Bronco on Jeep Frame ??

[hyghlndr]

Don't throw anything at me

We have seen a ton of horrible cars put on top of early bronco frames including a pinto, van and corvette. Anyone aware of a Bronco body put on a modern chasis/frame like the Jeep TJ which has a similar wheel base.

I am only asking because of the safety of airbags and anti-lock brakes for my son. I wish Ford would step up and put out a "new" bronco.

 

[66ALRIDE]

In this past Bronco Driver there was and EB on a Z71 chassis. I understand the concept but I prefer staying all Ford.

As far as the air bags and all, just buy a good cage and 5 point belts. There is no need for an air bag if you're wearing seat belts. I did have an passenger air bag in my Bronco one time. It was my mother in law and she hasn't rode since.;D

 

[fuzzy2133]

How about we step away from the sheep and say you never asked.

What about getting him a 94-96 Bronco?
I think Ford claimed there was not enough market for the concept Bronco however I could be wrong. I would think there is a market when there has always been more than 80,000 wranglers sold yearly in the USA since 2008 (if those numbers are true). Maybe Ford needs to go watch their own banned commercial and rethink that decision.

 

[broncodriver99]

IIRC a guy grafted an EB body onto an explorer donor.

 

[Old School]

Ford decided since people stopped buying small Broncos in 1977, there was no market for them any more.

Even though they didn't exist anymore, sales were zero nonetheless which proved the point.

Damn, I need a cubicle in Dearborn.

 

[BronCowie]

...I did have an passenger air bag in my Bronco one time. It was my mother in law and she hasn't rode since.;D

I can always rely on this site for a good laugh. Thanks 66ALRIDE

 

[Scoop]

There was an EB body on an Explorer chassis at the BD Super Celebration the last 2 years. Very nice - made for his daughter with her safety in mind. Somebody posted a pic not too long ago.

Then there is a guy in AZ who has done a couple on a Focus chassis (yes 2WD!) and the guy here who is doing one for his kids on a Miata chassis with an EB golf cart body.

Also there is a build on Full Size Bronco putting a Jeepster body on a full size Bronco frame.

But never heard of anyone putting a Bronco body on a jeep frame.

***EDIT***

Here's a few pics of the Bronco on Explorer frame.

 

[bigmuddy]

Scoop, cool pics of the pink bronco, but other than maybe the air bag in the steering wheel? How do you figure that setup is better than just a standard bronco as far as safety? Not being a smart ass, I just don't really see how thats any safer!

 

[hyghlndr]

If anyone knows the owner of the explorer frame one, I would like to find out more details. Please understand that a jeep is the closest wheelbase I could find with a real frame and modern safety items like air bags & anti-lock brakes. There is NO chance for an early bronco the the wife -worried about safety.

I have to think Ford is wrong, even outside of the Bronco community it would sell. The fj40 and jeep show there is a market.

 

[Scoop]

Ben, good question. I think the father wanted the airbag and anti-lock brakes along with the reliability of the Explorer engine (I think it had the 4.0 in it) and the better ride/handling/road manners for his daughter. Actually she did wreck it this summer and did not get seriously hurt.

It took a lot of work and time to get the EB on the Explorer frame. I think it would be cheaper/easier to get the same level of safety just doing upgrades to a real EB.

If anyone knows the owner of the explorer frame one, I would like to find out more details. Please understand that a jeep is the closest wheelbase I could find with a real frame and modern safety items like air bags & anti-lock brakes. There is NO chance for an early bronco the the wife -worried about safety.

I have to think Ford is wrong, even outside of the Bronco community it would sell. The fj40 and jeep show there is a market.

See this thread and PM Cletust1966.

 

[Crewwzin]

Actually she did wreck it this summer and did not get seriously hurt.

She was probably too busy playing with the GPS or the indash screen or cellphone or whatever.

Point being, a vehicle is only as safe as the driver.

 

[Tedster100]

It's an interesting concept for a daily driver type rig. Late model replacement parts, 8.8 rear end I think and not a bad drivetrain. What interests me would be the wheelbase and frame width. The narrow frame on the Early Broncos is what gives it such a limited towing capacity. The explorers didn't have terrific towing capacity but I'd bet it's twice what the EB's are. Has anyone mounted an EB on a full size Bronco frame?

 

[dalba4]

I was sitting at the beach a couple of weeks back and I saw a willys wagon body perched atop and EB frame.

I was thinking for all the trouble, and all the EB problems it must have been an I had it around type decision.

 

[Broncobowsher]

The reason you generally see other bodys on the Bronco frame...
The Bronco body rusts away but the chassis is still good. So find another body to keep the drivetrain together.
That makes it very tough to find a good body to go into a transplant onto another chassis.

As for the small 4x4 platform, Ford did that through most of the 80's. It was a BroncoII. In the 90's they had the Explorer Sport. But for the masses the 4-door versions were the way to go. With the stability issues Ford had to deal with you will probably never see another short wheelbase (especially high CG as well) from them or about anyone else ever again.

 

[broncnaz]

Heck even the explorer had stability issues then they redesigned it. modifying it to accept a bronco body takes it back to what it was or worse. Really for all the work involved just buy your kid a car/jeep with those features to daily drive and keep the bronco as is and use it as a weendend cruiser until he has more driving experianace.

Airbags and antilock brakes provide kind of a false safety blanket. When your time is up its up air bag or no airbag. Anitlock brakes well back in the day we were taught how to control our braking. Take some time and do some teaching.

 

[Rustytruck]

The only reason the Jeep suceeds is because the top comes off and that sells.
Ford won't build a capable offroader that the top comes off because it can't sell enough to offset the legal bills. It just isnt worth the headaches. I don't know how Chrysler gets away with it. With Fiat taking over we'll see where the Jeep ends up. They can't afford the big lawsuits that hit Ford and Chevy.

 

[brewchief]

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't airbags designed with the vehicles body in mind for proper deployment and protection?

I would put a lot more faith in a well built cage, good harnesses and good seats then an airbag designed for vehicle 30 years newer.

If that pink bronco was built to be safe it should have had a real cage, not a simple roll bar of somewhat questionable design.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't airbags designed with the vehicles body in mind for proper deployment and protection?

I would put a lot more faith in a well built cage, good harnesses and good seats then an airbag designed for vehicle 30 years newer.

If that pink bronco was built to be safe it should have had a real cage, not a simple roll bar of somewhat questionable design.

You are correct. airbags are part of a system. The whole system of parts bending and squishing in prescribed sequences with prescribed levels of energy absorbtion in the process. The mis matched body and frame combonation and the system is no longer a matched set. At that point you just have a random explosive device in your face and not a tuned safety feature. Completely possible that it will be severly more dangerous then not having one at all.

 

[backpain]

There was an EB body on an Explorer chassis at the BD Super Celebration the last 2 years. Very nice - made for his daughter with her safety in mind. Somebody posted a pic not too long ago.

That one is also in a car mag I have at home somewhere - either 4x4 or Offroad I think. Prob 2 yrs ago

 

[Old School]

The only reason the Jeep suceeds is because the top comes off and that sells.
Ford won't build a capable offroader that the top comes off because it can't sell enough to offset the legal bills. It just isnt worth the headaches. I don't know how Chrysler gets away with it. With Fiat taking over we'll see where the Jeep ends up. They can't afford the big lawsuits that hit Ford and Chevy.

Chrysler looks for reasons to make things like Jeep Wranglers and V8 RWD sedans and Ford looks for excuses not to make them.