My brother bought a 1978 Bronco almost 3 years ago. The Bronco was completely stripped down to the frame and then off of the frame and overhauled. The previous owner put around $8000 in it and got as far as putting the body back on the frame and then lost interest. The bronco was 85% complete(Not counting assembly). We bought it not realizing what was going to be intailed putting this back together. We had both front and rear axles rebuilt and new brakes installed after putting the axles and wheels back under the frame. That is as far as we have gotten other then having a new windshield installed. The bronco since changed hands between my brother and our parent 3 times with no progress. My brother has now started a new business installing vinyl siding and is willing to pay for the parts if I put it together for him. One of the main problems that I am having is with the body mounting to the frame. The Bronco has a 3 inch body lift and there are problems with how the front bumper attaches, radiator hoses, and fuel filler hose hook up. None of them will reach. I figured that a lift kit also supplied all of the extra lengh hoses and bumper extensions but apparently not. Also the spacers for the radiator support are missing. I had to use a stack of washers to temporarily support the front of the Bronco until I could find the correct spacers. Also the previous owner used all-thread to replace the original body bolts. Does anybody no where I could find all of these parts to help me join everything up correctly and what are the torque specs for the body bolts. I don't trust the all-thread because I don't know if it is the right grade of steel. Please help if at all possible as I am going at this blind. The Haynes manual is no good to me as far as details go and wiring. because it has all been replaced with Painless Wiring. I appologize for writing such a long post. I would just like to get this thing finished.

Matt,
Jacksonville, FL

P.S. The bronco was painted inside and out the same color as the yellow on the Jeff Gordon number 24 and the frame was mainted with Emron.

 

I'd work on getting the factory shop manuals if I were you; it's a pity nobody has published the factory assembly manuals, whcih are the inistruction sheets and diagrams used by Michigan Truck to put the Bronco together.
Then there are a wealth of sources you can locate on the internet for the spare parts you're going to need. Jeff's Bronco Graveyard for one, Dennis Carpenter is another.
Carpenter's catalog shows how the body mounts go together.
Contact a suspension lift kit company to see if they can help you with frame and body spacers.
You might try to find somebody in your area willing to help you out, maybe for a small fee.
Good luck,
- R

 

Dani, I wouldn't use the all-thread either, you need a higher bolt grade for body mounts. If that was my Bronco, I'd forget about the body lift, and put it back together using a stock height poly bushing kit that's available from several (above mentioned) vendors. This would solve all your problems, and make the reassembly a bolt-together project rather than an engineering nightmare. Not to mention a better handling vehicle.

But that's just my opinion. Whichever way you go, that sounds like one good looking Bronc.

 

I'd go with a stock height poly urethane bushing set as well. Use grade 5 or better bolts for the body, rather than all-thread. When lifting a vehical, it always becomes a bit of an engineering nightmare in regards to getting certain things to fit. The truck will likely accept 33 inch tires at stock height anyways. To tall, and these trucks don't handle very well at all. They might look good standing still when way up in the air, but driving is another story. As for painless wiring...one of the nicest kits available out there, and very complete. Try e-mailing them for their wiring diagram in regards to your truck. They've proven to be pretty helpful with their customer support.