Project 4x4

[Tornadom]

I'm thinking about a 4x4 project vehicle to play with, and keep the Ford as a nice daily that only plays off road on occasion. Honestly, it is just too long and too nice to take on some trails, but my old Bronco II would be a blast.

So, why not grab another Ford and start a project? If the Jeep Wrangler is good because of its short 94" wheel base, solid front and rear axles (Dana 30 front, Dana 35 rear) and torquey 4.0L inline 6 motor I don't see why a Bronco II would be so bad.

With the Bronco II you get:
93" wheel base
the ability to bolt in an 8.8" with ZERO modification
relatively easy to convert to a solid front axle, and not terrible in stock IFS form (dana 35 is a bolt in)
decent little V6, or the ability to swallow a small block Ford
lower transfer case ratio than the Jeep

Anyhow, I like the idea of a project. Day one would include an oil change, tuneup and brake job. Day two would likely bring out the Sawz All to cut the top off and star fabricating a roll cage. This looks like a nice project:

1986 Ford Bronco II

[Goose]

I think David is doing something crazy with an old bronco too. You should hit him up.

[Tornadom]

Dude, why did you take a picture of your ass and set it as your avatar?

My favorite truck/suv vehicle of all time is the '66-'77 Ford Bronco. I would love one of those trucks with the rear fenders cut, lifted just a little bit with a healthy small block Ford and 4 speed manual transmission. Oh, and it would have to be either blue or silver.

Since I can't afford one of those (and don't feel like dealing with their common rust issues), I figured I'd build my own mini-me version using a Bronco 2.

[Tornadom]

I'd sport this from now until the end of time!



But, that rig would easily fetch $10-12k if it were for sale... a tad pricey considering how bare-bones they really are.

My very first car (I had a motorcycle already) was a 1986 Ford Bronco II (pronounced: 2). It wasn't the cleanest vehicle on the planet, and it ran like crap... but cars are nothing more than nuts and bolts with some copper wire thrown in for good measure (and it measures out to over a mile if you pull it out). I got the engine running quite well after a simple tuneup, valve adjustment, fuel filter replacement, injector cleaning and replacement of the O2 sensor. In fact, it ran perfect after that and up until the crappy A4LD automatic transmission started to go on it. Luckily my uncle totalled his 1988 Mustang GT, so I ganked his 5.0L HO motor and Tremec T5 transmission for installation in the Bronco. It was a tough fit, but it worked and worked well. The hardest part was converting an automatic vehicle to a manual using junkyard parts. That in itself is not hard, but converting a vehicle designed for a hydraulic clutch to a cable clutch was a little tricky. After that was in place I scored a 31 spline 8.8" Ford from an Explorer and grabbed the Dana 35 IFS diff while I was at it (the D35 was a bolt in, the 8.8" required me to move the spring perches and shock mounts). Eventually the truck got a lift, tires and gearing. That thing would go ANYWHERE!

My old Bronco II


Notice how similar they look to the '66-'77 Bronco after you cut the top off?

[david529]

Better off starting with a vehicle that already has a solid front. Its not that easy of a swap and isnt very cheap either. Alot of cutting, measuring, welding, measuring, welding, etc...The cost of buying or finding a DECENT front axle and (Dana 30's and 35's are not very good axles if you are running anything larger than 33's, D44's are the minimum or if you want a ford rear end then get a 9") Suspension components, Steering components, brakes, spring mounts, shocks, new driveshaft plus the time involved in doing the swap you are better off just buying a solid axle truck. Plus i dont think those Bronco 2's had IFS, I think they had a TTB front end as ford put that in about everything in the 80's and early 90's.

Old Bronco's sell for cheap all over the place. Restored ones may fetch a high price but if you want a project you can easily get an older bronco to work on for less than 5k easy. Hell if you like those then older Scouts might interest you also, my buddy just bought a running one with only a small amount of rust for 1100 last weekend.

Take you time and look around, those early bronco's are very nice and kick the crap out of a bronco 2 anyday. Just the 2c from a guy who has been building 4x4's his whole life.

[david529]

Goose

Its an old Blazer not a Bronco.

[Goose]

Damn. Haha, I pimp my volvo and my knowledge of cars past that is fucked.

[Tornadom]

Originally Posted by david529

Better off starting with a vehicle that already has a solid front. Its not that easy of a swap and isnt very cheap either. Alot of cutting, measuring, welding, measuring, welding, etc...The cost of buying or finding a DECENT front axle and (Dana 30's and 35's are not very good axles if you are running anything larger than 33's, D44's are the minimum or if you want a ford rear end then get a 9") Suspension components, Steering components, brakes, spring mounts, shocks, new driveshaft plus the time involved in doing the swap you are better off just buying a solid axle truck. Plus i dont think those Bronco 2's had IFS, I think they had a TTB front end as ford put that in about everything in the 80's and early 90's.

Old Bronco's sell for cheap all over the place. Restored ones may fetch a high price but if you want a project you can easily get an older bronco to work on for less than 5k easy. Hell if you like those then older Scouts might interest you also, my buddy just bought a running one with only a small amount of rust for 1100 last weekend.

Take you time and look around, those early bronco's are very nice and kick the crap out of a bronco 2 anyday. Just the 2c from a guy who has been building 4x4's his whole life.

I hear you on everything you stated... and yes, it is technically a twin traction beam front end (which was a primative form of IFS). I'm not sure where the original Broncos are selling for $5k, but it sure as hell isn't CA or anywhere near where I have been. Sadly, a poorly running rusty Bronco will sell for $7k and up around here. I'm not worried about it running, as I would build my own motor and go through the axles anyhow... but I'm not keen on a project vehicle that is cancered either.

Other than the Wrangler and CJs, I can't think of any small sized straight axle vehicles that appeal to me. The pre-1986 Toyota pickups and 4 Runners are nice, but again are sold for a premium here (usually no less than $4k). A Suzuki Samuri is another idea, but they are a tad too small for my tastes and hard to find in my area. A few of the trails I will be running absolutely will not accomodate a full size rig, even short wheel base ones like a Blazer, Bronco, Scout or Ram Charger. I will for sure have straight axles front and rear, but I'm not positive if it will start that way or not. The fabrication doesn't worry me, as I have already performed a staight axles swap on one Bronco 2 and had my hand in the fabrication on our Studebaker pickup.

What other small, straight axle vehicles are there? I am open to anything, but I don't want to spend a fortune on the vehicle up front and I don't want something that is a rust bucket in order to fit it in my budget.

[Tornadom]

Originally Posted by Goose

Damn. Haha, I pimp my volvo and my knowledge of cars past that is fucked.

Who ever picked out the Volvo was freaking awesome!

On a side note, I know more about cars and motorcycles than I do life and relationships... if my car breaks down I can fix it, if my relationship breaks down I replace it with a newer model.

[Tornadom]

BTW, I like Scouts too.