Pistola... West Texas Bronco Buildup

[akb3]

Welcome to my 76 build thread. This website has provided me with tons of information of the past few years and I'm glad there's a place for us to go when we need help, or something to drool over. Thanks to a recommendation of another fellow Bronco maniac, I am beginning a buildup thread on my '76.

First a little history and acknowlegdment on how all this came to be...

My great grandpa (Hal), nicknamed Pistola (he was nicknamed that by the Mexican ranch hands back in the 50's due to the nickel plated .45 pistol he carried around), a rough old rancher from Rocksprings, Tx bought this truck new back in late 1975 in Junction, Tx. It was treated like the ranch vehicle that it was, hauling feed, dead deer, and working dogs. I remember being about 5 yrs. old, my grandpa teaching me to drive down the ranch roads in the Bronco, which was only about 4 years old at the time.

Pistola passed on, the ranch was sold, and grandpa gave me the only thing I ever really wanted from the ranch if in fact it ever did sell. Now I had the vehicle I always wanted, but I didn't have any know how on how to get her fixed back up. That was back in 2002, and thanks to this and many other websites and friends over the years, I've gained the knowledge I need to rebuild one of these beasts. With a little help of course.

I feel that every buildup deserves a nickname, so here's my ongoing buildup of... Pistola

 

[ryoungbronco]

Nice story, its always great to get something that has some memorabilia to it. Now lets see some pics!

 

[akb3]

This is what 25 yrs. of ranching did to it. Lot's of work was ahead of me.

 

[akb3]

So I began tearing apart this monster. I catalogued parts for months. Working alone, it took me at least three months to take apart, catalogue, and store the interior parts, and the other things that weren't too heavy. After that I needed to figure out how to get that body off the frame. So I designed and built a wooden body stand. My body is actually at the paint shop right now on the stand. It has worked great and it's not too heavy at all. 4 guys can load it on a trailer with the body on it.

At this point in the rebuild, you'll notice I cut out all the old floor pans, and replaced it with some pans I got from WH.

 

[markperry]

Man, I think you have a jewel there! Not any noticeable rust pretty straight body lines....You have a great start with that one!

 

[akb3]

I decided to go with a 5.5" old school suspension lift from WH. I like the way the hoops look. It took about a week, but I finally got everything welded on just the way I wanted it. I've got a friend who owns a powder coating business, so after tearing apart all of the front and rear end, I had him coat the frame, front and rear end, and a bunch of misc. parts.

UPDATE: I rethought my plan and replaced the 5.5" with a 3.5" lift. Much better! Now I can fit in the garage!

 

[akb3]

Next, I took all my freshly powder coated drive train parts out to a transmission shop another friend of mine owns. I had him completely go through the front / rear end, transfer case, and transmission. Now those are all like brand new. Hats off to Rolando at Amistad Transmissions in Del Rio, Tx. Got all my drive train back together and then it was time to start on the engine. I tore down the 302 to a short block and took it to San Antonio (City Motor Supply) to get machined. I got back my short block, which is basically brand new now (everything but the block has been replaced). I bought a Performer package from Edelbrock and finished out the engine. Very nice kit by the way. I then decided to replace my wore out old steering box with a very nice 4x4x2 box from BCB with the reinforcement plate and frame sleeves. I decided that I was going to go tie rod over with BCB's heim joint steering setup. I got a J shifter twin stick from JB Fabrication (Made In The USA), a new stock plastic rear fuel tank, and a new proportioning valve with all new hard brake lines. Gotta slow down! I'm going broke here!

 

[akb3]

I'm going to try to leave this Bronco uncut but I'm having a hard time deciding what tire size to go with. I knew which wheels I wanted though. I saw these wheels on a pickup in Anaheim, CA last year. So I got these 17x9's by Centerline. Any tire ideas anyone? I have a set of flares ready to go when all this stuff fails to fit, but I sure don't want to use them.

UPDATE: Decided not to use these wheels or the flares. Both are for sale on the parts sale forums. All items are brand new still in the boxes.

 

[lil red]

Awesome work so far! Keep the pics coming.

 

[akb3]

Body work! Something I will not touch with a 10 ft. pole. So Correa's Body Shop fixed me up.

So I thought... the paint shop I ended up going to had to do some extensive blocking and filling to get this body work to the point of painting it.

 

[akb3]

Next came Rhino-lining the undercarriage. I took the body 150 miles to Chuck at BC Broncos. What a nice bunch of guys! They have all the tools and the know how to get the job done right. They hire out another business in Ingram, Tx to spray the liner, but they put the body on their rotisserie and they prep the surface. Thanks Wes! It turned out great!

 

[akb3]

I've got the body back on my little wooden stand and it's at the paint shop getting some final body touch ups before the color goes on. Hope it turns out as good as I think it will. I can't wait to get back to it. I'm kind of at a stand still until I can get my hands back on the body. Future posts will involve spray in bedliner from firewall to tailgate (do I go over the lip or not?), Lokar throttle and kickdown cables, aux tank install, new fuel lines, new radiator install, stock auto steering column rebuild and install, stock hood modification for HEI distributor clearance, full Centech wiring harness install (not looking forward to that one), BCB 2 into 1 exhaust install with BC headers, and plumbing everything else up. A lot on my plate in the near future, but I'll be starting with the spray in bedliner. I'm sure I'll be reaching out to you Bronco Guru's for some advice.

 

[NGABronco]

Hey bigdrill, awesome story and a nice rig!!! You seem to have it planned out well!!

Bet if your granddad saw it, he'd want to know why you're doing all that to it!!!!;D;D

Keep the pics coming!!!

 

[Nightstick]

This is like CSI, one hour and the case is closed!!! Nice work man!!!

 

[ryoungbronco]

Keep it coming! Nice work!

 

[Rox Crusher]

This is like CSI, one hour and the case is closed!!! Nice work man!!!

that's what I was thinking too

 

[mp]

Nice. Not many LUBER's with a 5.5 lift. That is a lot of lift......

 

[akb3]

Hey bigdrill, awesome story and a nice rig!!! You seem to have it planned out well!!

Bet if your granddad saw it, he'd want to know why you're doing all that to it!!!!;D;D

Keep the pics coming!!!

Well my great granddad (Pistola) never got to see it, but my granddad has seen it. And you're exactly right. He doesn't get it. The old school is all about utility, not show. As far as my planning has gone. Keep in mind that from beginning to where I am today has been a ton of trial and error and over 8 years of "off again on again". Like a bad relationship really. Since the wife let me have the green light on this thing, it's really been coming together quickly in the past year.

 

[akb3]

This Bronco gave the me the idea to go route I'm going. Looks to be about 5" of lift with 35's (maybe 33's). I really can't tell. Mine will be a full hardtop though. I wish I knew who owned that blue beast. All I know is that it's in CA. If any of you have an opinion as to the setup of this Bronco, please chime in. Keep in mind, I've already got 17x9 (4.5" bs) wheels. Thanks.

UPDATE: Since my suspension I've got another Bronco I'm trying to emulate. It's Zillacon's "Ketchup" Bronco.

 

[addicted]

Looks great! What carb are you running with that Edelbrock package?