ECORS Class A race rig build

[broncosbybart]

Ok, now I have a question for you all. I am looking for a big cooler for the auto trans. It is not cooled by the radiator. Air cooled only. Any suggestions? My 7x11 or whatever it is (rated for 11k lbs) isn't even close to working out... Toyed with the idea of grabbing an a/c condensor when I was at the PAP....

[blazinchuck]

i thought you were running a elec fan? i like the stack-plate coolers...i found a nice large one at LKQ and mounted my old pusher fan on it under the driver floor. i never had a temp gauge(and actually...it was for my power steering w/hydro)

your doing good avoiding it running with the radiator...thats a temp range of 180-210. i think with a good cooler/fan combo...it should maintain 160-170 no problem.

[broncosbybart]

Yeah, there is an electric fan attached to the cooler, but it didn't do near what it needed to. Any links on the stacked plate style coolers??

[744x4]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DER-52506

[broncosbybart]

Time for some more info. Got the new trans cooler. Removed the old one and cut the mounts off. I ended up re-using the tabs and mounted the new one in the center of the cab between the seats. The old one was on the side and it did manage to get smacked with a few tree limbs. Figured that wasn't ideal...

[broncosbybart]

Here is a pic or 2 comparing the old to the new coolers. 6 pass vs 16 pass. Hopefully the 16 pass should do it...

[broncosbybart]

Here is the finished mounting setup. I have to paint it still.

[broncosbybart]

Next up is the front bumper. It took a few shots and didn't fare so well. I am going to attach some tube from the upper 'stinger' hoop of the bumper and brace it back to the engine compartment hoop of the roll cage. Of course, doing so required some cutting of my nicely painted grille... As though it matters..

Stay tuned for more updates. I started working on the front track bar mount. The track bar was contacting the oil pan at full bump. Gotta fix that.

[broncosbybart]

Well, all that stuff is still not quite done yet. I have about 20 things on my list of things to do. Got it up in the air last night to check out everything underneath. Things didn't quite look right on the pass. side steering knuckle. I shook the wheel and it moved side to side about 1"!!!

Today I took the steering assembly off of the front end. It uses 3/4" grade 8 bolts everywhere and the one on that side was really bent! It must have taken a shot at some point. Fortunately the steering knuckle appears to be good enough to keep on using. It did bend a bit, but I'm gonna roll the dice. Gonna modify the steering linkage and put the tie rod under the knuckle.

[broncosbybart]

Next up is the track bar mount on the axle. The track bar was contacting the oil pan at full bump. I got the plasma cutter, grinder, and welder out. Today ended up not being an absolute scorcher, but it was still plenty hot. Kinda felt like welding underwater, with all the sweat rolling off.

These pictures make it look really easy, but it was a pretty tough job with all the space constraints and lack of visibility due to the rest of the Bronco being in the way...

It took a lot of grinding, plasma cutting, and sweating. A lot of the problem was everything behind the track bar. I had welded a piece of 2" square tube for the bump stop behind the track bar mount. I had to cut it out and then cut out the lower track bar bolt and reinforcing plate that came with the WH kit.