Reviving the 75 - Back at it 5 years later

[JWMcCrary]

Been working towards having a 2nd trail Bronco for a little over 10 years. Started with a 72 I found that had been sitting with a blown engine at a deer camp in Louisiana, changed plans and decided to rebuild a wrecked 76 from the frame up....got the rolling chassis together and then found a running and driving 75 in 2009 for cheap so we changed plans again and started moving new parts from the rolling chassis to the 75. Working up north and living in MS with no time off didn't work well with rebuilding a Bronco, however in the spring of 2012 I had managed to round up enough parts that it was feasible to get it together for OCBR that year. Put together a work weekend and accomplished more than one could imagine. Almost immediately afterwards the company I was working for sold and my situation changed drastically, was never able to get home to Mississippi and spend any time working on the 75, it was all I could do just to maintain my 73 and enjoy it occasionally. And that's how it has sat for 5 years. 3 weeks ago my son-in-law and I went to Mississippi and hauled it to Ohio to get it done. Below is a link to the original thread. Hope to have this thing breathing on it's own soon. Goal is to be ready to hit the trails next spring. Hopefully this time it happens.

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201487&highlight=work+weekend+mississippi

 

[JWMcCrary]

First 2 pics, loaded up in Mississippi July 14, 3rd pic at the carwash removing a gazillion mud dobbers, 4th pic was taken early morning on the 15th at last stop for fuel in ohio on trip back. Last pic is unloaded and in my daughter and son-in-laws(Jason) garage. That's Jason in the pic, he's ready to turn some wrenches.

 

[JWMcCrary]

Had the Bailie Bilt cage powder coated last week.

 

[JWMcCrary]

New seats arrived. Bought from our friends here on CB, CCOR. Need to get the wheeling protection stitched on to them.

 

[NGABronco]

Can I make a reservation to ride in that rig at an OCBR event??? Nice!!!;D;D;D

 

[JWMcCrary]

Can I make a reservation to ride in that rig at an OCBR event??? Nice!!!;D;D;D

Reservation confirmed

 

[sprdv1]

outstanding brother.. Glad you're getting it into action

 

[JWMcCrary]

Made some progress this weekend. Rebuilt the area under the battery box which had rusted out, which included patching the inner fender, replacing the body mount, and replacing the 2 pieces that the battery box bolts down on. Nothing lined up, glad this is a trail rig. Bolted the body mount to the frame, temporarily put the front bumper on to set the height of the front end, and built it to fit. All this after spending a few hours working on the mig welder brought from MS, it was totally consumed by mud dobbers.
Got the rear bumper on after dealing with tweaked frame ends and working to fit around the corner guards.
Got the 3-speed trans out.
Pulled the dash and stripped out all the wiring.

It's progress

 

[sprdv1]

Progress works.. I got to just say fk work and other Crap and get to doing something w/mine.. fluids, bolts, etc figure out where to mount / strap down tool box and cooler

Looking good JW

 

[Tedster100]

Great progress, looking good. We still need to meet some day!

 

[JWMcCrary]

Great progress, looking good. We still need to meet some day!

I can't believe we still haven't managed to make that happen. You should plan an outing to Southington Offroad park sometime. They are only open the first weekend of the month, but I try and go 3 or 4 times a year. You can ride everything in little over half the day, except the backwoods which is deep mud holes. I made 1 trip thru there, never again. Small park but nice to ease around and watch the show some of the crazies put on.

 

[Tedster100]

Joe Cardi and I have discussed having an event there for a weekend. He's been there a lot, I have yet to go. If we can get enough interest we may try and set up a fall wheeling weekend and rent the park. If you ever feel like taking a spin give me a call. Always like a reason to get the Bronco out.

 

[JWMcCrary]

Did a little dash and steering column cleanup this weekend. Nothing perfect, just making trail worthy.

 

[NGABronco]

Nothing perfect, just making trail worthy.

HaHa!!! You rascal!!! "Trail worthy!!!" Yeah!!! That's looking great, nice work!!;D;D;D

 

[sprdv1]

Seen the dash mod/repaint on FB too, looks spiffy for sure brother..

 

[JWMcCrary]

Made a little more progress this weekend. We got the transmission, Cold Duck, and the D20 in on Saturday, still have to work on the linkages. Jason got the BC steering box plate welded on and the steering box mounted. Got the Bailie Bilt front bumper painted and ready to go on for the last time, however there is no hole on the passenger side for the rear bolt, so need to locate and drill the hole, I don't remember having to drill any holes on my 73.

I tinkered around in my garage Sunday afternoon and made some progress with the dash.

 

[JWMcCrary]

It's amazing what a redneck can do with a welder and a grinder. Took almost all day but I managed to build a shifter to work the doubler and it actually turned out well. I used the middle section of an old T shifter for the pivot point, part of an old bottom alternator adjusting bracket, and a handle I got from JB Fab. Didn't take any progress pics but here is an after shot.

The D20 shifter is J shift twin from JB Fab, I shortened the prong for the front and welded 1/4 inch studs to the Twin stick and to the rails of the D20, tied them together with 1/4 heims and threaded rod. This was very close to how my 73 is done, it has turn buckles but I couldn't find any that weren't flimsy.

Slowly moving along

 

[NGABronco]

Looking good Wendell, don't forget to put a hand throttle on that big ole' shifter!!!%)%)%)

 

[JWMcCrary]

Got the seats back from the upholstery shop. The lady that owns the shop was touched by the story/history, I asked her to take a pic with the seats.

Dash is not secured but back in there an some wiring started. Did the glove box mod to clear the cage(not lined up perfect but good enough) Steering column freshed up with new bearings and new signal switch, added WH lower collapsible shaft. A couple pics of the tub after the first coat of Monsterliner. I had the bed coating since 2013, was very happy to see it was still good. For daily driver I would have replaced the floor pans, but for offroading we patched up as necessary and covered it with liner.

A little work under the hood. Started the wiring, replaced all the hoses, put a stock 2 barrel back in place of an old Carter carb on an adapter, new plugs, new alternator, upgraded the PS pump to handle RAM assist, put on the brake booster.....changed the oil.....and...hell it just never ends. Engine hasn't been started since 2012(it was a little tired, hope to get some time out of it before needing engine)....hoping to hear it run before I head out to OCBR. Me and my son-in-law have been spending all our spare time tinkering on it...be nice to step away from it for a week and do some wheeling instead of wrenching.

 

[stout22]

Wow! Making amazing progress. Seats look great!