Newest project 1973 Bronco

[reamer]

Stored away for winter, collecting frost!

[Machspeed]

I just eat this kinda stuff up! Love the story along with those early model Broncos! Thanks for posting up, Ron!  

There is a huge following for those early model Broncos these days. The fact that Ford is retro'ing the vehicle speaks to that. Even with that, people are raising these rust buckets from the dead and aftermarket has gone crazy. I have a friend in Indiana who used to build high end early model custom Mustangs. His work is signature and his builds were a tasteful incorporation of old to new. His business was "Mustangs To Fear". This gentleman has skills like no one I know. Anyway, he's gotten out of the Mustang business and building those early model Broncos.

Here's a little bit of what he's doing:
 

[reamer]

I do have a reservation on a 2021 two-door Bronco, But still waiting on Ford to open up the actual Build site....

[Gary Lewis]

Wow!  1600 welds!  

But it sure is looking GOOD!  

[Machspeed]

Yeah, I've been eyeballing them myself. I've decided that I'll wait and get the following year.

[Nothing Special]

reamer wrote

Good question Cory! Been struggling with this one.... Yes I like things original as you know, (the whole 5 strips on the bed and all)  BUT....The early bronco rear quarter design was Begged, Borrowed, or Stolen from the early Falcon designers, There was no concept of 31 x 10.50 tires yet.

So the E.B. rear quarters were fine for the existing 20 inch, rather thin tire..... Now enter the 31, 32, 33 and bigger tires for off road, fender and tire damage was/is the result.

First thing I did back in '81 on my 1974 E.B. was cut the rear quarters... So on this one, it will start it's re-birth as original, but if it looks too "stuffed" with 31's out comes the plasma cutter.......

I don't know how I missed this thread until today!  Cool to see what you're doing!

On the rear fenders, one thing I've seen that looks really good is people will cut out the rear fender and weld in the flare from a replacement front fender.  It ends up looking much more "factory" than just sticking urethane (like I have) or fiberglass flares on, while still leaving room for bigger rubber.  It does take serious bodywork skills, but that doesn't look like it would be a problem for you.

Another thing to look into is the "LUBR" concept.  I'm also a member on ClassicBroncos.com.  There's a bunch of people there who go for the Lifted Uncut BRonco look.  Uncut rear fender but with a moderate suspension lift and small body lift.  With the right rims they're fitting (narrow) 33" tires with little to no rubbing (fronts rubbing on the radius arms is the biggest issue).

And speaking of lifts, mine came with a 1" body lift, so I haven't spent much time looking at anything else.  But I've heard a few times that a 1" body lift makes a Bronco look like it should have from the get-go.  It also provides some much-needed room under the hood and under the trans tunnel if you're going to do anything other than stock engine and trans.

[reamer]

Here you go Cory, OBGUB is safe and sound for the winter, with Bronco rolling frame behind it. Once the body is done,(seam sealed and under coated on the underside,) it will be placed on the roller frame (with 302, C-4 and D-20 T-case) for wiring, brake lines, and painting the spring.
I have it up on the home-made rotisserie, ready to flip it over. None of these body panels fit "perfect" lots of grind and fit and some, as pictured need to be sliced and filled to get a straight-line seam.




Ya gotta start some where!

[Rembrant]

reamer wrote

Here you go Cory, OBGUB is safe and sound for the winter, with Bronco rolling frame behind it.

Ron,

OBGUB showed up on a Facebook page again this morning...lol. I tried to tag you on there but you must not be in this particular group. There's only about 6 frickin' Bullnose groups...lol.

[Rembrant]

reamer wrote

None of these body panels fit "perfect" lots of grind and fit and some, as pictured need to be sliced and filled to get a straight-line seam.

Speaking of "grind and fit some"...I do need to pick you brain on some sheet metal fabrication stuff, but it will be a week or so before I get there. I am just getting started fabricating new Flareside steel bed sides (from scratch this time), and I'm not sure what to do about the fender tubs. I picked up a new set of aftermarket tubs that are almost identical to the Flareside factory tubs, but I'm not sure sure on the best method to attach them yet. Below is one suggestion:

http://dancarpenters.com/install.html

Or I could weld them on in the same fashion, or I could cut the sides a butt-weld instead of overlapping the tub flange. Or, I could just leave the sides flat and forget all about the fender tubs. lol.

I'm not sure what to do with them yet. Anyway, I'll bug you later.

[Rembrant]

Ha! Ron, I just came across another classified ad using your truck..haha. Your truck is famous and it doesn't even know.

[reamer]

Got the C-4 back from the re-builders, Add on's are New torque converter, shift kit and, and valve body "re-programed" Since he races at Stafford and owns a tranny shop, I trust him.

Now it's "Body, meet Frame,...Frame, meet body

[ratdude747]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

.... and now we know why they use robots in the factories.  

As somebody who programs, services, and (re)engineers robot welding cells for a living (most of which are spot or projection welding) I concur!

(Yeah, old post, but I missed this thread and smiled at the joke. I work for a Tier 1 Toyota supplier... lots, and lots of body and exhaust parts)

[Gary Lewis]

Looking good, Ron!  Bronco, here we come!!!!  

[reamer]

Great progress today, Body-on-frame/drivetrain!

[Gary Lewis]

That is a MAJOR milestone!  Well done, Ron!!!!  

[reamer]

Thanks Gary, I like the garage cleaned up too! Now for Stripping and painting the dash before install.... Now where do all those wires go?

[grumpin]

That’s great!

[Rembrant]

Looking great Ron. You may have mentioned this before, but is it going to be green? Is the engine bay painted now I see?

[ArdWrknTrk]

Definitely looks the part (of a '73 colour)

You are putting your time in Ron!
I hope this Bronco turns out exactly as you want.  

[reamer]

In building my "Bronco in a box" from Wild Horses, I started in October with a stripped frame and a welder. Working from the rear to the front, Some 50+ body panels.. Lots of measuring and remeasuring (and swearing, bleeding, throwing things) Ya don't really know if what you did is correct......Until you mount the hood...This tells/shows all your mistakes-misalignments.... And how much cutting and re-welding you might have to re-do.
Yesterday I installed the factory hood and doors in the aftermarket body panels making up the tub.
when I closed the hood, SURPRISE! I win! aligned, and square, and the doors have good gaps too!