SOLD 1973 Ford Bronco Explorer resto

[73azbronco]

City: Payson or PHX area
Price: $ 39900

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SOLD THANKS BRONCO FORUMS!


1973 Ford Bronco Explorer

Asking $39,900. or best offer.

Please see link at bottom to look at entire build photos, link at bottom

Overview

• Year/Model: 1973 Ford Bronco Explorer
• Mileage: 9x,xxx on odometer (Box A miles) | ~1,000 miles since frame-off rebuild
• Documentation: Matching frame, title, and glovebox VIN.
• Status: 90% completed build. It is a reliable daily/weekly driver.

Seller Note: I am selling due to life changes. I originally built this to be a rock crawler, but changing market values shifted my focus to a frame-off daily driver. It's an incredibly solid, rust-free truck that I would confidently drive to Alaska today. I’m proud of how quiet and tight it drives—it’s actually quieter than my 2024 Rubicon.

History

• Owners: 2-owner truck originally out of El Paso, Texas.
• Heritage: The original owner modified it to run as a chase vehicle with Baja racers (like the Stroppe team). It originally featured a 351, under-dash AC, and Stroppe suspension components (since removed).

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Engine & Performance

• Block: Custom-built 347ci V8 from Scottsdale Automotive Machine Shop.
• Camshaft: Custom-ground cam from Ford Strokers (9:1 dynamic compression ratio; runs on regular pump gas).
• Output: 400 HP / 400 TQ.
• Induction: Performer intake manifold with a custom-built Quadrajet spread-bore high off-cam carb featuring adjustable mixture control (built by Carburetor Unlimited).
• Ignition: Duraspark distributor (curved to cam specs), Motorsport plug wires, and an MSD 6A spark controller and coil.
• Exhaust: BC Broncos coated headers.
• Oiling: 7-quart Milodon dual-sump oil pan.

Drivetrain & Fuel System

• Transmission: NV4500 5-speed manual with a Centerforce dual-friction clutch and custom shift knob.
• Transfer Case: Dana 20 rebuilt to factory specs with JB Fab custom stainless steel twin-stick shifters.
• Axles & Lockers: Dana 44 front with Yukon 31-spline chromoly axles and Mile Marker hub locks. ARB air lockers installed front and rear (with onboard compressor).
• Fuel System: Wild Horses M1A1 EFI 23-gallon stainless steel tank with an internal EFI fuel pump and external Aeroquip bypass regulator (maintains 4.5 PSI to the carb). Fully plumbed with a return style setup to the firewall—ready for an EFI conversion.

Suspension, Steering & Brakes

• Lift: 2-inch body lift and 2-inch suspension lift featuring James Duff/Deaver rear springs and Bilstein shocks.
• Steering: 4x4x2 power steering box, F450 Super Duty power steering cooler, Wild Horses P/S bracket, Saginaw pump, and tie-rod-over front steering setup. Rancho steering stabilizer.
• Brakes: Big Bronco front disk knuckles/disk conversion, big drum/bearing rear brakes, Wild Horses vacuum booster, and a Wilwood master cylinder/proportioning valve.

Cooling & Electrical

• Cooling: Stock copper 4-core radiator with an integrated A/T cooler (not used), steel Wild Horses shroud, heavy-duty fan clutch, and a steel fan. Runs at a steady 190°F up a 7% grade in 105-degree weather.
• Electrical: 100A 4G alternator, Optima Red Top battery (includes premium Optima charger), and an early 90s evap system (no solenoids, with rollover valve).

Body & Interior

• Body: All-original, rust-free sheet metal with cut fenders and Wild Horses flares. Light, random, rare dings but absolutely zero accident history.
• Paint: OEM factory Grabber Blue paint with chrome trim.
• Roof: Professionally repaired, primed, and painted in Wimbledon White by First Class Auto Body (a Barrett-Jackson painter in Scottsdale). Features tinted, sliding rear side windows.
• Frame: Media-blasted, primed, and finished in light grey dual-stage paint. The interior frame was cleaned and coated with Eastwood frame primer.
• Bumpers: Protofab front and rear bumpers (includes tire and fuel/ice chest rack). Original OEM chrome bumpers are also included.
• Interior Comfort: Mastercraft Camber off-road suspension seats. Accmatt Lapis Blue Elite carpet with matte backing. Fully lined with Dynamat/Dynapad throughout the flooring, sides, roof, and firewall. The truck bed is Rhino-lined in grey.
• Instrumentation: Dakota Digital VHX dash gauges (rebuilt stock OEM gauges included).
• Audio & Horn: Retrosound stereo, Eldorado 4-tone horn, and dual stealth security immobilizers.
• Wheels & Tires: 35” BFGoodrich KO3 tires (x5) mounted on US Mags aluminum slotted wheels. A Warn winch is mounted up front.

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Items Included But Not Mounted

• Full Alpine stereo system with a subwoofer (truck is completely pre-wired for it).
• Tuffy storage case for the center console (pre-drilled, not mounted).
• Tuffy storage case door for the glove box (fit for the roll cage).
• Original VIN glovebox door.

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Things Needing Attention (The 10% Left to Finish)

• Electrical: The Autometer vacuum gauge is currently wired to the wrong 12V supply. The Retrosound radio recently stopped turning on (suspected to be the same wire/fuse issue as the vacuum gauge).
• Gauges: The oil temperature sensor is not yet installed (needs the oil pan drilled or an oil filter sandwich pad adapter used).
• Body & Trim: The doors could use a finer alignment. The cardboard headliner is functional but could be upgraded.
• Mechanical: The rear ARB air locker has a minor air leak. The torque bar was removed and needs to be adjusted and welded to fit perfectly.
• Alignment/Bushings: It currently sits at 3 degrees of caster and drives fine, but could use 7-degree front bushings to bring it up to spec (two sets of correct bushings are included with the truck).

Builder’s Retrospective
If I could do it over again, I would have gone with a 1-inch body lift instead of 2, and stuck with a simpler 351 build rather than the highly custom 347 (even though the 347 makes more power, it cost thousands more). I also would have chosen a 4R70 automatic transmission over the NV4500 manual—while the NV4500 is an amazing gear-rower for the rocks, this truck is simply too valuable now to ever see rock crawling trails again.

 

[toddz69]

Hate to see you sell it - this looks like a steal to me!

Todd Z.

 

[73azbronco]

I think I priced it to sell, and yeah, sad to go

 

[fatboy]

I am a few months away from getting back into a Bronco or I would be seriously thinking of a flight to AZ and a nice drive across the country back to NH!

Good luck with the sale, love the look and the color!

 

[triracer67]

Seems like a steal! GLWTS.

 

[ruben619]

Interested. New member and unsure how to message you direct with questions.

• Steering: You mentioned bump steer and needing to ream the tie-rod-over again. How noticeable is it on normal roads/highway driving?
• Rear ARB: Have you determined whether the air leak is external plumbing or internal to the locker?
• Torque bar: Is the anti-wrap/torque bar simply off because it needs to be resized for the current 2.5" suspension?
• A/C & heat: I saw the Denso compressor in the build thread. Is it still installed? And does the factory heater/defroster currently work?
• Top: When is last time the top was removed? All hardware and weather stripping present?
• Engine/drivetrain: With ~1,100 miles on the build, any oil consumption, significant leaks, overheating, clutch/transmission issues or driveline vibration?
• Fuel/EVAP: Did you ultimately finish the rollover valve/EVAP setup you documented in the thread? Very cool to have so much history on the love you put into this Bronco

 

[73azbronco]

Interested. New member and unsure how to message you direct with questions.

• Steering: You mentioned bump steer and needing to ream the tie-rod-over again. How noticeable is it on normal roads/highway driving?
• Rear ARB: Have you determined whether the air leak is external plumbing or internal to the locker?
• Torque bar: Is the anti-wrap/torque bar simply off because it needs to be resized for the current 2.5" suspension?
• A/C & heat: I saw the Denso compressor in the build thread. Is it still installed? And does the factory heater/defroster currently work?
• Top: When is last time the top was removed? All hardware and weather stripping present?
• Engine/drivetrain: With ~1,100 miles on the build, any oil consumption, significant leaks, overheating, clutch/transmission issues or driveline vibration?
• Fuel/EVAP: Did you ultimately finish the rollover valve/EVAP setup you documented in the thread? Very cool to have so much history on the love you put into this Bronco

Steering: 90% corrected lowering tire pressure from 35 to 25. Duh, forgot to do that. I also torqued to spec the tie rid bolts, so while it will never drive like my 2024 4 link solid axle dual sway bar Jeep, it does pretty good now, might/would be improved with different angle on the front bars. I did not ream the knuckles, 7deg reamer comes with bronco. Drivability is 90%, I have firestone alignment specs, with better wedges in the camber would dramatically improve this to 100%. Maybe even a roll bar might help.

ARB: No, I hear it leaking, it may be as simple as fitting on pumkin, or as worse as copper line failure inside.

Torque bar: Bar is off because I went to low at 1 inch lift, cut to fit the bar,, then back to 2.5, never refit bar.

A/C Heat: No A/C. That was dropped when we determined AC in PHX no bueno. Heat defrost work, new heater core, copper.

Top was installed probably 10 years ago with all new WH OEM style weather stripping. All to many factory top bolts including window are in there, window has new weatherstripping at bottom.

Engine: Blackstone tested OIL last month,. "wear metals look fine" Hi silicone from sealer. Iron looks particularly good. After build we used 30wt dyno oil for 500 miles, then 10w40 with Zinc additive, now just has the Pennzoil 20w40. No oil burning noticeable to date. Only thing out exhaust is slightly rich fuel smell, as I work the mixture down, but since selling, will probably leave it as is. Quadra jet is altitude adjustable with a screw driver and Allen wrench without taking carb apart.

Fuel EVAP is finished, with rollover valve up in left rear wheel well, then charcoal cannister late 80s mustang, crudely mounted inside engine bay, vented to engine side of air cleaner.

 

[73azbronco]

Oh yeah perfect, daily driver, and I took a rock to the window, wth!!

So, I will pay to replace as anyone gets closer to buying.

 

[73azbronco]

SALE PENDING

 

[JohnBoy]

If sale falls through, I am interested and have cash in hand.

 

[CatskillCruiser]

Steal of a Deal!

 

[73azbronco]

sold, to North Carolina.

 

[tasker]

LOOKS like a great truck, congrats to both seller and buyer!

 

[Reservationcody]

Made it back to North Carolina! Thanks Scott! She’s gonna be loved.

 

[toddz69]

Spotted enroute in TN.

Todd Z.

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

steal of a deal!

 

[ksagis]

Bit off topic, @Reservationcody, did you trailer it yourself? If so, how did you like the Uhaul toy hauler?

Edit: where did you put straps, sorta looks like on rear frame but also looks around axle

 

[Reservationcody]

Bit off topic, @Reservationcody, did you trailer it yourself? If so, how did you like the Uhaul toy hauler?

Edit: where did you put straps, sorta looks like on rear frame but also looks around axle

Trailered it myself. The U-Haul toy hauler is awesome. I have tilt deck equipment trailers that I didn’t want to pull out there. I used axle straps and ratchet straps to cinch it down. Works great!

 

[73azbronco]

I never knew Uhaul made such nice new auto trailer, wow. Light years past when I told them I was hauling a VW bug, and I remember driving the wheels over the fenders of the trailer to get it loaded.

Enjoy !! It poured 4 inches here after you left.

 

[green61bug]

Congrats Cody!