Great story! And a great project to put together. Thanks for taking all the pics and making the time to share them.
I'm glad you can still do it for your pops. Lots of us have started doing the same thing, only to have the project take too long and dad not being able to enjoy it.
Looks like you're making good time so far. What kind of timeframe were these pictures taken during?
When you said "original Chrome Yellow" did you mean just that it was an original Ford color, of that your Bronco was Chrome Yellow? Sure does not look like it to me. From the underside dash pics and elsewhere, it looks to be more of a Reef Aqua or Caribbean Turquoise, or even Peacock Blue rig. Lot of Peacock's in '68 I think. Mine is too.
What's the color code on it the Warranty Plate? Or is that stuff still in existence?
Have fun. Keep the good progress and keep updating us as you can!
Paul
Thanks!
Yes, this has been a long process- and it's taken too long, so now I'm motivated to get it done.
I've played on this bronco in the garage since I was little- took about 36 years to pry it out of my dad's hands to let me put it back together.
Initially it was going to be a "just like it was" project like it had just sat there from the 70's and you stuck the key back in.
Then it turned into "lets put some disc brakes and power steering on it, clean it up a bit"
Then it turned into "gears would be nice, 5 speed would be nice, a big fun engine would be nice"
Then that turned into "if we're going to do it, we're going to do it right"
And it's continuing to snowball......so now I'm tumbling bolts and hardware to replate them in yellow zinc lol
Initially it came down- and a few weeks after it showed up, my wife goes "Im pregnant"......ok no biggie lemme knock this out in 9 months or less.
I didn't realize preggo time is pretty much game time for when baby shows up.
Then baby showed up.....
3 months later wife goes "I'm pregnant....again"
so, we had to fix that issue, AND I had baby 2 come along.
Now that both are up and running, I'm back to being able to spend time on it nearly daily......
So it sat for nearly a year and a half with almost nothing getting done before I could continue working on it.
I'm a Master BMW tech for 20 years now..... bodywork isn't my thing and it really hampered my progress. now that the body is out of my way I can get back to doing what I do best. Turning wrenches- which is moving much faster than I anticipated (I still got it
)
To clarify on the color- Yes looks like a Turquoise and cream color was original factory colors.
Bob painted it Chrome yellow.
My pop painted it black.
We're turning it Chrome yellow again.
Yes, still have the VIN plate on the glovebox.
By the way, any identification on those shocks? I wonder if they too are vintage from the beginning? Could very well be.
They remind me of Burbank shocks (the bare shaft ones) and Gabriels (with the rock shield over the shaft) and it would be cool to get some info if any is left.
Part numbers would probably equate to Monroe or Gabriel, but if there are any decals left intact that would give the info.
Paul
Yes, Paul- this is a literal time machine from the early 70's nothing has been touched since then. Heck, it's never seen daylight since 1978, until it came down here. I searched the part numbers and was only able to find this so far on one of the shocks.
I've kept one of each front and rear, but since I'm putting a 2.5" soft ride progressive spring set up in front, and a 9 pack long travel spring in the rear I know I'll be replacing them with different length shocks.
I'm unsure if I'm going with an emulsion King, Fox, or Bilstein. I may put reservoir shocks on, but that would only be for looks. Heck, I've considered using Gen1 or Gen2 Raptor rear shocks all the way around since they are internally bypassed and bump stopped.
I need to read off the numbers of the Gabriels my pics aren't good enough to do that.
Front Monroe's with the balljoint shaft ends were SSF 12387
Impressive documentation of your work, and impressive shop! Keep up the good work.
thank you