1984 Ford Bronco Project

[Dakota Houligans]

I got the silly idea that the firewall may as well match the exterior paint so it got cleaned up and a little color update.

Before.

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And After some cleaning a little sanding and parts removal.

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And yes I'm aware it serves no purpose other than cosmetic. But I think it turned out pretty good. Now it's time to remove the old body of the green bronco and get it ready to go under this one.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

I got the silly idea that the firewall may as well match the exterior paint so it got cleaned up and a little color update.

Before.

View attachment 119548

And After some cleaning a little sanding and parts removal.

View attachment 119549


View attachment 119550

View attachment 119551

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And yes I'm aware it serves no purpose other than cosmetic. But I think it turned out pretty good. Now it's time to remove the old body of the green bronco and get it ready to go under this one.

Will you be putting sound deadening spray on the interior quarter panels, doors and roof, so that it dosent sound like a hollow tin can going down the road ?

 

[Dakota Houligans]

Will you be putting sound deadening spray on the interior quarter panels, doors and roof, so that it dosent sound like a hollow tin can going down the road ?

Yes sir. I've sprayed lizard skin sound deadening on almost all the interior. Then I am going to put down 3/8 thick sound insulation everywhere I can before the carpet and interior goes back in.

 

[IronPercheron]

Found a diamond in the rough.

Work begins soon :-)

One... count it.... one... rust spot.

(Texas)View attachment 120438View attachment 120439View attachment 120440

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

Found a diamond in the rough.

Work begins soon :-)

One... count it.... one... rust spot.

(Texas)View attachment 120438View attachment 120439View attachment 120440

They are not that rare in my neighborhood but I couldn't find a single one (affordable) when I was looking for a rig to build. I'm an old Ford man and it was hard for me to build something else other than a Ford.

I'm always amazed when people lift their trucks to get ground clearance and then defeat the purpose by adding those ugly step bumpers. Other than that I like your new rig.
What engine does it have in it ? Auto or standard ? Factory locker in rear ?

 

[Dakota Houligans]

Found a diamond in the rough.

Work begins soon :-)

One... count it.... one... rust spot.

(Texas)View attachment 120438View attachment 120439View attachment 120440

Nice. I had thought about heading SW to find a rust free one. But my time off had to be used elsewhere. But the few spots I have to fix on this one are pretty clean for up here.

 

[IronPercheron]

They are not that rare in my neighborhood but I couldn't find a single one (affordable) when I was looking for a rig to build. I'm an old Ford man and it was hard for me to build something else other than a Ford.

I'm always amazed when people lift their trucks to get ground clearance and then defeat the purpose by adding those ugly step bumpers. Other than that I like your new rig.
What engine does it have in it ? Auto or standard ? Factory locker in rear ?

Bumpers are a necessary evil, and as long as they are above the differential it won't impede much if any. Worth it to house my beloved Warn 8274.

It's a 302/E40OD truck. I pick up a 351/ZF5 F250 next week. Will be swapping 10.25 rear with 4.10s, 351W, zf5, and I have 1978 front components for a coil sprung D60.

It will be more truck than anyone would ever need.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

Bumpers are a necessary evil, and as long as they are above the differential it won't impede much if any. Worth it to house my beloved Warn 8274.

It's a 302/E40OD truck. I pick up a 351/ZF5 F250 next week. Will be swapping 10.25 rear with 4.10s, 351W, zf5, and I have 1978 front components for a coil sprung D60.

It will be more truck than anyone would ever need.

I was talking about the side steps hanging down, not the bumpers. I never heard of a 10.25 rear gear ratio, what did that come out of. The tires must have been 60" diameter. 4.10 is a good all around gear as long as the tires stay under 35" Dia. (IMHO)

 

[Camp_Llama]

10.25" is not in reference to the ratio. It's the size of the ring gear diameter the sterling axle that came in the rear of OBS F-2/350s.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

10.25" is not in reference to the ratio. It's the size of the ring gear diameter the sterling axle that came in the rear of OBS F-2/350s.

Thanks, I should have realized you were talking about ring gear size. That's a heavy dude. Full floaters are great performance diff's, just heavy.

 

[tjZ06]

That's a heck of a find! And your work so far on the first one is impressive, so clean.

-TJ

 

[Dakota Houligans]

Got started removing everything I may need or could use on the new one. And getting the body ready to remove.

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With all the glass removed and such it was time to flip the body onto the trailer.

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Now I have easy access to the rest of it.

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Unfortunately I found some thin spots in the frame due to rust. So now we are back to swapping mechanical goodies into the newer frame.

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Engine, transmission and transfer case removed.

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Starting to think this would make a fun little buggy build...

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Now I just have to take the axles and bumpers off. I also need to remove the rear leaf spring hangers and swap 2 of them onto the newer one to replace damaged ones.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

Got started removing everything I may need or could use on the new one. And getting the body ready to remove.

View attachment 121736

View attachment 121737

View attachment 121738

With all the glass removed and such it was time to flip the body onto the trailer.

View attachment 121739

Now I have easy access to the rest of it.

View attachment 121740

Unfortunately I found some thin spots in the frame due to rust. So now we are back to swapping mechanical goodies into the newer frame.

View attachment 121741

Engine, transmission and transfer case removed.

View attachment 121743

View attachment 121742

Starting to think this would make a fun little buggy build...

View attachment 121744

Now I just have to take the axles and bumpers off. I also need to remove the rear leaf spring hangers and swap 2 of them onto the newer one to replace damaged ones.

Which frame will you use, the one in the garage or this one outside the garage.

 

[Dakota Houligans]

Which frame will you use, the one in the garage or this one outside the garage.

The one in the garage from the 95. Was hoping for the easy route of just using everything under the body from the old one. But found some thin spots in the frame so now I get to do it the more involved way.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

The one in the garage from the 95. Was hoping for the easy route of just using everything under the body from the old one. But found some thin spots in the frame so now I get to do it the more involved way.

Well with a little grinding and flitch plating and shortening you may have that buggy frame after all. Another fun job for a different rig some day.

 

[Dakota Houligans]

Well with a little grinding and flitch plating and shortening you may have that buggy frame after all. Another fun job for a different rig some day.

Yup. Shorten it up. Add a little tubing a few seats. Would equal a lot of fun!

 

[Dakota Houligans]

Spent a little time in the garage to day. Decided to take the engine out of the 95 frame this afternoon. Made a little more room by removing the core support. I wanted to check the lower mount area anyway.

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With the bumper and the core support out of the way. It was pretty easy to slip the engine out.

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One crusty poor running engine out.

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One almost empty frame ready for cleanup. And then time for some prep work and reinstalling of the goodies.

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I still need to pull the axles and front bumper/winch off the old frame and get them presentable and installed.

 

[Dakota Houligans]

When I went to put the exhaust heat shields back on the body my ocd got the best of me. Just couldn't bring myself to reinstall the dirty and rusty shields. So it was time for some cleanup.

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After the first coat of high temp paint. I used some POR15 high temp gray.

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Second coat on and drying.

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Time to rivet them back in place.

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Turned out pretty good. Some how I managed to resist the urge to spray some lizard skin on the top side of the shields to help reduce heat transfer.

 

[M Rose]

Man this is going to be one slick Bronco when you're done. You want to help me on my 89?

 

[Dakota Houligans]

Man this is going to be one slick Bronco when you're done. You want to help me on my 89?

Hopefully it will be. Should be plenty of family fun at least. Well it has been a few years since I've been on a wrenching road trip...