What to do with this '69 Bronco

[CJonLP]

Looking for some direction for my dad's Bronco. Bought it for him a couple years ago and since the CJ I own is now wheelable, I would like to figure out what I can do to get his ride out there with me.

Here it is:







I know it is rough, and your inital thought is why bother starting with that, but it's what I have and really it will just be a trail only type ride. (I have another hood and right front fender to make it look....better)

It has a 302 in it and a 3spd.

I have an 87 4BT that I could use, but it has a Chevy adapter on it and Dad is a Ford guy.

Should I just try and find a 78-79 F250 and swap in the drivetrain. Trying to get to the 35-36" tire range.

I need to get started on this soon, looking for some insight.

[Big Rick]

your inital thought is why bother starting with that

Wrong. My initial thought was, "fucking sweet!"

I'm assuming it won't move under its own power as it sits now? Any hope of getting the current drivetrain in motion?

paint it green.

[CJonLP]

Wrong. My initial thought was, "fucking sweet!"

I'm assuming it won't move under its own power as it sits now? Any hope of getting the current drivetrain in motion?

paint it green.

Well, I never know what others will think about my junk, I also think it is pretty cool.

That said, it will not move on its own. I'm pretty sure it has a broken rear axle shaft because i can turn the pinion with both wheels on the ground. I can't imagine when it was started last, found it on the side of a hill over in Shawsville, had to have been there for years. I did get it to crank over once back when I got it. More than anything I just haven't messed with it to determine what is good and bad. Dad is getting his garage ready to put it inside so we can get started.

Dad was thinking yellow for some reason.

[TerryD]

It's a 302 truck, so it has a D44/9in, correct? Gear it about 4.10, swap in a C6/205 behind the 302, put a fuel injection system from a Mustang/Thunderbird on it, and a cage. With after market shafts, D44/9in will hold 36's just fine. Especially under something light like a EB. You've got a great start there, don't over complicate it with crap you don't need for 36's. D60's are neat and all, but Grubb has been running a 9in with 36's under his 79 F150 for about 6 years now and the only thing he's broke is the cross pin in the mini spool. With a 302 and an automatic, I don't think your Dad will approach the kind of torture Grubb inflicts on his 9in.

I think a Detroit for the back of that thing and a lunch box locker for the front would be the right direction to go with that. Keep it street friendly. Extend the radius arms a bit, add some sliders and bumpers, and a traction bar in the rear to help with axle wrap/wheel hop and you're set! That's what I'd do with it if I had it. Well, except I'd use a 351W instead of wasting time or energy on a 302 ( ) but that's me.

It's actually the direction (mostly) I'm going with my K5. Plus, it can double duty as a camping/hunting rig he can take out on the weekends when he's not wheeling. I think a family cage and back seat would be good, old guys like to tote around grandkids too. At least my Dad does anyways. Good luck!

[BadAssEddie]

rip snortin' 351
alloy shafts and joints
keep the manual
36 iroks

I'm so jealous. I've always wanted one!

[Stinson]

That thing is a classic, dont cut it up to make a wheeler. How bout a trade, a 2 door 5 speed 4.OL cherokee?

[CJonLP]

That thing is a classic, dont cut it up to make a wheeler. How bout a trade, a 2 door 5 speed 4.OL cherokee?

I would agree about it being a classic.

The rear is already cutout, and there is well....rust. So, it will be a trail rig. It would have been cool to try and get it back to its original form, but its unrealistic. The starting point is just too far gone.

Being a '69, it is the first year of the 302. Unfortunately, it has a D30 front.

This is what I am thinking:

-302 maybe on propane so we can share tanks if either of us run out.
-Granny low 4-spd T18 or NP435
-D20 or 205 (but I have read that the 205 will not phyically fit)
-HP44 front and D60 rear from a late 70's F250, i know where a couple are.
-36s of some swamper variety

The suspension will be the key, want to keep in relatively low so he can get in and out easily, he is having a time getting in the CJ.

Thanks for chiming in everyone, keep the ideas coming.

[CJonLP]

More Pics:











Got the hood and the passenger front fender for this parts ride that came with it. I think Grubb picked it up from me





So, as you can see, it is rough to say the least.

[Stinson]

Nice, man looks like a fun wheeling rig! Cut it up!

[VerticalTRX]

Got the hood and the passenger front fender for this parts ride that came with it. I think Grubb picked it up from me

Yup, that was me.



For the one you are working on now all I would do would be get it running, maybe throw a nice 2" lift under it, a little deeper gears (maybe a rear locker) and a set of 34x10.50 Swamper LTB's on stock rims. With as rare as these are becoming I hate seeing any get cut up into full on trail rigs. If people want something like that IMO they should just build a tube chassis and hang the EB skins on it, but I digress....


(If you ever change plans and want to sell it let me know.)

[CJonLP]

So, I don't know a whole lot about ignition systems. I put a HEI distributor on my CJ and it simplified everything down to one 12V power wire.

This Bronco has a points setup. It has power to the coil and power is traveling through the points as it is cranking, you can see the spark. But I don't think there is power coming out of the coil to the distributor cap and getting sent out to the plugs because we put a timing light on it and it didn't flash.

I am thinking the following course of action:
1. new plugs
2. new points and condenser
3. new coil

The wires, cap and rotor look new.

Also, I need to change the oil and oil filter. As we were cranking it, oil was leaking at the oil filter gasket.

Any suggestions?

[CJonLP]

Its alive!

http://youtu.be/PDuYj_ma2lk

[Matt612]

Its alive!

http://youtu.be/PDuYj_ma2lk

Very nice. When are you planning on starting this build?

[CJonLP]

As soon as we can get it in the garage, I am gonna start taking it apart.

I may have a line on some used propane equipment if dad is interested in going that route, would be cheaper than EFI I guess.

Thanks!

[pcparas]

Nice Bronco, I am jealous, I want another Classic Bronco project.
Looks like my 77 Bronco before we did the rebuild. I remember when the tailgate held the rear of my truck together. With the tailgate down the rust was so bad, the rear passenger quarter would move something like 6 inches if you leaned on it.

No matter what you do I would suggest putting in a NV3550 5spd. We have one in my bronco and its the best decision we could of made. It gives a great range. Even with 5.13s, the truck gets up to highway speeds and is capable of low crawling speeds.

Also If you haven't already take a look at ClassicBroncos.com its a great forum for broncos.