What to do for my Spring/Summer Projects?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 2
From: Iowa Park, TX
What to do for my Spring/Summer Projects?
I've got 2 Bronco's, an '83 and an 86, both with 351W's. The 83 has 230,000 miles on it, straight body, good electrical, etc. The 86, has dents, electrical problems, someone tried to steal it at one time, which has contributed to the butchered wiring harness, but it only has 79,000 miles on it.
The 86 is a little higher end than the 83, and the 86 was purchased with the idea in mind to be a donor vehicle for doing a stock (basically) upgrade to the 83.
Would it be easier to do an engine/tranny swap (both 351W/C-6's) or swap the front clips/bodys (put the 83 good body on the 86 frame, which has LOTS less miles on it).
Has anyone ever swapped bodies/taken a Bronco body off the frame?
Any one know which would be easier to accomplish?
Thanks in advance,
Frank
The 86 is a little higher end than the 83, and the 86 was purchased with the idea in mind to be a donor vehicle for doing a stock (basically) upgrade to the 83.
Would it be easier to do an engine/tranny swap (both 351W/C-6's) or swap the front clips/bodys (put the 83 good body on the 86 frame, which has LOTS less miles on it).
Has anyone ever swapped bodies/taken a Bronco body off the frame?
Any one know which would be easier to accomplish?
Thanks in advance,
Frank
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 1
From: St Louis
no suggestions from me, but if the 83 frame is in good shape, i.e. no rust throughs, deep scaling rust spots, or stress cracks in the frame, I see no reason to do a body swap. It would be about the same work as swapping engines and trannies if not more. If you are planning on swapping axles as well, then it may be better to move the bodies around just to save the labor of swapping the entire drive train because you would only have the frame and body as the original truck.
I say look the frames over closely for welds, stress cracks, rust throughs, scaling rust spots, etc. before deciding your course of action.
I say look the frames over closely for welds, stress cracks, rust throughs, scaling rust spots, etc. before deciding your course of action.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,388
Likes: 0
From: SE Texas
It may not seem like too much work until you do it, but swapping the bodies is a whole ton more work than just changing the engine/tranny/t-case. Think about how much work is involved just doing a body lift, then compound that with having to deal with all of the wiring and figuring out how to move the body tubs or frames around. I've seen guys jack the tub up and off of the frame, build a temporary stand to hold it up, then roll the chassis out from underneath to swap it out. Being a 20+ year old Bronco, the body mounts themselves are going to be a royal PITA to separate.
Something else to consider that i always advise when considering this. If you do the tub swap, document it really well since the VIN numbers on the dash plate and the frame won't match up if you ever sell it or have to register it.
With that said, I would take the 86 motor and tranny out and swap it into the 83. Then again, for that much work if it was me I'd drop in a 460 in place of the 351W boat anchor. JSM84
Something else to consider that i always advise when considering this. If you do the tub swap, document it really well since the VIN numbers on the dash plate and the frame won't match up if you ever sell it or have to register it.
With that said, I would take the 86 motor and tranny out and swap it into the 83. Then again, for that much work if it was me I'd drop in a 460 in place of the 351W boat anchor. JSM84
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