75 MS MudDawg Build Thread (New pics and Video)

BroncoWanted · Jan 13, 2010

Well I have finally found the time to start a thread on my build. I was making very good progress on the build until somewhere around July when my second child was born and we started adding on to the house. Now with the house finished and mom and the baby settled I am starting again and I thought everyone might like to see how it is coming.

I started in April with a 1975 that had a lot of goodies but a bad tub. The P.O. had installed the following before I purchased the rig.

Duff 3.5 lift front and rear
New C bushings and Radius arm Bushings
Custom front winch bumper
Warn 8000 winch
Mustang Seats
6 point family cage
Front disc brakes
Power Steering
Drop putman arm
Homemade 1" body lift

Since I purchased the rig I have added the following to finish and fix what he started.
Duff Drop radius brackets
New 1"inch body lift

That led me to start on the tub and then the fun ended. As I removed carpet, fenders etc. I found more and more rust. I started at the front end and I have worked my way to behind the seats replacing the following parts with new or custom sheet metal. At one point the windshield was almost laying in the floorboard.

Inner fender patches
Door posts
Inner and Outer Rockers
Kick Panels
Floor Boards
Rocker braces
Floor Braces
Pillar posts
Door patches
Started adding hydroboost
Started adding a tilt column

However, after a call to FORD and some searching I did find out that my Bronco is still in original paint and I have found no bondo anywhere. So as best I can tell this is the first build for this truck and with a solid frame and good running gear I believe this will be a good build eventually.

About the time we got everything lined back up and the top bolted back on to check the door alignment my wife said time to go and as you can guess my life changed A LOT "for the better I must say". So here we are getting ready to start again.

The pics below are in chronilogical order from start to current. Check it out and see what you think. Any suggestions or comments are welcome.

BroncoWanted · Jan 13, 2010

By the way the following is a list of what I have planned for the MudDawg as we proceed.

New 302 Crate Motor .30 over with small cam and 4bbl
JB Fab Twin stick T-Case Shifter
Hydroboost Brakes with new pump
Custom Dash and Console
Pre-runner front and rear bumbers
Tilt column
Heim joint steering
Racing bucket seats
Cage tied to the Frame
Candy Nickel outside with a deep grey inside (all 3 stage paint)

Just thought i'd throw that in so everyone can give me some ideas.

sprdv1 · Jan 13, 2010

Nice Rig, good luck w/the build... I ALMOST got MUDDWG put on my personalized plates at one time.. Dig it bro

BroncoWanted · Mar 10, 2010

Moving along with the rig. We got the new crate motor in the garage today and are pulling the old motor, tranny and t-case to prepare the engine compartment for paint.

Hopefully we will have the new motor, wiring and brakes put in two or three weeks out.

BOY I just thought I had spent a lot of money until now and we are only getting started. Lots of fun though.

Comments welcome guys I'd love to hear what you think good or bad.

sprdv1 · Mar 10, 2010

Sounds like progress bro

Kurt · Mar 10, 2010

It looks like you were able to line up the new left side metal. The door appears to be aligned pretty well. Not an easy task when you remove all the old rusty metal, as a there isn't much left to get reference measurements from. Did you use the right side for your measurements, and did you have to trim the new pieces much to make them fit well?

Keep up the good work.

BRONC-OH · Mar 10, 2010

Looks like your off to a good start. Looks good already.

Bronco_69 · Mar 10, 2010

looks good!!

BroncoWanted · Mar 11, 2010

It looks like you were able to line up the new left side metal. The door appears to be aligned pretty well. Not an easy task when you remove all the old rusty metal, as a there isn't much left to get reference measurements from. Did you use the right side for your measurements, and did you have to trim the new pieces much to make them fit well?

I used the original body measurements from a buddy's rig and did a little digging here and found some measurements. It all worked out real well, however I did have to use a couple boxes of self tapping screws while I attached moved, reattached, etc. I did have to trim the pillar posts and massage the rockers to make them fit really well.

Overall though it went really well all things considered.

Thanks for the comments and compliments

Justafordguy · Mar 11, 2010

It looks like your making great progress so far. Keep the pictures coming.

BroncoWanted · Mar 16, 2010

Well the old wiring bit the dust today as well as the heater. The engine is out along with the tranny and T-case. Now the fun begins gotta get everything sanded and prepted for paint on the under side.

Quick question: Anyone install the BC air kit? Would you recommend it over the JBG unit or vice versa?

I am leaning toward the BC kit because of the bracket for the power steering. Looks like it will be easier to install my saginaw pump and hydroboost.

More pics will be up today or tonight......

BroncoWanted · Apr 7, 2010

New Pics

Got time to snap a few pics of the recent work. Been welding in pieces of the floor panels and wheel wells. Nothing spectacular but all custom work that will be super strong. Enjoy.

BroncoWanted · Apr 22, 2010

Added paint to the Engine Compartment

We painted the engine compartment and front frame rails and bed lined the tranny cover. The engine bay is the same color as the bronco will be.

Sure is nice to see progress. The engine and wiring harnes are going in this week and next. Should be drivable by the first of may.

Steve83 · Apr 23, 2010

Looking good! My suggestions are:
1) don't skip over anything. If it's a problem, fix it now.
2) don't feel like you have to use something that doesn't work (& never did) just because the factory used it. The stock interior is useless, ugly, & not particularly functional. If you expect to spend any time in this truck, make it comfortable, & make it work for what you plan to do.
3) think outside the Bronco! It's a great platform, but it's YOURS, and it's 2010. There's nothing wrong with having systems & parts from modern vehicles. EFI is just scratching the surface. Look at your daily driver (and hers) to see what you COULD have in this truck, if it fits your needs.
4) install a fuse/relay block (or 2) with twice as many positions as you think you need.

I can't remember what A/C system we put in Frank's, but it's crap. The next time it goes out, I'm gonna fab a custom system with modern controls & functionality. You could do that now - find a cheap, common heater core (one you can get at any parts store) and mount it in a duct so it's easy to replace. Do the same with an evaporator, and use a stock-style compressor on a stock bracket. Fit a fresh/recirc door and use an electronic temperature door motor like '94-97 CrownVics. It'll be cheaper, more maintainable, more reliable, & more functional than most aftermarket systems.

Stutsmo · Apr 25, 2010

It looks good! cant wait to see it done!

66ALRIDE · Apr 25, 2010

Keep up the good work.

BroncoWanted · Apr 25, 2010

Thanks for the encouraging words. Took the day off to watch the Dega race and do a littl washing on the other 4x4's. Will b back on the job tomorrow. Hope to get the cam in and start covering up the engine to get it back in.

Stay busy and keep working. Here's to u everyone that owns a Bronc. Cheers!!!!

BroncoWanted · Apr 26, 2010

Well crap it!!!!! I painted my valve covers and oil pan and the humidity was to high. Turned a nice shade of blueish white. Gotta re-sand and re-paint. This is the kind of crap that makes it take over a year to do a bronco. The domino effect is bad.

Had the engine ready to go in waiting on the oil pan and now that has to wait till tomorrow.

Tomorrow the wiring was supposed to go in....

So on and so forth

Have to work some late nights to get back on track....CRAP

BroncoWanted · May 3, 2010

Got everything straightened out. FINALLY.

After going through two junkyards to find a timing chain cover that wasn't broke or cracked I finally got a good cover and managed to get the engine back together and bolted down on Friday.

I am stoked about how it looks in the Bronco. I can't wait to hear it run.

We also got the tranny back from the re-build and installed on Friday.

The T-Case is going to be modified for a twin stick and installed today.

Hopefully we will have the rig running by this Friday if the wiring goes OK.

I'll post pics ASAP.

BroncoWanted · May 22, 2010

New Pics of the progress

Put new rear body mounts in and finished up some touch up welding.

We got the driveshafts painted and in. Check out what happens when you let your GOOD BUDDIES help you paint. The driveshafts will have a corkscrew look when they are moving. (pretty cool I guess)

Rebuilt the steering box and installed new seals.

The pics of the engine should have been on a long time ago but I have been out of pocket with work and the Bronco kinda had to sit for a while.

Fuel lines, brake lines and tranny cooler lines are in and the wiring is started so maybe by next Friday it will be running. I Know I know I've said that before, but maybe if I keep saying it it will come true.

75 MS MudDawg Build Thread (New pics and Video)

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