reamer Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 My first vehicle during high school was a '74 Bronco. in '86 my first new truck, my '86 Flareside, could not get rid of the Bronco for a grand, How things have changed... Anyway always "looked" on and off for another, found a '76 in 2005, rebuilt it but sold it cause the kids were small and Mom didn't like them in it.. We moved to CT in '97 and about 7 miles "down the road" there was a first gen Bronc in a guys front yard under a tarp, "rotting" been rolling past it for years, nothing going on with it other than the trees and bushes consuming it. last summer the guy had a car for sale in his front yard, I told my wife "it is a good excuse " to inquire about the Bronco..to my surprise she encouraged this. Now since these things in "deplorable" condition are easily getting 7Grand for some stupid reason, I figured lets see what the owner would say.. He was going to re-build it (along with 2 other projects next to it, "Come back in a week he said" So I did and convinced him to sell.....for $600.00! Rotted frame, Fender almost gone, floors gone and 6" sunk in the ground, but a steel top in great condition and not a tear in the seats! He mentioned it only had 18,000 mile on it and proved it with all the registration since 1973... I got the basket case home and stripped it, alot was in great shape, Cap Wiper motor /assy, wire harness, brake =, gas pedals and assy, E-brake assy, Dash is in almost "mint" condition, tire carrier, doors, hood (no rust) radiator, Heater and duct work, and CT leagal paperwork!. What this needed was an entire new body... Motor (302) had not run in years, but changed the oil/filter and "fired" it up, No noise smoke and great oil pressure? So I advertised some usable parts and the vultures came-a-calling. Ended up selling the rotted frame and drivetrain and some other parts for over $4000! With that cash, I found another Basket case it Syracuse, NY with a valid title that matches the door VIN that matches the frame numbers. for $2500. This is a 302 also but the P.O. took the front off it, Harmonic balancer, TC cover and chain fuel and water pump, and left it for deal for 5+years. This one came with a second , repaired frame, So I installed all new bushings in it, replaced all the engine parts and fired it up too,50lbs of oil pressure, no smoke and noises, a C-4 and Dana 20 t-case! Put the drive line on the "new" frame and I have a roller with a title! SO now I bought a "bronco in a box" from Wild Horses, A complete body tub, No instructions, and dimensions, just a "good luck, sucker! But they tell you up-front not for anyone with out welding experience, able to cut, snip, modify panels and must have a crap load of patience So we begin, made a rotisserie out of a second frame and started the build Once all welded up, and painted, ill lift it off this frame and roll the roller under it, but paint will have to wait till spring..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 COOL! That is such a neat story, Ron! Thanks for posting. And I hope you keep the story going. An early Bronco for $600!?!? That's crazy. Then sell many of those parts and buy another? Then buy a Bronco in a box? It is like a chess game, but I see where it is going, and I like it. I see the door from the first one you bought on the new shell. And I assume the "mint" dash will go in it? And the interior w/o a tear? And the steel top? Like I said, it is a chess game. Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelo Voltura Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 COOL! That is such a neat story, Ron! Thanks for posting. And I hope you keep the story going. An early Bronco for $600!?!? That's crazy. Then sell many of those parts and buy another? Then buy a Bronco in a box? It is like a chess game, but I see where it is going, and I like it. I see the door from the first one you bought on the new shell. And I assume the "mint" dash will go in it? And the interior w/o a tear? And the steel top? Like I said, it is a chess game. Well done! Looks like a fun project. I'll take 2 for the price you bought it for! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gsmblue Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 Looks like a fun project. I'll take 2 for the price you bought it for! Officially checkmate! Great story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramttocs Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 Officially checkmate! Great story! Very neat! Subscribed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpin Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 Very neat! Subscribed. Indeed! Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 Excellent Ron. Can't wait to see how this one turns out. Subscribed here also. You'll need one of those Quarantine Build decals for the back window...lol. I'm going to order a couple for the shitbox '80 Flareside I'm welding back together. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Quarantine-Build-decal-HOT-ROD-sticker-2020-ORIGINAL-DESIGN-copyrighted-/143686449406 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reamer Posted December 3, 2020 Author Share Posted December 3, 2020 Excellent Ron. Can't wait to see how this one turns out. Subscribed here also. You'll need one of those Quarantine Build decals for the back window...lol. I'm going to order a couple for the shitbox '80 Flareside I'm welding back together. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Quarantine-Build-decal-HOT-ROD-sticker-2020-ORIGINAL-DESIGN-copyrighted-/143686449406 I have the seats in the cellar (mouse free) and the dash is on a shelf, Since "back in the day" with the ignition switch on the steel dash, all the other keys on the keyring would sway back and forth while driving and wear the dash panel down to bare metal, so I'll strip and re-pain the original white Original key still works the switch and doors, But not sure I'll trust in when it's back on the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 I have the seats in the cellar (mouse free) and the dash is on a shelf, Since "back in the day" with the ignition switch on the steel dash, all the other keys on the keyring would sway back and forth while driving and wear the dash panel down to bare metal, so I'll strip and re-pain the original white Original key still works the switch and doors, But not sure I'll trust in when it's back on the road. Just as I thought, Ron. But I don't understand what you aren't going to trust when it is back on the road. That the keys won't scratch the newly-painted dash or....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 Just as I thought, Ron. But I don't understand what you aren't going to trust when it is back on the road. That the keys won't scratch the newly-painted dash or....? Helicopter tape. Looks like a neat project Ron! Any and all old Fords are of interest, and at the prices early Bronco restomods are getting these days thanks to Icon and others it looks like a worthy investment of your time. I hope you have fun with it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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