I have been meaning to do this for awhile so here goes. This little axle swap has been going on since Nov. 2007 and its about time for a ride. It started as a nice 73 Bronco with a 60 rear and 44 front and I was just going to put a 60 up front but the thought of rear steer was too common to forget. Here is a before pic. and then one with the rockwells sitting under before deciding to narrow it.

Nice bronco. Should be mean on the trails

subscribed :smokin:

I cut a notch out about 10" in front and behind the door opening, just at the fire wall in the front.

I cut the tailgate in half and "v"ed in down at the bottome and I spent sometime trying to get the upper ends of the rear fender squared up with to tailgate. The hood ended up being shortened a couple of inches and it still is a touch long.

After seeing the worry free capabilities of the one links under a few friend's trucks I decided it was the way to go. With the help of one of those friend's the front and rear were set up just about identical. Detroit up front, welded in the back. Both steering with single ended 2x10 cylinders in between axles with the pinion brakes in there also. Here are some pics of the set up and of the skid plate where the links will mount.

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Narrowing the rear forced me to cut the rear cage mounts out and I ended up cutting 3 or so feet off the rear of the frame. I picked up a couple of those smittybilt winches for the front and rear we will see how they hold up.

I couldn't go with the small warn suck up winch in the rear when I could get the shittybuilt for the same price and more than double the rating. I put a few tubes in there to keep legs from flopping out when she rolls over. I am also going to try out the see through propane cylinder by "litecylnder".

That is a bad a$$ build i really like the looks of that and a bench seat in the rear :beer::smokin:

We welded the skid plate in place so the trans and doubler go in from the top. I am trying a short shifter on the 435 and that is all still a work in progress. I put the orbital in the engine compartment and put the steering wheel in place with an adjustable column. I still have to work throught the shift linkage for the doubler but I have decided to go with mechanical linkage after great internal debate. I went with a Jed's adapter unwelded so it could be clocked up as flat as possible. Went with two piece front driveshaft to make things a little better.

I forgot the camera but I will get some pics. next week when I get another chance to work on it. Got the brake lines, clutch line, hydraulic pump and valve mounted for the rear steer, and the hydraulic lines ordered. Still have a lot of little electrical stuff, console, some gussets for the cage, and the exhaust to be ready to take it for a ride. Then it will be another year to clean it up for some paint.

i like it bro

nice work man. rig looks bitchen!

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=619302&page=2

This might help you with your short throw shifter, lookin good

Bitchin,, I like the tube work on the front and fenders.

great work, i really like what you did with the body!

Such a sweet transformation! It looks sweet!

Good job!

Simple, effective, and looks killer.



I really dig it.

I love the tubing. I'm curious to see the one link's effectiveness, you sure did a nice job with it. Best cut up EB i've seen!!

Awesome build...would love to see a close up of the one link setup.

i'm am thinging about reworking my 4 link to a one link can you shed some light about the pros and cons and what kind of links you are using

Nice, I am interested in the way you set up the rear steer.:smokin:

I will get some detailed pics. of the one link and the rear steer next week. We had the links machined here locally, I think it is an 1 1/4" shank and the typical 2 5/16ths ball. It uses shims like on some graders joints that you can remove as time goes by to keep the coupler nice and tight. It is 2x4 1/4 wall retangle tubing for the links with a track bar up top. That is what mounts to the top of the hoop around the brake on the axle. I appreciate the comments, it will take a lot of work to get the sheet metal all cleaned up and looking half way decent and there are some welds I'm not that proud of but I'll get all that fixed up soon. I plan on loading it up and taking it to the exhaust shop maybe Tuesday so they can work some magic because it doesn't look like it is going to be easy.

That's awesome. I love the one-link. I wonder why people don't put shorter springs/coils with stiffer rates further up the link on these? Any reason? I'd think it'd be cheaper and work just as well..

It seems like it would be a little more difficult to get it tuned to just the right weight spring but with it set up just right with limiting straps and some bump stops it might work. I can't wait to see how the coilovers do at speed. They are set up with about 4 inches of uptravel and I am anxious to see if bump stops will be neccessary. If so the timberens are going to be what I try first and I might put them up the links a bit.

can i get some better pics of the one link?

also you have some type of trac bar setup right?

Yeah there is a track bar. I am heading to shop right now to work through the night on it and I'll take a few pics and post them at work in the morning.
Ummm. I smell coffee.

It is pretty straight forward, 12v pump and log splitter valve. Here are a few more pics of the one link. My friend's shop that I've been doing the work in is getting pretty full, everything in the shop has or is getting one links.

The scrambler is losing its 2 steering mogs and 4 link for rockwells and one links. Those 47 LTBs look pretty good.

Headlights and a crossbar between shock hoops to keep them off the headers.

Looking great, cant wait to see it in action!

I would also like any info you have on these one link setups.......

There is a vendor on here that sells the links, we have these machined here locally and the price is a touch higher than the ones advertised on here but I like local. I can't wait to get it on trail and I'll shoot a little video to demonstrate what the one link can do.

Just the basics of what the mount is? Who is the vendor? Also don't you think that track bar is extremely short? With any decent amount fo flex that is going to throw that axle from side to side quite a bit........

The angle of the pic makes the trac bar look even shorter than it is but I do think it will send the rear axle a good bit to the right at droop and if it becomes a problem I can lengthen it easy enough with new mounts and longer tube. Raising the axle mount and lowering the frame mount and widening the bar itself would be best.
Here is the link to the vender on here that sells what looks like a good one link at a great price. http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=629586 The ones I used look similar with 4 bolts holding the coupler closed.

that thing is sweet lookin.

that thing is sweet lookin.

No kidding - I'm glad he's local so I can check it out in action when it's done.

any more updates with pics ???????

I know people who would cry and curse you for what you've done to that bronco... but I think it's cooler n' shit. :D

Fawking Bitch'n...Love the 1-links, flat-belly skid integration - keep the good work & updates rolling

Love this build! Seeing this gave me the courage to cut mine up. keep up the good work!

Lookin great man, keep it up.

that shit is awesome!!!Love the body...cant wait to hack mine now,Chuck


more pics!!!!!!:smokin:

OK, maybe I'm missing something here but are you not concerned w/ things such as anti squat? I mean how can you even try to dial that suspension in?

of course it rained harder than it has in months the night before but we went anyway. I put a few days in this week to get all the fluids in and everything bleed, shift linkage in, console in place, and everything reinstalled. I have just a few more additions to make to the cage and floor boards and then it will be time to tear it down and clean it up for some paint. It did well on the few big climbs I tried even though it was slick. I cut the steering stops off and it turns sharper than I thought it would. The 435 shifter is taking some getting used to. I ordered some panels from 12voltguy to mount on the consol to control the winches and line locks and I am anxious to get those into the mix. The exhaust guy talked me into a single 2 1/2" straight pipe so it is a little loud when you get on it but I'm going to wait until I get the floor sealed up and soundproofed to see if it is tolerable. And the pics. One of the console and shifter linkage. The exhaust comes down the passager side inside the frame rail above the skid plate.

looks good. you should have taken some in action pics. you know we wanna see em.:D

I'm curious, with the 1-links...is there any compression? Like when you when come too fast off a hill and plant the front hard on the ground?Looks like it will have great articulation, but no compression for both wheels at the same time. Thanks...it still looks awesome!

I'm curious, with the 1-links...is there any compression? Like when you when come too fast off a hill and plant the front hard on the ground?Looks like it will have great articulation, but no compression for both wheels at the same time. Thanks...it still looks awesome!

never mind, I followed your previous link and see the 1-link pivots...got now

Let me know if you ride Lewis Chapel sometime so I can meet you out there.

Once I get a couple of kinks worked out and a little rust prevention done I plan on heading over there to T Crowe if that is where you are talking about. I hear there are a few good climbs and I am anxious to check it out.

OK, maybe I'm missing something here but are you not concerned w/ things such as anti squat? I mean how can you even try to dial that suspension in?

I have never used a calculator in building this. I guess the only thing that would keep the rear from squating and the front from lifting would be the shocks and the track bar if I understand anti-squat correctly. It seems like you might have a similar anit-squat concerns as you would have with the stock radius arms. If you want run the numbers, I will get you whatever measurements you need. 116" between wheel centers with about 28" belly height and the one link mounts are about 26" apart. You are probably right though the suspension will never be fine tuned but it will hopefully keep the tires on the ground and take me to a few cool places.

I hope to get the floor boards done and everything painted in the next week or two and then I'll get some video some climbs so I can judge the suspension the way that matters to me.

Thats looking good im glad all is working out looks like you put alot of time in where its needed

do you have any good pictures of how you did the tube in the engine bay, sweet bronc btw

There is a picture on the second page of this thread. I just did shock hoops connected with a bar behind the dist. Since that pic I put a hoop off that cross bar towards the radiator to mount the res. from the shocks on. It has plastic and tape all over it right now but I will get a pic. once I'm done painting if you want one.

Sweet job on the early bronc! Just curious if you had any more pics of the front one link set up with the drive shaft installed? I am getting ready to start my build up and i am want to run one links aswell. But i am using ZF's instead of rocks so the drive shaft input is in the center of the axle. So there is prolly gonna be some binding going on. Thanks

sweet build! are you a member of RRR? since you are from chatt. i figured id ask.

Bad ass, I like the bug eyed look of the headlights.

It has been doing well, I can't wait to get it out again. Even with the rocks I grinded the 1410 for clearance in the rear I still get the loud reminder that it needs a double joint back there. I still need to brace the steering arms, put a couple of gussets on the cage and hook the winches to the axles. I'll try to get some better action shots this weekend. Yeah I joined RRR(same user name) and I hope to take it for a ride with some of the guys over there one day soon.

Very nice it looks sweet

Looks awesome. Im gonna be doing a one-link front and rear also. I know a lot of people asked for more one link info so heres a tech article: One-link (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=235977&highlight=link). Once again, rig is sweet!

That rig is sweet.

Very nice, :)

That's a cool bronco, good job.:)

I thought I remember you saying something about vids of what a one link could do?? :)

I'll work on it, life has been busy lately.

Got a question for ya. As i ws lookin at your build, is your pinion angle horizontal or angled up at all? Can't really tell in the pics, so i imagine they are horizontal and that you angled the one link mounts so the shank of the ball is in the center of its motion when at ride height?

Fawesome Rig!

The pinions are pretty much horizontal, slightly tilted up with the link bars angling up towards the ball mount skid plate putting the ball in the center of the coupler at ride height. With the 205 pushed up as high as it is, the rear driveshaft makes some loud noise at higher speeds from the 1410 not having enough clearance around the u-joint at the angle its at. Might make a double cardon shaft and let this one be my spare, one day. Of course once I get the rear suck-up winch hooked up I might just be able to pull it a little tight to cease the noise.

I got the suck up winches hooked up, they make a nice difference. I took it up the creek bed at aetna and it did well, too dark for pictures. It seems to go where ever you have the nuts to point it. Just need some more seat time, it is all about picking the right gear. I got a couple of panels from 12voltguy and installed them with controls for the winches and front and rear line locks, he does some nice work. Going to put a Hushpower muffler on it this week so I can hear the music. The rear axle leaks so much I think I am going to pump it full of marine grease instead of putting anymore oil in it.
Here are a couple of poser pics and one of the panels:

Sweet.........whats the wheel base on the BEAST...........:smokin:

I hope it isn't too short for 47s

I hope it isn't too short for 47s

close, but you should be fine. PIMP rig by the way :grinpimp:

Looks damn good!

where did you get the ball/socket joints?:confused:

Nice work! She's flexes well!

update:flipoff2::flipoff2::flipoff2::flipoff2::fli poff2::flipoff2::flipoff2::flipoff2::flipoff2::fli poff2:

only question. what coilovers are they and what rate springs did you use. I am running steering rocks in my Sammi at 118"s on 360 joints (similar to grader balls) and want to get rid of the coil springs / long shocks and go with a coil over.

thanks!

I talked with the guys at offroad engineering and they set them up based on the info I had and the fronts are just right. The rears I have been working with trying to get the ride height where I want it. I need to empty the oil and start over and I think I'll have it. The shocks are Fox 2.5x16 with resorviors and tender springs with 14" 150s and 16" 250s in the rear and 14" 150s and 16" 500s in the front. They do well.

Cool. It looks like your hubs are not flipped. Can you tell me the rim size and back spacing. Thanks man, nice ride.

with about 5.5" backspacing which put the hub ends just about even with the outer ring. Kore weld on beadlocks with Copperhead fab centers. It put it shy of 95" outside of tire to outside of tire.

15" wide?

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cool, thanks.

In one of your posts someone you know was replacing steering mogs with rocks. What are the plans for the steering mogs? I'm looking for one.

:D

____________

Sweet build man! The the 0ne link really interests me, I know what the numbers say about it but I have only heard one person say they couldnt take it and changed to a trad. four link. I worry about the roll axis more than the A.S. myself. I think AS can be controled with a winch but the torque roll would seem to cause problems in the right situations??

Here a vid I from anther board on the same topic. Notice the huge amount of torque roll on the first few sec. I wonder if long, flat, opposing panhards would cure that?YouTube - Tube buggy shakedown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5HzMkdhws4)
From what I have found it seems the setup is better than leafs, but not equal to any multi link setup. Post some vids of yours man when you can,

-Josh

I would probably agree that it doesn't perform as well as a perfectly engineered four link especially for higher speeds but I have seen four links it does out perform. Search on here and see how many people build four links and have problems with them. If I built a lot of buggies and had the time to experiment and work out all the variables to perfection, had a bigger budget, more desire to do maintainance, and lived where you can crawl dry rocks and jump dunes in the same day I would go four link. I like to think the benefits of the one link are its simple to build, durable, and it works. I have never noticed any amount of torque roll like the video shows but I will take it out for a little ride today and pay extra attention and see if I can see or feel it.
Tyler

X2 almostthere. I have a 1link on my runner and have never noticed any torque roll (using stock tj front coils). I think in the vid it has more to do with the air shock set up being very soft.
Your Bronco kicks ace almostthere :smokin:

That makes since on the shock valving. Also someone pointed out that the panhard going from driver side to pass. may not be helping either. You deffitly make a good point on the pro's of this setup in our area.

Sweet build! I am thinking of doing the same thing with my willy's.

Do you have any pics of the front one link set up looking from the front, up to the one link? I want to see how the driver's side drop driveline works with the one link.
Thanks.

Dont mean to hyjack your thread but I have to ask a question. On my 1 link I am planning on running triangulated upper links to locate the axle. Would that help "lessen" the torque roll compared to a panhard? Would it even work?

that bronco is niiiiiiiiice man! i don't get what you did with the shiffter on the 435?

Do you have any pics of the front one link set up looking from the front, up to the one link? I want to see how the driver's side drop driveline works with the one link. I ran a two piece front driveshaft with the pillow block right at the front of the skid plate. Here are some pics, you might be able to see what you're looking for. With the toploaders the shaft is out of play and that is with 5" of up travel.

On my 1 link I am planning on running triangulated upper links to locate the axle I think that is a pretty good idea if you mean letting the frankenheim be your center frame link for your lowers. Use thick wall retangular tube and it will be worry free and then use traditional four link uppers. Keep all the fame mounts high and it would be bullet proof.

what you did with the shiffter on the 435? It is just my own version of the "gearbanger" shifter. http://www.ironbender.com/products.htm

And I took for a little road ride yesterday trying to pay extra attention to any "torque roll" but I honestly don't feel it and have never noticed it in the past. Maybe there is some other cause in the video posted like shocks, heavy tires, solid mounted motor, who knows. I am going to be putting some water in the fronts just to see how I like it and it might motivate me to build some horsepower sometime.

Here are few other pictures, got some speakers for the back. The one of the front end, you can see the where I did a high speed flop into a tree. Lucky for the hood the pin jabbed the trunk of the tree and eventually broke off but it kept the damage isolated to the fender. I will fix it one day. Then one of the helpers fourwheelin in the wagon. One of it loaded up.

I took the bronco up rattle rock and bent up both and broke an end off the front tie rod about 3 in the morning. I got home and decided I didn't want that to happen again and got some 1 3/4" 5/16" wall DOM tubing and the stock rod ends fit in with just a touch of grinding and I just welded them in. I made two this way, one for a spare. The front I decided to try aluminum and had 66CjDean on here make me a 2"x50" rod with hexed and threaded ends with the factory 1 1/8" 12 threads. I haven't beat on them badly yet but it will be interesting to see which one handles the abuse better. Here are some pictures of the new ones next to the stock ones. A picture of the aluminum, still need jam nuts, but the 2" clears lock to lock without steering stops. The two different pictures show the difference on the stock ones where it tapers thin for the rod ends to thread in which is where it broke.

Look forward to some action photos! Looks good on the nice little EB you have there.

Dean

I'm lovin the one link!

Any other vendors for the one link joints? That one you posted earlier seems to be not the best option from reading that thread...

He used a joint that was machined locally. The french canadians are starting another run at it with a different vendor. Or you can go with a Frankenheim like me from Evolution

Look forward to some action photos! Looks good on the nice little EB you have there.

Dean

The tierod you made worked out well and might be the nicest part on this thing. Thanks again. I'll get some video soon.
Tyler

dang that is an awsome bronco I wish I could get the wife to let me do that to her bronco what tire's are you going to go with the 47" pitbull growler?

I would luv to ride with ya sometime to check it out. Im neither for nor against the onelink as of now, ill decide later. Sweet rig and nice tow pig.

I have been meaning to do this for awhile so here goes. This little axle swap has been going on since Nov. 2007 and its about time for a ride. It started as a nice 73 Bronco with a 60 rear and 44 front and I was just going to put a 60 up front but the thought of rear steer was too common to forget. Here is a before pic. and then one with the rockwells sitting under before deciding to narrow it.


you and that Bronco look familiar , have you ever ridden down in Monteagle or down in Cowan ? I have an old 74' Bronco that's blue with cut-out fenders and 38's , used to ride these areas frequently and I think I've seen you before in the past .

I bought the bronco 6-7 years ago from a Chattanoooga local, I can't remember his name, it might have been him. I haven't been over to Monteagle to ride, I need to. Its hard to find the time but longer days and dry weather are approaching so maybe I'll make it over that way sometime soon.

I need to build or get an extra resivior for my electric rear steer pump. It likes to dump fluid. I put a 8' breather tube in place of the top and when it warms up it still pushes fluid all the way out the high mounted coiled vent hose. If I don't keep it pretty full it has problems when you are leaning to the left and the fluid flows away from the pump inlet. I am going to try a expansion tank to see if that will take care of it.

Im a chevy man but EB's will always be my fav.I think that bronco is awesome.Hope to see it on the trails when I get my chevy runnin.Do you ride out in Windrock any?I think rattle rock would be a good trail to test it out.

He used a joint that was machined locally. The french canadians are starting another run at it with a different vendor. Or you can go with a Frankenheim like me from Evolution

While I'd love to get frankenheim's front and rear... I don't think I could drop that much cash on 2 joints! :eek:

Do you all think that 1.75" heims from Midwest Control products would take the abuse?

Here's a link to their page.

http://www.midwestcontrol.com/buy.php?item=2008

What size heim did you run for the track bar?

Depends on what your putting them on. Im using 1.25" heims for my track bar, I wouldnt want to have to worry about using them for a 1 link.

And frankenheims really arent that much when your getting a rebuildable joint, the french canadians ball is not rebuildable, therefore once its done, you have to buy an entire new joint. Frankenheims are about 300 USD a pop

While I'd love to get frankenheim's front and rear... I don't think I could drop that much cash on 2 joints!

Do you all think that 1.75" heims from Midwest Control products would take the abuse?

Just build your mounts so that a larger joint would fit and try the smaller ones first and if they break go bigger. It just depends on what kind of abuse you are dishing out. Dana 44's and 35's won't break if you take it easy.

Do you ride out in Windrock any?I think rattle rock would be a good trail to test it out.
I went there a month or so back, to me that trail is kind of a pain in the ass. It was damp and it took me about 8hrs to go the .8 miles, had to winch 5 or so times, and it is really just a few good spots with a bunch of 3-4 foot boulders spread in between. I broke a tie rod at about 3 a.m. and bent the other all to hell. We had fun.

Just some stuff around the house, riding by myself. I will try and get some more visually impressive stuff sometime soon.

YouTube - early bronco (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ3WWYpM-60)

That EB is unbelievable! You've got some incredible fab skills. I look forward to wheeling with you one day when my junk gets done.

Wow.....you have wheeling like that in your backyard? I'm officially jealous. Haha.

For the rear steer, how do you get the tires to return to center so you can drive straight? Do you have to lock them out or something?

Do you have any other pictures of your barn or shop? (The red one in the pictures)....It looks like quite the shop....that I am also jealous of. Haha.

I am still getting used to the rear steer. I have been eyeballing it but you really can feel it when it is a little off so I think its just a matter of getting some more time driving it.

The red building is a fab shop of a different kind that happens to have a garage I can work on the bronco in. www.headhomestead.com

Very cool. Nice job, dude.

Went to Lewis Chapel and did some exploring. Nothing great I just thought I would post them.

YouTube - Early bronco climbing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-vubu21-70)

YouTube - Early bronco going down (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8aAMriUSU8)

looks nice! im going to oak ridge to get my exhaust done... wheelin before long!

I got itall put back together and tried to brace the arm some more. I had studs in it and they might have gotten loose because I checked the fronts and they all tightened a quarter to half turn. Anyway I put new custom offroad seals in and the one piece boots. I tried getting the stock seals out with all kinds of fabbed up pullers and it never worked but one or two hits on a 3/4" pipe coming in from the other side and they popped right out. The new ones look like they should work much better. It was leaking like it had no seals. I am waiting on some of the split cone washers(dowels) that go in the arm and it will be ready. These shitty clamps came in handy putting the boots on. I tried for an hour on the other side without them and then 5 minutes once I thought to try them. The brace is 3/8 plate welded to the bottom of the arm and shaped to the knuckle sandwiched between two pieces of 3/8 with some leftover gussets attached. It had to be driven into place so it is tight and I put two 3/8 bolts in it to keep it in place. I pre and post heated the cast and turned up the welder so I hope it will hold.

Damn that is sweet. :beer:

Ditto, pretty bitchen Bronco! Nice work.

Hey there, what wheelbase did you end up at? I'm considering rear steering and 42's on mine, just curious. Thanks, the more I see yours I love the tube work!

putting some FOA bumpstops on this week and I am trying to work out a way to lock off the rear steer from the driver's seat. Maybe just a spring loaded pin on a lock off pull cable pinning the tie rod to the axle housing, we'll see. It just floats sometimes and at speeds it can be a little nerve racking.

Bad ass build. Good job

Very nice build. I really like the one link.

Nice Bronco everything looks sweet

btt... anything new goin on? Pretty awesome rig.

Bump for ya! New pics?

Nice to see some around Chatt build something nice and good to see my local trails on youtube . Keep up the work and look forward to seeing more and possibly seeing you out on the trails.

Updated pictures

Some more

and...........

and

and

Whats up with the weld around the third member? Sorry im a newb to rockwells haha

All the bolts pulled out while riding and I was leaving the next day on a ride and decided to weld it in hope that I wouldn't need in there again. So far so good, and worst case it will be a matter of cutting the weld off with a grinder.

That thing looks badass great job on the build and now being able to beat it

I am considering trading it, thats why I posted all the pics. You know how it is, it just might be time for something different.

Looks like a bag of assholes.



































I'm going to use some of your ideas.

Looks like a bag of assholes.



I'm going to use some of your ideas.

Is that an alaskan winter compliment, we all know how you guys love your assholes this time of year. Using an idea will probably just make us even.

i was wondering the other day if you still had this, still looking great!

I know it's been 10 months, but I'm still curious.

What happened to the EB? Sell it off, still wheeling it, ect?

nice bronco

yeeeeeep I could die a happy man after owning a rig like that (at least after I wheeled it for a coupla years) Preeety much my dream truck

I know it's been 10 months, but I'm still curious.

What happened to the EB? Sell it off, still wheeling it, ect?

Nothing?

Also, did you have any wheel hop issues with the one link?