Types of Early Bronco Roll bars

[fwilder]

Hi all,

Kind of a dumb question, but I'm wondering about the types of stock roll bars put on Broncos. The typical bar you see in broncos is the 4 point. Of course there is the main hoop and then the other bars come out of that at a 90, go for about a foot or so then slope down and bolt either the top of the wheel well or to the bed floor. Not sure on that.

My bar has the main hoop, then the other bars come out at a sharp angle and bolt to the front of the wheel wells. I have never seen another one like it.

Maybe mine didn't come with one in the first place and it is after market?

Thanks,
F

 

[brewdude]

I've seen a few pics like that I think it is either aftermarket or a custom job.

 

[Green manalishi]

Is/Was your Bronco originally a halfcab?

 

[Broncobowsher]

From everything I have seen and read, there are no factory installed roll bars in the ’66 to ’77 broncos. There are dealer installed ones and Stroppe bars.

I think I can safely say the most common is the Smittybuilt 4 point. This has a main hoop behind the front seats. Kickers are held into the main hoop with a bolt. The kickers have 2 bends in them and stop at the bed floor just in front of the tailgate. Some of the selling points were that no welding is required and the hard top didn’t need to come off to install it.

They also made a 6 point cage kit that could be added to the main hoop. That required cutting, fitting and welding. There are 2 pieces that go from the foot area up the windshield and then back to the main hoop. A spreader connects the 2 front legs at the top of the windshield.

The other common roll bar was the Ford/Stroppe bar. Main hoop behind the front seats but the kickers had no bends and terminated on top of the wheel wells. I think this was more retailed by the dealer while the Smittybuilt was retailed more by mail order and local 4WD shops

That pretty much does it for common store bought roll bars. Everything else is either custom built by the owner or some local race/fabrication shop. Then it goes up from there into the modern roll cages such as the Protofabs.

 

[fwilder]

Was it org a halfcab

I don't think it was. I seem to remember checking that out with my vin once. It sounds like the Ford/Stroppe bar that Broncobowsher was talking about. I know my truck wasn't a Stroppe, but the bar shound just like the one he described. I like the looks of the Smittybuilt, but mine takes up much less bed space.

 

[toddz69]

Hi all,

My bar has the main hoop, then the other bars come out at a sharp angle and bolt to the front of the wheel wells. I have never seen another one like it.

Maybe mine didn't come with one in the first place and it is after market?

Thanks,
F

Your bar sounds like the Clover Products/Hickey bar.

Todd Z.

 

[toddz69]

The other common roll bar was the Ford/Stroppe bar. Main hoop behind the front seats but the kickers had no bends and terminated on top of the wheel wells. I think this was more retailed by the dealer while the Smittybuilt was retailed more by mail order and local 4WD shops

QUOTE]

The Stroppe bar has kickers that come out at a 90 deg. angle from the main bar and go straight back and then another 90 down to the floor behind the fenderwells. The horizontal part of the kickers sticks up about 3-4" above the bedsides.

Todd Z.

 

[Ed74]

Hi fwilder,

I also was in search of the "stock" roll bar a while back. I was determined to attain a "original" roll bar to install in my 74 sport. I spoke to many kind and informative bronco owners, each of which, had many interesting facts and strories to tell. Ultimately, I discovered that there was no factory style roll bar. However, certain vendors and dealers did install aftermarket roll bars. Stroppe and Smitty are amongst the most common. Recently, I acquired a Stroppe standard roll bar from Andrew, at Baja Bronco. This bar is different from the delux bar. The rear bars, originating approx. 2/3 up the main hoop, attach at the front corner of the rear wheel wells. The base plates were arched to accomodate the curvature of the wells. From what I read in your post, you may have a Stroppe standard roll bar. If you glance at Andrew's Baja Bronco website, and search under "parts for sale", there is still a picture of the roll bar I purchased. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Ed

 

[KevinT70]

I have the roll bar you've described--can be seen to some degree in my gallery. It definitely had a Stroppe sticker (that seemed original) on top of the main hoop, but was recently sanded off and painted.

One additional note, the main hoop and each kicker attaches to the body on each side with a small bracket and 2 bolts.