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Dont have a DMM that can test Hz so i couldnt test MAP function. But i figured id still test for power and ground. Power was good, but my ground reading was off a bit  what the f-? I was caught so off-guard by that i actually performed the test several times, with several meters! Then i took everything apart and cleaned the ground. Much better:  This was one of the main harness grounds, so now im wondering if this was the problem the whole time. Tomorrow im going to clean & reinstall the spark plugs, and temporarily bypass the vacuum cannister since i dont have a good spare. Then maybe ill take it for a drive and see if anything changes. Holy cow, when it rains it pours. Ive got a fleet of vehicles that decided they want attention, all at the same time!  So friday the green bronco popped a P0707, transmission range sensor. That's an easy one, order a new MLPS, which i just got and installed this morning after work. So that's one fixed. So i was driving the diesel all weekend; well last night it decided to blow the temp probe for the pyro out of the manifold!   This is probably going to suck to fix. There is a little tiny set screw in the fitting that locks the temp probe in place, and after 15 years its pretty well seized in there. Got it soaking currently, hoping i can get it to free up and come off the probe. If not ill cut it off the probe and worst case replace the probe. We'll get back to this after a couple days of it soaking in penetrant. So i drove the wife's 90 to work last night, and of course its running rich and popped a CEL  Pulled codes, all i got is a 42, system rich. Swapped the MLPS on the green one while i waited for this one to cool off, then pulled the plugs. Yup, its running rich!  Every plug is covered in soot, except for #4  Check fuel pressure (chart for reference)  KOEO - 40 PSI. KOER - 36 PSI. Unplugged FPR and it jumped to 42 like it should. No fuel in vacuum line, and the system doesnt bleed down. So i decided to look at the vacuum lines even tho theyre all new from a couple years ago; all good. I pulled the steel vacuum cannister off the bracket and spotted this  So either this was leaking the whole time, or i caused it when i took it off the bracket. Either way, i cant see why a vacuum leak in between the manifold and the EVR solenoid would cause a rich condition. And it never threw an EGR code anyway. Out of time for the day though, so will continue looking at it tomorrow. I made the terrible mistake of going on marketplace, where i found a soft top for a bronco, in great shape, for $200!  No instructions and missing some hardware but i think we can figure it out, so yesterday me and the kiddo sorted it all out and got it installed. Friday i pulled the half cab off  ...washed the mud out of the inside...  ...and reinstalled the back half of the interior!  So yesterday me & the kiddo started laying out the rails to figure out how it goes together  He was super excited about the project and started laying out parts  Bedside rails in. They bolt to the original hard top captured nuts altho you have to drill a couple extra holes & put an extra couple screws in to hold it a little more secure   Sorting out the top rails:  They are supposed to be held in place with these stainless sheetmetal screws but im missing about half  ...fortunately i have a ton of oem body hardware, so i used some oem sheetmetal screws instead  Top rails installed:  working on the tailgate rail:  It doesnt actually attach to the tailgate, it attaches to the siderails using studs & wingnuts (for easy removal). But it s supposed to have some kind of seal here  i had some random weatherstripping in the shed, thought it might work but its not big enough to fit over the lip  for now foam will have to do, ill have to reach out to Broncograveyard during the week to see if i can buy the correct seal
Sorting out the bows. The fabric sleeves for the bows are also missing, maybe i can get them too.  ...stretching out the top...   ...and done!    I think i like the soft top the best of the three. Doesnt hurt that its the kiddo's favorite as well. So naturally we had to take it for a drive to get ice cream! im full of terrible puns. while recovering i managed to get a ypipe built  ...and the exhaust is now done!   Same muffler so tone hasnt changed, the headers must have been leaking worse than i thought because the noise under the hood has lessened. I also spotted a couple things i needed to fix. Ram seal sprung a leak so ive got a reseal kit from PSC on order  somehow i managed to lose the retaining spring for the driver caliper (which is now replaced)  ...and somehow i broke my CB antenna?  I had modified the original antenna mount to accept a CB antenna instead, since i never listen to the radio anyway. But i think its time to upgrade from a CB to a GMRS unit, i just have to see if i can find a GMRS antenna that will fit my custom cb antenna mount. So that's on the list. But first!  soft top! Finally. Started working on the headers, then i threw my back out, then i got sick. But its done now!  Old headers & ypipe out  The header wrap was already starting to disintegrate. That didnt last long.  Had one header bolt on #7 fight me on the way out  threads chased:  New ARP header bolts:  ...and im using Remflex gaskets:  Driver header in:
...and passenger side in:  ...which is kind of close to the frame rail:  ...so i trimmed the rail a little bit  Unfortunately the y-pipe doesnt clear the trans xmember  ...so i cut it in 3.  the driver pipe fits around the bellhousing nicely but will need to be modified to clear the trans xmember
The passenger pipe, when rotated 180º, clears nicely  its at this point that i threw out my back doing yard work. Headers just showed up, couldnt wait until tomorrow to unbox them  Hedman p/n 89513. Satin black ceramic coating on them. Hedman claims their ypipe does not fit around the C6 xmember but mine is custom so it might work. I guess we'll find out soon enough- plan is to get my old headers off tomorrow! Thats a terrible pun. killed the fan controller on the last trip out so the bronco has been sitting idle while i wait for a new one  ...which finally showed up! This is the new S70 fan controller from DCControl, which is replacing my older FK75  Installed it where the old one was. Using deutsch connectors to tie in the signal wire for the a/c input, and the output for the feedback LED in the dash   LED comes on green, and slowly turns yellow & then red as the fan speeds up  So that's one thing off the list. Had to pull the alt.  I remember why i dont like playing in the mud. One of the brushes in the regulator was dirty and got stuck  Got that all sorted & the alternator reinstalled just in time  I have a couple minor electrical issues to deal with. #1, my left turn signals stopped working. My hazards work so im guessing its in the column, need to investigate. #2, the driver side window switch for the passenger side window quit working so i need to pull the door panel off and investigate. I want to take it for a drive and so i can do some tuning before our next wheelin trip, but i have other plans. Hedman finally has coated 460 headers back in stock, and since i have a leak somewhere in the passenger header i ordered a set. So now it looks like im going to replace the exhaust system and then ill go back and start tuning again. Decided to take pity on the wifey and the little due and install a proper set of steps on the bronco! The original steps i built were designed more as a set of frame mounted rock sliders, and while they worked, the step was a little bit small and a bit tight to the body
Little dude helping with the removal  For being my DD for the last 9-10 years, its still pretty clean under here!  So, were using a set of Amp Research Power Steps for a Chevy, specifically part number 75113-01A. We also need the adapter kit from OBS Solutions. You can buy the steps direct from OBS Solutions as well but i did not as when i bought the kit (way back in March) the steps were out of stock. Waiting for them to come back in stock delayed the project a bit. So heres the adapter kit, which is basically a bunch of brackets and some new trigger switches for the steps. In this pic i have already begun installing the brackets on the swing arms  The running boards are way too long and need to be cut down  The swing arms mount to the seat belt rail and the inner rocker rail. They reuse several holes already in the body from Ford, but you have to drill a few extra. They are all hidden though, even in my case with a bedlined floor instead of carpet or the rubber floor  The supervisor showed up to inspect my work
Here's the wiring harness that comes with the steps, plus some mounting brackets that came with the kit from OBS Solutions  This is where the module is mounted, behind the passenger kick panel  Its two modules in one; the left is the controller for the steps and the right is for the lights (which im not using). Here's the wiring harness all laid out  Stripping/sorting:  ...and laying out my new configuration. The kit is for a crew cab so i eliminated the trigger for the second set of doors, and i eliminated the entire circuit for the lights  Laying out the harness in the bronco. Since were not using the lights that right module doesnt get used. The red wire is the power wire i ran to the dash from the fuse box i installed when i put on the Superduty bumper. The ground i landed at the main harness ground right next to the module
Ran the harness down in the channel under the sill plate where its safe  Drilled one hole in the floor near the seatbelt spool, hidden by the spool cover. The wires come out into this channel. One set of course plugs into the passenger step motor, the other set follows the channel in the body structure to the driver side  These are the trigger switches installed in the door jamb, in an existing hole in the body  Unfortunately i have an XL, so theres no interior panel on the other side to hide the switch. To this end i opted to drill a small hole and hide the wire in the b-pillar. I also added an extra layer of shrink sleeve to protect the wire. Not ideal, but its tucked in there pretty tight and itll have to do, until i get around to installing a set of XLT rear interior panels.  ...and the finished product!    They work really good; they swing out quickly, and are nice and stable. They retract 3 seconds after the door is closed so if you close & open the door quick they dont move. Been on here about two weeks now and everyone is super happy with them. Now the wife wants me to install a set on her bronco too! After probably 5 years, ive had enough. Time to fix the a/c in the daily driver!  Heater box open:  New evaporator vs old  (yes i replaced the orifice tube &dryer, i just didnt take pics of them for some reason) The insulation on the heater box had disintegrated so i covered it with that sticky heat/noise insulator, hopefully this works!  new compressor...  new condenser  of course its slightly different  Youd think it would fit, but it didnt. Had to trim the core support a little bit. So with that done all thats left is some new hoses, and then we pumped it all down to leak check!  Since the bronco needed to be inspected anyways, i had my buddies shop charge the a/c for me while it was there. It certainly is nice having good working a/c again! |
