'69 Uncut Caribbean Turquoise Rebuild - EFI 408w Stroker, 35 Spine Axles

[Jarrett h]

Hello!

I figured I would start a build thread to capture all the progression over the next few years.

I picked up my 1969 Bronco last spring from Denver and drove it 1,300 miles back to Washington with only minor issues. On the drive back I experienced a fuel leak from the sending unite area (poly tank), a hot start problem, & headlights cutting out while I was passing through Utah.

The truck had a 302 w/ a floor shifted 3 speed, and no modern luxuries like PS or AC. Although it did have a 2.5" TBP lift, 4wheel disc upgrade, & 33" tires. Once back in the Seattle area I quickly swapped the T shifter for a twin-shift and noticed the front wheels weren't getting power w/ the hubs locked. I replaced the hub locks w/ warns and it solved the problem.


What it looked like when I picked it up -

Replaced Bumpers w/ stock style, added MSD distributor, coil, off-road ignition box, Mean Green starter, Milodon oil pan, urethane body mounts, & JD heim steering -

My commute is about 2 miles so I started daily driving the bronco. We also took a number of weekend road trips. During an off-road camping trip w/ a coworker the bronco ended up getting stuck on an old forest road w/ one tire hanging off the side of the hill. When trying get unstuck the rear end started popping and we ended up totally losing drive from the rear. So I had a Ruff Stuff 9" built w/ a truss to hold a 35 spline setup & to hand the future power. The HD anti-wrap spring perches have 3 spring mounting locations, so I'll use the forward hole to move the axle back 1".

The motor has always smoked but it progressively got worse and started experiencing extreme blow by out the breather, w/ large amounts of oil leaking out all over the engine bay.

 

[Jarrett h]

Where things sit today -

I wanted to go the 351w route so I'm having a 408 stroker short block built by CNC motorsports. FYI, anyone looking to have a motor built you can expect a 2-3 month lead time, so get your orders in. I called quite a few vendors and received the same time estimate. The performance industry is surely being stimulated. ;D

Confirmed 408w Specs -

SB Ford 351W/408 Short Block Assembly
New Eagle 4340 forged steel crankshaft (4.000 Stroke) **Internal Balance**
New Eagle H-Beam forged connecting rods bushed fit pins, ARP 2000 bolts (6.200 Length)
New Mahle forged -20cc dish pistons (4.030)
High performance plasma moly piston ring set
ACL/Clevite 77 Rod and Main Bearings
Dura bond cam bearings
Brass freeze plug kit
Dura bond finishing kit
New Dart Sportsman block
Compression Ratio with 58cc Heads: 10.7:1
AFR 205 58cc Renegade Heads w/ .650 lift hydraulic roller upgrade & titanium retainers
ARP Head Studs
Stainless ceramic coated long tube headers
CVF Serpentine Kit
Ron Davis 4 row aluminum radiator
Holley Super Sniper EFI 650 kit
MSD Dual Sync Distributer
Milodon Oil Pan
Edelbrock Performer Intake (wanted to go RPM air gap, but doing my best to retain factory hood)
Holley Sniper 1" Air Filter Drop Base - 2" or 3" filter depending on hood fitment
Lokar throttle cable
Engine & rearend will be running AMSOIL


Still debating on what hydraulic roller cam it will get

AFR's arrived yesterday -

 

[txtruk15]

love your bronco and love seeing your progress step by step!

 

[Apogee]

Nice EB...should be fun with a decent 408W. What are you going to do for trans and t-case?

 

[Jarrett h]

love your bronco and love seeing your progress step by step!

Thank you!

Nice EB...should be fun with a decent 408W. What are you going to do for trans and t-case?

For now it'll be getting a DF700000 clutch along w/ a flanged 1350 output adapter to match the Strange 35 spline 3rd member.

I expect within the year I'll move to an NV4500, I just want to get things moving so we don't miss summer.



Today's project - restoring the TBP 2.5 leafs - Before
If I had to do this again I would probably just buy new springs. 6 hours of prep & roughly 4 of painting.

 

[Bonefizz]

Great color! Love the rig

 

[Crawdad]

Can you provide the lift (body lift and or Susp lift?) and the size of you rims/ tires? That’s a good look.

 

[Jarrett h]

Can you provide the lift (body lift and or Susp lift?) and the size of you rims/ tires? That’s a good look.

17x8 0 offset wheels, 2.5" TBP lift, 2" rear block, 0 body lift, 285x70r17 tires.

Its important to note when unloaded it had a slight rake from the 2" rear block, but the pictures above on dirt w/ gear in the back it would sit level due to the weight. Blocks were thrown in the trash last week.

 

[Miker]

Where things sit today -

I wanted to go the 351w route so I'm having a 408 stroker short block built by CNC motorsports.

Confirmed 408w Specs -

SB Ford 351W/408 Short Block Assembly
New Eagle 4340 forged steel crankshaft (4.000 Stroke) **Internal Balance**
New Eagle H-Beam connecting rods bushed fit pins, ARP 2000 bolts (6.200 Length)
New Mahle forged -20cc dish pistons (4.030)
High performance plasma moly piston ring set
ACL/Clevite 77 Rod and Main Bearings
Dura bond cam bearings
Brass freeze plug kit
Dura bond finishing kit
New Dart Sportsman block
Compression Ratio with 58cc Heads: 10.7:1
AFR 205 58cc Renegade Heads w/ .650 lift hydraulic roller upgrade & titanium retainers
ARP Head Studs
Stainless ceramic coated long tube headers
CVF Serpentine Kit
Ron Davis 4 row aluminum radiator
Holley Super Sniper EFI 650 kit
MSD Dual Sync Distributer
Milodon Oil Pan
Edelbrock Performer Intake (wanted to go RPM air gap, but doing my best to retain factory hood)

Still debating on what hydraulic roller cam it will get

AFR's arrived yesterday -

"Mechanic Porn right there"

 

[LUBr LuvR]

"Mechanic Porn right there"

First thing that crossed my mind was “dang that’s sexy!” Gonna enjoy watching the progress on this rig. Keep the pics comin’;D

 

[Broncobowsher]

Sweet! What are your plans for induction? I sure hope you find a way to keep that stock hood. Looking forward to the creativity that will result.

 

[Jarrett h]

Sweet! What are your plans for induction? I sure hope you find a way to keep that stock hood. Looking forward to the creativity that will result.

No plans yet, but I may add a fun button down the line.

 

[Jarrett h]

It's been a while since I've provided an update -

Leafs were cleaned, painted, & reassembled. The housing was installed to weld the shock mounts & is currently sitting at the powdercoater.

 

[JefeAZ]

One of the best starts to a restoration thread I've seen!

 

[DirtDonk]

did you install the disc brakes to check fitment with the shock mounts? Or did you just put them where they were on the original housing, because they worked already?
I just know that some disc brake installs need the lower shock mount moved inward slightly.

Looks fantastic. Sorry you had to go through the initial hassles for such a nice looking rig. But sounds like you got this! No matter what happens.

Paul

 

[Jarrett h]

did you install the disc brakes to check fitment with the shock mounts? Or did you just put them where they were on the original housing, because they worked already?
I just know that some disc brake installs need the lower shock mount moved inward slightly.

Looks fantastic. Sorry you had to go through the initial hassles for such a nice looking rig. But sounds like you got this! No matter what happens.

Paul

Fitment w/ the brakes was definitely a concern of mine, as the conversion kit the truck came with mounted the shocks on the outside of the of the mounts on the housing to clear the brakes.

What I ended up doing was welding new factory shock frame mounts forward of the housing that would produce the same amount of shock angle (25~ degrees), then placing the the housing mounts as inward as possible without hitting anything.

I hope to have the housing back & the truck rolling in the next week, we'll see how things go. ;D

 

[Jarrett h]

One of the best starts to a restoration thread I've seen!

Appreciate it, thank you!

Picked up the shortblock a while ago, plan to assemble things within the next few weeks.

 

[sprdv1]

Get er done Jarrett.. Been a bit for sure

It's been a while since I've provided an update -

Leafs were cleaned, painted, & reassembled. The housing was installed to weld the shock mounts & is currently sitting at the powdercoater.

 

[ZOSO]

Small world. I just came across this thread and recognized the bronco. I caught a picture of this bronco driving up I25 in denver on march 16th 2019. I snapped a few pics as you drove by to capture the stance. Nice ride.

 

[Jarrett h]

Get er done Jarrett.. Been a bit for sure

Small world. I just came across this thread and recognized the bronco. I caught a picture of this bronco driving up I25 in denver on march 16th 2019. I snapped a few pics as you drove by to capture the stance. Nice ride.

That is very cool!