Lyle's '76 Sport "Build"

[JEFF76P]

Awesome...I'm hoping to be running people off the road in about 3-4 weeks. What does your truck look like?

I have a stock 76 but it's been sitting for about ten years, pic's in gallery. (kids in collage). I hope to start working on it soon, It was my first car and I've had it since 1977.

 

[crozetcrew]

Hey Chris...do you know of any good/great EB mechanics in the area that could help me fix my truck up? I called Battlefield Ford today and didn't get the best impression. Not awful, but I think I'd rather take it to a smaller guy/shop who really has the experience and interest as opposed to a commercial Ford shop. I'd love to get her to the point where she drives like a new truck but still looks like a GREAT truck.

I would probably stay away from Battlefield. The only mechanics that I know of is my dad and brother and a good friend of mine. They all work on there own broncos. Good bronco mechanics is a special breed IMO. My brother lives in Xion Crossroads.

Chris

 

[xcntrk]

Awesome rig, look forward to seeing it around. There's a bunch of folks down your way. Check out the Mid-Atlantic Early Broncos (MEB) club, there's also a facebook page:
http://earlybroncos.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/204391829586552/

 

[jlylec]

I have a stock 76 but it's been sitting for about ten years, pic's in gallery. (kids in collage). I hope to start working on it soon, It was my first car and I've had it since 1977.

That's awesome. My second car was a '69 that I had to sell when I was in college. I wish I still had it!


-Lyle

 

[jlylec]

I would probably stay away from Battlefield. The only mechanics that I know of is my dad and brother and a good friend of mine. They all work on there own broncos. Good bronco mechanics is a special breed IMO. My brother lives in Xion Crossroads.

Chris

Would any of them be interested in making some extra money on the side? I'm handy but wouldn't classify myself as a mechanic and could def use some good experienced help!


-Lyle

 

[jlylec]

Awesome rig, look forward to seeing it around. There's a bunch of folks down your way. Check out the Mid-Atlantic Early Broncos (MEB) club, there's also a facebook page:
http://earlybroncos.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/204391829586552/

Thanks man. Will do.


-Lyle

 

[half cab]

I have a stock 76 but it's been sitting for about ten years, pic's in gallery. (kids in collage). I hope to start working on it soon, It was my first car and I've had it since 1977.

Come on man light a fire and get goin on it....

 

[crozetcrew]

Would any of them be interested in making some extra money on the side? I'm handy but wouldn't classify myself as a mechanic and could def use some good experienced help!


-Lyle

I'll talk to them. They mudbogg almost every weekend so they are constantly working on the broncos. Right now my brother can't seem to figure out why the coil keeps burning up in his yellow 77 that he boggs with. It's built with a 439 stroker with 700+hp. It screams... when it runs.%)

Chris

 

[sprdv1]

Would any of them be interested in making some extra money on the side? I'm handy but wouldn't classify myself as a mechanic and could def use some good experienced help!

-Lyle

Throw a pizza, beer party, bet you could round up some good help...

 

[crozetcrew]

Throw a pizza, beer party, bet you could round up some good help...

You could have things done you wouldn't expect to have done.

 

[Pearlcoat]

There's a guy in Afton that does most of his own work. He is a bronco guy, currently has a nice stock street truck, and had a trail rig until last year when he sold it. I can't remember his screen name on here. Email me at president@earlybroncos.com if you're interested in contacting him and I'll forward your mail to him.

 

[crozetcrew]

There's a guy in Afton that does most of his own work. He is a bronco guy, currently has a nice stock street truck, and had a trail rig until last year when he sold it. I can't remember his screen name on here. Email me at president@earlybroncos.com if you're interested in contacting him and I'll forward your mail to him.

I went to school with Ben. He's currently doing a complete frame off resto on a bronco that used to be the company field truck that he works for. My 77 was the first bronco that he had ever driven and he's been hooked ever since. ;D I think that was back in 1991 when we were going to college.

Chris

 

[HOJO]

Sweet looking rig , congratz and welcome

 

[jlylec]

scored a hard top today from a guy outside of Richmond. Top is in really good shape and white. I'm trying to decide what color to paint the roll cage and top, but may just stick with white. I have to figure out how to put this cage together first. I got it from the guy I bought the truck from but with no instructions. The pieces don't look like any I've seen for sale online. I have 2 "s" pieces which clearly have to go around the dash. Then I have 2 "u" pieces. One is longer than the other. The other pieces are 3 sets of straights...1 pair a few feet long, 1 pair a bit shorter, and 1 pair that is REAL short. Like 5-6" long. Any ideas?

 

[crozetcrew]

Not sure about the cage. I rode through Old Trail Saturday hoping to find you but no luck. Guess I looked like a stalker riding up and down every street. I was in a white crew cab GMC.

 

[jlylec]

Not sure about the cage. I rode through Old Trail Saturday hoping to find you but no luck. Guess I looked like a stalker riding up and down every street. I was in a white crew cab GMC.

hahaha...sorry man. We had my daughter's birthday party Saturday so you may have seen our house with balloons on the post and a bunch of cars out front. Without a top the truck lives in the garage anyway. Now that I have a top I'll be out and about as soon as I have this damn title. Sucks because I have no idea when I'll get the title from DMV and no control over the situation!

 

[jlylec]

Do any of you C'ville folks know who I should take the truck and roll cage to to get it welded up? After it's welded I guess I have to take it to a body shop to get it powder coated? And then back to the welder for install? Just trying to figure out the best way to get this done. I really don't want to leave it anywhere for long without a top!

 

[jlylec]

I got my top this weekend and got a neighbor's help this evening getting it on my hoist so I could test fit it. The top is in really good shape but it's definitely not perfect.

Looks good from afar!

It has tint that looked good on Sunday, but now up close it's clearly not good. I'll have to strip this out and re-tint. I like it being tinted.

The weather stripping isn't perfect either so I'll probably redo that too. How hard is that to replace? Should I get a professional to do it?

Weather stripping missing from the window frames.

Missing the little cover on the liftgate...need to find one of these...

More weather stripping to replace.

Weird denting that I'm going to try and have worked out before paint.

And the worst part is the rim that bolts to the windshield. It's bent down and not sitting flat. I didn't realize this until the top was in place so I'll need to pull it again and try to bend it into place. The worst spot is the driver's side corner. It doesn't actually look rusted out, but there is surface rust and it needs to be addressed.

All-in-all I don't think it's SO bad...honestly if this was my '69 I'd probably just roll with it as is. I really want this '76 to be as perfect as possible. I wish there was a shop around here that either specialized or had a LOT of experience fixing up EBs. I'd love to be able to just drop this top off at a body shop and pick it up a week later all perfect! Some of it I can do, but I'd like the metal work done by a pro and I'm going to go ahead and shoot it with new paint. I may go white on top and black around the outside...white on the inside. Just thinking outloud. Anybody ever seen a top like that? I like the look of black, but black on top without AC doesn't sound like a good idea to me!

 

[jlylec]

how easy is it to replace the door locks and ignition lock? I'm looking at a set they sell on Wild Horses and thinking about buying but wondering how difficult it is to swap out. The keys I got are very worn and ragged and have a ton of play in them.

 

[crozetcrew]

Never changed the locks but everything else inside the door. Have to work nearly blind.
This may help.
http://broncograveyard.com/support/6diagrams.php
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fbr/full.aspx?Page=14
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fbr/full.aspx?Page=15

Chris