Valhalla's Long term build thread

Updated 4/26/23 with latest photos:













START OF JOURNAL

So long term I'll be putting a lift, bigger tires, wider wheels, bumpers, winch and various other goodies ad nauseum on here but here are a couple of early on cheapie goodies to start!

I deleted a removed part as it is no longer on the build.

This is a glass fitment tool, I used it to make sure I was back to where I needed to be on gate fitment. if you don't have a fitment tool you could use a body trim removal tool as a gauge.

Next I installed some limb risers I found on Ebay to keep the visibility higher when the trees and bushes overhang in the trail.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/385252564911

If you didn't know the new bronco comes equipped with a windshield accessory mount. the black piece is the mount for the trim piece. on the top of the trim piece you can squeeze in on this to remove the trim. Once removed two 10mm nuts hold the bracket on. Remove and discard the trim and bracket, retaining stock mounting hardware.

I used two #30 torx a 5 mm allen a 10 mm and 13 mm socket. They supply a 30 torx but I used my own tools instead. Not pictured i also used a 10mm box end wrench and a straight pick for the adjuster. You can use the supplied screw and washer but I decided to eliminate the washer and cut off about two threads on the screws for a cleaner appearance. After mounting the windshield brackets with the stock hardware you then use there supplied screws and mount to the stock torx cap. After that you attach the cable to the windshield mount with the supplied allen head bolt and lock washer. You then hook the adjuster to the fender side bracket and the cable then adjust and lock it in place using a 10 mm open end wrench. After i finished I used some black pearl touch up paint to color the hardware black for a cleaner look. i will spray paint the rest of the parts at a warmer date so it's not chrome and has better corrosion protection. Just a quick shot of the finished product and a couple of our toys. ( My wife is the black jeep of the family)

Up next will be a spare tire delete if they ever ship it!! Come on DV8!!!!
https://dv8offroad.com/products/6th-gen-bronco-spare-tire-delete?variant=39762433245255

*EDIT* this was 6 weeks to 6 months out from DV8, however 4WPs had them in stock! If you call them ask for Rob, not that other guy...
https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/2022-...7gwRixxoO0zs9Fg6dRhQWw9MJHzht6dhoCILcQAvD_BwE

nice

Thanks sir!

Nice mods! Can you share a photo showing how close the Jack is to the taillight with the swinggate open?

I thought I'd be doing the delete for the spare next, this got here first...

You may ask yourself why do a cargo net... My answer would be in the 34 years i've been wheeling I've only rolled once... my head was missed by inches with my CD storage box (a wine crate sitting between the seats of my '82 Bronco) and we heard the highlift the shovel and the double bladed axe tumbling around in our washing machine of life. The contents of the red bag are two 10 foot 7,500# chains and 4 D rings. The blue bag is various tools the red is my go bag (first aid dry socks matches paper towels extra gloves etc.

I wanted it wrapped under and secured as much as possible. Inboard D ring Hooked to seat Ready to put things in.

Where to attach up front... Come on Ford!!! So I attached to the seat bottoms with hooks so i could easily unhook to flip seats up (pictured) and to the center of the seat backs (not shown ) supplied carabiner. Not optimal and since i rarely have more than two I am contemplating removing the rear seats. All done look, and left over hardware.

This shows carabiners holding the heavy bags to the net and you can just see the attachment to the rear seats.

30 bucks on Ebay...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225328572329

Another little piece came in today:

In my opinion the stock antena is to tall and will get damaged. So I looked around and found a shortie!
The kit is ofcourse made for multiple vehicles so that are some base choices you have to figure out.
So here is the before shot.
and after.....



https://www.extremeterrain.com/redrock-4x4-bronco-off-road-black-antenna-650-inch-j137987.html

Before I even start on the tire delete Absolutely do not buy the DV8 spare tire delete unless you are prepared to do fabrication work for the camera mount! The stock mount is on an almost 45* angle DV8 went flat, you'll be looking at the sky. I actually new this at purchase and planned to fabricate because there price point was reasonable.

OK let's dive in:
I cut this out because I did not know if I liked the tube gasket they had to keep it off of the paint. I'm currently trying out there gasket. If it holds dirt and debris behind it I'll probably change to this piece I cut front the foam rubber they shipped this part in.

I knew the camera mount was wrong so i prepared to fabricate.

You have to cut slits to tilt this at 45*, there is also internally a camera retainer that needs cut loose and then rewelded the cameras width behind this piece. As I recall the depth is 5/8".

Using a piece of weldable 16 gauge I cut son sides that i ran inside to where I removed the camera retainer.

Sides welded in:

Welded up and painted. the top moved some when welding.

You use the stock screws to mount the brake light. I had to notch it slightly to clear the camera and also slightly notched the top for camera clearance. This is a semi permanent change for me to lose the weigh of the spare. So instead of trying to fab in the supplied retainer I put a thin line of epoxy on one edge of the camera.

Final product looks god enough for me and functions as stock did..

You should know going in that the way DV8 designed the nut brackets that are for the screws holding the inner plate to the outer sucks the sweat off of a dead mans balls. They can (and did) pop out while trying to get their hardware (which will barley engages the screws!) to attach. I spent over 30 minutes trying to get their pieces together ro tip use the two stock screws that fit these nuts to retain them while you try to get the others to engage.

Honestly DV8 you should really spring for screws that are 4 mm longer. I know that might break the bank getting these shipped from China though so you do you.

I put on a pair of cheapy floods that I got off of ebay lets see how they do! They mounted easy enough nice aluminum housings with cooling fins: the plastic covering the lenses seams a bit thin and the mounting brackets feel like 20 gauge. They light up the edges nicely, I was on a little night run and felt the lights were woefully under luminating off highway. I'll keep everyone posted on how they perform.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/144821179882