F250 7,3l 4 door 1/2 cab build

[ratbilt]

Bought a 96 f250 diesel 4x4 that was hit front & rear (has about 3k miles on engine & trans). Going to try & build a 4 door 1/2 cab bronco.
Got the truck stripped down (the frame is bent in 5 places - the 1st 12" on the front Left & Right sides, left side where the left leaf spring mounts to the frame, & the last 14" Right & Left rear).
Got the front bent back (90% done) want to straighten the left side 1st then finish the front. Going to put a later front & rear axles (with disc brakes & coil front springs) also straight axle in front. Going to install 4" lift springs F&R with 3/4 T front coils & 1/2 ton rear leaf springs. Going to build the body myself starting with the front, as soon as I get to the B pillar of the rear door I can figure the wheel base & shorten the frame. Rich

 

[904Bronco]

Watching...

 

[Broncobowsher]

Half cab and 4-door is an interesting concept.
Start measuring the engine and what you have to work with for under the hood room. Packaging is going to turn ugly really fast. Don't just do length and width, height plays in as well. If you put the body high enough you can make everything fit but it will look goofy. The Bronco body is really short, something people often don't account for. There have been some pretty bad swaps that didn't get the memo that it was going to turn out bad. There was one on BaT a couple years ago with a bronco body on a Raptor chassis(?). To close the hood the body was really high and the frame very low. The front bumper was horrible and nearly as tall as the body just to fill the gap from the frame to the bottom of the grill.

Dreams are good. But a reality check with a tape measure is often needed. Don't be afraid to accept reality.

I've had wild ideas in the past. Split a Bronco body down the center and add a couple inches. Put a stretch in the front fenders just in front of the door. Stretch the wheelbase and overall length, but keep the front bumper to wheel openings stock. Ideas, but never a good enough body man to make it happen and smart enough to stop before I destroy too much trying. Dreams, but with a reality check in place.

 

[ratbilt]

Hi broncobowsher, I already did a whole bunch of measurements. whats on paper & reality can be 2 different things.
So far frame is straight (not the rear- cutting off). Picked up 2014 f 250 axles & extra radius arms. Made brackets for the rear of front arms. boxed in frame at mounts. Made front coil spring mounts. Had Brandon at bronco exchange build my front & rear sub assy. Made 2 front body mounts to frame. have the body sitting approx where it goes.
picked up 99 trooper seats. the drawing I did is pretty close to scale. Rich

 

[ratbilt]

Installed the front body mounts, the A pillars, fenders & grill (temp). Got everything lined up, cut the rear of frame off, lowered the bed to match the front clip. Going to make the 1st floor brace & next 2 body mounts. So far I've spent almost all day measuring & resetting (a slow process) As soon as I get the next set of body mounts in , can start on the fire wall & braces to strengthen the front clip.

 

[ratbilt]

Got the firewall in, welded the A/B pillars, starting on the floor. Last couple of days its been 108/112/110 degrees tomorrow (HOT) & I've been welding, grinding & drinking water. oh & measuring measuring measuring. Rich

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

I'm excited to follow your build, this looks awesome

 

[.94 OR]

For proportions sake, what size tire do you plan to use?

 

[bigmuddy]

Half cab and 4-door is an interesting concept.
Start measuring the engine and what you have to work with for under the hood room. Packaging is going to turn ugly really fast. Don't just do length and width, height plays in as well. If you put the body high enough you can make everything fit but it will look goofy. The Bronco body is really short, something people often don't account for. There have been some pretty bad swaps that didn't get the memo that it was going to turn out bad. There was one on BaT a couple years ago with a bronco body on a Raptor chassis(?). To close the hood the body was really high and the frame very low. The front bumper was horrible and nearly as tall as the body just to fill the gap from the frame to the bottom of the grill.

Dreams are good. But a reality check with a tape measure is often needed. Don't be afraid to accept reality.

I've had wild ideas in the past. Split a Bronco body down the center and add a couple inches. Put a stretch in the front fenders just in front of the door. Stretch the wheelbase and overall length, but keep the front bumper to wheel openings stock. Ideas, but never a good enough body man to make it happen and smart enough to stop before I destroy too much trying. Dreams, but with a reality check in place.

I can't seem to locate a link but Thomas Kincer: Kincer Chassis has one of the sweetest 4 door half cabs I have seen.

 

[73azbronco]

coooool.

 

[ratbilt]

Hi .94or I was planning on 37" bfg's on 20" rims (need to find a 2" off set - so it's narrower). I plan on cutting front of the fender to open up the fender 2", cut the rear fender to open 2" to fit the 37" tires (don't want to use plastic fenders).
I did get the front floors in & front doors set (pain in the ass) working on the center cover & seat mounts. so far it's going to be 27" longer than a stock bronco. I'll get some pics up in a day or so. Rich

 

[NGABronco]

I can't seem to locate a link but Thomas Kincer: Kincer Chassis has one of the sweetest 4 door half cabs I have seen.

Kincer's 4 door and Dennis Carpenter's 4 door!!!

 

[frdboy]

Cool build! Nice fab work!!

 

[bigmuddy]

Kincer's 4 door and Dennis Carpenter's 4 door!!!

Thats it, man I love that build. Like the smaller back doors as well.

 

[ratbilt]

Got the front floors & center done. using the stock 4x4 shifter, need to cut out a spot for the gas pedal otherwise the drivers feet will sit off to the left (I'll have to rivet that section in - so the trans can be removed). The engine is huge. I'll also have to step up the rear floor because of frame design. I did get a 2" front floor drop & probably a 2" rear floor drop.
Ngabronco Both those 4 door 1/2 cabs are cool.
Thanks frdboy
I agree bigmuddy the shorter rear door is cool, my rear doors are going to be cut down & possibly the front doors (depending on looks) I know I can cut the front doors up to 4" without the door frame getting in the way of the driver. I plan on cutting the rear doors about 12" unless it doesn't look right that would mean I would need to cut the front doors. looks like 1 bronco has about 4" of rear door cut & the other bronco has maybe 6" to 8" cut. Rich

 

[ratbilt]

Got the rear floor done, next seat mounts, brake, gas pedal, steering, shifter, rear body mounts, top . I figure another 2 months or so on the body then probably roll cage so i ca lift the body off the frame. Rich

 

[.94 OR]

Are you going to have a center console with rear heat or A/C or stereo? Might be a good time to build in some access panels or grommets through the floor.

 

[broncojohn]

Cool got to follow this thread

 

[79INA69]

Got the rear floor done, next seat mounts, brake, gas pedal, steering, shifter, rear body mounts, top . I figure another 2 months or so on the body then probably roll cage so i ca lift the body off the frame. Rich

WOW! Looking great. Did you push the drivers floor forward like you did on your other build? I've been lowing my floors for what seems like a year now and plan on pushing the floor 2" or so and increasing the firewall angle.

 

[ratbilt]

.94 I'm going to run all the electrical down the center inside the cab,
Hi 791na I do have a 2" floor drop in front, the firewall I made complete pushed as far as I could.
Got the front seat mounts almost done, mocked up the rear seats (will start on the mounts next week) going to extend the top into the bed at least 1" (the 1/2 cab side panel will be a bit wider) trying to keep as short as possible. My 4" lift springs just came in,
Love the comments. suggestions & questions {I'm in my garage about 8 hours a day by myself cut off from the real world). Rich