Going to just start a build thread right out of the gate, I'm going to try and keep everything all in one place. We will just consider this first post to be my introduction. Mornin' everybody.
I just picked up my first early bronco (well second actually if you count the buggy I parted out last year) and I'm excited to learn all about it and make it my own. I am a long time member of FSB, I have a 95 that I'm in the process of parting out to make funds available for the new one. I bought that truck when I was 16 and turned it from just about stock to on tons and 42's. It's been hard giving it up but I have always always wanted an early, so when I came across this one it had to be mine.
This is a list of what's in it courtesy of the previous owner. I know I know, bought not built, but give me some time, I have a few fun ideas brewing.
This is a breakout of details on what I have done with the Bronco.
• 1990 Ford Mustang 5.0 fuel injected MAF engine: the engine and fuel injection are from a stock 1990 5.0 liter mustang. I used the stock Ford mustang shorty headers where I had the exhaust fabricated. The power steering pump is a "canned ham" saginaw style ford. The serpentine system was retained. The power steering pump bracket is a Wild Horses serpentine, 5.0, saginaw specialty bracket. The alternator is the new 3G style for any late model Ford, it is at least a 90 amp alternator.
• D60 high pinion Ford front axle with ARB and 4.56 gears. This is a 1978/79 Ford F250 snowplow edition front axle.
• Corporate 14 rear axle with 4.56 gears and Detroit locker. This is a Chevy axle (single rear wheel application), probably from the late 70's or early 80's. It has a Chevy disc brake conversion. The discs are from a late 80's chevy 2500.
• Wheelbase extended front and rear, a total of 10”. I moved the front axle forward and the rear to the rear. This necessitated modifying the gas tank and the filler neck. The base tank is the BC Broncos 23 gallon unit. I changed the sump and baffled the pickup and location for constant fuel supply even in very off camber situations.
• Extended radius arms. These are a forged stock arm mated with an arm designed for the later model TTB front ends. The key in making these is the forged piece has to be heated with a torch to a particular temperature for the weld to penetrate. This was done for me by a fab shop - I watched.
• Custom front coil buckets, front, and rear shock hoops. I took stock coil buckets and raised them 2" on the frame when I relocated them for moving the front axle forward. I also braced them and tied the shock hoop into them.
• Approximately 3” of suspension lift, BC Broncos front coil springs. This lift is accomplished by using 5.5" lift coils, in the coil buckets relocated 2" higher. I did this to get the extra extension/droop of the longer coil without the higher ride height.
• Bilstein 7100 remote reservoir shocks. I purchased these and then did custom valving on them directly with Bilstein.
• C-4 Tranny, shift kit. I had the transmission rebuilt about 3,000 miles ago.
• D20 transfer case. Stock.
• 4 wheel disc brakes, stainless lines.
• Hydroboost assisted brakes. This has a mid-80's chevy 3500 diesel hydroboost.
• AC converted to on board air with tank. The tank is a small tank mounted under the vehicle, beneath the driver. The stock mustang ac compressor uses an air compressor filter then exits the compressor and goes to a pressure gauge and a regulator. All of this is switched and both electronically and mechanically controlled, with a blowoff valve. The onboard air is for the ARB locker in the front and airing up tires after technical wheeling.
• Saginaw power steering pump
• Toyota power steering box. I believe this is the box from a mid/late 80's toyota pickup truck. I braced, sleeved and plated the frame for it. This was installed when I extended the wheelbase. I remember having to fabricate a steering shaft to use the metric/Toyota piece on the bottom and the Ford portion on the top.
• Aftermarket fuel tank, raised and modified for extended wheelbase
• 6 point roll cage
• Pre-runner bumpers, front and rear
• Trailready beadlocks 17 x 9. These are true beadlocks with the spacer rings installed. I balanced all but one of them.
• 40” Goodyear MTR’s
• Off-road suspension seats. Based on their design, they are probably Beard seats. I made slider mounts for them.
• Front Floorboards replaced.
• Larger/longer rear wheel wells
• Herculiner
• Fiberglass hood
• Art Carr shifter. This is high end aftermarket shifter. Very solid.
And a few pics to boot, because who doesn't like pics?
I just picked up my first early bronco (well second actually if you count the buggy I parted out last year) and I'm excited to learn all about it and make it my own. I am a long time member of FSB, I have a 95 that I'm in the process of parting out to make funds available for the new one. I bought that truck when I was 16 and turned it from just about stock to on tons and 42's. It's been hard giving it up but I have always always wanted an early, so when I came across this one it had to be mine.
This is a list of what's in it courtesy of the previous owner. I know I know, bought not built, but give me some time, I have a few fun ideas brewing.
This is a breakout of details on what I have done with the Bronco.
• 1990 Ford Mustang 5.0 fuel injected MAF engine: the engine and fuel injection are from a stock 1990 5.0 liter mustang. I used the stock Ford mustang shorty headers where I had the exhaust fabricated. The power steering pump is a "canned ham" saginaw style ford. The serpentine system was retained. The power steering pump bracket is a Wild Horses serpentine, 5.0, saginaw specialty bracket. The alternator is the new 3G style for any late model Ford, it is at least a 90 amp alternator.
• D60 high pinion Ford front axle with ARB and 4.56 gears. This is a 1978/79 Ford F250 snowplow edition front axle.
• Corporate 14 rear axle with 4.56 gears and Detroit locker. This is a Chevy axle (single rear wheel application), probably from the late 70's or early 80's. It has a Chevy disc brake conversion. The discs are from a late 80's chevy 2500.
• Wheelbase extended front and rear, a total of 10”. I moved the front axle forward and the rear to the rear. This necessitated modifying the gas tank and the filler neck. The base tank is the BC Broncos 23 gallon unit. I changed the sump and baffled the pickup and location for constant fuel supply even in very off camber situations.
• Extended radius arms. These are a forged stock arm mated with an arm designed for the later model TTB front ends. The key in making these is the forged piece has to be heated with a torch to a particular temperature for the weld to penetrate. This was done for me by a fab shop - I watched.
• Custom front coil buckets, front, and rear shock hoops. I took stock coil buckets and raised them 2" on the frame when I relocated them for moving the front axle forward. I also braced them and tied the shock hoop into them.
• Approximately 3” of suspension lift, BC Broncos front coil springs. This lift is accomplished by using 5.5" lift coils, in the coil buckets relocated 2" higher. I did this to get the extra extension/droop of the longer coil without the higher ride height.
• Bilstein 7100 remote reservoir shocks. I purchased these and then did custom valving on them directly with Bilstein.
• C-4 Tranny, shift kit. I had the transmission rebuilt about 3,000 miles ago.
• D20 transfer case. Stock.
• 4 wheel disc brakes, stainless lines.
• Hydroboost assisted brakes. This has a mid-80's chevy 3500 diesel hydroboost.
• AC converted to on board air with tank. The tank is a small tank mounted under the vehicle, beneath the driver. The stock mustang ac compressor uses an air compressor filter then exits the compressor and goes to a pressure gauge and a regulator. All of this is switched and both electronically and mechanically controlled, with a blowoff valve. The onboard air is for the ARB locker in the front and airing up tires after technical wheeling.
• Saginaw power steering pump
• Toyota power steering box. I believe this is the box from a mid/late 80's toyota pickup truck. I braced, sleeved and plated the frame for it. This was installed when I extended the wheelbase. I remember having to fabricate a steering shaft to use the metric/Toyota piece on the bottom and the Ford portion on the top.
• Aftermarket fuel tank, raised and modified for extended wheelbase
• 6 point roll cage
• Pre-runner bumpers, front and rear
• Trailready beadlocks 17 x 9. These are true beadlocks with the spacer rings installed. I balanced all but one of them.
• 40” Goodyear MTR’s
• Off-road suspension seats. Based on their design, they are probably Beard seats. I made slider mounts for them.
• Front Floorboards replaced.
• Larger/longer rear wheel wells
• Herculiner
• Fiberglass hood
• Art Carr shifter. This is high end aftermarket shifter. Very solid.
And a few pics to boot, because who doesn't like pics?
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