Hey guys, new to this particular board but I'm in the market for a Bronco again. With the good experiences I've had with the Big Bronco forum I figured where better to start. I'm looking for a classic this time and going to build it for Princess. Shes been without a car now for a little bit and has been very patient. This is a dream for both of us, the project and build for me and the end result for her.

What we're looking for...

We're children of the Bicentennial so we'll be putting together a 76. This will not be a restoration to original, it will be rebuilt with light mods and full interior modification. I'm leaning towards a straight 6 for economy and practicality. Shes gotta have an auto trans and disk brakes are high on the priority list. A/C is a must, and she wants power windows, as I'm sure you can tell at this point, the amenities are important. When we get to suspension the main factor is the final build has to fit in parking structures (6'2" or 6'3") since we're in an area with too many otherwise her little truck ends giving her as many headaches as the f250 does (and let me tell you I hear it daily, "why do you have to have such a big truck" ) We're looking for only very light offroad use but still capable, no rock climbing or heavy mudding at all. No towing with this but may wanna tow it.

My specific questions

Motor- Straight 6 Vs. V8 302
I am quite familiar with the V8 302 as its what I had in my bronco (pour some liquor out for the homie) and I was through that engine a few times over. I have no experience with the 6 but anecdotally know it to be a reliable and efficient motor. Your thoughts?

Trans.- Looking for an auto that matches up reliably with each of the motors individually or even better that matches up with both with little to no mods.

Brakes - Looking for recommendations on kits for disk brake conversion.

AC- Looking for recommendations for kits that are well designed to match up with this build.

Front seats - Looking for suggestions on aftermarket or other ford seats that match up well for the front seats.

Power Windows - Kits and experience with reliability

Lastly I'm interested in any resources, links, users suppliers that you've found useful/helpful.

Thanks In Advance

PS I realize there are traditionalists out there who will see this build as blasphemous and can appreciate that stance. From my point of view if I can get my girl in a sweet truck thats American , rebuilt locally and with some reverence to the classic Bronco then bully for me.

 

A few added thoughts...

Suggestions on gearing would be appreciated because I am unfamiliar with the straight , 6, so I'd like to get a feel for how the smaller engine runs with which set of gears.With the big bronco I was happy with the 4.11, but because most of my driving was city driving probably would have been happier with 3.73.

Also experience with power steering options are appreciated. Was the factory offered system sufficient for slightly larger tires (nothing of 31s and probably not too wide)

With all of these questions I'd like to stay toward originally offered options with two thoughts in mind.

1. are these parts reliable
2. are these parts readily available

 

With those parameters, I'd choose a stock 76 with 302, 3:50 gears and the C4 with as many of the features you want. PS and PDB were available do the job well. Main concern is find one as near rust free as possible. Everything can be added, but you still can find one near what you want for less than building one. Later model 5.0, EFI and overdrive tranny's are popular. Vendors are Duff's, Jeff's BroncoGraveyard, Tom's Bronco Parts, Wild Horses, and BC Bronco's. Take a look at whats available. I love my six, but not with a automatic. The C4 in a Bronco is Bronco specific. Other tranny's, while very doable, require expensive adapters/modification. The 200ci six is the largest you can go without modifications. 235/75/15's work well with 3:50 gears.

 

300/4.9 or 250/4.1 R not in your interest due to gas milage, they're for us that want some Tq. (or "period correct", nostalgia, engine bay room, ease of maintenance, etc). Your request for milage is not a bronk (esp. not these). I won't speak 2 all ur Qs but I would trailer it as well. Only have 31" tires & a 2.5 lift (3.5 or more = lota of mods elsewhere) & am already @ the 6' + figure U mention for height (if that's what ur indicating 4 parkin). Vintage Air for AC... everything is readily available (for a price). I went the cheep route all the way. Ie Elderado rear discs etc.

2X what Richard said on gettin a rig in usable shape. The '90s saw a nationwide interest for them 4 some reason. Gotta have time, talent, or treasure to put one together these days. Luckly had mine 28 yrs cuz I got none of those.

Keep us informed, good luck. If I could, I'd put the 300 in mine but it's a TOTALLY different horse that yourn.

 

Welcome to the world of EB's.(early broncos). If your set on 76's, they only came with 302's. I believe 6's were fazed out in early 70's.
In California, 75 and earlier are smog exempt. 76's are not.
There are resources for just about everything for these Bronco's.
You will find a ton of info on Classicbroncos.com and norcalbroncos.com.
You will have a great time with this rig.

 

California, 75 and earlier are smog exempt. 76's are not.

Is it the 36 yrs. or the manufacture date? Here (MA) in ratchets up every yr. (think it's 18 yrs.; i.e. right now '93 & below don't need it, still got "safety" tho).

 

Here in Cali, we don't roll. It was supposed to but our wonderful legislators stopped it at 1975. But at least we don't have safety inspections, I remember them as a kid.

 

So you mean bald tires and no brakes is fine as long as it passes emmision test?

 

Hey, Richard - I C ur FB link, selected it but it came up "This page can not B located"

 

Since half of Cali. drivers are illegal and/or have no insurance, it really doesn't matter how safe they are, you have to pay for your own stuff anyway.

 

When I lived in Newman I went up to "the city", Modesto (late '70s) to do some tradin. Got hit by one of those (illegals). He took me to a buddies' and straightened out the fender & repainted it - good as new...
Chad-jack-a-thread

 

Thanks for the replies guys. We've moved away from the 76 for the smog check. I wasn't presuming to be getting substantially better mileage but I've looking into the actual real word difference.

 

Nothing wrong w/the '75...has J handled D44, V8, DSII, & PS and C4 (latter 2 options). AND it seems in Cali U can avoid the smog thing. But these are NOT reasons to have the bronk. Folks who have em don't seem to worry bout mpgs either. I'd own mine due to the wrk it can do (make $), ease of maintence, it's been with me almost 3 decades, and WHAT it IS. Sure if I had the $ I add all sorts a stuff but it's fine as is.

 

As I said before I owned a Bronco for years and I'm aware that they are trucks. Regardless of that if you're putting any substantial mileage on the vehicle a few miles per gallon will make a big difference in total fuel costs over a year. For example figuring 8000 miles per year just a one gallon difference be it 7 to 8 or 8 to 9, the total difference comes out to over $500 per year.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not new to owning trucks and I'm not ignorant of what the bronco is, but as has been said here I am building this truck for something very different than many of you have and use your trucks for. Having said that your experiences are still of value to me, experience with reliability and availability of parts and vendors, internet resources and ultimately knowledge of the engineering errors and quirks of the truck and components.

I am concerned about how to build this truck as we will be using it, not necessarily how others use their trucks.

Thanks for your replies guys. Looking forward to getting started on this project.

 

something very different than many of you have and use your trucks for.
Don't think of em as a 'truck' but can't say j**p. The BB U owned is, obviously, very different. There's some guys on here that use em (EB) fer show, not many to skid logs or wrk em, daily drivers, lots of rec vehicles (crawlers, mudders, hunting vehicles). What was yours gonna B 4 besides for the lady? What were the other(s) U owned 4?

I have No, Zero - confirmed automotive theory in my mind ( or much of anything else, really, just learnin) but the Whole Thing is about application, application, application with vehicles to me...That's Y I didn't answ yer Qs on "the accessories".

Keep talkin...