Project grocery getter

ponyracer · Nov 20, 2010

Plan is to stretch my 73 bronco wagon 16" and turn the hard top into an extended halfcab with opening vent windows.

I love the classic look and character of the bronco, just not the wheelbase or the interior room. So I'm gonna "fix" it.

Here goes:

As it sits, 35's, some sort of rear ad a leaf, 1.25 spacers in the front.

Stripped

Marked

Cut!!

ponyracer · Nov 20, 2010

Oh damn

Sleeves

Coming back together

ponyracer · Nov 20, 2010

Got the spring hangers relocated and the blocks in the rear.

Also got the front 3.5 springs in and the new radius arm bushings in. Not a bad days work!!

Tomorrow I'm taking her to work and welding everything up with the big mig, then it's time to start the sheetmetal.

More pics to follow.

orangecrush4u · Nov 20, 2010

Wow frigging cool, cant' wait to see how it turns out

;D

camomog · Nov 20, 2010

Looks good. I am in the process of a strech myself, but I will be adding 2 doors and streching it around 22" plus moving the rear back a few inches. Going a lot slower than you though. What did you use for your sleaves?

ponyracer · Nov 20, 2010

camomog said:
Looks good. I am in the process of a strech myself, but I will be adding 2 doors and streching it around 22" plus moving the rear back a few inches. Going a lot slower than you though. What did you use for your sleaves?

Tried to just swap the rear section of frame, cut the front further back and the second rear further forward, get the additional inches that way. However, there was to much rust in the other rear. I cut a 15 3/4" piece out of the second frame behind the front spring hanger and the bend in the frame.

Took 4" square and cut it down so it would slot into the frame sections. I'd imaging you could use angle iron as well. It would be better to make the frame cuts angled or stacked but I couldn't get enough frame section.

camomog · Nov 20, 2010

I will be cutting it on the flat spot in front of the body mount instead of behind like you did. I have some 2X4 tube and 1/8" plate for each side and then have some 3X4 to match up to the frame. I am making a z cut to get more surface area and raising the back half up 2 inches for extra up travel. I will be watching how your progresses.

Heus33 · Nov 21, 2010

Wow!!!

All that in one day - impressive!! Subscribed for sure - can't wait to watch this evolve.

ponyracer · Nov 21, 2010

camomog said:
I will be cutting it on the flat spot in front of the body mount instead of behind like you did. I have some 2X4 tube and 1/8" plate for each side and then have some 3X4 to match up to the frame. I am making a z cut to get more surface area and raising the back half up 2 inches for extra up travel. I will be watching how your progresses.

I looked at cutting it there, only problem I found was having to move the body mount. Spring hanger/body mount, either way you have to move something. I would have liked to do a z cut but a vertical cut with a 1/4sleeve is still stronger than the 1/8 thick frame ever was.

rbodine · Nov 21, 2010

wow, Good job. I am really interested to see the final outcome, that is gonna be one great looking truck!!

ponyracer · Nov 21, 2010

rbodine said:
wow, Good job. I am really interested to see the final outcome, that is gonna be one great looking truck!!

Thx, I hope so!!

Got to get this done asap, setting up a date with a race car chassis builder so he can ad about 6 sticks of 1 5/8 .134 ERW tubing. Going with a internal cab cage w/seat mounts, and a "prerunnerish" bed cage. I also have a center section of a bumper built, 1/4 plate with a winch mount. Prob going to do the sides in tube, and a full tube rear bumper.

Going to mount the spare in the bed, no tailgate, at an angle half in/out of the bed.

Moving the fuel tank up into the bed, right behind the bulkhead, prob 40-45 gallons.

NGABronco · Nov 21, 2010

Great job pony!!! I only put 10" in mine, did in th flat frame spot under driver seat. Cut my floor so I could move the body mount back with the frame??

Was gonna do a full top chop but it's thicker in the front than in the rear!!! Going soft top!!!

Keep us posted!!!!;D;D;D

ponyracer · Nov 21, 2010

Got a good bit more done today.

Got the frame welded up, cleaned and painted.

ponyracer · Nov 21, 2010

Set the body back on and it's starting to look like a truck again!

Got some sheetmetal in.

Def need to swap out the 3" blocks for 2" ones, thing sits like a top fuel car.

ponyracer · Nov 21, 2010

Got the sheetmetal out of a 64 or so ford f100 bed, front and rear of wheelwell. Made a mistake though, in front of the wheel is straight down like the bronco (on pass side) but behind the wheel well has a lower bodyline like the bronco wheel opening. Didn't even notice until I got it home. Oh well, I used the top and cut the lower part off, just need to ad some sheetmetal down there.

More pics tomorrow!

br0nc0xrapt0r · Nov 21, 2010

Looks fantastic! I think its safe to say that you have enough skill to ditch the rear blocks all together and tub out the rear more to fit the tires while maintaining a low stable stance. Just sayin. But great work so far! I cant wait to see how it turns out.

mavereq · Nov 21, 2010

wow you're moving fast on that. great work.

bronco-billy-66 · Nov 21, 2010

Lookin good!! I wanna keep up with this one

ponyracer · Nov 21, 2010

br0nc0xrapt0r said:
ditch the rear blocks all together and tub out the rear more to fit the tires while maintaining a low stable stance.

I was thinking about that, I like em low. Prob is in the front. I was running
35's with a front 1.25 block and some sort of rear ad a leaf and the tires would scrub leaving my driveway. I'd have to cut so much in the front that I'd loose the bronco character and it would become a buggy.

berg bronco · Nov 21, 2010

bronco-billy-66 said:
Lookin good!! I wanna keep up with this one

ya I'm suscribed cant miss a post!

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