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'78 Beater Build

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Old Feb 9, 2014 | 12:43 AM
  #1  
romedawg351's Avatar
romedawg351
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From: Dallas Ga
'78 Beater Build

I have a 1978 Bronco, aka Big Bird. Affectionately named by one of former bosses. The Bronco and I have know each other since i was 18. It has been through a lot with me. I blew up the motor out muding one night, had to get towed home by a chevy(that was tough). I rebuilt the motor better and stronger. Then the tranny lost a gear from the new motor, rebuilt it better and stronger. I got married, lost interest, and it was parked at my parents property for about 2-3 years. Went and picked it up, put in a new fuel system and lost interest again. Gave it to a buddy of mine to fix up and drive, well he never started working on it, so i went and got it back from him. That was last spring. I have finally decided to go at it with a good head of steam this time and try to get it to daily driver status. I live 3 miles form work, so gas is not a factor.







Motor is a 400 bored .060 over with a rv cam, 4 barrel intake, and a 2 barrel carb off a '60's 390. Tranny is a C6 with a heavy duty rebuild kit, B&M transpack and deep pan. NP205 transfer case and the D44 front and 9" out back. 3.00:1 gears in the diffs.
 
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Old Feb 9, 2014 | 02:12 AM
  #2  
Bubba Jones's Avatar
Bubba Jones
Fleet Mechanic
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From: Phoenix, AZ
It's always exciting to see build threads. What do you plan on doing exactly? Just fix some things up and make it a daily driver or are you doing to clean it up really nice and do some more work?

Either way, it's always cool to see progress of making any bronco better! It looks like everything is there and in good order, just needs a good cleaning/repainting to make it look real nice!
 
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Old Mar 29, 2014 | 10:16 AM
  #3  
bigzirb's Avatar
bigzirb
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From: Middleburg FL
Ok, you peaked my interest since mine is a 78 as well. Any updates yet?
 
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Old Mar 29, 2014 | 03:32 PM
  #4  
romedawg351's Avatar
romedawg351
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From: Dallas Ga
So far I have rebuilt my steering column, put on a new drag link, and rebuilt steering box. Also added an instrument pane from an '80s van to replace mine that was brittle and falling to pieces. Put a radio delete dash surround to fix the gaping hole in the dash where the po put a box for something(always hated that hole). I now need to get alignment cams for the front spindles to fix the bad camber problem in the front end. Then it will be time for new tires.

This summer when it is time to drive it around topless, I want to make some half doors for it. It has never had a working back window, so I'm going to fix the tailgate rust and weld up the top opening for the window, to stop the water from getting in the tailgate and rusting it out.

I would really like to find some 8-lug dana 44 outers to go with my dana 60 rear end I have when I go to get be tires.

I will add some pictures of my work when I get to my home computer and off my cellphone.
 
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Old Mar 30, 2014 | 09:39 AM
  #5  
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bigzirb
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 854
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From: Middleburg FL
Wow, it is sweet how much our builds are on the same page! If you haven't seen it here it the link to my build.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...big-truck.html

My swap to the 8 lug outers starts on the bottom of page 1. My swap to the same discs and dual piston calipers for my rear Dana 60 is in there too. I got the info on that swap here.
NORTH COUNTRY SPECIALTIES ®

Keep up the good work. I am just trying to work some OT to make some extra money for the Bronco this month.
 
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