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1966 Body differences

needabronco

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jul 2, 2004
Messages
6,411
Loc.
Prescott/Farmington
Mine has a ' rain gutter' on the seem between the firewall and the top of the floor. Different column cover, tall transfer case shifter, 'ball' handle instead of the 'T'.... Its a November 65' build.

It's also got the coveted stock 16" wheels. Did anybody mention no reverse lights in the tail light lenses?
 

half cab

Contributor
Guru Bronco
Joined
Dec 8, 2010
Messages
16,311
Rear shocks were forward mounted.Speed'o had the ticks around outside the no.'s.Dr.side air vent was all metal with a rubber boot.

Rocker panel racin stripe was an op. only in '66.Not sure about the silver seats if they were only '66?

Also may have been a '66 only horn button..and the '66/'67 speaker vent was horizontal and with the Roadster a speical rain cover.
 
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Viperwolf1

Contributor
electron whisperer
Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
24,448
Don't forget the hood differences and the bracing at the rear of the passenger inner fender.
 

2busy

Jr. Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
132
Loc.
Harrisonville, MO
Dash and knobs completely different, door panels and latches different. Window crank handles do not have a threaded center, they use clips. Chrome trim on some dashes. Armrests match Fairlane, Comet, Falcon. Seat upholstery is different. Blah, blah, blah.....
 

half cab

Contributor
Guru Bronco
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Dec 8, 2010
Messages
16,311
The master cylinders were different in this yr also...and what about the washer bag? I believe it was a '66-'67 only.
 

bigpitbull

BRONCO ADDICT
Joined
Nov 1, 2011
Messages
2,535
Loc.
Saltillo, MS
We should just post pics of each of these differences so people can use them as a reference and make this thread a sticky... Just sayin...
 

clarrance

Bronco Guru
Joined
Mar 3, 2005
Messages
2,675
66-67 Bronco sheet metal was made by the Budd Company maybe that is why all the differences.

Only the very early 66's were made by the Budd Co. Differences in the Budd Body and the Ford tooling:

The lower kick panels were shorter and had no bracing for the font fenders.
Eyebrow grill
Rain gutter on drivers floor pan area
Metal drivers side fresh air vent
No indentation on drivers inner rocker for the chrome Ford emblem
Some had a small oval shaped rubber plug on drivers side interior where the upper and lower rear quarters are welded together (no idea what that was for).


For some reason Dynacorn has copied this design. Makes no sense because there will not be any mounting area for fender bracing on the lower rear of the front fenders. And no place for the chrome Ford emblem.
 

fordfan

Bronco Guru
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
3,592
For some reason Dynacorn has copied this design. Makes no sense because there will not be any mounting area for fender bracing on the lower rear of the front fenders. And no place for the chrome Ford emblem.

Have you ever thought that Dynacorn may have purchased the original Budd dies? There was a problem with Dynacorn producing the bodies for a while.....ie licensing from Ford. It seems that if Dynacorn was going to the expense of producing new dies, they would have produced the "Ford" body. Several things to me hint that Dynacorn found and bought or leased the use of the original "Budd" dies. Does this make sense, or have I lost it?
 

clarrance

Bronco Guru
Joined
Mar 3, 2005
Messages
2,675
Have you ever thought that Dynacorn may have purchased the original Budd dies? There was a problem with Dynacorn producing the bodies for a while.....ie licensing from Ford. It seems that if Dynacorn was going to the expense of producing new dies, they would have produced the "Ford" body. Several things to me hint that Dynacorn found and bought or leased the use of the original "Budd" dies. Does this make sense, or have I lost it?

That thought did cross my mind. It does make sense.
I was told that Dynacorn used two different Broncos to mock up their new body parts from, a 1966 & 1972. Seems like they would have used newer Bronco to reference from. Especially since everyone changes the earlier ones to be more user friendly (i.e., wiring harness location on firewall, tunnel hole is cut larger to fit a T-shifter, etc).
 

Broncobowsher

Total hack
Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
37,065
That was common for Ford. The 64½ mustangs are very different then the '65/66.

Wasn't there a difference in door hinges as well? Different bolts?
Silver uphlostery. Something different about the back seat (armrest?)
3-bolt lockout (although that did carry on for a few years)
Non-self adjusting brakes
unique '66 only I6 oil bath air cleaner (won't clear later dual master cylinders)
Seperate lock from hatch handle on the hard top.

That is what comes to mind real quick that I didn't remeber seeing already listed.
 

Mono

Bronco Guru
Joined
May 18, 2004
Messages
1,860
Was the 66 metal better prepped? Possible galvanized? Seem to find the 66's in Minnesota in better condition than the rest. Pealing rocker paint seem to unearth silver steel on several of my 66s'.
 

clarrance

Bronco Guru
Joined
Mar 3, 2005
Messages
2,675
Was the 66 metal better prepped? Possible galvanized? Seem to find the 66's in Minnesota in better condition than the rest. Pealing rocker paint seem to unearth silver steel on several of my 66s'.

I have noticed the same thing. I think the 66-68 metal was better metal. It seems like when the door post changed in 69 the door post rotted out quicker. I have also noticed that the 77's seem to be rusted worse than any of the 66-76.
 
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OP
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SP66

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Messages
1,363
Is there any difference in the 66 full hard top? I'm interested in getting one and didn't know if I should focus my efforts on that year only.
 
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