[BigfootOne]

I finally have gotten started with my 1979 frame off. Here is what I am starting with.

Standard issue fender rot.

cab roof rot - ths worries me a little bit

Tailgate is almost perfect

Here is where I'm at now

BF

 

[BigfootOne]

Pix of the 351M

And the replacement motor, a 460 to be built into 502 CID

Been working on getting the front clip off but this baby is chock full of rust. I hope the chassis still has enough integrity to it to be usable. Managed to get all the bolts out of the front end and the only carnage was 3 sawzall blades and a broken ratchet handle. But the front clip is still on so I haven't won that battle yet.

I imagine this build is going to take me over a year. Plans include 502CID, NP203/205/C6, 10.25/D60, 4 wheel disc brakes with F350 upgrade, 6" lift with 38s. Full chassis and body restoration. I will update as I make progress.

Plans for the next 7-10 days get the clip off, Monday I drop the 460 off to Laroque Racing Engines, pick up my axles and front springs next Friday, and hopefully order the Cage RA and D60 weld on brackets this week.

Comments and criticism always welcome.

BF

 

[BigfootOne]

I dont think I've ever seen you're bronco before. Is it gonna be a mall terrain unit or a trail rig? Cant wait to see more progress...

Well that's a more difficult question to answer than you may imagine! Considering I spend about 95% of my time in the Washington D.C. metro area, with about half of that time inside the concrete jungle of WDC itself, there aren't many places to go wheeling. I would like to get away from here a few times a year and go wheeling, maybe with FSB group rides and meet & greets, I just learned about Rausch Creek, and I'd like to see Tellico. I know there is a Mud Bog Circuit here too, and I'd like to try that someday just for fun, as well as hit Maryland International Raceway for Test & Tune one time just to say I did it. I'm not into rocks so I won't be doing any rock crawling specific mods but plan on eventually adding roll over protection, a reciever winch, and appropriate tools and off road necessities.

I guess to over complicate what should be an easy answer I could just simply say I want to go middle of the road, mild wheeling, definitely not daily driver, and you will definitely not ever see it in a mall parking lot. :toothless

Oh, and I am always open to suggestions. As I put my ideas out there I am sure you guys will hold nothing back on letting me know your feelings of the build.

It doesn't look as bad as some resto projects floating about, but it also looks like it'll be challenging enough. Have fun and keep us updated.

Yeah, she's still pretty bad. The truck was supposedly restored in the 90's sometime, but as you can see it wasn't done right. The fender patches are rusting through, and it looks like the frame hasn't EVER been cleaned or rust treated. The cab has no floor boards, and I am really concerned about fixing the cab roof right and stopping that rust, but just don't know how I'm gonna do it with it being double skinned and all.

BF

 

[BigfootOne]

502..... why not go for the augusto and make it a 545CID

I wanted to go 545. My engine builder convinced me I was going too big... I actually had settled on a 514/521 and am now down to 502. I think it all will boil down to time and money. And pump gas lol.

Unfortunately I subscribe to the Tim the tool man mantra BIGGER is BETTER.

Honestly I have no need for 545 CID, or 502 for that matter, but I just want it. No other practical reason. I guess really there is no practical reason for this build at all...

but i'll be doing it nevertheless:rockon:rockon

BF

 

[BigfootOne]

There is supposed to be a bolt in the door jam holding the front clip on. I am not seeing this. I do see a potential spot for a bolt, maybe the previous owner didn't put it in. Can someone post a pic or a really good description of where this bolt should be? I will hopefully have the front clip off in Monday if I can get a couple buddys over to help lift it off.

Thanks.

BF

 

[BigfootOne]

Right below the top door hinge about 3" in is a bolt that goes into the fender. 1/2" wrench to take it out.

On a more serious note I have sent better Bronco tubs to the junkyard than what you are starting with. My hats off to you if you continue on with that body. She is very badly rusted especially the roof rails.

I'd love to find a better tub. Not much to choose from in the tri-state area. The chassis and drive train will take me a while to complete, i'll be looking for a better tub in the meantime.

Thanks for the help on the bolts. They aren't there. One less thing I guess.

Dave

 

[BigfootOne]

To bad shipping would kill the deal.

True that.


I do have a donor tub that is in considerably better shape but still has some questionable spots. Also came with bucket seats that I plan to use, and full trim package. The problem is I do not have a title for it, and can't get a duplicate title because the previous owner is using the VIN and frame for his truggy build. I can't very well change the tags from one tub to the other without ruining them, not to mention that I think it's not legal. I KNOW it is not legal to retag a chassis, not sure about body tubs.

I will just have to get what good parts I can from both, and keep looking for a good tub/cab.

BF

 

[BigfootOne]

Front clip off.

Rust.

rust

rust

rust

rust

Is there any reason why the driver's side shock is in front of the axle and the passenger side shock is behind the axle?

I plan on relocating both shocks to the front of the axle to make room for fender exit headers.



Got one tons?

Sterling 10.25, KP D60, out of 1989 F350.

6 inch Deavers

More later I hope.

BF

 

[BigfootOne]

Anybody want the front bench out of my Bronco? It is red with a red seat cover on it. Unsure of the condition of the seat under the seat cover. I'll post a pic when I get it removed. First to come get it takes it.

BF

 

[BigfootOne]

The deeper I get the worse the tub looks. May not be able to use this one.

 

[BigfootOne]

Brother you'd be way ahead of the game to get a rust free bronco from the southwest and ship it home. Good luck

To rebuild this body, or combine this tub and the other one I have, using the best parts of each tub to make one good one, will only cost me labor and welding wire. Unfortunately this is just the way Broncos in the northeast look. To ship one from south or west would be cost prohibitive.

When I post pics of my donor tub perhaps we will all be a little more optimistic, it isn't as bad as this one.

 

[BigfootOne]

.

 

[BigfootOne]

Axle wrap and wheel hop on a front axle? opc1:

Not with those Cage radius arms. I have seen front axle wrap on leaf sprung, big tire trucks but that is not an issue that will affect me in the least.

 

[BigfootOne]

You guys are gonna have to forgive me on how slow my build is going. Gonna be about this pace the whole time i'm afraid. I don't have the right tools to lift heavy items like the axles so I have to work when I can get friends to come over on their spare time. That is why the body is still on the chassis. Plus this is my first build of any kind- well I did restore an antique tractor, but this is much more complex than that and I want it to turn out nice.

I have managed to get 6 of the body mounts off, 3 no problem and 3 twisted off. The 2 in the middle of the tub had 15/16" square nuts on them, is that factory? I can't imagine Ford using square nuts on anything in 1979. The 2 mounts in the fenderwells are going to be a b!tch.

Lets talk paint. I want to coat the chassis in rust bullet, applied as directed by the manufacturer, then coat it with a durable black coating. I was going to Durabak the chassis for durability, but i'm thinking the grit will hold dirt/mud/salt so now I am thinking a glossy black will be better.

What are all of your opinions on a high quality black enamel that will protect and preserve when used with the rust bullet??

Whatever I use on the chassis will also be used in all hidden areas of the body, fenders, etc. I am going to go to my mom's farm on thursday to get pix of my donor body. I will post the pix when I get them.

BF

 

[BigfootOne]

Frame is off. Pics soon. I found that several of the body mounts have rusted completely through. I am in need of all 4 of the outside the frame body mount brackets if anybody has them please hit me up. My PM is open.

I will try to get some pics of progress up soon, so far I have the body off, rear axle out, currently working on dropping the tank and have a guy coming to pull the engine and take it with him. Also have a guy that wants the front axle. Once I get the frame bare then hopefully I can start adding parts instead of removing them :thumbup

Dave

 

[BigfootOne]

Update, and as promised I have pix...

Body off.

Custom rust-protective coating

Rusted through body mount brackets

The frame is rusted through at the rear most body mounts. I am glad this is the only spot where the frame is comprimised to the point of failure.

I got the tank dropped, what is the reccomended way to store the tank safely for the next several months? Should I fill it with water? Or just duct tape the openings? The tank is in much better shape than I expected, so I might not replace it with a Poly tank like I originally planned.

Found a place in Hyattsville, Md. called Premeir Powder Coating that said for $450-600 (over the phone estimate) they could media balst the frame completely clean, and powder coat it for me. This may be the route I go now, not too fond of grinding/wire wheeling an entire frame and after all the effort still having rust to content with in the future. What do y'all think?

 

[BigfootOne]

Forgot to mention that I did ditch that old body. It was just too far gone. I cut the bed floor out and saved it to make an access panel to the fuel tank, also saved some of the skin from the cab roof in case I need to make patch panels for anything, as well as the entire dash and firewall and all attached components, just in case.

I have a '78 Bronco body at my mom's farm I will use that is in much better shape. Got it from an FSB member last year, for some reason he ditched this nice body and put a Jeep on his Bronco chassis? At any rate, this body also came with a complete trim package, another good tailgate, doors, clip, everything. I will try to get pix (if I can just remember to stop by with my camera).

Dave

 

[BigfootOne]

Frame brackets for body mounts

After significant searching found this site http://www.73-79fordtrucks.com/framedept.html

5077-R-SC RIGHT FRONT CAB MOUNT BRACKET 65.00 EA.
5077-L-SC LEFT FRONT CAN MOUNT BRACKET 65.00 EA.

and these
Ebay body mounts for Ford Ranger
I know these are for the Ranger but something like this would work for the rear Bronco cab mounts I think. I do not think the rear cab mounts for an F-truck are the same so they won't work... or will they?

Dave

 

[BigfootOne]

Do some research on the 73-79fordtrucks website before you buy anything from them. I've heard nothing but horror stories from people who have bought from them. From what I've heard, I would never buy anything from them, but that's just me.

Thanks for the warning. I will keep shopping around in hopes of finding good used or new mounts, but will keep them in the back of my mind in case I have no luck.

I may just have my welder buddy fab me up some new brackets. Can't be all that difficult for an experienced welder to do, ya think? He welds for a living.

Dave

 

[BigfootOne]

Thanks for chiming in Mike. Don't forget to keep us all posted on your progress. I am watching your build, since we're doing very similar builds...

On the frame mount issue, I talked to my welder buddy today, and I think we are going to do new weldment body mounts. Pics will be forthcoming...

Dave