Spaggyroe's scratch built early Bronco build.

[spaggyroe]

Soooo... Back in the good ol days of 2019, I decided that I wanted to get back into an Early Bronco. It has been a long time since I've owned one and was shocked to find what a rusted out heap was going for these days. After looking at several that were mostly transparent, but still expensive, I decided to go for broke (literally) and just build one.

I came across a good deal on this wreck, but hey... it had a frame, a title, a 9" rear, a D44 front, a few other usable parts, and the price was right.

Yes, I actually paid genuine U.S. pesos for this....

 

[spaggyroe]

and started stripping it down before my wife got home from work...

 

[spaggyroe]

It was about this point in time, that this hit me...

 

[spaggyroe]

More teardown...
This body was beyond thrashed. I saved what odds and ends I could... which wasn't much...

 

[spaggyroe]

Stock 302... Roached....

This may be the origin of murder hornets.

 

[spaggyroe]

The frame, radius arms, and a few other odds and ends were sent out for blasting.

 

[spaggyroe]

I cleaned up the axles. The rear got a 31 spline shaft upgrade, and new bearing and a detroit true trac. I put a currie drain plug in the 9" at this poiint. The front just got new bearings and seals throughout. 4:10 gears. Yukon shafts and warn hubs for the front. New ball joints, wheel bearings, etc. Disc brake conversion front and rear. Some black paint. I also did a tie rod over flip and used GM 1 ton tie rod ends. The front also got a track bar riser bracket.

 

[spaggyroe]

 

[spaggyroe]

Here’s a the license plate that was on it. This thing definitely spent a LOT of time baking in the NM sun.

 

[spaggyroe]

Someone "customized" the original shock mounts so I cut them off and started over using F250 shock towers. After cleaning up any other "customizations", I gave the frame some black paint and started assembling. The suspension is a 3-1/2" lift from Wild Horses.

 

[spaggyroe]

I ordered a new fuel tank and then immediately cut a big hole in it for a Holley sniper EFI fuel pump.

 

[spaggyroe]

Borgeson power steering box.

 

[spaggyroe]

I didn't forget about the major issiue here... the body...

Back in December when I started this project, I got in touch with a company in california that assembles brand new early bronco bodies. Some of the parts are stamed on original Ford dies. Anyhow, 5 months later, it was done. @Magerdgr and I loaded up in my old battle wagon of a Dodge and drove to CA to pick it up.

 

[spaggyroe]

 

[spaggyroe]

 

[spaggyroe]

Since I needed a new engine, I snagged this.

 

[spaggyroe]

 

[spaggyroe]

Engine is a Gen 2 coyote 5.0 that was lifted from a 2016 mustang GT.
Stock rating was 435 HP and 400 ft/lbs
This one had 34k miles on it.

 

[spaggyroe]

Trans is a 6R80 6 speed from a 2016 F150 that had 30k on the odometer.

 

[I Lean]

This thing is going to be neat. And rust-free!