Anyone recognize this Bronco - Socal area back in the day

BajaBronco · May 20, 2011

I'm trying to track down info on this Stroppe Modified Bronco for the owner. It's a '69 Bronco and was originally sold from a dealer 5 miles from Stroppe's shop on Signal Hill in Long Beach, CA. Too early to be a Baja Bronco, but it does have the following from Stroppe: Power Steering, Automatic on the column, front and rear axle trusses, and comp style dual shocks(eliminating stock shock tower up front). Early comp cage, but still has doors. Rear bedrails filled in(no hardtop holes, no hole at taillight panel). Truck was also Propane powered and had tanks in the bed and filled thru the rear bumper! So, obviously was a street driven/registered rig, but probably saw a ton of time either pre-running and or at the Dunes, Glamis, Baja, off-road. Someone has to remember this truck from back in the day. Was a nice 2-tone blue truck with the original Sport dash and door panels dyed black. The truck also currently has a Hone overdrive. If any of you folks who have been involved in Broncos for many years remember it, I'd appreciate a post or message - trying to get this back to how it was originally set up from Stroppe. Side note: I think the paint was done sometime after 71-72 as the drivers door is off of a production Baja Bronco.

shamu · May 20, 2011

In your pic of the frame the p/s box has a factory looking mount that is seems to be part of the frame, which I have never seen before. And the p/s box looks like a chevy box. And the steering shaft is way different than anything that I have ever seen in a bronco. I have never had a chance to really ck out a Stroppe Bronco to see what was done to make them race ready. There are some cool pieces on this rig and good luck on finding the PO.
Is that is a true Stroppe in the back ground? And I am afraid for you dog KILLER. LOL

BajaBronco · May 20, 2011

Oh the black dog? That is his lunch!

NicksTrix · May 20, 2011

never seen it that i recall

BajaBronco · May 20, 2011

Yeah, to put PS on the Stroppe's, 5 pieces were added to the frame including a new body mount pedestal. And as you noted the steering shaft has 2 u-joints in a different spot than most PS conversions do, and yes, looks like a Chevy box. Both Broncos in the background are customer-owned Stroppes, a 73 with winch and a 71 that I will start in on next.

shamu said:
In your pic of the frame the p/s box has a factory looking mount that is seems to be part of the frame, which I have never seen before. And the p/s box looks like a chevy box. And the steering shaft is way different than anything that I have ever seen in a bronco.

DirtDonk · May 20, 2011

Yeah, I remember seeing it, or one like it anyway, in mags or somewhere. Other than a vague memory in passing though, I don't have any details to recount for you.

Wasn't the GM Saginaw type box THE power steering conversion from Stroppe before '73?
You don't come across that type very often in the junkyards though. I never figured out what their original application was. Looks similar to the pickup boxes, but wasn't, from what I remember. Bolt hole bosses and sector shaft orientation were slightly different?

Good luck in the hunt.

Paul

DirtDonk · May 20, 2011

Was that a Sidewinder it was packin' under that rear bumper too? Where was the propane tank?

Paul

shamu · May 21, 2011

BajaBronco said:
Yeah, to put PS on the Stroppe's, 5 pieces were added to the frame including a new body mount pedestal. And as you noted the steering shaft has 2 u-joints in a different spot than most PS conversions do, and yes, looks like a Chevy box. Both Broncos in the background are customer-owned Stroppes, a 73 with winch and a 71 that I will start in on next.

Thanks for the info.

Stroppe-Envy-77 · May 21, 2011

Well, here's one tiny tidbit, though not sure if it's of any help.

That license plate would have been issued around 1978, not in 1969. The reason the Bronco ended up with that plate -- as opposed to a late-series yellow-on-black style it would have received when new -- could be any number of things:

It might have left the state at some point, was registered elsewhere, then came back into California.

One of the plates could have been damaged or stolen. The DMV doesn't make single plates of older numbers; they would have just issued a new set.

An owner of it sometime in the 1970s could have gotten vanity plates for it, then kept them upon selling it, so the subsequent owner would have been issued new plates.

The registration might have lapsed for quite a time, and the plate number fell out of the system. Upon re-registration, the DMV would have taken the old plates and issued new ones.

BajaBronco · May 22, 2011

It appears that it could have been a Hickey Sidewinder winch out back - the fuel tank was not in the stock location, so there would have been room. The Propane tank or tanks were mounted in the bed. Hoses lead from the bumper up through holes in the bed to where the tanks would have been.

DirtDonk said:
Was that a Sidewinder it was packin' under that rear bumper too? Where was the propane tank?

Paul

BajaBronco · May 22, 2011

Paul, I'll have to spend some time in the archives you provided! I will see if I can find it. It does strike a vague memory for me too, but I can't place where I saw it. I have a ton of pics to go through...

The Steering box is does use the case from a GM Sag.

DirtDonk said:
Yeah, I remember seeing it, or one like it anyway, in mags or somewhere. Other than a vague memory in passing though, I don't have any details to recount for you.

Wasn't the GM Saginaw type box THE power steering conversion from Stroppe before '73?
You don't come across that type very often in the junkyards though. I never figured out what their original application was. Looks similar to the pickup boxes, but wasn't, from what I remember. Bolt hole bosses and sector shaft orientation were slightly different?

Good luck in the hunt.

Paul

BajaBronco · May 22, 2011

Good info D. THanks for the date on the plate - that helps. Here's what I do know about the time frame of '78: It has '76-'77 Disc brakes from a Bronco, however the factory FOrd proportuning valve is held to the frame with the same bolts Stroppe used almost exclusively. So it may have seen a make-over around that time.

Stroppe-Envy-77 said:
Well, here's one tiny tidbit, though not sure if it's of any help.

That license plate would have been issued around 1978, not in 1969. The reason the Bronco ended up with that plate -- as opposed to a late-series yellow-on-black style it would have received when new -- could be any number of things:

It might have left the state at some point, was registered elsewhere, then came back into California.

One of the plates could have been damaged or stolen. The DMV doesn't make single plates of older numbers; they would have just issued a new set.

An owner of it sometime in the 1970s could have gotten vanity plates for it, then kept them upon selling it, so the subsequent owner would have been issued new plates.

The registration might have lapsed for quite a time, and the plate number fell out of the system. Upon re-registration, the DMV would have taken the old plates and issued new ones.

DirtDonk · May 22, 2011

Shoot! I stopped by today. Would have looked over the fence, but was afraid of the killer watch dog!

Sounds like a good excuse for a pizza night get-together. We can hold a contest to see who can thumb through the most magazines looking for any info on that rig.
Winner gets a free re-fill maybe?

Hey, I'd show. Need a good excuse to eat health food.

Paul

KuttySark · May 27, 2011

Ancho (the dog) looks very confused by the lack of Orange paint.

Anyone recognize this Bronco - Socal area back in the day

BajaBronco

Bronco Guru

shamu

Lucky as the day is long.

BajaBronco

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NicksTrix

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BajaBronco

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DirtDonk

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DirtDonk

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shamu

Lucky as the day is long.

Stroppe-Envy-77

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BajaBronco

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BajaBronco

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BajaBronco

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DirtDonk

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KuttySark

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