for the light mounts on the bumper to support a 3rd light (mountable in the middle of the 2 already on the bumper), quad shock brackets made so the Bronco now has 6 RS9000's (4 in front, 2 in back), and had an extension made for the front bumper that bolts to the frame & bumper which provides a 5" drop to stay street legal for bumper height. |
| 4/20/99 | repair | The double cardon joint went out last weekend while wheeling, got it replaced, and also got a new driveshaft in the process (the old one was dented--the new one is just a new shaft with the old yokes). |
| 4/13/99 | mod | re-installed anti-sway bar with superlift drop brackets to accomodate for the 6" suspension lift. |
| 4/3/99 | mod | Converted to a 6" suspension lift from the previous 4" lift. Also replaced the old shocks with 4 Rancho RS9000's. |
| 4/2/99 | outing | Failed the emissions test. Guess that oxygen sensor is bad after all... |
| 4/1/99 | mod | Not really a mod, but I removed the Dick Cepek fog lights that were previously mounted under the front bumper. One lens was shattered and the other light was full of water. |
| 3/26/99 | tune-up | Installed Ford motorsport 9mm plug wires, Autlite platinum plugs, replaced cap and rotor, cleaned out the K&N filtercharger (dirty as hell), and other miscellaneous crap that had been put off for way too long. |
| 3/20/99 | outing | Another outing to the ulands, click on the link and check out the pics and story. |
| 3/18/99 | purchases | Ordered 4.88 gears, install kit, a new case assembly, and a Lockright locker for the dana 44, ordered 8 RS9000 shocks, Warn tow strap, motorsport 9mm plug wires, picked up a new o2 sensor, and picked up some Autolite platinum spark plugs. |
| 3/13/99 | outing | Went out to the ulands again, click the link for the story and pics. |
| 3/4/99 | tweak | Had the chrome exhaust tips adjusted so that they don't stick out so far from the bumper anymore. |
| 3/2/99 | repair | Replaced a destroyed u-joint (thanks to the St. Boni outing) in the rear driveshaft. |
| 2/27/99 | outing | Found some nice mud out at a Farm in St. Boni, MN. |
| 2/26/99 | outing | Went to the usual spot, Brett got stuck pretty good, I got high centered on a small hill, starting to find some spots without much snow. |
| 2/26/99 | purchase | Placed the order for a dana 60 rearend (from Dynatrac) which will include 4.88 ring/pinion, Warn full floater kit, detroit locker, 35 spline axles, disc brakes, and 4 shock mounts. |
| 2/13/99 | outing | Lakewood trip #2 with members from the Big Bronco list. |
| 2/6/99 | mod | Removed Ford manual hubs and saved 'em for spares, installed Warn premium manual hubs. Replaced other C-900 bulb. |
| 1/28/99 | purchases | Ordered replacement C-900 lights, quad shock kit for up front, Warn Premium hubs, and 130amp alternator bracket for my HD alternator from AIS (getting prepared for Lakewood trip in Feb). |
| 1/9/99 | outing | First snow run -- pretty fun, got stuck once in some stuff that came up to the doors, lockers would have gotten me out without a doubt. |
| 1/5/99 | new purchases | Ordered replacement stabilizer shock and replacement C-900 light. |
| 1/4/99 | new toy | Finally got my Warn receiver shackle. |
| 12/26/98 | mod | Installed dual Optima (red top) batteries w/ 1/0awg positives and grounds. |
| 12/18/98 | outing | Went back to the same spot last weekend to take some video. More ice formed in the mud and water, the large chunks (about 3 or 4 inches thick) smashed the driver side stabilizer shock. |
| 12/12/98 | outing | Went out to the usual spot and found some new trails, actually came across some ice -- smashed through it all, got muddy in the process, and called it a night. |
| 11/27/98 | mod | Installed Dick Cepek dual shock steering stabilizer (custom install, see pics for details). |
| 11/13/98 | repairs | $2300 in repairs from a Tires Plus screw-up. A wonderful Friday the 13th. :P |
| 10/11/98 | outing | Great weekend of trailriding in Lakewood, Wisconsin, tons of pics and movies. |
| 9/26/98 | damage | I now have a nice scratch and dent on the passenger side door below the 1/4 window, in front of the rear view mirror from a tree from last night's outing. |
| 9/20/98 | mod | Installed TransGo Shift Improver Kit. |
| 9/18/98 | mod | Wired up the Dick Cepek fog lights, and also wired up the amber colored lights included with the Bull Bar. |
| 9/14/98 | mod | Took off chrome rims, BFGs are now wrapped around 15x10 Bart wheels. An ugly white color, but I need to sell the chrome rims. |
| 9/12/98 | mod | Mounted the Dick Cepek C-900 lights on my Bull Bar. Very COOL. |
| 9/8/98 | mod | Installed a channel expander for the alarm and setup a window module so that I can now roll the tailgate window up and down via my remote on the keychain. |
| 9/8/98 | new purchases | Ordered cheap Bart 15x10 winter rims (kinda early, but I want to sell the chrome rims), B&M Transmission Cooler, and TransGo Shift Kit. |
| 9/7/98 | tweak | Custom brackets made to move the bull bar up a few inches to cover the gap made by the body lift. |
| 9/2/98 | mod | TJM Bull Bar installed. |
| 8/23/98 | interior | Installed new charcoal colored carpet, installed rear interior panels, all front panels, and front seats. Interior project is slowly but surely getting completed! |
| 8/19/98 | mod | Setup wiring harness for a trailer, mounted it on the underside of the bumper. Also installed driver and passenger side body lift gap protectors. |
| 8/18/98 | new purchase | Ordered the TJM Bull Bar model T15 in polished Aluminum. |
| 8/18/98 | interior | Laid dynomat in truck bed, cab, rear side panels, door panels, and roof (still haven't done the topper yet). Also rewired the CB antenna cables to conceal them in the door panels. |
| 8/18/98 | tweak | Exhaust redone to fit around tow package and under the bumper out the rear of the vehicle. This time heavy duty brackets were used to prevent the pipes from breaking loose. |
| 8/16/98 | mod | Rear bumper reinstalled, custom brackets made to raise bumper 3" from original position to compensate for the 3" body lift. |
| 8/14/98 | mod | Draw-Tite class III tow package installed. |
| 8/11/98 | new purchase | Ordered 220amp alternator w/ regulator and wiring loom. |
| 8/7/98 | interior | Covered bed and rear side panels of truck with noise dampener (used 4 bottles). |
| 7/25/98 | repair | Entire A/C system replaced, new compressor, upper and lower lines. Major leaks were found, compressor was about to go, put a nice big dent in the wallet too. |
| 7/23/98 | mod | Installed MSD-6A ignition and Blaster II coil. Finally got the replacement ignition from Summit. |
| 7/16/98 | mod | 3" Trailmaster body lift installed |
| 7/6/98 | mod | Gapped my splitfires to .060 and installed MSD ignition and coil, only to have it (the ignition) fail. Turns out the ignition was bad, and I sent it back to Summit. Since the plug wire from the distributor cap to the coil was modified to fit the MSD blaster coil, it was taped by electrical tape so that it would stay attached to the stock coil until I was able to re-install a new ignition and use the MSD coil again. |
| 7/6/98 | new purchases | Ordered MSD-6A igntion, MSD blaster 2 coil, 3" Trailmaster body lift, Draw-Tite class III tow package. |
| 6/18/98 | tweak | Mounted the CB antennas on the mirrors again. This time I drilled holes in the mirror base to mount the antennas, instead of using the big bracket. |
| 6/18/98 | mod | Finally mounted a set of tow hooks on the front. They are angled, due to the fact that Ford didn't design the front bumper so that tow hooks would fit straight. I had to rip off the pastic guard thing that was originally attached to the underside of the bumper. |
| 6/14/98 | pictures | Suspension testing! As promised, here are some pics of my bronco. And for those of you who wonder if 35" tires will fit under a 4" lift, here's proof that they do (without rubbing!). Click here to see the pics. |
| 5/29/98 | ticket | VICTORY IN COURT. Regarding the 5/9/98 incident, I got my ticket reduced to unnecessary acceleration and no rear license plate. It was completely legal for me to drive without a rear bumper. Now I will send in a complaint to the city of St. Paul and hopefully get reimbursed the money I paid for the impound fee. |
| 5/19/98 | repair | Brake job, recharged A/C, repaired bracket on the driver's side exhaust pipe that broke a few days earlier, and checked u-joints and cv joints, still can't find where the rattling is coming from. |
| 5/18/98 | mod | Roll pan painted and installed |
| 5/17/98 | tweak | Moved CB whips from their mounting location on the mirrors, to underneath the interior panels that cover the bolts for the topper. |
| 5/9/98 | ticket | Unnecessary acceleration, no rear bumper, no rear license plate. Total cost: $174.50 Impound Fee: $69.50
To make a long story short: It was a night of cruising, got pulled over because the officer "heard me from 3 blocks away" (but I wasn't speeding), frisked me, put me into the squad car, frisked the 2 passengers, put them in the squad car with me, illegally searched my vehicle (without my consent), and IMPOUNDED IT. Statute 169:73 states that in my case, it is legal for a bumper NOT to be installed on my vehicle. However, the officer felt the need to impound my truck because my truck was unsafe and might blow up if someone rear ended me without my bumper on. Yeah, right. St. Paul Court, here I come. |
| 4/14/98 | mod | Headers, cats, & true dual exhaust setup installed |
| 4/12/98 | movies | We got around to making some movies of my truck, doing nothing fancy, but this will give you a general idea of how my truck looks and rides: |
| 4/10/98 | mod | Removed K&N air filter and installed K&N filtercharger |
| 4/3/98 | mod | Whip style cb antennas mounted on rear view mirrors |
| 3/30/98 | outing | Another brush with some deep mud that the all terrain BFG's just couldn't handle. A nice mud terrain tire would have pulled me through, but the AT's gummed up instantly and I was left to be pulled out by a Ch*vy. Bleh. |
| 3/21/98 | mod | Installed 8mm Splitfire sparkplug wires and new distributor cap |
| 3/21/98 | tweak | Removed spare tire carrier |
| 3/21/98 | tweak | Removed jack and other crap from engine compartment |
| 3/8/98 | repair | Broken driver & passenger side automatic hubs. $400 and a day in the shop, all fixed. |
| 2/22/98 | repair | Worn out Fuel Pressure Regulator
Washing the rig down after the previous night of being stuck and getting caked in mud. It'd been acting up all weekend when starting. And unfortunately I had to be at the car wash when I couldn't get it started. Bad fuel regulator...which coincendentally, allowed the engine to get so flooded that the fuel pump needed to be unplugged so that the engine could run on the existing gas just in the motor (ran for about 5 minutes). When it first started, gasoline shot out of the tailpipes about 6 feet on each side, and continued to just poor out. Not exactly a pleasant thing to see...but cool nontheless. |
| 2/21/98 | outing | Take the Bronco out for a little offroading, find some nice mud, decide to be gutsy and go through a fairly long mud/water pit, about 1.5-2 feet deep. Make it all the way through, but at the very end get pulled into some deep ruts and get the rear axle beached. Unfortunately this was at about 10:30pm and in a suburbian area (read: people call the police when anything is loud). Met with just about the entire police force on duty that night, but they basically laughed and wished me luck getting unstuck. To make a long story short, at 3:30am we finally get the beast out, thanks to Jonah's '87 full size Bronco and a lot of digging. Major props go out to Jonah for ditching his girlfriend that night to help out a desperate fool stuck in the mud. ;) I'll start bringing a camera before I go places now...I'm kickin' myself in the ass for not taking pictures of this outting, the Bronco was leaning at a 45 degree angle...looked pretty cool. |
| 2/21/98 | tweak | Woo hoo! Mounted the CB under the dash with the mounting kit, no more velcro! |
| 2/14/98 | tweak | Removed the spare tire...no need for this pizza cutter anymore. |
| 2/12/98 | mod | Removed the pinched air intake hose. There is really no point in this being here, and I really only think it's to reduce noise for a little bit of a quieter ride. Either way, the engine will breathe a little easier until I get the filtercharger. It does sound nice without the hose, you can really hear it sucking in air through the K&N... |
| 1/24/98 | outing | Beached in the snow
Finally got around to testing the new suspension in offroad conditions, mainly in snow. Nothing serious, however, but it definitely rides nicely while driving through ruts and other terrain. I didn't think that I'd get the beast stuck on this outing, but I managed to bury the rear axle in snow 3 different times. Thanks to Ryan and his Tacoma (4" lift with 33" mudders), he was able to get enough traction to slowly pull me from a ditch. A friend and his 100% stock Jeep Grand Cherokee got stuck in the same ditch as I did, but I took a turn at pulling him instead of Ryan (after I was unstuck). It was a funny sight, the Bronco basically treated the Jeep like a rag doll and got it right out of the ditch. :) |
| 1/20/98 | repair | Broken shock!
After driving 125 miles with the new lift and suspension, the rear passenger side shock breaks loose and flips forward into the pavement at 75mph. After stopping along the highway to see what "that rattling noise" was, the top ring that would normally go around the bolt to attach to the vehicle was just about shaved away after skidding on the ground for a mile or so. However, the Bronco was still driveable, just not in any offroad conditions, but I got the shock replaced in 2 days free of charge. |
| 1/20/98 | mod | Superlift 4" suspension lift installed, chrome rims put back on now equipped with 33"x12.50" BFG AT's |
| 1/17/98 | mod | K&N Air Filter installed |
