Meet Minty, my 2dr on 37's, "Vintage" Build Thread!

[Mirage]

Almost caught up! Last Friday, I started working on installing the front lift about 11am.

At 1:15pm, I finally got one side removed.... I ended up have to mark the alignment cam lobes and remove the damn LCA to get the struts out... Metalcloak doesn't bother to tell you to do this... I wasted so much time on the drivers side, before I realized you had to do this.... :/

At 3:13PM, I got the whole drivers side lift completed!

I also installed Rough Country HD Inner/Outer Tie Rods These things are very well built!

I also installed Rough Country's Steering Rack Delrin Bushing upgrade.

This is the completed drivers side lift with the new wheel/37" tire installed. OMFG, it was so glorious! I loved just how much taller one side was!

The passengers side took a lot longer. It was getting dark once I had the stock suspension removed and I couldn't see that well, even with my DeWalt LED lights... I ended up flipping the MC UPA over and by the time I realized it, it was almost 8:15pm....

F my life! I was so pissed off with myself! MC shouldn't have designed their UCA to accept that black dust cap on either side of the arm.... Anyway, I fixed everything on the passengers side and took 2 pics at 9:44PM

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[Mirage]

Saturday morning, I got maybe 5 hours of sleep the night before, but I got up and went out back to start working on the rear lift! Had everything, (with the exception of the rear UCA and LCA), in the rear out by 9:30am

I didn't know this, but you have to drop the fuel tank, completely, to remove the control arms from the passengers side.... :/ I had just filled up a couple days before I started the lift, so I'll have to wait till I'm almost empty to upgrade the arms.... I also had to order some fuel line clips, since people say you'll break a few during the removal of the tank....

So, about 11AM, I had the rear lifted and the MC Track Bar installed. I also installed MC's Rear Shock Skid Plates.

Now, I had to upgrade the tire carrier. I did a lot of researching and thought about one of the reinforcements that mounts over the tailgate hinges, but I was leery about those... I almost bought a matching LoD Rear Bumper w/Tire Swing Out, but it was $2317 plus shipping for those 2 items... I might down the road, but unsure right now? I like how it looks though:

I ended up buying the Barricade HD Tire Carrier. It's very well built, but I do know it's a cheaper product. I was sort of a PITA to install, but I got it!

Notice the Oracle Flush Mount Taillight Upgrade

Unfortunately, Oracle's awful direction do not explain very well on how to get the turn signals to work on a non Base Bronco, but I finally figured out you have to go into Forscan and change what the the tail, turn and stop lights do after installing these lights, if your Bronco came with signature LED headlights...

I also installed DV8's license plate relocater. This looks more like it where it would've gone in the 60's/70's!

Friday night, one of our Club Members posted the Ford Security trunk for sale and it was an amazing price! He even delivered it to me and knocked off $75 more bucks from his new price! I won't sell it, but he sold it to me for $125! I only had to buy longer bolts to mount it to the floor! I also installed the Ford Performance Molle Tailgate System.

A hour or so later, I had all my recovery gear, (that was secured in my Jeep), now secured in my Bronco! I even have some extra room left!

Before I called it a night, I got all this delivered!

The hardtop should be Gloss White this weekend?

 

[Mirage]

Sunday morning, I didn't do too much. Test drove the Bronco a little bit. Had some small issues that I took care of.

My tires are barely hitting my stock rock rails, only while backing up at full turn lock... I didn't really want to get side steps, as I'm not a fan of them, but it looks like I'm going to have to get something different....

I have to get an alignment Thursday morning, but it rides very nice for a lifted brick on 37" Baja Bosses!

People just seem to "hate" my bumper and Factor55 winch hook, but I'm not a mall crawler, this is heavy duty functional gear!!!

I installed MC's front LCA Skid Plates

I got some 3/16" Plexiglass cut last week and picked it up Friday morning. I sanded and painted one side of it in Gloss White, let it dry and installed some super sticky Gorilla double sided tape to them. Then, I tried to carefully align them and stuck them onto my IAG grille!

I'm changing up a few things, but I have new grille letters on the way

So, yall are all caught up, until this weekend!

 

[Mirage]

Big update tomorrow. Too tired to upload everything tonight

 

[Solfive]

Big update tomorrow. Too tired to upload everything tonight

I took my stock rails off a long time ago so truthfully I don’t recall if they’re able to be cut or not without interfering with mounting points. I trimmed the ones on my JK and hit the cut ends with some rattle can after putting 35’s on and they worked well. The stockers look good imo so hopefully you can keep them.

 

[KRAKEN]

...you have been a busy boy. Looking good. The lift & 37s make your 2 door look badass.

 

[Aonarch]

I took my stock rails off a long time ago so truthfully I don’t recall if they’re able to be cut or not without interfering with mounting points. I trimmed the ones on my JK and hit the cut ends with some rattle can after putting 35’s on and they worked well. The stockers look good imo so hopefully you can keep them.

I am pretty sure, like 99% you can trim the factory rails.

 

[Mirage]

I took my stock rails off a long time ago so truthfully I don’t recall if they’re able to be cut or not without interfering with mounting points. I trimmed the ones on my JK and hit the cut ends with some rattle can after putting 35’s on and they worked well. The stockers look good imo so hopefully you can keep them.

I am pretty sure, like 99% you can trim the factory rails.

Indeed they can be "trimmed" without a problem I did this last Friday afternoon, after getting off work! I also replaced my new tie rod, since the grease boot was busted, they sent me a new pair under warranty!

 

[Mirage]

...you have been a busy boy. Looking good. The lift & 37s make your 2 door look badass.

Yes sir, I have! You're about to see what else I've done over the weekend!

 

[Mirage]

So, last Saturday, a fellow Bronco friend of mine told me he'd spray my top, with the Raptor Liner I had ordered a couple weeks ago! He wanted to video it, because he did his in Plasti-Dip.

I was waiting for him to upload this video, before I updated yall!

So You Want a White Bronco Top...PlastiDip vs. Raptor Liner

So, here's some updates from Saturday.

 

[Mirage]

After I put the top back on, I switched out front skids plates and installed the ACC relocation bracket (by the way, none of this fixed the ACC, but I don't care, I don't use cruise control anyway)...

I was planning on installing a CAI, but once I got all the stock stuff removed, I discovered the Injen CAI I ordered, had some PCV barbs orientated the wrong direction....

Stock intake tube/PCV connections.

Injen intake tube PCV connections.... :/

I also installed my Mishimoto Hot & Cold Charge Pipes.

As well as my TurboSmart Vee Port BOV.

 

[Mirage]

Sunday morning, I took about a 10-15 mile drive, to make sure everything was working as it should? My little boy, Zeus and I went to grab something at O'Reilly's. Such a vicious Pitbull, LOL!

When I got home, I decided to install my Underground Graphics Heritage Spear Stripe kit! Had to remove my Badlands Sasquatch decal

After that, I installed Ford Heritage Limited Silver Script Fender Emblems! I also printed out some templates.

 

[Mirage]

I have mirror skull caps, that I was going to paint Gloss White, but unsure if it'll be too much White? I thought about painting them Green, but I don't think that'll look good...? I may just leave them Black, since the rest of the mirror/wiper cowl is already Black?

I do have to paint my door handle covers still, planning on spraying those Green though!

 

[Mirage]

Last night, when I got off work, I decided it was time to finish installing the rear Metalcloak UCA's/LCA's! I was below 50 miles till empty, so now was the best time to do it!

Luckily, I did not have to remove my fuel tank! I only disconnected the filler tube and vent line and lowered it about 8-10 inches, using my low profile transmission jack

I also installed my Metalcloak Rear LCA Skid Plates!

Never heard of these guys, S&B Filters? Says they're been around for 40 years? They delivered fast! Ordered their CAI Sunday night and it was here Tuesday afternoon! I'll get it installed maybe this weekend? For their install video on YouTube and like it!

S&B Cold Air Intake for the 2021-23 Ford Bronco 2.7L

 

[Mirage]

She's more or less finished! I have a few small things to do to it, but it's where I want it! I am going to add some more storage and maybe some communications stuff. I have some more stuff on order, that I just have to wait for

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