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1966 U13 Roadster Build Thread (Up Minnesoty Way)

DonaldDouchebag

Bronco Guru
Joined
Apr 17, 2008
Messages
1,122
Nice. I think your scooter has more hp than my bronco. You make it to any car shows in the cities?

I’ve never shown my Bronco at a show but I’d have to say Osceola Wheels & Wings is by far my fave. My truck is presentable but the idea of bringing it to a show doesn't really do a lot for me.

Hey, check out the MN4WDA spring swap meet at the Anoka County fairgrounds this spring if you need parts. I’ve bought a bunch of EB stuff there over the years. (Hoping it happens.)
 

sprdv1

Contributor
REBEL
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Messages
81,996
fixed the one pic for ya....
 

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u13bronco

u13bronco

New Member
Joined
May 6, 2020
Messages
35
You lost me at Ford blue axles! :)

I will second that notion! Keep the U13 true to form with black diffs.%):eek::eek:

Save the Ford blue for the 170!

Wait. The engine is supposed to be BLUE!? Now you tell me. Going to have to strip all that pink paint i just laid down...
LOL.

I was talking to a well respected Bronco vendor recently and he echoed your sentiment about the black diffs. I understand in the world of U13s, things should be done a certain way. I think someday i might change to a more stock appearance. But right now we're going for a slightly different look but still tasteful. Then again, maybe you all end up hating it and shun me from the community. I hope that isnt the case, but time will tell. To me it was important to keep a lot of the 66 specific parts but I wasnt super focused on keeping them looking 100% historically accurate color wise.
 
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u13bronco

u13bronco

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Joined
May 6, 2020
Messages
35
I’ve never shown my Bronco at a show but I’d have to say Osceola Wheels & Wings is by far my fave. My truck is presentable but the idea of bringing it to a show doesn't really do a lot for me.

Hey, check out the MN4WDA spring swap meet at the Anoka County fairgrounds this spring if you need parts. I’ve bought a bunch of EB stuff there over the years. (Hoping it happens.)

Sweet. Will do. Followed the page on FB, too. Thanks!
 

trailerjack

Bronco Guru
Joined
Sep 5, 2013
Messages
1,588
Loc.
Central Texas
If you are building it for you, paint the diffs whatever color you want!

Wait. The engine is supposed to be BLUE!? Now you tell me. Going to have to strip all that pink paint i just laid down...
LOL.

I was talking to a well respected Bronco vendor recently and he echoed your sentiment about the black diffs. I understand in the world of U13s, things should be done a certain way. I think someday i might change to a more stock appearance. But right now we're going for a slightly different look but still tasteful. Then again, maybe you all end up hating it and shun me from the community. I hope that isnt the case, but time will tell. To me it was important to keep a lot of the 66 specific parts but I wasnt super focused on keeping them looking 100% historically accurate color wise.
 

Howard2x4x4

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Apr 19, 2014
Messages
2,474
If you are building it for you, paint the diffs whatever color you want!
Big double yuppers X two.

"Wait. The engine is supposed to be BLUE!? Now you tell me. Going to have to strip all that pink paint i just laid down..."

Nice. Not nearly enough humor in the world today. Kudos for the light-hearted response.
 

fordfan

Bronco Guru
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
3,592
Even if you paint your frame black, diffs blue, engine pink, and the body lemon yellow, we still want to watch it come together!;D
 
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u13bronco

u13bronco

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Joined
May 6, 2020
Messages
35
If you are building it for you, paint the diffs whatever color you want!

That's the spirit! It's only original once, and it ain't original no more, so making it "appear" original is not my plan right now (not right now, anyway. maybe in the future.)

Big double yuppers X two.

"Wait. The engine is supposed to be BLUE!? Now you tell me. Going to have to strip all that pink paint i just laid down..."

Nice. Not nearly enough humor in the world today. Kudos for the light-hearted response.

Thanks, Buddy! I agree. Bronco folk seem like easy people to get along with. That's mostly the reason I am looking forward to Super Cel again, I had a great time just getting a good laugh with people and hanging out with them.

Even if you paint your frame black, diffs blue, engine pink, and the body lemon yellow, we still want to watch it come together!;D

LOL. Thanks for the words of encouragement. Speaking of yellow, I'm going to post a pic of the first EB I ever had the privilege of driving. We had a local classic car rental company up here in Minnesota that had some older Fords, and one was a '73 that they dubbed the "Banana Bronco." My wife rented it for me for my birthday a couple years back. Best time ever, it drove and rode like hell but I loved it. Anyway, I know what our Bronco color will be, but I'm keeping it a surprise until the end. I prefer surprises, haha! ;D

Take a picture of the backside and post please!

Will do! I am going out to the shop tomorrow and will grab some photos. Thanks for the help!
 
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u13bronco

u13bronco

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May 6, 2020
Messages
35
Banana Bronco

I mentioned in the prior post my wife rented me a '73 Bronco for my birthday a couple years back. It was a rental offered by a local dealership through their classic car division. That thing was sweet! The rear seatbelts weren't even bolted down, so when my buddy tried buckling up, the seatbelt just pulled out of the floor, lol. The steering was awful on it, too. But, man, it looked sweet, sounded even better, and I felt like a million bucks driving around in it. The car rental division liquidated in Spring 2019 I believe, and the cars were sold at auction. This one sold at Mecum for what I thought was a very reasonable price at the time. I would've bought it, but couldn't afford it then. Anyway, I knew one day I had to have an EB!

https://www.mecum.com/lots/DA0919-390752/1973-ford-bronco/
 

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u13bronco

u13bronco

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May 6, 2020
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September 2020 update

This is where we were at with the Bronco in September. We installed the Wild Horses 4x4 2.5 suspension kit with a (hopefully) more appropriately rated rear shock to account for the lighter weigh of the roadster (soft top, no doors). We went with the blue shock boot covers, which took some ingenuity to get them to stay on properly. Otherwise, they wanted to ride up the shock.

We ended up using some weird furniture plastic washers, cut a slit in them, and placed them where we wanted them to hold the boot cover in place. We also replaced the outer axle seals.

We did not replace the inner seals yet. planning on doing that in the rear when we open up the diff tonight to replace the 9 inch gasket and the ring/pinion crush sleeve, nut and o ring.

We do have the original wheels and have sandblasted them, but are not sure what we are going to do with them. We went with 15 inch indy mags for our road wheels and I mocked them up as you can see here in the photos. I think the stock wheels might end up being painted original and swapped on when we bring it to shows and the indys will be used around town and in the dirt.

Included is a pic of the t case shifter ball, just because I think it looks pretty cool sitting up there! sorry it's sideways.
 

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fordfan

Bronco Guru
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
3,592
I'm admiring your restoration environment too! ... It's a really cool shop!
 

JoePaul

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Joined
Sep 17, 2019
Messages
1
Anyone know how many U13's were built in the first month of production? I know there were just over 4K produced in the first year, but not sure about the first month.
 
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u13bronco

u13bronco

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Joined
May 6, 2020
Messages
35
I'm admiring your restoration environment too! ... It's a really cool shop!

Thanks! it's not mine, but i'm fortunate to be able to use it. My "shop" is my tuckunder single stall garage with 8 foot ceilings and is about 9 feet wide haha.

Anyone know how many U13's were built in the first month of production? I know there were just over 4K produced in the first year, but not sure about the first month.

I don't know off hand. I suppose you could do some guessing based off of the VINs that started at the beginning of production versus the ones that started in the beginning of September, and do some rough math based on how many were sold during the 66 model year. Maybe Bobby has more info, though. check out roadsteru13 dot com for more info
 
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u13bronco

u13bronco

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May 6, 2020
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35
Update - April 2021 - Super Cel or bust (likely bust!)

Well, been really busy with building the Bronco, sourcing parts, work, etc. Haven't had much time for CB, but wanted to give an update of where we are at with the build. We are currently 9 days out from leaving for Super Cel. I will either be bringing down my bricknose if the 66 isnt finished, or both if we end up getting the 66 done in time.

To date, we've gone through all the drivetrain and chassis, grinded and/or sandblasted every part, and either painted or powdercoated everything. I wanted to have a little fun with the engine, and I like chrome. I think it turned out pretty neat looking.

We also installed 4 wheel disc brakes and have run a return fuel line in the event we end up going EFI in the future. right now we are just running the stock 170 carb set up and i think 13 gallon fuel tank.

We will have the body mounted to the chassis tomorrow, then start installing everything. That will include a '69 wiring harness (with provisions for electric wipers), dash wiring, all the gadgets, power brake booster/mc, and all the million little things I am currently forgetting.

Our 66 seats should be finished at the upholstery shop by Friday. I went with a black on black look that is common on some of the later year early Broncos, with the textured black pleats. However, I wanted the pleat count and appearance to look like '66 seats.

We have the original U13 door inserts that are now restored and will be using the re-created backing plates that I got from a forum member. They are really solid, and in my opinion better than the original. Then again...ours were half gone due to rust!

Enjoy the pics!

First photo dump is a look into the decent shape of the engine, and other 66 parts I either had already or acquired and cleaned up, including a 66 horn button, the original washer fluid bag after cleaning it up, and the original 66 seats after sandblasting and priming/painting
 

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u13bronco

u13bronco

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May 6, 2020
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April 2021 photo dump pt. 2

Some more photos from our recent progress. Installed the CJ Pony Parts 170/200 single exhaust. We aren't doing anything too crazy, yet. Just trying to get it running and see how she goes. Might go v8 later. maybe 4 banger. just kidding.

We are going with bedliner underneath and inside the fender wells, etc, and the floor.
 

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