UK Bronco Needs Help (build thread)

[UKBronco]

Hi all, I’m not sure if I am posting in the right forum so please correct me if I’m not.

I bought my EB sometime ago now (if you hadn’t guessed by the title I am UK based). When I bought it and it had some modifications already done to it (5.5” lift etc).

So, I’ve finally found an American car restorer that is willing to work on it for me. But I need some advice on parts and or if this is achievable.

I’ve spent quite some time on these forums but that just means I have enough information to be ‘dangerous’. Hence the post to get some review from you guys.

I guess it could help to let you guys know my driving style, it’s very much road with a small amount of off-roading (mudding not rock crawling- there’s just not much of it around London). I’d like to go down the resto mod route.

I’m looking to import the following but need some advice on if I’ve missed anything or should be considering something else entirely.

Engine swap- gen 3 coyote, I’d like a 10r80 but it doesn’t appear the controller is available still? How are velocity and those guys doing it? If not I guess the only option is a 6r80?

Axles- I saw a little while back someone had recommended fullsize 2005+ superduty axles (I believe they are D60’s if I’m not mistaken?) front and rear to be swapped. My thoughts so far being, if i can make them as strong as possible i wont be importing parts all the time! Also a bit more stability definitely wont go a miss. Really need guidance on gearing.

Suspension- I’m really not too sure what to do or what is possible here, I’d like it to drive as good as possible on road. I was considering the duff performance 2.5” 4 link rear but I’m unsure if it would work with D60 full width axles? What would you guys recommend is there anything better? Would you guys recommend coils on front or would coilovers be better? Are there any kits or could you recommend how to get over this hurdle?

Wheels- I’ve been looking at some lovely method race wheels- I’d need to find some with a good amount of backspace since the police here love to pull you over if your tyres poke. I was also looking at some land rover wheel arches that might work if I am still a little wide.

Interior wise I was going to get some bits off of toms off-road it needs a full interior as it’s been stripped.

Thanks guys, any advice would be massively appreciated.

I have attached my EB so you can see where I'm starting.

 

[Yeller]

That’s a nice start!

Lots of questions there, I can help with a few. Axles are completely your choice, I’m a link and coil spring guy personally. Coil overs are nice but they come with their own complications. Cool springs last for decades and a regular shock is much easier to obtain and if replacement is required, may not even require importing. I’m also big on swapping to 1 ton axles but by your description really not necessary, sounds like light off road and lots of street driving, if you exceed a 37” tire I would forgo them and go to your desired SD axles. Unless they are narrowed, super duty axles are going to make it very wide, wide enough to be difficult to get your tires covered, no matter the back spacing of the wheels.

 

[UKBronco]

That’s a nice start!

Lots of questions there, I can help with a few. Axles are completely your choice, I’m a link and coil spring guy personally. Coil overs are nice but they come with their own complications. Cool springs last for decades and a regular shock is much easier to obtain and if replacement is required, may not even require importing. I’m also big on swapping to 1 ton axles but by your description really not necessary, sounds like light off road and lots of street driving, if you exceed a 37” tire I would forgo them and go to your desired SD axles. Unless they are narrowed, super duty axles are going to make it very wide, wide enough to be difficult to get your tires covered, no matter the back spacing of the wheels.

Yeah apologies, there's a lot of questions because I have now spent weeks going down rabbit holes on this forum!

Thanks a lot!

With the 5.5" Wildhorses lift on it currently 37 mud's scrub like crazy, it also handles like a mule! (all part of the previous owners modifications)- I currently run 37 BFG AT's on my truck and they drive great- surely if I drop it 3" down to a 2.5" duff tuff performance package 37" would scrub right?

What would you expect the wheels to stick out roughly on a SD axle? Surely there are fender extensions that could cover it ? If not i did see on the forum from the early thousands someone was producing pre-runner fender flares. I must say I think my preference would probably be to 'overbuild' it and then have less to worry about. To do a 3 link front and 4 link rear, are there any kits/ parts you could recommend?

 

[BOBS 2 68S]

It look's like the Bronco built on the "Goblin works garage" TV show.

 

[Soylent]

Did it come with Helen Stanley?

 

[Yeller]

They are going to rub without modifying the wheel wells and inner fenders, no matter what axle you run with 37's without extreme amounts of lift, which of course does not help handling, getting in and out of it and general usefulness. Lower is always better. Stout22's is the narrowest I've ever done with any unmodified 1 ton axle, it is 81" wide outside of tire to outside of tire, used stock steel wheels. Wild Horses sells “Silver Back” flares that would come close to covering

 

[stout22]

Like Yeller said, we just finished swapping my 76 to 2008 SD axles. It's a lot of work.
For what you are describing, I would think the D44 front and 9" rear would be more than sufficient.
I was running D44/9" with 3.5" suspension lift and 37" tires and do a lot of rock crawling. The pictures are with the D44/9"

 

[skrit]

It look's like the Bronco built on the "Goblin works garage" TV show.

It is

 

[UKBronco]

It is
View attachment 934776

Yeah it’s the same one! Was goblin works garage a thing in the states? Used to be owned by ‘Shane Lynch’ too! Got a relatively interesting history. Apart from the fact it drives like crap! Got it at an auction, had to drive it 2 hours home, tried to kill me a few times!

 

[UKBronco]

They are going to rub without modifying the wheel wells and inner fenders, no matter what axle you run with 37's without extreme amounts of lift, which of course does not help handling, getting in and out of it and general usefulness. Lower is always better. Stout22's is the narrowest I've ever done with any unmodified 1 ton axle, it is 81" wide outside of tire to outside of tire, used stock steel wheels. Wild Horses sells “Silver Back” flares that would come close to covering

Damn 81” is pretty wide! Guess you guys are right stick with the D44 and a 9”. The police here are pretty on it with any poke, would have to be totally covered from the top. Might be unfeasible over here, shame though as I love the stance!

 

[UKBronco]

Like Yeller said, we just finished swapping my 76 to 2008 SD axles. It's a lot of work.
For what you are describing, I would think the D44 front and 9" rear would be more than sufficient.
I was running D44/9" with 3.5" suspension lift and 37" tires and do a lot of rock crawling. The pictures are with the D44/9"

Looks great! Might have to come back to it in the future ! Did your 37’s scrub on a 3.5” ? Any 3.5” lifts you’d recommend?

 

[UKBronco]

Did it come with Helen Stanley?

I wish

 

[skrit]

Yeah it’s the same one! Was goblin works garage a thing in the states? Used to be owned by ‘Shane Lynch’ too! Got a relatively interesting history. Apart from the fact it drives like crap! Got it at an auction, had to drive it 2 hours home, tried to kill me a few times!

Here's the episode if you want to see how your rig was built. I haven't watched it yet but will this evening.

https://tv.youtube.com/watch/2SPiGzLVm9s?sf88268890=1&vpp=2AEA&vp=0gEEEgIwAw==

 

[stout22]

Looks great! Might have to come back to it in the future ! Did your 37’s scrub on a 3.5” ? Any 3.5” lifts you’d recommend?

Mine was a 3.5" kit from Wild Horses with Wild Horses Gorilla Warflares and James Duff's shocks. The whole setup had been installed on my Bronco for about 15 years and worked great.