Big Blue Bronco Build!

[BigBlueBronco71]

Hey everybody,
Decided to start up a build thread to document my progress and share how the journeys going. Let me know what you guys think, ask some questions or just take a look at some pictures!

Well after getting some disposable income at the beginning of the summer I decided I wanted to find a project car to work on and fix up since I've always loved working on cars and messing with anything mechanical. I was thinking about a truck since I already have a small car and liked the idea of taking it out to the dunes on weekends ( I live 20 minutes away from the Oceano Dunes in California ). Anyway my dad suggested a bronco and after combing through Craigslist that same night we found a good candidate about 4 hours out in San Jose and headed out the next morning. We looked it over and picked it up for what I think was a great deal, tow bar and new set of tires included. No brakes and the engine would fire but would not run, lots of backfiring, very minimal rust was the best part, only a small amount on driver and passenger floorboards. But I'm super excited about picking up my EB, theres so many parts and info out there it has to be the best project vehicle ever. I'll post alot of pictures and keep this thing updated when I can, stay tuned!

On the way home.

 

[BigBlueBronco71]

Engine Troubles

First thing was to take off the beastly bumper that was unfortunately welded on to the frame

chopped it off with the sawzall and will have to take the extra metal off and clean it up at a later date

Next was the engine, After struggling with it for a few days, messing with timing, checking compression and what not with no luck we decided to cut our loses and pull the engine to see what we've got to work with

Pulled engine tranny and transfer case all at once, once everything was disconnected it came out pretty easy

pulled everything else off then threw the motor up on the harbor freight engine stand hah

Will post up tear down pics next

 

[mca68]

Nice Project!! Looks like you are starting with a good solid Bronco there. Where I come from it would be a dream to find one like that. Good luck with the build, and keep us posted!

 

[BigBlueBronco71]

Nice Project!! Looks like you are starting with a good solid Bronco there. Where I come from it would be a dream to find one like that. Good luck with the build, and keep us posted!

Thanks man! Yea, I really stumbled on a gem

 

[BigBlueBronco71]

Tearing it down

First real engine I got to tear down, love this stuff!

Valves covers and intake manifold off, that cast iron intake is a beast!

Oil pan off pulling out the bottom end

Bare Block!

All the bits and pieces

Some pretty bad wear on the block

Besides the bad gouges in two of the cylinders two of the pistons were beat to hell, looked like something got loose and banged around in there for a while, one piston even had a piece broken off in between the compression rings, not good

 

[76 One ton]

Looks like you have a good starting platform. What are your plans for the engine? Rebuild and stay with a carb or drop in a roller with efi.

 

[BigBlueBronco71]

Looks like you have a good starting platform. What are your plans for the engine? Rebuild and stay with a carb or drop in a roller with efi.

Current plans are a rebuild and stick with a carb, plans could change down the road but I like the old school carb route

 

[sprdv1]

Congrats and good luck..

I had one of them home made jobs as a front bumper on my first 71... had to come off too lol

 

[BigBlueBronco71]

First big project was to fix the brakes, someone had cut them at some point and after debating decided to do a complete overhaul on the brake system and replace everything, since the brakes are kind of important...

Pulled all four drums, took them down to the backing plate and threw on all new hardware and pistons

Fronts were in decent shape, rears looked like they had never been touched

Even some broken springs drivers side rear

Fronts were ok but rears needed resurfacing, 11 bucks each at the local shop

And the finished product

 

[MPG_Bronco]

Fun project!!! nice find, love projects where you get dirty... on the engine, I like the plan, simple and old school, are you adding cam or anything?

 

[BigBlueBronco71]

Fun project!!! nice find, love projects where you get dirty... on the engine, I like the plan, simple and old school, are you adding cam or anything?

Can't beat getting your hands dirty! Current plan is a new intake and some headers just to help it breathe a little better

 

[Airmapper]

Your Big Blue is moving along a lot quicker than my Big Blue.

Keep up the good work!

 

[BigBlueBronco71]

Congrats and good luck..

I had one of them home made jobs as a front bumper on my first 71... had to come off too lol

Thanks!
Gotta love the do it yourselfers out there

 

[BigBlueBronco71]

Full set of stainless steel hard lines and a new master cylinder up next, got em all hooked up but was having issues with leaks, thought the flares were bad so got two different flaring tools that didn't do anything... Finally discovered flare wrenches at the hardware store and after tightening the fittings up way more, no more leaks!

Bled the system but haven't been able to test it out, no big hills around here to push it down haha

 

[BigBlueBronco71]

Your Big Blue is moving along a lot quicker than my Big Blue.

Keep up the good work!

Gonna be a long project but luckily moving quickly so far!

 

[BigBlueBronco71]

New direction

Well the EB started out as a project car that would sit in the garage for a long while and slowly get upgraded until it was in perfect shape, but wheres the fun in having a project car that you cant drive!?So I decided to take it in a new direction and get her running so that I can enjoy a weekend car and have some fun. The idea is to get it in drivable shape and then set it on the blocks for a few weeks here and there to upgrade pieces and parts as necessary. I've got a great base to work with so might as well try to enjoy the stock feel first and then see what needs to get upgraded!

 

[MPG_Bronco]

I've got a great base to work with so might as well try to enjoy the stock feel first and then see what needs to get upgraded!

That is a great plan, wish I did on my 65 mustang, it was my only driver and project, so when it was down I didn't work... cause I was fixing it...

I've learned that you have to do it right, and you can't drive it in the middle of a project to get a part your missing...

http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac174/mpgmustang/Tires and Trans/IMG_20120524_190342.jpg

 

[BigBlueBronco71]

That is a great plan, wish I did on my 65 mustang, it was my only driver and project, so when it was down I didn't work... cause I was fixing it...

I've learned that you have to do it right, and you can't drive it in the middle of a project to get a part your missing...

Ouch...
I'm lucky enough to have a different DD so if the EB needs to sit it can, and get fixed the right way like you said

 

[sprdv1]

Don't foget to vote Sorry for hijack

 

[BluebroncoNC]

Hey, its BLUE, that's 1/2 way there already! Keep it up, it will be heading down the street in no time.