Just How Long Does a Frame Off Build Take Anyway?

[doran4x]

1991 to present and still not finished;D

 

[kntr]

I paid for my first bronco to be restored. I bought all the parts and had someone else build it. I paid over $25k and it was done in about 3 months. It wasnt a frame off resoration but everything was gone through or replaced. A few times it went back in the shop for upgrades but those only took a week each time.

 

[Madgyver]

6 years for me. The motor came out in 99 and then the project snowballed from there.
I picked up another 77 to drive while building the 1st one but that just slowed down the progress. Until I got motivated in April 06, It took me and my kids 10 days to assemble

I guess it all depends on how motivated you are....

 

[70EB]

I think it is a balance of three different things:

Money
Capability
Time

This is taking into account that you are doing this as a hobby and have another source of employment/responsibility. No single one of those three can overcome the other. If you have more moneya nd want it done quicker, it may be beyond your capability and you may outsource the project.

My capability has risen as the money has lowered and time has passed;D

Has taken me since fall of 2000 and I am still not quite done yet (close). Most of my problem of not finishing earlier is due to multiple Uncle Sam mandated one-year Bronco pauses while I fill my pockets with sand again.

 

[amc78cj7]

Mine took 23 months. That's in Michigan where it is too cold to work in winters without a heated garage, but working every weekend and many weeknights during the summers. Mine included complete disassembly, sandblasting and PORing the frame and rebuilding EVERYTHING (engine, axles, t-case, tranny) plus a lot of fabrication to put chevy and ford components into the Jeep. It took me a few weeks just to get the TBI computer wired in also.

 

[73stallion]

73 is Jones upset or patient? Have any pics of that build to e mail me?

he's pretty much over spending money on it. in fat, he's cheaping out on the roll cage; he wants to modify the one he has. i've tried like hell to talk him into just buying a nice new one.

as to upset or patient, he's now driving it. he even has a few scratches in the paint now. when we built it, our intentions were to build it pretty much indestructable. we pretty much accomplished that, with only 2 fatalities so far. one was a power steering pump that blew up (literally), and the second was a heim joint that came apart on a radius arm.

 

[Goin Off Bronco]

So 73, when you say he is driving it now, that takes away all the pain and angwish, does it not? It usually does ....

 

[Big Rig]

Goin Off Bronco, is the owner of the rig you built becoming impatient and/or irritated? My best friend's family owns a car customization shop. They mainly do really tricked out lowered trucks, but have to mix in insurance work to pay the bills. From my experience hanging around there, the main reason customers would get upset is if a previously agreed upon timeline wasn't met.

 

[Goin Off Bronco]

In my experiences, to many people/customers believe one can wave a magic wand and poof things are done.... In any case timelines are never accurate and should never be set. A quality build can only be done when it is done, and then its not done. This is what I read.

 

[BigO]

Thats the question! looking for how long it took you to do yours or get yours done.

That's like asking "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop".;D

Mine took me three years, but well worth the time. Besides money and time, it will take a toll on your emotions too; I remember the first few months I was very motivated, but then there comes a day that you go out to your garage, look at the rust, grime, grease, and the 30+ year old Bronco parts strewn all over your garage, and you think to yourself, WHAT THE HELL HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO! But I got to say, definately well worth it.

 

[TheBroncoRanch]

I did my 76 in 6 weeks about 7 years ago, that was working on it every night from 4:30pm until 10:00pm minimum. It all depeds what your starting with. This was a total frame off resto but a really solid body that needed minimal work. Ahh the good old days;D

 

[kb6677]

Frame off, starting with two blank frame rails, descent tub,actually good except for front floorboards and one post, then cut it in half, etc.......
It took two guys a little over two years, working afternoons and evenings after work and long hours on the weekends. The only time it left my buddy's shop during the build was for Rhino linning until completion....
This build consisted of building it, trying it out including a trail run, then taking it completely back apart for paint, then final reassembly and another trail run, and another etc....
Pics in my gallery

 

[Louie]

Ahh the good old days;D

Exactly! Yeah...you young and/or single guys guys thinking about this should do it now because once you have a bunch of munchkins running around...most likely it aint gonna happen :-X That's why I've gone with EBs that were in good shape to begin with

 

[Madgyver]

Exactly! Yeah...you young and/or single guys guys thinking about this should do it now because once you have a bunch of munchkins running around...most likely it aint gonna happen :-X That's why I've gone with EBs that were in good shape to begin with

Let the little munchkins help you so that they can also enjoy the pride.

Of course you'll will owe them each a bronco when they get older and able to drive.....%) I attest to that, currently piecing one together for my son....

 

[chopper]

BrocoRanch, that is one very SWEET rig nice job !!!!!!!

 

[Broncitis]

As has been stated, it all really depends on the resources (cash and skilled manpower) available to devote to it.

I took about 10 months to build this one. It was a complete body-off/nut and bolt build with all the drivetrain rebuilt and a bunch of little odds and end custom work.

I did the tear down and rolling chassis. Sub'd the body work out to a club member who owns a street rod shop and they also helped with final assembly since Mtfit was anxious and wanted to get it done to debut at the Bloomsburg Jamboree.

There's probably 1200-1500 hours in all of it. We could have probably done this in 6 months if the timing of some of the parts and steps went a bit smoother. Still, 10 months was very good IMO for a project of this scope. It is simply not realistic to expect anything like this to be done in a month or two unless you have a crew of 10-20 guys working on it full time.

 

[Broncitis]

A few more...

 

[Broncitis]

And some more...

 

[Gummi Bear]

Broncitis - you're just showing off now...;D (your rig turned out very nice)

I'm starting my rebuild in 2 weeks. Finally going back to the uncut look that I've been wanting for years now. I've got my Bronc in the shop, ready to start the teardown. I've got to replace some sheet metal (quite a bit actually), I'm putting in a complete new drivetrain, new suspension and interior. There will be a buildup thread.

I'm guessing it will take me at least 2 years, it'll be a weekends only project, and it's 130 or so miles from the house.

 

[Boring66]

14 month so far, but at least it is on the road again