Second Owner, same family...
Back in July of 1969 my uncle in Colorado purchased a U15 Wagon with the color of cordova. It was a 3 speed with a bench seat and that was about it. He had the dealer install a PTO winch and cut the fender flairs before he brought it home (still have the original paperwork from the dealer). Over the next 25 years he traversed Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah over the summers. The Bronco amassed over 100k miles in that time. He was never married and was the crazy uncle we all dreamed about. He brought all his nieces and nephews on his adventures across the Rockies and desert. In 1995 he died of a hear attack. The bronco at that time had almost as much aluminum flashing holding the body together as it did steel. The bench seat springs were fill in with boat throw cushions, but everything worked. He had the engine replaced about 80k miles, the body panels and hood had cracks/fractures (not rust). in the early 2000's I finally got my hands on the bronco, but putting my 3 daughters through college put the bronco on the back burner.
Fast forward to February of this year, I sold my house and property and retired to Florida. I brought the bronco with me as I found a shop that is willing to work with me on my restoration. With the bronco disassembled and the body off the frame, I decided to replace the body as time was not kind to it. It will not be stock as I will be doing some of the normal mods, power steering and disc front brakes, new seats (thinking 350z buckets), not too enthused about boat cushions! Installing a crate 302 and full roll cage. It has 411 gears, gonna kill me in gas, but I think I will keep that along with the dash, the 3 on the tree, PTO winch and cut fenders. He added an altimeter and thermometer to the dash keeping those too! Going with a soft top. Keeping the color the same, but may go metallic!
I will be asking a lot of questions for the build as the experts live here! The shop I am working with is small but does quality work and will let me keep my fingers in the build to save money and I know it will be $$$. I will be needing advise on purchasing the smalls needed to complete. I have what I think is a very good list of items needed as I worked with the shop on this and they have done quite a few other builds, but not sure from whom to purchase as the shop deals mostly with LMC on their truck rebuilds.
I hate and love this forum as I keep finding things I want to do! Thanks in advance for all the advice, feed back and criticism!
Will post photos as it goes along!
Back in July of 1969 my uncle in Colorado purchased a U15 Wagon with the color of cordova. It was a 3 speed with a bench seat and that was about it. He had the dealer install a PTO winch and cut the fender flairs before he brought it home (still have the original paperwork from the dealer). Over the next 25 years he traversed Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah over the summers. The Bronco amassed over 100k miles in that time. He was never married and was the crazy uncle we all dreamed about. He brought all his nieces and nephews on his adventures across the Rockies and desert. In 1995 he died of a hear attack. The bronco at that time had almost as much aluminum flashing holding the body together as it did steel. The bench seat springs were fill in with boat throw cushions, but everything worked. He had the engine replaced about 80k miles, the body panels and hood had cracks/fractures (not rust). in the early 2000's I finally got my hands on the bronco, but putting my 3 daughters through college put the bronco on the back burner.
Fast forward to February of this year, I sold my house and property and retired to Florida. I brought the bronco with me as I found a shop that is willing to work with me on my restoration. With the bronco disassembled and the body off the frame, I decided to replace the body as time was not kind to it. It will not be stock as I will be doing some of the normal mods, power steering and disc front brakes, new seats (thinking 350z buckets), not too enthused about boat cushions! Installing a crate 302 and full roll cage. It has 411 gears, gonna kill me in gas, but I think I will keep that along with the dash, the 3 on the tree, PTO winch and cut fenders. He added an altimeter and thermometer to the dash keeping those too! Going with a soft top. Keeping the color the same, but may go metallic!
I will be asking a lot of questions for the build as the experts live here! The shop I am working with is small but does quality work and will let me keep my fingers in the build to save money and I know it will be $$$. I will be needing advise on purchasing the smalls needed to complete. I have what I think is a very good list of items needed as I worked with the shop on this and they have done quite a few other builds, but not sure from whom to purchase as the shop deals mostly with LMC on their truck rebuilds.
I hate and love this forum as I keep finding things I want to do! Thanks in advance for all the advice, feed back and criticism!
Will post photos as it goes along!