anyone built a frame for their Bronco? I've been unsucessfully looking for a good frame in the New England area,(surprise), so I figured I'd build my own, looks like a pretty simple frame rail made out of a 3x4 box. I can buy a 3x4 rectangular tubing in 1/4" for about 300 bux and it looks like it only has 8 bends, so it shouldn't be to hard to fabricate.
There are still plenty of straight, rust free frames available. Call the Bronco suppliers for a price quote and shipping costs. With the price of steel these days, it would probably still be cheaper to buy one.
Unless you have some experience with building frames and you are a very competent welder, I wouldn't do it. Even a 1/16" off on a measurement can cause ill handling and problems with fitting parts.
Jason
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There are still plenty of straight, rust free frames available. Call the Bronco suppliers for a price quote and shipping costs. With the price of steel these days, it would probably still be cheaper to buy one.
Unless you have some experience with building frames and you are a very competent welder, I wouldn't do it. Even a 1/16" off on a measurement can cause ill handling and problems with fitting parts.
Jason
I am capable, and I have the tools and the hobby shop so it's doable. And although it would be easier to buy, I can't see it being cost effective with the price of shipping these days. ANd I'd have to buy it sight unseen which makes it iffy at best. At least if I build it myself, it will be better than the original 1/8" steel, and I'll know it's rustfree inside and out. I'd like this to last til I die, and I'm only 55 now, so it's gotta go atleast 2 more years
I am capable, and I have the tools and the hobby shop so it's doable. And although it would be easier to buy, I can't see it being cost effective with the price of shipping these days. ANd I'd have to buy it sight unseen which makes it iffy at best. At least if I build it myself, it will be better than the original 1/8" steel, and I'll know it's rustfree inside and out. I'd like this to last til I die, and I'm only 55 now, so it's gotta go atleast 2 more years
Jeeze
Ill be 56 in March...
so I got one more year...
well
there it goes
Been hand fabing out 68 m715 Ford powered for a year now...
Things look bleak...
Guess I better get out and get to welding..
ohh
BTW
yes it is easier to use nice clean metal stuff than try to work around old dirty or rusty metal stuff.
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If you have the skills and the tools, then go for it. It is a major undertaking and there will be A LOT of man hours involved.
The first thing you'll need to do is come up with some measurements from yours and build a jig.
Jason
actually I was thinking I'd measure up all the brackets, then grind the rivets off and pull the side rails off, and use them for the template. The brackets all look good, so I can sand blast tem and re-use them on the new rails.
My theory is to cut threw the new rectangular tubing every 1/4 inch at the bends but only cut 3 sides, leaving the inside of the bend intact, bend the rail, then weld in the cuts. And If I don't like the looks of it I may fishplate the sides and top of the bend.
It looks like there are only 8 bends, so it shouldn't be too bad to do.
Go for it! Make sure you document it w/pictures. Personally I'd love to follow your progress. I love fab work, just was unable to start learning till late in life. Too busy working for a living. Getting pretty good w/ sheet metal but my welding isn't good enough to trust my life on critical parts.
Go for it! Make sure you document it w/pictures. Personally I'd love to follow your progress. I love fab work, just was unable to start learning till late in life. Too busy working for a living. Getting pretty good w/ sheet metal but my welding isn't good enough to trust my life on critical parts.
I will, and you shouldn't let that stop you, if I build something and I don't trust my own welding on, I usually just tack weld it and let one of my welder buddies weld it up right. All the money is in the setup, after it's all tacked together the welding is quick and cheap.
I got slightly side tracked, I went into my shop with every intention of making room to tear the Bronco apart and realized all the stuff that was in my way could be assembled into a 46 Ford pickup. So I pulled the frame down from the ceiling and got it on the lift.
I've decided to put a 9" rear in it behind a 312 and a 3spd OD trany I have out of a 57ish t-bird.
So Far I have the 9" done, made new spring cradles and shock mounts and welded them on. Made and installed rear shock mounts outboard of the frame. And setup a rear swaybar I stole out of an early 80's bronco.
Now I have to attack the front end. That's a bit more complicated. I decided to stay with the straight axle, not sure if I'm gonna stay with manual steering or fab up a power unit for it, and I need to setup front shocks and a sway bar. The shocks look pretty straight forward, but the sway bar may be a bit tricky, not much room up there to play around.
Looks like it may be awhile before I start the little Bronco. But atleast I'm making progress on something
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So I pulled the frame down from the ceiling and got it on the lift.
