[SRWillis]

Finally got around to changing the regulator and glass run in the passenger door today.

 

[SRWillis]

Finally gettin' around to a project I've been wanting to do for a while. These are just light duty 'cause I'm not going to be doing any real serious wheelin'. Besides, I'll never get to 20 MPG (yeah, right) if I keep adding weight to 'er.

 

[SRWillis]

Did a little welding and not a little grinding today.

 

[Breezeway2021]

Looks looks like a great start! I’ve got like maybe 10min experience of welding and has my dad over to show me how to use his old arc welder I got from him a while back. I did a lot of grinding too... lol. Stick welding is a lot harder than it looks! Makes a mig feel like a piece of cake!

 

[SRWillis]

Looks looks like a great start! I’ve got like maybe 10min experience of welding and has my dad over to show me how to use his old arc welder I got from him a while back. I did a lot of grinding too... lol. Stick welding is a lot harder than it looks! Makes a mig feel like a piece of cake!

Thanks. I don't have a lot of welding experience either. Biggest problem I had was finding the right setting and then the pieces I used to cap the ends of the tubing from the step to the main tubing was a touch too narrow and left too big of a gap. I spent more time fitting the last one and it went much better. Now on to drilling the frame for the mounting plates...

 

[SRWillis]

Picked a few parts off and out of an 86 F150 today. Took a clock and plastic glove box off of it and a instrument cluster bezel and an 80-81 grill out of the bed. The grill was an unexpected surprise! No cracks that I could find.

Also picked up a newer set of 31s off marketplace. Want to mount them on some Alcoa 10 holes.

 

[SRWillis]

Got the driver's side all welded up.

 

[SRWillis]

Finished fabbing up the passenger side today. Now to pull 'em both off for paint...another day.

 

[Breezeway2021]

Powder coat? Rhino line? I used rubberized undercoat for a the bottom of a custom motorcycle seat pan once. It takes a long time to dry but it came out decent... no idea if it would work for your application or not.

 

[SRWillis]

Powder coat? Rhino line?

No, nothing fancy. Just going to paint with Rust-oleum 2X Satin Canyon Black, same as I used on the bumpers and grill. Seems to hold up pretty well and should be easy to touch up.

 

[SRWillis]

Finally got the rock sliders painted and bolted back on today. I went to get some more Rust-Oleum 2X Satin Canyon Black since I only had one can, but the place I went to didn't have any. I found some Krylon Fusion Textured Finish and thought I'd give it a try since I was planning on putting some skateboard tape on the step portion. The finish isn't as rough as I thought it would be, but we'll see how it works out.

 

[SRWillis]

Got the clearcoat stripped from the Alcoas today. I had tried one stripper, left it on for 3 days and it barely touched it. Tried the Zinsner and it started working right away. Took a couple applications and some scraping with a plastic scraper, but worth the effort.

The one on the left is stripped, the right is not.

Still have to fix some corroded spots, but look much better.

 

[deadsquiggles]

Got the clearcoat stripped from the Alcoas today. I had tried one stripper, left it on for 3 days and it barely touched it. Tried the Zinsner and it started working right away. Took a couple applications and some scraping with a plastic scraper, but worth the effort.
View attachment 197044
The one on the left is stripped, the right is not.
View attachment 197045
Still have to fix some corroded spots, but look much better.
View attachment 197046

I wish I’d have known about the Zinsser stuff. I bought the same wheels for my ‘84 and stripped one by hand before deciding to have them blasted and powder coated. Might have to find another set and give it a try.

 

[SRWillis]

I wish I’d have known about the Zinsser stuff. I bought the same wheels for my ‘84 and stripped one by hand before deciding to have them blasted and powder coated. Might have to find another set and give it a try.

It surprised me at how quick it worked. I don't know what I used it on before, but it had been a while. The stripper that was in the spray bottle had jelled, so I had to clean it out, but the product in the can was still good. Wear gloves and use it in a well-ventilated area or outside.

Edit: just did a quick search and couldn't find the exact product...

 

[SRWillis]

Got the Alcoas polished up and the Coopers mounted. Went with balancing beads for the first time. Took it for a short drive and these tires are much smoother and quieter and the beads seem to be doing their job.

For reference, (only weighing one of each, both 31s) the steel wheel/Goodyear weighs 70 lbs, the Alcoa/Cooper weighs 56 lbs.

I'm not sure I like the look as much as I thought I would. Don't know if it's because the Bronco is dirty, or if it's the black center caps, or the lettering...

Before and afters:

 

[Breezeway2021]

My blue truck has the riveted Alcoa’s (not polished) but PO left center caps off. I think they look pretty good without them. Maybe you might?

 

[SRWillis]

I considered that @Breezeway2021, but I didn't polish the center as good figuring it would be covered up, so I think I'll try some chrome centers.

 

[CrazyBRONCOguy]

Looks good to me as is.
Tho I do feel something like a 1.25" - 1.5" wheel spacer would make it look even better. I think that the old tires where more of a square shape, so they actually "look" bigger, but are likely the same size on the side wall. Moving them out would change the look a bit, without really effecting much else.
Maybe also a black pinstripe down the sides. I think it looks a bit contrasting as there is not much else that is polished or shiney on the sides of the truck. Example like race track trim or the chrome topper window trim on later models. At same time not enough black to tie the caps in either. My opinion. The chrome center caps would be worth trying to, especially if can find some with red centers for the back.

 

[SRWillis]

Good observations @CrazyBRONCOguy. The tires are the same size, but the tread on the Goodyears do make them look bigger. I think I have some chrome center caps w/red centers, I think I'll dig them out and give 'em a try.

I'm sure the finish on the wheels will dull a bit, and that may look better lol.

 

[Breezeway2021]

Good observations @CrazyBRONCOguy. The tires are the same size, but the tread on the Goodyears do make them look bigger. I think I have some chrome center caps w/red centers, I think I'll dig them out and give 'em a try.

I'm sure the finish on the wheels will dull a bit, and that may look better lol.

I bet the red centered chromes will look good.

It’s funny how just a difference in tread pattern can make the same size tires look different. It’s weird how some 31s have great proportions on a stock suspension but others seem to be lacking. The tread on the first set has good proportions but the tread on the new set make it look like you should maybe go up a size just IMO. BUT it is hard to tell just from pictures.

The last set of tires i got which was about 6mo ago my mechanic gave me a list of what he could get and all I worried about was being 31” A/T and basically picked the best tread depth on the list. Didn’t care about brand since its not an everyday driver. I think the bill was about 460$ for four tires mounted and balanced. He’s a local small shop and a friend too so that helped.