A decade apart.... My official 1974 Bronco Ranger thread

[PhL0aTeR]

As long as they fit, and they have the removeable frames too, they're golden.

Paul

;D

guess i lucked out..... ill have to hit up the search and see what i find on these..... maybe tonight when i have some more time. thanks!

 

[PhL0aTeR]

well, a less than ideal update here.... the guy i was gonna work with to do the build is less than available, so im on my own. given that fact, and the fact that my living situation doesnt lend itself to restoring vehicles (full time RVer) and the fact that i wanted this done before the snow hit, I need to get this done....

So needless to say, im shopping around for a set of capable hands to drop this off with...

 

[PhL0aTeR]

i guess i forgot my last update.... when the guy i was gonna work with to do the build found out i was looking around for someone to do it, we got to talking finally and worked some stuff out... needless to say, things are back on track and this weekend we pulled the guts out of an ADO/e to swap into an AOD case. its not much, but its enough to make me feel better.... lol

 

[PhL0aTeR]

well we finally got some time to work on it this week.... we ended up cutting out and replacing the front floorboards.... We also tackled some rust and cut out some replacements panels from sheet metal to patch the kick panels, inner fenders and inner rocker panels. I also bought a replacement rear floor and a body lift/body mount kit which is the next step.

 

[PhL0aTeR]

Body lift/body mount bushings are done.... transmission is done minus valve body and torque converter, mocked up transmission, built crossmember out of the skid plate with some re enforcements. Tossed Tcase in and will brace it on the side much like everyone else does with the 205. Rear floor is replaced, seams have been sealed, unfinished metal was rhino lined. So far so good, ill be making a large donation to BC broncos fairly soon and in return getting their 23 gallon tank with high pressure in tank pump and their skidplate, as well as making an early purchase of the manifold adapter for the 351....

Shiddy pic, but here is the tranny case mockup and the 205 tossed up as well before we built the tranny xmember

 

[PhL0aTeR]

Well, the biggest update here, is pics.... we finished the tranny crossmember, but have yet to brace the t case.

We replaced the front floor pans with aftermarket ebay finds, the rear floor was an afterthought, when we got to looking at it, it was rusted fairly bad.... bad enough to justify the price of a good floor from a parted out bronco. The new floor came with the wheel well welds, so we were able to air hammer the welds apart and weld seams just like factory for the sides, and we went ahead and used seam sealer on all of the new seams, front and rear, then rhino lined the welds and raw metal.

I also went ahead and called BC broncos, got the complete tank kit with tank, sender, pump and skid plate, along with the manifold adapter for the 351.

 

[bosshoff]

A couple of things suprise me. First, why not pull the side covers in the rear bed to see what is under them. (I am sure you have, but why put them back in place? They seem to be trashed.
Secondly, when you had the engine out, why didn't you at least spray bomb the engine compartment to clean it up and protect it a bit?

 

[ol gray mare]

Are you going to put the chrome strips on the doors? As I rmember, you'll need to move the key locks down to the later model location. That's very cool having Grandpa's Bronco! My grandson is only 9 and he's already eye-balling mine. I let him steer it the other day sitting in my lap....ran through a couple of puddles and climbed a hill or two. He's wanting me to start a bronco project for him, so it's ready to drive when he's old enough. Guess we better get started!.

 

[PhL0aTeR]

Are you going to put the chrome strips on the doors? As I rmember, you'll need to move the key locks down to the later model location. That's very cool having Grandpa's Bronco! My grandson is only 9 and he's already eye-balling mine. I let him steer it the other day sitting in my lap....ran through a couple of puddles and climbed a hill or two. He's wanting me to start a bronco project for him, so it's ready to drive when he's old enough. Guess we better get started!.

stripping all chrome off, none of it will go back on. I think in the last 15 years, ive driven it more than he ever did... lol

A couple of things suprise me. First, why not pull the side covers in the rear bed to see what is under them. (I am sure you have, but why put them back in place? They seem to be trashed.
Secondly, when you had the engine out, why didn't you at least spray bomb the engine compartment to clean it up and protect it a bit?

side covers? the interior panels? i guess i hadnt gotten that far....

when we put the engine in, it wasnt permanent, and the guy i traded a pistol to for the engine, just set it on the mounts for me and bolted it in..... Thats something we may look at now that were actually doing something to it.

 

[PhL0aTeR]

well, we installed the BC broncos tank an skidplate today.... hardware is a bit lacking, the 3/4" bolts should have been 1" IMHO, but we ended up getting it all in, we opted to weld the mounting tabs to the frame rather than using bolts, we also we also got the transfer case support made and installed with poly body bushings..... ive got pics, but they are horrible cellpics, i should have some better ones up next week. Should have a lot more progress to report as well since we will have monday-wednesday to work on it, pretty much nonstop.

i have yet to find a steering column though, hopefully i can strike gold at the junkyard next week as we have a junkyard day planned to get some disc brake parts as well.

 

[a67and77]

I too have a Bronco that was my Grandpas, It's a 67 U14 that I learned how to drive on in Northern New Mexico. I bought it when I was 15 and still have it. I'm 42 now, and still loving it...

 

[PhL0aTeR]

had some good luck at the junkyard today.... spotted a 78 econoline that still had its tilt steering.... w00t!!!! paid $35 for it, i guess they didnt care that you cant find one on ebay under $130. Also got some fuel lines, as the ones on the motor drug while it was towed and got chewed up... DOH...

I also was on a mission to find some seats. Bill saw some nice looking tan buckets in a dodge intrepid, i sat in one and thought they were nice and comfy. Drivers side was full power, which i didnt want (more shit to break), but changed my mind when we saw another intrepid with black seats, i must admit they are quite comfy, and as i said, the drivers is full power, so thats nice even though ill regret it when i have to find new seats when i dont want to replace seat motors... lol...

Hooked up with an ex- EB owner on craigslist... he had some brand new door seals. He was selling the uppers for $10 each and the lowers for $20 each.... thats right, 2 doors for $60..... when i got to his place, he also had another part i was searching for..... a 5.0 upper. Gave him $10 for that.

Last night i scored a 75mm TB with EGR spacer for about half of what it was new.....

The only thing i didnt find was disc brake parts, so we will head out to another junkyard fairly soon to get what i need for that.

I was supposed to pick up my torque converter today, but didnt, will get it tomorrow morning on the way to the shop.

Tomorrow we have plans to pull the engine, clean up the bay, do some rust repair, then paint the engine bay. Will also be sandblasting some of the interior to get surface rust off, then will be spraying the interior in rhino lining. Hopefully after all that we will be able to get the drivetrain back in it, fuel lines ran....

Need to mention that when we finally opened the box the aluminum radiator came in, we notice it was REALLY tweaked. Called the eBay seller i bought it from 6 months ago and he had fedex out the next day to pick it up, and i will have my new one on thursday. Not bad customer service for an ebay seller

Thats all for tonight, i should have some more progress pictures by the end of the week, including some small mammal carcass we found in the frame rail... lol

 

[JGbronc]

Things are looking good! I just kinda hate to see a factory black Bronco get cut. They are kinda rare.

By the way, those are not '66-'67 doors. They are '68+ doors. If they have removable frames, that would make them '68 doors. They are the same latch pattern unless someone changed it.

 

[PhL0aTeR]

Things are looking good! I just kinda hate to see a factory black Bronco get cut. They are kinda rare.

By the way, those are not '66-'67 doors. They are '68+ doors. If they have removable frames, that would make them '68 doors. They are the same latch pattern unless someone changed it.

well if it makes you feel any better, im not going to cut it right away.... lol

interesting observation.... i was under the impression 66-67 doors were the only ones that had removable frames? The doors, aside from missing parts and aftermarket mirror look unmolested, so i guess that makes em 68 doors? Makes sense as to why they fit so well.

i dont know how i missed that in my research, but google search has this right on top: http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?p=777826

thanks for the info!

 

[ol gray mare]

well if it makes you feel any better, im not going to cut it right away.... lol

interesting observation.... i was under the impression 66-67 doors were the only ones that had removable frames? The doors, aside from missing parts and aftermarket mirror look unmolested, so i guess that makes em 68 doors? Makes sense as to why they fit so well.

i dont know how i missed that in my research, but google search has this right on top: http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?p=777826

thanks for the info!

My '66 doors had the locks where the chrome strip would go, right under the handle. "68 doors? I learned somethin new today! Do they have the same inner door handles as the "66s?

 

[PhL0aTeR]

My '66 doors had the locks where the chrome strip would go, right under the handle. "68 doors? I learned somethin new today! Do they have the same inner door handles as the "66s?

since ive been told these are 68 doors, i cant say ive ever seen any 66/67 doors.... they look like the inside of my 74 doors though

 

[PhL0aTeR]

didnt get near as much done as i wanted to today, but we did get he drivetrain pulled, pressure washed the engine bay and started rust repair on the sides of the engine bay, found out the parts house is closing out grant steering stuff and picked up a steering wheel and adapter for $40, found some disc brake parts, need to find a 2wd steering box to do the 4x4x2 power steering conversion, forgot about that yesterday at the junkyard... DOH.... Anyway, tomorrow if the weather is good we will probably roll it out of the shop again and sandblast some of the interior so i can finish rhino lining it.... we removed the stock steering column and set the tilt column in place.... obviously still have a laundry list of things to do, but its getting closer

 

[sprdv1]

Every little bit helps man.

 

[JGbronc]

My '66 doors had the locks where the chrome strip would go, right under the handle. "68 doors? I learned somethin new today! Do they have the same inner door handles as the "66s?

Yes, the '66's had the exterior locks there, for the '67's the exterior locks were actually moved higher to clear the trim. And then for the '68's, it was lowered, where it was from then on to '77. The latches on the '66 and '67's are different from the '68-'77.

No, the '68's had the same inner handles as the later ones.

 

[PhL0aTeR]

well, i worked my ass off today.... i sandblasted for about 4 straight hours.... cleaned up the floor, rhino lined the floor, mounted the steering column, have yet to deal with power steering, so the column is mounted, but not hooked up. We also mounted the drivers seat. Will be back to work on it on tuesday, will also update this sometime soon with the pics.