[Rob_64-365]

Yeah, its really hard because I don't think the newer colors look right on the older Bronco, but i just don't like how boring the Shadow Blue Metallic is.... quite the quandry!!

 

[robbz28]

Yeah, its really hard because I don't think the newer colors look right on the older Bronco, but i just don't like how boring the Shadow Blue Metallic is.... quite the quandry!!

I feel ya, also you need a color that will complement the interior. In the case of the eddie bauers, the interior matches the tan thats on our models, the shadow blue metallic is pretty up close and i think would look better in a basecoat clearcoat than it does in old single stage...which im not 100% sure, but think they still used up till the late 80s on trucks and broncos...i could be wrong on that though. Mine has clear coat on part of it, but i think it was half ass repainted at one point, at least the hood was and they may have sanded the old paint and just cleared over it to kind of brighten things back up. Anyway, mine will likely be shadow blue metallic because im about to have to buy paint to do my jambs and my underhood before i put the engine back in.

 

[Rob_64-365]

I think you are right on the BC/CC vs the factory lacquer paint. You can test that out, as i have lots of rust repair to do first!!

Plus i got the call that my Corvette frame should be ready to pick up from the paint shop later this week, so the Bronco may be waiting while I assemble everything on that...

 

[robbz28]

I think you are right on the BC/CC vs the factory lacquer paint. You can test that out, as i have lots of rust repair to do first!!

Plus i got the call that my Corvette frame should be ready to pick up from the paint shop later this week, so the Bronco may be waiting while I assemble everything on that...

Awesome! I have a friend who is big into 3rd gen vettes, has a sweet 63 roadster that he took to Bloomington a couple of years ago and got Gold certified. He also has a 67 roadster thats the same color, he calls them his "bookends" due to it being the first and last year....must be nice.

 

[Rob_64-365]

Those are 2nd generation 63-67 aka C2
3rd generation was 68-82, but whatever, they are just as big a p.i.t.a. as any other car... as proved tonight assembling the front suspension assemblies!!

Back to Bronco paint thoughts, Iike factory paint colors,m because it is easy to match the colors years later, or get touch up paint for it. Plus when you see cars on the road, its a good guage on the shade, so i saw this blue on a Chevy i liked it, because it isn't too flashy, which doesn't look right on older cars, but just a bit brighter than the Broncos factory color. Maybe this is a good color.

 

[robbz28]

Yessir, thats the cobalt blue i was tellin you about, also i had a 2007 toyota tacoma that was Spectra Blue Mica....it was a similar dark blue, very pretty when it was clean and shiny.

 

[Rob_64-365]

Even tho the Bronco is tucked in the garage for winter, I am always looking at car-part.com & finding little things I need & having them shipped. My latest find is a cruise control module out of Nebraska that is in excellent shape!!

 

[Rob_64-365]

Found a single OEM 94-96 EB rim for my spare tire to match my other 4 rims. I like the look of no spare tire cover & a matching rim/tire on the spare tire carrier.

This was supposed to be a "Grade A" condition, but i give it a generous "Grade D" rating.

I will see how well I can sand out all the dents, curb rash, & stains on it, and re-polish it.

 

[robbz28]

Found a single OEM 94-96 EB rim for my spare tire to match my other 4 rims. I like the look of no spare tire cover & a matching rim/tire on the spare tire carrier.

This was supposed to be a "Grade A" condition, but i give it a generous "Grade D" rating.

I will see how well I can sand out all the dents, curb rash, & stains on it, and re-polish it.

View attachment 172327

Grade A from 100 feet away


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[Rob_64-365]

Nah, its about a 35 footer!!
Ebay makes you wait 7 days to leave negative feedback, so its been a long wait, but that is plenty of time to come up with some great lines. Did Stevie Wonder give it the grade A ranking?

 

[robbz28]

Never waste an opportunity to use a good Helen Keller joke...

I have one of those wheels, it’s in grade D shape but could be saved with some work. My spare is mounted on it, if you’re interested, I’ll take a closer look, it might not be as bad as I’m thinking.


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[Rob_64-365]

Omg, I forgot about Hellen Keller jokes!! Haha!

I appreciate it, but I've hit the curb rash with a file & have been sanding out the wheel weight marks and pitting with a 400 grit, it looks like its getting better. I'll step up to finer, and finer grit sand paper, but I I gotta watch a few Youtube videos on the process, but im sure it can be made nice enough for my needs, just disappointing what they called Grade A. If I completely ruin it, I may take you up on that!! Lol

 

[Jimmy Dean]

Found a single OEM 94-96 EB rim for my spare tire to match my other 4 rims. I like the look of no spare tire cover & a matching rim/tire on the spare tire carrier.

This was supposed to be a "Grade A" condition, but i give it a generous "Grade D" rating.

I will see how well I can sand out all the dents, curb rash, & stains on it, and re-polish it.

View attachment 172327

wow, that looks rough. Good luck on cleaning it up some.

I really wish I knew where mine where. I had the 4 original wheels for my 71 mach 1 and 4 original wheels for my 82 all go missing from my shop. granted I am in there so little, I don't know when, just some time in the last 3-4 years. But the clean good 39" boggers are still in there.....

 

[Rob_64-365]

I watched some videos last night on cleaning up gouged rims. Its basicly start off with 200 grit, go to 400, 800, 1200, 1500, then 3000 then polish & they'll shine like new...

I like these rims, but I also like the factory steel rims, but I keep telling myself I'll just run these. I have too many cars & trucks & they all have multiple sets of rims & tires, so im trying to avoid buying more crap i don't need!

 

[Rob_64-365]

Got a welder!! Getting close to installing the engine & trans into the Corvette chasis, then I can drop the body back on!! Just preparing for Bronco work, this is the welder I chose. Gotta pick up a 75/25 argon tank, and a welding cart & sheet metal work can soon begin!

 

[robbz28]

That’s a sweet little welder! Does MIG and TIG. I just have a MIG but I love it, use the heck out of it too. Just get you some scraps and Start playing.


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[Jimmy Dean]

I think that is the welder I am looking at getting soon. Gotta learn how to weld though.

 

[Rob_64-365]

We are in the same boat then Jimmy, the only thing i ever welded was some cleats & rod holders to my seawall with a stick when my neighbor was doing his seawall. I had no idea what I was doing & he laughed at me & gave me a few tips, but it came out fine. I have some junkyard sheet metal parts to practice on & extra 3" exhaust pieces cuz there is no way I'm ever paying an exhaust shop to do anything again, or a body shop if i can help it...

I didn't strike any welds yet, but I did get the cart all set up, picked up a medium sized gas bottle (expensive little suckers $200), bolted the welder to the cart & hooked everything up, connected all the ground wires into their perspective clamps.... there's a lot to these damn things! Just gotta read thru everything a little better before I test on her... zzzttt, zzztt!!

 

[Rob_64-365]

Scored a tailgate cover at the junkyard for $10, & picked up some scrap fenders so I had some extra sheet metal to practice my welding (lack of) skillz since I've never welded sheet metal before & I gave her a go, beating it into shape with a hammer then sticking it together, trying to figure it out as I go. No light shined thru and I didn't grind it too flat cuz I wasnt overly concerned with how it looks, cuz its all gonna get blasted & repainted later, so it was good welding practice for whats to come. I found it rather enjoyable to do.

It may not be pretty, but it was a good learning session & at least there is no more hole!

 

[Rob_64-365]

Got a little more practice welding spare parts together, tuning in the settings on my welder & figuring out what works on various thickness metals, so why not take off the hitch, & rear bumper, and tailgate so I could dig into the rear crossmember... which looked exactly as I expected, rotted out! The crossmember was just gone, but the floor wasn't bad, actually in much better shape than I expected.

The first part was the worst, taking off the damn bolts on trailer hitch! Each of the 6 bolts fought me hard. I could only get 1/4 rotation with a 4' pipe on a breaker bar, right to the very last thread on every single bolt. I didn't want to use heat right next to the gas tank & my impact wouldn't budge any of them. Then taking off the bumper, & tailgate weren't too bad after that.

Then I drilled out the spot welds & carefully separated the floor from the crossmember. Time consuming, but not bad, removing the crossmember in pieces with my cutting wheel along the way, which made it easier to work in that tight area. The body mounts didn't need to be unscrewed cuz they had rotted thru the frame & lifted right out, which is typical in so many Bronco's, but it was easily repaired with 3/16" plate steel. Its nice & strong now, and I can weld in the crossmember next, then tie in everything else back there. I thought this job would be scary, but i watched enough repair videos to feel confident to tackle this & honestly, it wasn't bad at all.

It took about 2 hours to get the crossmember out in pieces, & frame cleaned up, and then another hour to fit & weld the 3/16" plate in to cover the holes in the frame. It wasn't bad to do at all, and quite satisfying to tackle this elephant in the room I knew was lurking back there.