Grand Tracker continual build
- Thread starter Chevy1925
- Start date
Where I’m at currently. Need to do the passenger side suspension at this point and maybe get into the engine cage this weekend
Scissor me timbers... 
everytime I see those beams set ups I think of that south park episode...
I had to fix my uncles bronco in a back alley 2 weeks ago...
Failed wheel bearing, The rotor was eating into the wheel speed sensor. I couldn't believe how hard it was to get bearings and seals locally. Ended up going to 4 different stores just to be able to patch the one side up...
Just kept thinking, Maybe James needs a parts truck...
everytime I see those beams set ups I think of that south park episode...I had to fix my uncles bronco in a back alley 2 weeks ago...
Failed wheel bearing, The rotor was eating into the wheel speed sensor. I couldn't believe how hard it was to get bearings and seals locally. Ended up going to 4 different stores just to be able to patch the one side up...
Just kept thinking, Maybe James needs a parts truck...
lol I have 0 time to do YouTube. I thought about it a year ago but honestly I’m far more enthused about getting this done and driving it than videoing it.
Yeah parts I’m surprised at how short they are to come by. When I got new bearings and seals, it took a bit of hunting through napa to get good skf stuff. I don’t need any more extra parts though lol. I’ve got all I need and anything else winds up being custom… go figure lol
Yeah parts I’m surprised at how short they are to come by. When I got new bearings and seals, it took a bit of hunting through napa to get good skf stuff. I don’t need any more extra parts though lol. I’ve got all I need and anything else winds up being custom… go figure lol
I still don't know how to tell the difference between a double seal or single seal spindle on those. In my case, I think the seal surface is compromised. The bearing was really dry and brown on that side. I rebuilt every thing like 12-13 years ago on that thing for him.
that’s Erin’s, 68 coupe. It was her first car. It’s no show piece but it’s in really good shape from when her dad restored it for her. Has 200 i6, 3 speed on the floor, manual steering and manual drum brakes. Plan is 9” rear, convert to 5 lug and disc all around, 5 speed t5 and high rev 302 carbureted. Then get the body back into shape
From what I found, it’s 94-96 that had the double seal.
Roni would kill for a car like that. An early Mustang or 78-87 El Camino. Yeah, she's "eclectic".that’s Erin’s, 68 coupe. It was her first car. It’s no show piece but it’s in really good shape from when her dad restored it for her. Has 200 i6, 3 speed on the floor, manual steering and manual drum brakes.
Plan is 9” rear, convert to 5 lug and disc all around, 5 speed t5 and high rev 302 carbureted. Then get the body back into shape
Roni would kill for a car like that. An early Mustang or 78-87 El Camino. Yeah, she's "eclectic".
Not gunna lie, when Erin and I first started dating, she had a 01 ford fucus (we met in college). I was looking at pics in her dorm room and saw some pics of her posing next to the mustang (tasteful senior year photos, boys
). I asked “whose car?” She said it was hers, it was her first car and down the rabbit hole of what all her dad did, her adventures in it and so on for the next couple hours. She had some photo albums we went through as well. She pretty much had me hook line and sinker but she didn’t know it lmao. During that time, she tried to sell it for 10k but I’m 90% sure her dad never actually listed it (needed to pay for school loans and her fucus). Her dad “bought it” from her instead. I drove it once 13-14 years ago and it was parked in her dad’s garage from that point on. Fuel pump died and it wouldn’t start. Her dad and I talked about doing a 289 swap but never did anything with it. Then, after 2 years of fighting cancer, Erin’s mom passed away last year in March. Her dad called me and said “it’s time, come get Erin’s car.” So we picked it up, I put new wheel cylinders in it, new shoes on the front, new brake lines, new fuel pump, battery, went over it top to bottom and fired it up. Her dad couldnt believe it. Taken it on a few drives since but I need to give it a little more love before she can drive it reliably.
Maybe spend your money...Roni would kill for a car like that. An early Mustang or 78-87 El Camino. Yeah, she's "eclectic".
Ace pest control has some old fleet el caminos they may part with.. driven buy there few time to make deliveries in the area
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Well month later and would you believe it’s still on my lift?
Did the passenger side suspension the next weekend and found the pass side axle was jamming its self into the spindle not allowing full droop. I’m talking 6” before full suspension droop. Come to find out, since I’m doing this “different” than a normal bronco, it’s like there isn’t enough slip in the center slip yoke and axles are too long. if you don’t do a “cut and turn” which is basically, cut the lower ball joint mount out and move it outwards 1/2” to 5/8”, this happens. Also, most bronco guys push the beams forward as far as they can where I’m still stock which aids in this.
So the next weekend I dismantled the knuckles and cut/moved out/rewelded the lower ball joint mounts 1/2”. I was going to have to do this anyhow because the 3* camber adjusters I got were not enough for 0 camber at ride height. With them moved out, set the ball joints adjusters to 1.0* and good to go. Built the engine crossmember as well.
Front end is at ride height, rear is like 2-3” high since I can’t put the rigs whole weight on it. It’s going to be slightly nose height but is what it is.
Did the passenger side suspension the next weekend and found the pass side axle was jamming its self into the spindle not allowing full droop. I’m talking 6” before full suspension droop. Come to find out, since I’m doing this “different” than a normal bronco, it’s like there isn’t enough slip in the center slip yoke and axles are too long. if you don’t do a “cut and turn” which is basically, cut the lower ball joint mount out and move it outwards 1/2” to 5/8”, this happens. Also, most bronco guys push the beams forward as far as they can where I’m still stock which aids in this.
So the next weekend I dismantled the knuckles and cut/moved out/rewelded the lower ball joint mounts 1/2”. I was going to have to do this anyhow because the 3* camber adjusters I got were not enough for 0 camber at ride height. With them moved out, set the ball joints adjusters to 1.0* and good to go. Built the engine crossmember as well.
Front end is at ride height, rear is like 2-3” high since I can’t put the rigs whole weight on it. It’s going to be slightly nose height but is what it is.
Full droop pic because. Why not.
The next weekend I got the brakes all together and done. I’ve not bled them or tried them to see if the master cylinder will be enough. I got my fingers crossed still.
Steering went in as well as steering box only to realized the damn ram assist port I had Minh add was in the wrong spot so that got taken back out and sent back to him.
Got the engine oil cooler mounted, radiator mounted and started on the bumper
The next weekend I got the brakes all together and done. I’ve not bled them or tried them to see if the master cylinder will be enough. I got my fingers crossed still.
Steering went in as well as steering box only to realized the damn ram assist port I had Minh add was in the wrong spot so that got taken back out and sent back to him.
Got the engine oil cooler mounted, radiator mounted and started on the bumper
Finished the bumper and tacked in last weekend. Winch drops right in. Still need to cut the new fairlead slot. Won’t be using that one you see.
Then this weekend I welded the bumper all up, made mounts for the winch controller and held off on the skid plate and winch fairlead for now. Had an itch to get the new power steering pump in.
I thought a t/c style pump would drop into the stock mounting holes… nope. Tried to mod my stock one and all I did was destroy it so screw it, adapted the stock bracket to use the t/c pump and found a pulley with the right 5.3” dia pulley. It’s a 6 rib and the rig is a 4 rib but shouldn’t give me issues. So now when I get my box back this week, I can start doing the steering shaft and power steering lines. Glad I got the pump out of the way though.
Then this weekend I welded the bumper all up, made mounts for the winch controller and held off on the skid plate and winch fairlead for now. Had an itch to get the new power steering pump in.
I thought a t/c style pump would drop into the stock mounting holes… nope. Tried to mod my stock one and all I did was destroy it so screw it, adapted the stock bracket to use the t/c pump and found a pulley with the right 5.3” dia pulley. It’s a 6 rib and the rig is a 4 rib but shouldn’t give me issues. So now when I get my box back this week, I can start doing the steering shaft and power steering lines. Glad I got the pump out of the way though.
Those bars over the engine bay -- they arent bolt in? How are you going to pull the engine if you have an issue?
You throw it away and start an entire new project...
I am guessing likely he will add an interlocking tube clamp to it to make it removable. It is only tacked in for now.
