Need Advice: Dad Giving Me His '71 Bronco

[DirtDonk]

I prefer the slight lift of even just the 1.5 over stock, but you don't need it for that tire size and it still looks closer to stock.
If you really want it stock looking, stick with stock height and if you ever go with new body mounts you can still opt for the 1" body lift, if you felt over time you still wanted just a little extra height.
Especially if that automatic trans you're installing is going to be a new overdrive unit.

Or are you sticking with a Bronco C4?

Paul

 

[stout22]

I've driven multiple Broncos with all types of suspensions and the best by far is stock. I've owned stock suspension, 2.5" and 3.5". It all depends on what you want.
Maybe there is something out there that works just as good but I haven't seen it. That's my opinion.

 

[Kbpony]

I’d probably leave it stock height with those tires. No need for extra height or hassle for a cruiser.

 

[zeppelin_71]

I prefer the slight lift of even just the 1.5 over stock, but you don't need it for that tire size and it still looks closer to stock.
If you really want it stock looking, stick with stock height and if you ever go with new body mounts you can still opt for the 1" body lift, if you felt over time you still wanted just a little extra height.
Especially if that automatic trans you're installing is going to be a new overdrive unit.

Or are you sticking with a Bronco C4?

Paul

It's going to be a new 4R70W tranny -- 4-spd with OD. How does that impact my lift/suspension decision?

 

[zeppelin_71]

All sounds great - it will make a more comfortable and drivable Bronco. I would go with a 2 1/2” lift (WH or Duff’s) so that you can go with 31x10.50 tires in the future.

I've driven multiple Broncos with all types of suspensions and the best by far is stock. I've owned stock suspension, 2.5" and 3.5". It all depends on what you want.
Maybe there is something out there that works just as good but I haven't seen it. That's my opinion.

I’d probably leave it stock height with those tires. No need for extra height or hassle for a cruiser.

Appreciate everyone's input. It's definitely going to be a cruiser and not an off-roader. I also just bought these tires and figure they're going to be on there for quite a while since this will be a very low-mileage vehicle. They'll likely age out before they wear out. I bought them with the stock ride height in mind.

 

[smittymike19]

Appreciate everyone's input. It's definitely going to be a cruiser and not an off-roader. I also just bought these tires and figure they're going to be on there for quite a while since this will be a very low-mileage vehicle. They'll likely age out before they wear out. I bought them with the stock ride height in mind.

Im in the process of doing the same stuff to my bronco. Id say go with the 2.5" lift. It will basically just get your tire out of the rear wheel well. Still looks stock, but a little cooler.

 

[77silver ranger]

Nice looking Bronco , stock ride height looks best by far in my opinion . Stock bumpers make a body lift not attractive , look at bumper position with lift and leave stock if you can.

 

[zeppelin_71]

Thanks everyone for their input. I've decided to go with a 1.5" lift. I was really 50/50, but everyone else I talked to including wife and buddies like the look of the lift.

 

[bronkenn]

I think they look better with a small lift. Yours looks nice with the 1.5 inch lift.

 

[chuckyb]

Great looking rig, I agree that minimal lift and tire combo look great.

 

[AFLtCol]

Looks great!


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[Scoop]

I have not read every post in this thread and I may have missed it, but this is the same Bronco that Hellabad posted on Face Book?

I just made the connection! LOL

 

[bchesley]

Maybe we will see this rig at the LEBC roundup in April?


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[zeppelin_71]

I have not read every post in this thread and I may have missed it, but this is the same Bronco that Hellabad posted on Face Book?

I just made the connection! LOL

Yes, it is. I dropped it off with HellaBad last Friday.

 

[zeppelin_71]

Maybe we will see this rig at the LEBC roundup in April?


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The shop is hoping to have all the upgrades done by 04/01 so I can attend.

 

[zeppelin_71]

I think they look better with a small lift. Yours looks nice with the 1.5 inch lift.

Great looking rig, I agree that minimal lift and tire combo look great.

Looks great!


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Thank you.

 

[zeppelin_71]

I have not read every post in this thread and I may have missed it, but this is the same Bronco that Hellabad posted on Face Book?

I just made the connection! LOL

By the way, if anyone's interested, here's what HellaBad is going to do:

a) Power steering
b) Hydraulic disc brakes
c) Electronic Fuel Injection
d) Swap to Automatic 4-speed with OD
e) New suspension with 1.5" lift
f) Install family roll cage, three-point seat belts, and rear bench seat
g) Replace exhaust to go out passenger side instead of rear dual exhaust with glass packs

 

[zeppelin_71]

Wanted to post a few photos since I got her back earlier this year:

 

[zeppelin_71]

Also a few questions that have occurred to me over the past several months:

a) Anyone running 30x9.50's -- what PSI do you use?

b) Does anyone have any experience with the DuffTuff HD Stock Bumper Tire Carrier? I want to mount my spare on the back, but I don't want to drill into the body or have to match my patina Boxwood Green. I'm thinking of the DuffTuff painted Wimbledon White to match my roll cage.

 

[DirtDonk]

That's as cool as they get zeppelin! Very nice.
Without going back over your plans, is that an Edelbrock Pro-Flow setup? How well did it clear your hood and such? Body lift?
And the next time you're hanging out under the hood with a tape measure in your hand, if you can check the height at the top of the throttle body that would be great.
Thanks

Every setup is different for tire pressure, but there is a common range that they typically fall into. Each tire brand and type, wheel width, Bronco weight, and driving habits will dictate the pressure. Rear is easy, front not always.

For starters I would try 30 and work your way down from there. At least in the back.
Look for the dirt pattern, or if you're in a hurry use the chalk-across-the-tread trick and see where the chalk mark has worn off after a half a block of driving.
If it's worn out just in the center, lower pressure until it wears out all the way to the tread edge. You typically don't want to go below 20psi on most tires, but if you end up like most, it'll be in the 22-25 psi range for the rear.

You can use the chalk method in the front too, but depending on your alignment it's very likely to wear out all the way to the edge of the tread on the outside edge even at too-high pressures.
You can start at the same 30psi, or start at 35psi instead and just work your way down from there. Most end up at 28-32 psi in the front.
But like I said, your results may vary and only testing and watching for tire wear will tell the tale.

And if you really want to get the most out of the tires on a Bronco, then rotate them often. Even if you're not a tire-rotater, like I used to be, you might be convinced after wearing a few sets out after 15 or 20 thousand miles. Or less!
If you have mud tires, it's not uncommon to have severe wear on the fronts in just 10 to 15 thousand miles. If you don't rotate those, you might be replacing them at that point.
The only thing that saves most of us is that we don't drive our Broncos as much as we do vehicles with better street manners and tire friendliness.

By the way, what tires are they and what is their stated Max. PSI and load rating?
That can make a difference on where you start.

Paul