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Finally starting my ‘66 U14 restoration

KFS35

Jr. Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2017
Messages
128
Loc.
Belleville, MI
Hello,

I’m finally starting restoring my 66 project. I’ve had it since I was in high school, (let’s just say in excess of twenty years;D) and used it as a DD for a few summers. My dad also plowed snow with it until two or three years ago.

According to the gentleman who gave it to me, his father purchased it from the Henry Ford Estate when it was a few years old. Supposedly it was just used on the estate. Once the second owner purchased it, he took it to his cottage in northern Michigan, where it stayed until he passed, and his son gave it to me. I don’t have any provenance, but it’s a cool story!

It shows 18,000ish on the odometer, it had about 14,000 when I got it. I’m quite sure those are original, everything is in great shape other than the body.
It’s stock, but the body is shot. 52 years in Michigan has taken its toll.

I plan on doing a stock restoration, due to its history.

Here it is as it sat until a couple of weeks ago.
 

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77Bronco636

Sr. Member
Joined
May 9, 2006
Messages
847
Way cool!!!!!
Wonder if doing a title search would reveal any history on that old girl???
Welcome to the forum and great luck with the restoration, I will be following it on here....
 
OP
OP
KFS35

KFS35

Jr. Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2017
Messages
128
Loc.
Belleville, MI
My last project was a 60 CJ5 that is in some of the pictures, it’s body was worse than the Bronco’s. I finished it up last summer, and planned on starting the Bronco earlier this summer. But some things came up, and I finally got them taken care of and was able to start on the Bronco recently.

Last week, I started pulling the body apart. For as rusty as it is, it came apart relatively easily. I think it helped that I sprayed everything down with Kroil occasionally starting last summer. I only broke one of the door hinge bolts, the other 11 came right out. Same with the tailgate, only broke one. All the bolts came out of the top easily, too. Even the windshield knobs and hold-down bolts came out. I’m pretty sure none of them had been taken out since she was assembled in 66.
 

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KFS35

KFS35

Jr. Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2017
Messages
128
Loc.
Belleville, MI
Today’s progress:

Body is off!

The last few days have been spent getting everything unhooked. Almost...

I started lifting the body up, and realized I had forgotten to pull the escutcheon plate from around the transfer case shifter. Pulled that off, lifted the body a little more and it sorta stopped and then started again with a little jump. I thought I had gotten caught on the jam nut on the transfer shifter, so I rolled the chassis back a bit. Then I realized that it was actually hung on the throttle cable.:mad: I had unhooked it from the linkage on the carb, but not the bracket that clamps on the housing. Oops! Apparently the little jump the body made while I was lifting it was when the cable housing ripped apart. Oh well, I probably needed a new one anyway.;D

The chassis looks good, nothing worse than surface rust on everything. I’m planning on putting gaskets and seals all the way around. Not sure what the engine needs besides those and an exhaust manifold. It runs good, so hopefully I can get away with just a gasket set. We shall see once I get it pulled apart.
 

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Jedhead

Full Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2008
Messages
273
Going to follow this one, have the same bronco in my basement just waiting! What the vin # ? I'm at 737794, mid August 65 I guess.
 
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KFS35

KFS35

Jr. Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2017
Messages
128
Loc.
Belleville, MI
Way cool!!!!!
Wonder if doing a title search would reveal any history on that old girl???
Welcome to the forum and great luck with the restoration, I will be following it on here....


I never thought about a title search. Good idea!

How does a guy get one done?
 

JGbronc

Bronco Maniac
Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Messages
6,211
Great story, and great project!

That body actually looks decent for a northern truck! I really like it!
 
OP
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KFS35

KFS35

Jr. Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2017
Messages
128
Loc.
Belleville, MI
Great story, and great project!

That body actually looks decent for a northern truck! I really like it!

Ha, yeah those pictures make it look better than it is. Next time I get a work session in on it, I’ll get some more representative pictures of how bad it is. Although I’ve seen restoration threads here that start with less. I’m not a body man, but by the time this is done I may be, lol.

I think I can re-use the top, grille, tailgate and doors. Not much else left.

My current plan is to get the complete tub kit from Jeff’s and a spot welder. Tossing around fiberglass too, but I have even less fiberglass experience than I do with sheet metal. Not sure I want to go glass on a 66 resto anyway.
 

eaglenest66

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Sep 14, 2006
Messages
1,253
Love the history you have with it and the story too. Keep the progression pics coming. I'll be tuned to channel "66"!!
 

fordfan

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
3,502
Just as the other Bronco junkies, I'm subscribed!....keep it updated and pictures flowing! My advise: keep tossing the fiberglas. Toss it out of the plan! With your '66 and it's possible heritage, the fiber body would just kill it. Keep it steel! At least it can rust again in another 50 years!

Oh, I love the CJ and how it's watching the job well done on the Bronco!
 

mattyq17

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jul 11, 2007
Messages
1,597
Nice 66 I will be watching the progress. I would suggest bracing the body, to keep it square since you have it off the frame. They can get pretty flimsy once separated. In between the door jams, across the bed rails by the tailgate. Search on this site for some examples. Have fun.
 

thesnake

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jun 20, 2001
Messages
3,503
Compared to mine, yours is "rust free". lol Mine was on a farm for 4 years after it was bought, then traded back into the selling dealership. They used it as a snowplow for their new and used lots for 42 years. The entire inner front clip has returned to the earth.

Good luck, I'll be following this one. Nice 66!!!
 
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elan

Sr. Member
Joined
May 27, 2015
Messages
541
Loc.
s
I must admit some envy. I've moaned for a U14 for some time....bone stock and rust free of course.
Be 6 or 8 makes no difference. I look forward to the forthcoming pix of progress.
 
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