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1971 Stroppe Bronco rebuild

C_Man69EB

Full Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
307
Dear Forum,

Its time to engage this awesome community to a higher level. I’m not usually a huge forum guy, often just searching for an answer to my quandary, or more interested in turning wrenches than sitting in front of the computer, but I’m in new territory here. I’ve seen this EB culture come to the rescue for many stalled or perplexed enthusiast and I can tell I need the help to get this journey right.

This first post will be a bit long, so I can introduce myself. After this I promise to be more concise. My name is Cullen and I’m in central Oklahoma. I am the caretaker of an “individually ordered” very early 71 Stroppe.

Andrew documented this truck and added it to the registry several years ago with a previous owner. It was also for sale in 09 for awhile, but didn't sell at the time. Here is that closed posting from Andrew - note Andrew's archive pics of it in black, with original paint showing through:

[URL="http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150829&highlight=1971+Bill+Stroppe+Baja+Bronco[/URL]

I purchased the truck several years later in June of 2012 from that previous owner in the LA area, where I heard of the truck through word of mouth. After buying I engaged Andrew where I really learned about Baja's. I got a letter of authenticity from Andrew and have being doing research and minor parts acquisition for a few years. Life and a couple kids later it sat waiting for my timing to break loose and here we are.

Naturally Andrew has been a tremendous help in getting me where I am. One of the reasons I am here is so I can give him a break from all the questions and spread the love around a bit, although he has never asked me to give him room. Stellar individual. Thank you, Andrew.

As I understand it from Andrew and a few of the Stroppe guys, (and according to the Marti) 22491 was special ordered as part of a small group of Bajas known as DSO “74” “Seattle Baja’s” which all had front and rear locked 3.50 gears instead of the more common 4.1. (only 5 known so far?) My Baja appears otherwise typical configuration with C4 & Stroppe Adapter, roll bar, hitch, dual shocks, bumper braces, padded wheel and trans cooler. It was originally a non-pwr brake or pwr steering truck. Manual only. Steel wheels.

When I got the truck it had a few pieces of non-original equip on it. Front discs and pwr strg, small susp lift (2.5?) aluminum Edelbrock intake, 4bbl carb, headers and non-original wagon wheels. Other than that, she appears original to me. Also, its evident from being under it that the body has never been off the frame. When Andrew documented the truck several years ago, 2 owners before me (I think) it had been sprayed black, but the factory colors were showing through. The owner before me sprayed to its correct Stroppe colors, and that’s how I have it now. The paint job is not great, but its also not bad enough that I want to strip the truck completely. ARGH! Engine and Trans are rumored to be rebuilt and they appear original to the truck for date codes and tags. My intent is to do a mechanical and "light" cosmetic restro/ reburb.

Amazingly, that’s the shortest way I could make my introduction. I'm not actually a purist, so being concerned with originality is a bit new to me, but with the rarity of Bajas, the uniqueness of this special order truck and the rising value of all EB's, I find myself interested in "doing this right" or at the very least, knowing what rules I choose to break and documenting the build for posterity. I plan to leave the lift, run 32" tires, leave the intake and carb on it and I'm considering the power steering setup.

I'm working on a couple other projects, but my intent is to post a couple times a week.

Welcome to my build thread. Thank you ahead of time for helping with what I have ahead of me. More to follow.

Cullen
 

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sprdv1

Contributor
REBEL
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Mar 8, 2007
Messages
81,734
Sweet ride Cullen. Best of luck w/the build. You got lots of back up
 
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C_Man69EB

C_Man69EB

Full Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
307
Cool Baja.
Looking forward to seeing your progress.

Thanks Jack and thank you for your help awhile back too. I'll ask my first question - I have a local paint shop touching up and repainting parts of the truck. The wimbeldon white and matte black is easy, but they are asking for paint codes on the poppy red and astral blue. I'm having trouble....

Cullen
 

BajaBronco

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Apr 30, 2003
Messages
3,931
It's Astra Blue, FOrd Truck colors 1971 Can check "Autocolorlibrary.com" for info. Good resource for your paint shop to have and bookmark.
 
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C_Man69EB

C_Man69EB

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Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
307
I have some documentation to catch up on. Been working but this log is a week or two behind right now. Here are a few more pics of the truck as purchased, before disassembly.
 

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BajaBronco

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Apr 30, 2003
Messages
3,931
yeah, thats a 67 seat. frame is different too. You need a 68 and up rear seat and frame.
 
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C_Man69EB

C_Man69EB

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Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
307
yeah, thats a 67 seat. frame is different too. You need a 68 and up rear seat and frame.

ARGH! didn't know the frame was different. OKIE DOKIE. Thank you sir!

(Anybody have a 68 and up back seat they want to trade for? I noticed in your pics from the archive it had the right seat in it at one point. I do want this correct. LOL)
 

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toddz69

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Nov 28, 2001
Messages
10,079
I'm sure there will be someone here that wants the 67 seat as it's more rare (and likely more valuable) than the 68-77 versions.

Todd Z.
 
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C_Man69EB

C_Man69EB

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Oct 28, 2009
Messages
307
Last round of pre-disassembly pics with notes.
 

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Rustytruck

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
10,875
When you pull the automatic would you please take good pictures of the Automatic transmission? I would like to see the transmission converter and flywheel and the transmission date code numbers and the shift linkage. I notice the transmission has a flat pan. Was it pan fill or transmission case fill. There isn't much detail out there on what Stroppe actually used other than he cast his own adapter.
 
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C_Man69EB

C_Man69EB

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Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
307
3/24 Updates

Disassembly begins. dozens of photos taken, here are the highlights. this was on 3/24... still one day behind on documentation.

you have to understand, the truck wasn't completely assembled when I got it, so I didn't have to take apart a whole truck.
 

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