Well I am doing a post here about my frame off restro on my 1978 Freewheeling Bronco Ranger XLT. I have a post on the Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (6.9 & 7.3 IDI) you can check out the info on the engine build. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...idi-build.html

This will be focused on the mod's I am doing to the rest of the Bronco. Here are some pic's of what I am working with. I picked up this Bronco in 1987 for 500.00 buck from a lien sale in a tow yard. Once I picked it up I cleaned up the plug, added the 4" Rancho suspension, shocks, and poly bushing. I also added 4.10 Richmond gears in the Dana 44 and the 9". I then added ARB Air locker and BFG 35.

 

Two years later I rebuilt the 351M, I was never really happy with it and the gas mileage sucked. Anyways I am in the middle of tearing it down to the frame and starting over. It been sitting now for 10 years. I never like the braking with the 35’s on it, at best it SUCKED!

My Dad had a 1979 F150 and put in an Detroit locker with Mark Williams axles and housing. I was turning a corner from a stop sign; I heard the locker start to ratchet and then BOOM and snapped the axle. I was not doing anything but making the turn at normal speed. I had to drive it up the hill to the house and destroyed the housing. I really like the option of full floating axles so I am going with the rear Dana 60. Most of the mod’s are just making the Bronco better.

Here are the list of part I working on:

Rearend:

Dana 60
Ring and Pinion Richmond Gears 4.10
Yukon Overhaul Bearing and Seal Kit
ARB Air Locker
Wild Horses 4” Flex Master Leaf Springs
Disc Brake conversion
New Ranch 5000 Shocks

Frontend:

RCV CV Axles
Wild Horses Clydesdale Tie & Drag Link
Wild Horses Adjustable Trac Bar
ARB Air Locker
8 Lug conversion with Dual piston F250 Brakes
RedHead Steering Box
Bronco Graveyard drop Pitman arm
Warn Hubs
RCV Hub Gear upgrade
All Timken Bearing & Seals
All Energy suspension and Body Mounts

Brakes:

HydroBoost

Drivetrain:

Doubler

 

Here is the progress of tearing down the frontend. Very Nice!

 

Now that I have the frontend off, time to start pulling down the body

 

Here we go. It's always fun to have full scale models to pull a part. LOL

 

More of the tear down

 

To the Frame





Time to take the Bronco to the Car wash...

 

You're building yourself a heck of a nice Bronco there!

What does one of those diesels weigh anyway?

 

The IDI is about 860lbs

 

Time to take the Bronco to the Car wash...



Hey I caught my Truck in there! Can't wait to start into the building part of all this, great write-up, going to be a monster rig when done...

 

So Far So good, looks like a really good Bronco, I have been working on mine forever after it sat in storage about 9 yrs. Keep it up its gonna be nice when your done....

 

Hey all.

I Know its been a long time. Been collecting parts and as crazy as it seem I picked up a third project. 1977 Ford F250. I guess after all the time I spent on the IDI to find out that it's not really what I thought and having to throw away 300 dollars ARP studs and spend 2k on the 625 ARP studs plus the labor, well it left me a bit pissed so I needed therapy and found the F250. I am almost completed with it so, It's time to move back to the Bronco my true passion! right after Thanksgiving I will start posing pictures and the build.

 

I finally have the rear springs from Wild Horses. It only took 7 months to get!! And the Poly for them.





Wild Horses Spring FINALLY!!

 

Subscribed. Looks like you are near some of my family

 

Subscribing too. I like the frame pictures with the body off. I will ost likely be using them for reference. Thanks.

Jess