Crossbreed

[raleigh]

Made some progress today, not as much as I wanted but I wasn't feeling 100%.

I picked up some fenders thanks to a member of the Utah Bronco Club, and they are perfect. I couldn't see getting new fenders or even paying big money for a set of uncut fenders just to cut them so these are just right. They were already cut so they just needed a bit of trimming to clear my axle which is slightly forward of stock.
The approach angle is going to be great, excited to see this coming together!

I was also able to cut the sliders to length.

To cool the 408 I wanted to keep a big radiator but the FSB radiator had the tanks on top and bottom and would have hung 8" below the core support. I picked up this Be Kool radiator that has the tanks on the ends but has the same surface area as the FSB radiator.
I had to modify the core support by cutting the opening to allow more air flow, also had to notch the frame for the tank to slip down enough to clear the hood, details on that later. I will have enough room for a dual electric fan set up.

Another thing I got done was the core support mounts, simple but effective!

 

[Bluebolt]

Cool build! I will check on this one every so often!

 

[langester]

Love the build! Keep the pics coming!

 

[raleigh]

Thanks guys!

Got a bit of work done this afternoon.
Cut and tacked the passenger inner fender well and the cut and welded in the wheel well for clearance.

 

[raleigh]

I was able to get the rear area all tacked in today, really opened it up.
I put a couple of extra floor supports under the seams, I will get some pics of those when I take the body off the frame which might be next weekend.

 

[raleigh]

Got the main hoops for the cage bent today, they are a little long but I don't have the top yet so I wanted to make sure they were long enough.
I haven't bent pipe for about 10 years so pretty happy with the out come. Most of the rest of the cage will be straights, simple.

 

[kens bronco]

Great progress, can't wait to see crossbreed completed.
Kenny

 

[farmerjohn]

When I read what you were doing, I thought it would be all "gawky" but you've got it looking good ! Keep going!

 

[OX1]

Love the detail. Especially like the idea of narrowing wheel wells. I was thinking narrow body, but after 15 years of rocking a fullsize, an stock width EB body will feel like a quad to me.

Spent many hours trying to figure out a 408/C6/black box/205 drivetrain in an EB frame (with front and rear 4 links). I've about given up since it would need an 80- foot body lift just to get the exh in. I am going this route also.

 

[rydog1130]

Door posts came in today, couldn't resist messing around!
Got the driver side pretty well done, fits well, quality parts for sure.

hmm, are you planning on putting doors back on?.... I know parts may look similar but hopefully you did some test fitting before burning those suckers in!

 

[broncoitis]

Hey man looking good and excited to see it evolve! ;D

 

[raleigh]

When I read what you were doing, I thought it would be all "gawky" but you've got it looking good ! Keep going!

Thanks man, idea is to have a rig that looks like an EB until you look at the frame.

Love the detail. Especially like the idea of narrowing wheel wells. I was thinking narrow body, but after 15 years of rocking a fullsize, an stock width EB body will feel like a quad to me.

Spent many hours trying to figure out a 408/C6/black box/205 drivetrain in an EB frame (with front and rear 4 links). I've about given up since it would need an 80- foot body lift just to get the exh in. I am going this route also.

Cool man, I have done some searching and have not found another one that has been done this way, be cool to see someone else's take on a project like this.

hmm, are you planning on putting doors back on?.... I know parts may look similar but hopefully you did some test fitting before burning those suckers in!

The doors fit perfectly, gaps are square and 1/8" front and rear.

Been working on sheet metal and stuff like for so long I decided today I would work on something fun!
Got a good chunk of the front bumper done this afternoon, really dig it!
I also moved the front shock mounts down 3", now I have 5" up and 9" down travel.

 

[rydog1130]

Awesome man, looking good!

 

[raleigh]

Got the front bumper pretty well finished.
End caps are on, mounted the lights, smoothed the welds, just need to weld the D ring mounts then weld it to the frame.
Really happy with the outcome, just what I wanted.

 

[Brent13]

Please enlighten me on welding bumper to the frame? I recently finished my front bumper, but still need to get two more bolts thru it and the frame. Only have two bolts holding to frame now. I gave some thought to welding on, but worry about removal down the road, fixing damage, needing to touch up powder coat, etc.

Thanks
Brent

 

[raleigh]

Please enlighten me on welding bumper to the frame? I recently finished my front bumper, but still need to get two more bolts thru it and the frame. Only have two bolts holding to frame now. I gave some thought to welding on, but worry about removal down the road, fixing damage, needing to touch up powder coat, etc.

Thanks
Brent

My frame is a lot different than yours, mine is a C channel that is 3/16" thick.
Since cutting the frame back there is no real good place to drill for bolts, also I am not too concerned about painting it.
I will be just giving it a rattle can epoxy paint that is easy to touch up as I am certain there will be bumps and scrapes down the road!

 

[raleigh]

Pulled the body off the chassis today then finished welding the cage stand offs.
We will be flipping the tub over tomorrow wo I can clean up the underside and get it read to paint.

 

[raleigh]

With any luck this will be the last time this Bronco is bottom up!

 

[raleigh]

Picked up a winch on trade yesterday and decided to to do a fixed install inside the front bumper.
I want to keep it hidden as much as possible and to keep the approach angle as much as I can.
With this horizontal install I have to remote mount the solenoid and the bumper will stick out about 2" farther than planned in order to clear the radiator, not too bad considering!
I also had to create a drop in the bottom of the bumper to be able to fit it in the rails.
I created a box for the winch to sit it using 1/4" flat stock, still need to gusset it and finish the cosmetic work as well as cut for the fairlead.
Excuse the welds on top, I had to stop every few inches cause I couldn't see very well! haha

 

[raleigh]

Been working away on the undercarriage, doesn't look like much work has been done but i have most of the finish welding done and the most of the cleaning done.
Also go the tie ins for the rear floor support to the sliders in.
Need to get my hands on a shop vac to clean up all the dust then seam seal and finally spray the undercoating.