Stock 1976 Track Bar Upper Bracket Questions

[Swerve]

Hello all...

Does anyone have a clear photo of the stock track bar upper bracket for '76 Bronco? On or off the vehicle?

I suspect mine may be aftermarket?...

Also, it is slid back so that it hits the coil spring pocket, is that too far back?

Thanks, Swerve

 

[Tonka7777]

There is one in the Wild Horses catalog. Probably on their website too.

 

[Swerve]

There is one in the Wild Horses catalog. Probably on their website too.

OK, thanks...

 

[DirtDonk]

Yours looks stock original. And it's not unusual for things welded to the frame on our EB's to not be exactly clean or pretty. Or lined up consistently either!
But a stock '76 could very well have been large enough to touch the spring tower. That won't hurt a thing as long as actual moving parts are not touching. So if the tower touches, no big deal, but if the coil or shock was touching, that would be another story.

Also the steering box is going to be tucked near there pretty closely too.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Here is the pic Tonka was talking about in case you haven't seen them yet: http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Trac_Bar_Drop_Bracket_7677yr

What are your plans for the Bronco? How you set yours up will effect how you modify, or don't modify your existing upper bracket.

And by the way, it's not called a "drop bracket" if it's stock, like the title says. It's just the upper bracket like you mentioned in your post.
The drop brackets are what you add to modify your stock one.

Sorry if you already knew that, but I wanted to make that point for future discussions.

Paul

 

[Swerve]

Here is the pic Tonka was talking about in case you haven't seen them yet: http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Trac_Bar_Drop_Bracket_7677yr

What are your plans for the Bronco? How you set yours up will effect how you modify, or don't modify your existing upper bracket.

And by the way, it's not called a "drop bracket" if it's stock, like the title says. It's just the upper bracket like you mentioned in your post.
The drop brackets are what you add to modify your stock one.

Sorry if you already knew that, but I wanted to make that point for future discussions.

Paul

Hello Paul,

Thanks for the info and I edited my thread to "upper" instead of drop.

I am interested in using James Duff's HD track bar drop bracket for '76 - '77 on my '76 Bronco,

http://www.dufftuff.com/HD_Track_Bar_Drop_Bracket_76_77_Early_Bronco_p/5409.htm

as I like the way it encapsulates the original bracket. So, I needed to find out which bracket that I have, stock or aftermarket.

I plan to use the stock location for attaching the track bar on the Duff bracket and trimming the extra "drop' section off. I am looking for an easy, clean way to strengthen my original bracket, I don't need the extra drop.

I don't need the extra drop because I am using your Wild Horses track bar riser.

http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Trac_bar_riser

I can see now that my existing bracket is stock, and that I can use Duff's bracket for the extra strength that I want, but I may need to trim a little on the Duff bracket due to my original bracket being up against the coil tower.

Thanks to all, Swerve

My build thread; http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271591

 

[SHOBRONCO]

Pick one or the other.

You don't need to use a drop bracket and riser.
If you have a lift, you pick one or the other.
Do a little more research before you start cutting on your frame.
Good luck.

 

[toddz69]

The fact that your track bar bracket is up against the coil bucket is a good thing for your application, Swerve. All 76-77s are like this and it's my hunch that Ford did this for tie rod clearance with the Haltenberger/inverted-Y steering linkage. I wish they had done it for all years to give us more tie rod clearance at full bump. I've considered moving mine so that I can go back to running stock, or close-to-stock size bump stops.

As you know, you'll appreciate every bit of bump travel you can get out of your front end in Baja.

Todd Z.

 

[Swerve]

You don't need to use a drop bracket and riser.
If you have a lift, you pick one or the other.
Do a little more research before you start cutting on your frame.
Good luck.

Hello shobronco,

I am doing research, that is why I started this thread...I only actually needed to know if I had a stock upper track bar mount or not. Paul asked some questions so I added more info as to what I am doing.

I am not cutting my frame, I did not say anything about cutting my frame, or cutting the original track bar bracket either.

I am only using Duff's drop bracket as a reinforcement.

I am mounting the track bar in the original hole and trimming the "drop" part off from Duff's bracket as I have already stated.

I don't think you read my post through...

Swerve