Build Thread - Garage Find '68 Built for Mild Off-Roading

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Sold my '72 so I'm shifting focus to the '68, which I'm building for my brother in law. He wanted a side-by-side for his hunting camp in east Texas, and I offered to build him a vintage 4x4 instead.

I found it in a garage in Austin, Texas. Picked it up for a very good price. Was running, but only if hotwired. Zero brakes. Needs TLC pretty much everywhere, but it was fairly complete (except for a top) and fairly solid.

Someone did some work to it at some point -- it has what appears to be a later model 302, a C-4 automatic, power steering, and power drum brakes.

It was also originally a half-cab Bronco, but I'll do it up as a wagon. Original color is Medium Turquoise, and the plan is to paint it the original color again.

Currently has a hard top on it, but not sure if we're keeping that or going with a soft top.

 

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Truck is pretty solid, but will need outer rockers and floors. I plan to farm out the metal work to a local Bronco shop - Badass Broncos in New Braunfels, TX. I've been to their shop and they do really good work.

Also on tap -- suspension lift -- it has 33 x 12.50 x 15 tires now with cut rear wheelwells and flares. I'd like to do a 2.5" or so suspension lift and maybe add flares up front, too.

On the tires, I'm open to suggestions. I want something the same basic size as a 33 x 12.50 x 15, but I could go with a 16" or maybe even 17" wheel if that makes sense. I hate low profile tires on a 4x4, so I figure 16" or 17" is the max.

I'll go through the brakes, drivetrain, etc., to get everything mechanically straight. I also plan to yank the 302 for a rebuild. Nothing crazy, but I figure I'll hone the cylinders, put on new rings, install new bearings, new cam (mild hydraulic), a pair of inexpensive aluminum heads (Edelbrock?), an aluminum dual plane intake, a smallish carb - 600 cfm or maybe a bit smaller, and headers.

Has a Dana 30 up front and a 9" in the rear. It won't be doing any hardcore rock crawling, so these will stay for now. Should have 3.50 gears front and rear, which sounds sub-optimal to me, but we'll see.

It needs to be "done" by June. I'm moving to DC, and my brother in law (I'm building the truck for him) is moving to San Diego. Hope to have it running and driving, but perhaps in need of paint.