"The Avocado", 1975 Sport Restomod Build

[Laxdad32]

Bought a sheet of 18 gauge, already have 16 in the shop. Started cutting and fabbing pieces to go back in. Got the tailgate post and rear inner quarter made up and welded in today. Forgot to take a pic of the tailgate post before I primed it. Might be a little hard to see.

 

[Laxdad32]

Haven't had time to do much this week. Got the parts for the rear floors and wheel wells picked up, still working on trying to get the Bronco ready to install them. I got the Dynacorn fuel neck extension, covers, whatever you want to call them. I am not impressed with the fit and finish on them at all. Neither one fits with the curve of the fender, the rear having gaps of 3/8 to 1/2 inch in some places, and big gaps where the edges were spot welded together that would require fixing to even put seam sealer on. After trying to decide how to fix those issues I decided to fab my own. Here are my results:

 

[Laxdad32]

Didn't do well on remembering to take progress pics as I went, but here's where we are now. Got the rear inner quarters patched, tailgate posts patched, and the rear crossmember repaired. Installed the rear wheel wells, and got the new rear main floor in place.

I did not notice until this point that the rear bench seat mounts are not pre-installed like the fronts were, and upon measuring it seems that the rear mounts will be inside the middle support brace which came pre-welded to the floor. Any suggestions or ideas on how to go about putting mounts for the rear seat in?

 

[74BroncoCO]

Nutserts?

Nice progress! Looking at that makes me want to get after my rear fenders. Lengthen and push back to stretch wheelbase.

 

[Rocko1012]

looking good, does the rear floor panel slide under seat section and weld both together? Where did you get you metal from?

 

[Laxdad32]

Ok. Been awhile since I posted, haven't done much work on the Bronco for the last couple months, figured it was time to catch up.

I got all the corner pieces, and the filler neck extension in, giving the rear floor a much more finished look. I fabbed the floor corners from 18 ga metal.

 

[Laxdad32]

Pulled the top off, dash out, and cut off the old taillight housings. Had to build new mounts for the tailgate hinges, old ones had completely rusted away. Also found some more rust on the firewall where the accelerator bolts to it as I pulled out the dash, don't know how I missed it before. Must have gotten in too big of a hurry.

 

[Laxdad32]

Decided since I have to replace the drivers side firewall, I would also do the upper cowling. I was a little scared of what I might find under the cowl, as I could see one spot rusted through on the drivers side. Looking at the hole after the cowl was removed, I think I can patch and weld the one bad spot, the rest of the windshield cowl mount is pretty solid. Fabricated some new cowl pieces, haven't gotten them or the new firewall installed yet, got to do some more clean up and get them welded in. I couldn't get the stiffening beads into the drivers side upper cowl like I wanted because my beader didn't have a deep enough throat, so I did a quilted cross break pattern for stiffness. My coworker says I now need to rename the bronco the "quilted northern" for the distinct look. ;D

 

[bronkenn]

Love to watch Bronco reconstructive surgery. Nice job. Ken

 

[74BroncoCO]

Quality work!! I wish I knew more about body work. Want to come help me push my rear wheel wells back a few inches?

 

[Laxdad32]

I'll be honest, this is the first body work I have ever attempted, so I'm probably not the best to ask for help. I am much more of an engine/mechanical guy that happens to be a sheet metal fabricator by trade, so I'm just kinda making things work.