Hello guys. This Himura again, cause I just want to tell you guys about my bronco and asking for suggestions on how to transform it into my dream bronco. To start with, my "dream" is to at least give a run for its money to a lightning. I know, i know, Bronco's aren't meant for that, but where i come from there's a lot of street racing, and less places to rock crall, so i go for the what i know. My dream car is my bronco after all. Already I've change the basics: K&N charger filter, BBK 56cc throttle body with spacer (should have gone 61cc), Edlebrock Performer RPM Intake manifold, Flowtech short headers, custom dual exhaust; which came out extremelly cool. (My Bronco is an 88 with 95 body parts, rear view mirrors and running board. I made the exhaust tips come out in front of the rear wheels kinda sideways just at the curve of the running board on both sides.) power pulleys (alt, crank and water), dual electric fan and a Superchip. I know I've to change to Mass Air soon and change the fuel injection or update it, as well as the distributor have it get more spark (MSD). Planning on painting it chrome Black and getting some 18" wheels, which is giving me a little problem to get. Updated the suspension by making it dual shocks on the back, changed all bushings and set up a steering stabilizer. Going to get rear/front anti sway bars too. Need to do something for the interior as all the trims have faded out a little. For those who like sound systems, I had a 10disc CD changer inside the big glove compartment pointing up, though it's old already (94) and I'm going to update the speakers and wires. Saw a boom box that goes over the wheel well on the right side, taking almost no space from the "trunk" for those with the spare wheel on the outside. Other than that, I've been looking at the 302 (GT40) engine swap offered by Ford Motorsport, rated at 340Hp, which is a direct swap and all that I've done should fit in. Just got some valve covers to dress up the engine compartment a little. So there u have it; as detailed as I could. If you have any (ANY) suggestions as to what to add, where to get it and such, please reply and/or give me web address to look at. Thanks bunch!!!!

 

if your goin this route you ought to go with an air ride suspension. It would be nice

 

Skip the GT40. It's a nice crate, but for the same money you could rebuild your 302 to a 347, get some serious headwork done, a nice cam and probably a blower.

 

My dream Bronco would be to custom make a 92-96 half cab Bronco w/ all the bells and whistles.

 

have heard that the 347 do get Hp up, but aren't meant for everyday usage...Dunno, plus the crate engine at 340 plus all the little things I've already done (which has added up 40Hp) should be enough by now...Rest is making it lighter, fiberglass hood, etc...

 

If you know how to build a decent motor (or know someone who does,) you'll get EASILY 80,000+ miles from a moderately-built 347, no problem. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but if you wanna run a Bronco with the Lightning crowd, a K&N, manifold, fiberglass hood and some shorties and pullies aren't gonna cut it. Not by a long shot.

I'm not trying to sound negative, I really think you've got some good ideas, but I don't think you realize how fast a Lightning is. Most AVERAGE built street-driven Lightnings out there (by average I mean a blower, exhaust and intake work and probably a chip,) these guys are pushing the 400hp envelope @ 4500 lb. curb weight. You're not gonna be able to just bolt that type of power onto a Bronco that easily.

 

My brother built a motor a few years back using a block from a 69 Boss 302 and after about $16k had a nice EFI that displaced 357 c.i. and put out a mere 650 horsepower backed up with a tough c-4 tranny. Used dry sump, custom milled heads, and all kinds of crazy stuff. He used it in a thunderbird as pro street set-up and then put it in a f-250 and ran good high 12's it was also a daily driver and got a good 8 mpg. He sold it about 2 years ago and guess where it resides...yes, an early bronco, tuff Bronco that is but have not seen it since. I miss that thing...sniff!

 

That's why as asked for info and ideas, so that i can make it to +380Hp without the blower option if possible....

 

Buy a 3 year old Hayabusa for 6 grand whip em all, and use the bronco to pull the trailer.

 

Wow, must be nice to have $. As a college student, I'm trying to keep up with just paying for gas. But when I win the lotto, I'll make a custom lightning Bronco and show you guys the pics.

 

Well you could get that GT40 302 motor and then put all of your stuff on it. That will give you 370-380hp, then you can supercharge it, which will push you over 400hp. Then you can start thinking about weight. But i wouldnt do anything fiberglass, cause if you get in a wreck then you will regret all of the fiberglass front end. That should get you closer to the lightening tail lights, so you wont have to see them from a distance. But it will also make others see your tail when they are trying to catch up.

 

You can get the stroker 347 and then put a pair of Edelbrock Victor Jr.'s on top of her and build her up from there with all the wonderful go fast goodies on the market and push yourself close to 500 horsepower. You'll want a good tight motor with lotsa flow through and through. Feed her enough fuel using aeromotive competition fuel kit and use a sweet ignition system with a extruded honed cobra intake or better yet edelbrock performer upper and lower intake for trucks with the largest throttle body on the market 75 mm. You will more than likely push yourself over 450 horses and maybe add a Sneaky Peet NOS somewhere in the mix. Add yourself a vortech supercharger and you will be over 500 HP at about 5,000 or 5,500 rpms. This is close to my brother's motor back in the day but he tweaked the heads and the motor was a little heavier than the stroker in the bottom end. Edelbrock is good stuff. But what I have listed above for a sweet build is close to 9 or 10 grand if you include beefin up that tranny which is a must as well as the rear. But this is just my thoughts

 

thanks bunch artistictouch. The way i see it, if imports spend about $16K on their shi...t.. then I need to spend just about the same just to get where I want. Definetly going for the 302 plus all I can add, but still trying to be naturally aspired no SC or Turbo..that'd be funny!

 

Just remember that this is estimated power of just the motor. You will lose about 75-100 hp to the rear wheels in the drivetrain.

 

I heard that due to weight of the Bronco you loose about 30%Hp at wheel.