part-time4wd.com
  • Home
  • Blog
  • The Builds
  • tech

AOAA:  The Aftermath

5/2/2023

 

Fullsize Broncos Take On AOAA!

4/29/2023

 

FSB @ AOAA!

4/26/2023

 
Photo dump from our amazing day of wheeling at AOAA on April 22nd:

rock lights!

4/21/2023

 
This was the scene earlier in the week
Picture
...when i started to wire up these!
Picture
KC's Cyclone V2 rock lights!
I have wanted to put a set of rock lights in for years and never got around to it.  Im glad i waited as long as i did though, because this kit is awesome.
​It comes packed with 6 lights:
Picture
Up close, theyre nice pieces:
Picture
Picture
It comes with a pretty nice install kit too:
Amongst some of the hardware are these M8 button heads to hold the lights in place.  I elected to use rivnuts instead of the lock nuts, to make the install easier: 
Picture
Picture
Up front, im just outside the core support body mount:
Picture
In the middle, Im on this body support just outside the frame.  Im not thrilled with the way its mounted, but it puts the light where i need it
Picture
And then for the rear, im in the rearmost body structure, just behind and outboard of the shackle hangar:
Picture
As for the wiring, i only used part of their kit.  The wiring itself is nice, but a bit short for a fullsize rig.  Would work fine for a short wheelbase rig like a jeep or zuk.  Anyways, i was able to use their harnesses for 5 of the 6 lights, and then i ran my own wires for the 6th since it was too far away.  I did use their fuse holder though.  I kind of liked the idea of having a separate fuse for each of them just in case i damage one, and it simplified the wiring under the hood:
Picture
They want you to power this directly from a switch in the dash, but i had a spare relay in the aux fuse box i added under the hood, so i used that to power everything 
Picture
Conveniently, i also already had a spare set of wires run to the dash to trigger said relay, so it was just a matter of adding another switch to the dash, and connecting the existing wires
Picture
Picture
That stuff is boring though, lets see how they look!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Im diggin it!

Its kinda funny how the taper of the rear bumper causes it to cast that hourglass shape out back, but theres nothing i can do about that.  I think this is gonna work out great, i guess we'll find out next time we're on the trail after dark!

PMGR starter upgrade & 3G alt repairs

12/30/2022

 

AOAA recap, Pt.2

11/18/2022

 
Alright we're trying this YT thing.
I recommend watching Joe's video, he's got a pretty good overview of the day in his: 

AOAA, The Highlights

11/6/2022

 
Heres the highlights from running the trails at AOAA with Ox, Darre & Joe.  It was a rough day for me with issues with the water/meth injection on the drive up, then sinking the bronco in a mud pit and stalling it, and wrecking the alternator as well.  Everybody else did fine!  Got some cool pics though.
I shot some video as did Darrel, so there should be some good videos to watch soon at least! 

big block bronco upgrades!

10/26/2022

 
Weve got a wheelin trip planned for this weekend, so what better time than to quick cram in an update to the front suspension!
Enter one set of Bilstein 7100s:
Picture
We're also swapping from the standard 80-97 F250/350 shock mount, to a set of Rough Country dual shock mounts for a Superduty:
Picture
So lets get the old tower removed:
Picture
Picture
But wait, what's this?
Picture
Crack in the frame!  It was far worse than it looked.  But i got it all ground out from top to bottom, and all welded back up, which meant we could get the upper mount installed:
Picture
...and shocks!
Picture
...and done!
Picture
Barely noticeable, but makes a huge difference on the road.  Nice and firm without being stiff.  Definitely what this big heavy truck needed, and just in time to test it out this weekend!

steering column woes

7/13/2022

 
Never got to take the 88 for a test drive.  I got the headlights all set and roughly aimed, with a plan to drive it to work one night and then adjust the headlights to get a good pattern.  But when i went to turn the key, nothing happened.

Well, thats not true.  Something happened.  The column broke!
Im going to give you the abridged version:  the ignition lock cylinder actuator rod broke.
Picture
Fortunately, Dorman makes a replacement, which is actually pretty cheap on Amazon.  Unfortunately, replacing it requires the complete disassembly of the steering column:
Picture
While i was in there i figured its now or never, and i replaced the turn signal/hazard switch mechanism.  
Picture
i spent a couple days cleaning up parts and slowly disassembling/reassembling the column, but all is now well, and the column is back where it belongs!
Picture
I do have around 80 pics of the process, so the plan over the next week or so is to get them all resized so i can put together a full gallery of pics on how to completely rebuild the column. 

better headlights!

7/5/2022

 
Got tired of the junky OEM style headlamp housings i have on the 88.  Also, the lens fell off the passenger side turn signal housing!  So i had to replace those anyway.
Picture
Went digging around and some some decent looking replacement housing sets on Amazon so i figured why not?  And ordered em.
Picture
As expected, theyre typical cheap-ish china made housings.  They didnt include the lower adjuster gear box so i had to swap that over, and the yellow zinc coated studs are total junk so i swapped them for the ones off my original housings (black in the pic)
Picture
Aside from that, they seem decent enough.
I bought another set of Hikari LED headlights because i have them in every other vehicle i drive, and they work very well.
Picture
Picture
Finished and installed, they look pretty good:
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
They look pretty good, and while i havent driven it yet, i was aiming them at night and the light output is much better, as is the beam pattern.

<<Previous

    Categories

    All
    203/205 Doubler
    3/4 Ton Conversion
    3g Alternator
    460
    88 Bronco
    90 Bronco
    96 Bronco
    96 F250
    Anti Wrap Bar
    AOAA
    Bed Liner
    Big Dogs Offroad
    Bilstein
    BW1356
    C6
    Dana 60
    Dump Bed
    E4OD
    ECBR
    Electric
    Electric Fan
    Fab Work
    Floor Vents
    Front Bumper
    Garage
    Gauges
    Home Depot Bed
    Junkyard
    Junkyard Gems
    Kid Trax Bronco
    Leaf Sas
    Off Road
    On Board Air
    Pickup Cab Swap
    Rausch Creek
    Rear Bumper
    Recovery
    Rock Light
    Saginaw Swap
    Shackle Reversal
    Sliders
    Sliding Windows
    Solid Axle Swap
    Steering Column
    Sterling 10.25
    TTB TRE Flip
    Video
    Water Injection

    Archives

    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    June 2015
    February 2015
    July 2014
    June 2014
    February 2014
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    September 2009
    June 2009
    March 2009
    July 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008

  • Home
  • Blog
  • The Builds
  • tech