IDI Bronco Project

[Can30Diesel]

Well Laserjock I had your floor repair project in mind when I set out to find a solution to the bronco's similar issues and while I am very impressed with the dedication you have with the floor repair, I was hoping to avoid similar pain.

I'll know what I'll be doing once I strip the interior out of my bronco and see whats bad where. If it is as I suspect it is, then I might be using the whole floor and firewall cut into two or three big chunks as close to what the factory seams are as I can get.

Another idea I am playing with is swapping the outside panels over to the green tub then sorting out how the tailgate mounts and some other differences.

Hopefully I get to stripping my bronco this weekend.

 

[crash-harris]

Tailgate mounts to the hinges. 3 bolts through aluminum into the tailgate, 3 major PITA bolts through the other aluminum half of the hinge into a problem area on the body side. I had to mangle the hinges on our (now for parts) Bronco due to excessive rust and corrosion. If you need hinges and/or body metal around them, I have 2 sets of the hinges and some mostly solid panel (where they bolt on the body).

Matter of fact, PM me with parts needs and I'll see what I have. Got lots of weatherstripping too

I'm beginning to hate body work and I've done very little it. My hat's off to you and laser!

 

[Can30Diesel]

Thanks crash-harris!

It so happens that the tailgate for this tub is still at the wrecker and its in pretty good shape. I might pick it up just in case.

 

[Can30Diesel]

Laser is really the standard for incredible dedication to bodywork as far as I am concerned. For me, every time I get into a project its a learning experience for me. I have an end point in mind, a general idea on how I want to get there and the actual process along the way comes out of endless hours of research and thinking and planning.

In this case, I get to deal with major bodywork, suspension conversion, and many other things for the first time. But that is what makes these projects so much fun. Its not a daily driver I need to have on the road ASAP.

 

[laserjock]

I appreciate it but I think it's probably misplaced. There are a lot better body guys on this forum than I am. I just take a lot of pictures. [emoji6]

 

[riotwarrior]

I assure you an OBS gate is different that the gate you got from me.

My gate for my Bronco is same as OBS.

Completely different latch mechanisms and a real hoo haw to change ...not an easy swap at all.

This is why you hqve my old blue gate. It waz not worth effort to change from one style to another.

My gate I kept is the correct one for OBS body and Brick nose....

Nope not fer sale.


Yet...

 

[crash-harris]

I also have a new OBS gate and like 90% of the internals (also new)

I think Greg gets an award for bodywork. I wouldn't even dream of splicing cabs.

 

[Can30Diesel]

Back with more updates!

Wire wheeled the frame and painted it. Its not "show truck" quality, but its at least a good 4 footer!

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Body mount bushing kit is on its was to my door.

 

[Can30Diesel]

Guess I should paint the diffs and suspension at some point now..

 

[Can30Diesel]

More updates!

So I threw more paint at the frame last weekend and got all psyched to finally roll the frame under the body of the truck.

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Had to move the floor donor out of the way. I also picked up a couple of 8 foot 4x4's which will act as the crossbeams the body will sit in as it goes up.

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Using plywood to make for a ramped solid surface and a 3 ton jack, along with much pushing, pulling, swearing and so on I managed to line up the frame to the body close enough for now.

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Then I proceeded to clean up the junk and parts which had accumulated in the bronco over the last several months. Its funny how these things become storage facilities!

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I don't have fancy lifting tools like Al and his tractors, so there was some improvisation that needed to take place. Basically lift the front a little, block it up, set it on the blocks, lift the back a little, block it up then set it down on the blocks, and back and and forth adjusting block position, confirming stability etc.

The back looks like it is on a dangerous angle, its not, its just an optical dillusion because the stumps were cut crooked.

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So we got the body high enough to clear most of what we needed and started rolling the frame under. It was me, my dad and two buddies that worked together to move and steer the frame. We ended up taking the back wheels off to lower it enough to clear the back beam. It happened so quick I did't get a chance to get any pictures, but it had to be comical to watch.

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We set the body down just on the 3 inch body lift pucks for now. There is still some body work to be done but here is how it sits!

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I think I could get used to seeing this.

I jumped up into it and it felt almost like being in the black truck again. This is gonna be a fun beast!!

 

[crash-harris]

Congrats on getting over that big hurdle. Now get it "finished" O have no room to talk.

Are you keeping the body lift?

 

[DaveBen]

Very cool!

Dave

 

[Can30Diesel]

I am kinda torn on the body lift. I had said in other threads that if I would do it over again (with the black truck) I would have not gone with the body lift. However I do like the extra space it gives to work on stuff. The bronco originally came with a body lift kit, so I might just use it. Its supposed to be a toy anyhow.

 

[Can30Diesel]

Thanks! Its sure nice to have it sitting like this now. Makes it much easier to plan whats next.. (floor replacement).

 

[riotwarrior]

Ya we here at busted knuckle get spoiked with tractors overhead gantry lifts and all kinds of other fancy stuff.

Looks really good Chris..really good.

An FYI a set of pole and winch type camper jacks are easy to mod or setup to lift a body up btw....

Well keep the work coming we wanna see this bad boy run...

Thanks for sharing