I bought my 78 in Feb. I crawled under it and looked at he condition of the floor they looked fine form underneath the Bronco The carpet in the bronco was new so I did want to pull it and look under underneath of it. I am in process of fixing the rear seal of the 351M, Rebuilding the transmissions, and transfer case.
I pulled back the carpet in the front floor pans to access the shifter boot bolts and bingo Half *** rust repair.

This brought me some concerned so I pulled the seats and the rest of the carpet in the bronco. The complete floor is nothing but thin sheet metal laid over the Extremely rusted floor. The rust does not go all the way through so that is why the floor looked fine from underneath. There is not enough metal left to even fix the floors with out hours and hours of creating new floor. I paid $3500 for my Bronco. I got gang raped on this deal.

I have spent to much money on the power train to send it to the bone yard. The frame is in great shape.

I will beginning the preparation for swapping a cab off of a 73 -79 F series Truck on to the frame and put a flat bed on it. I may not work as fast as others would on this project. I plan on keeping tabs on the time spent on this project just to show how much time can go in to a project.

7/7/2007
Drove to Churchville Maryland to look at a Truck cab form a 77 F-100. I Looked the cab over really well. The only problem areas are the cab corner. The guy is including replacement panel in the deal. I am getting the entire cab, doors, clutch link ages, pedals, new heater, and new bench seats. I decided to purchase it. Total cost $200 delivered.

Total Time Spent 3 hr

 

Here is what I am shooting for but the flat bed will be a little more fancy.

 

Thats a sweet deal for that cab. I am glad you found one so fast. Not to pressure you but do you have a time frame that you hope to have it finished by.

I mean are we talkin years here or sometime next year.

 

The Goal is no Later than the end of Feb 2008. I am in the process of stripping the Bronco I will be taking pics and post a summary of stripping.
Then the whole frame gets a POR-15 bath. The cab gets the same treatment. With the POR-15. My biggest consecn is the painting of the bed I will need to find heated garage to do it in since paint does not dry real well in the cold.

 

The whole floor looks like these pics.

 

Thats bad. worst I have seen. you definitely were right in getting that new cab.

 

I strippred the Guages, Fender flares, Tail Lights, and some of the trim. I even found out the Bronco was silver. I have totally become and Air tools nut.

All in all 2 HR spent stripping In the 97 Degree heat









Total time 5hr

 

Not much to report I got the tail gate off and then I had to go to the hospital to get stitches

1 Hour of work
3 hours at the Hospital

 

Wow, that's some nasty stuff. What happened that you had to go to the hospital?

If your tailgate doesn't have much rust on it, and the window goes up and down, I might be able to take it off your hands if you don't want it.

 

There is a spring loaded arm on the passanger side of the of the tailgate. I did not know. I loose the Bracket on the that hold the arm in place when. When I was movin the tail gate to remove it the Arm Ripped the braket the rest of the way off. The Bracket Hit me in the hand and then flew onther 25 Ft, my tailgate is rusty the glass is good, and the mottor works but I dont know if it will work with you year. I wll pm you pics.

 

Ouch.

Yeah, send some pics over, if I can't use it, Jason (IronElk)'s tailgate is in horrible shape and can probably use it.

 

The Bracket is what Hit my hand

 

Nice work... I'm not familiar with that bracket. I'm a bit surprised you had to get stiches for that, looking at the scars on my hands, maybe I should have gone in for stiches a few times... oh well.

 

Well the cab got delivered. I didn't take any picks my hand was killing me. after I helped unload It. I will take some tomorrow while I am stripping the wireing form the Bronco.

 

The Cab showed up Yesterday. Sorry no pics yet I forgot to charge the camera.

I started stripping the wiring harness form the Bronco. It has been hacked up so bad it is not worth trying to save it. So after an hour I gave up on it I then moved in to removing
the steering column, the break and clutch pedals, and the master cylinder.

I gave up when I broke the other stitch and my hand started hurting. So I quit for the day.

Will I be able to use the harness from the 77 F -100 ??? It is completely intact and has not been hacked up. The 77 had the 4.9 V6 with three on the tree.

Worked 3 hr

Total time 8hr

 

Well I have been busy working on stripping Bronco I usually can only work on it for an 1 Hr and half in the evening during the week Dew to darn 8-5 job I have to go to.

Is it bad when your coolant looks like this.


The engine compartment is completely disconnected. All of the bolts are out of the front clip. All of the body mount bolts are out



Here is the Pic of the 77 F100 It has some bad spots on the cab corners but I got replacement in the Deal. $200 Delivered.






3 workered
11 Hours total

 

nice looking cab. I love the 70's style ford trucks.

 

Well I went Cherry Picken today and got a little done. The scap pile is getting larger.




I had to quit my hand is still not up to Full strength yet it started hurting and I needed to stop.

4hr of work
15 hrs total

 

Well here are some pics of the frame. It has some holes In the frame were the Body Mounts were.



My Progress was halted by the Bourogh has strick Rule about vehicles in disrepare. So I blew last of my budget on a Portable garage. So I can keep working. Damn the Man

 

gotta love those township laws.

looks like that progressed fast.

Are you getting any help with this or is it all you.

 

I am doing it all myself. My self and my 1 ton Cherry Picker That was the Best $100 I have ever spent at Harbor freight. They are on sale now for a $100 again.
I wish the Project woild move a little but I can't really complain.

 

Well the Broncos budget is on hold for the time being after the borough. I need to let the cash flow build back up.
I bought a ton of part to keep me busy though.
Painless Wiring 18 Circuit Universal wiring harness.
Complete set of auto meters gauges (Speedo, Tac, Volt, temp, and fuel level.
A complete new Earl’s Stainless steel braided 3/8 fuel lines systems( I hope I have all the fitting I will need)
1 ton Chevy TRE with Inch and half dom tubing to connect it all.
Pre bent brake system brake lines to Re-plum the whole system to top off the brakes I added 18 inch Paragon Performance's stainless steel braided hose.
Two 36 splined u Joint to create a new Steering shaft.
The Bronco is now completely Stripped. The frame is bare.
I in the process of cleaning all of the Grease, rust repairing the Body mounts holes, on the frame and suspension to get ready for paint.

I have been Lax on keeping the working time posted but I am up to 42 hours.

Here is were I need some help. I need to make a decision on the rear suspension. I was going to shack Sky Shackle Flip to bring my rear up to 6 Inch of lift. or Something like this guys I found on Pirate. But I am not sure where this design is street able.








I may keep reading about building a triangulated 4 Link. IF this simple set up is not streetable.

 

The shackle flip is a bolt on and it's easy to do. You'd probably be money ahead but sticking with the leaf springs and getting the Sky kit.

 

i like coil sprung rears.....gives better articulation and a much better ride....

 

My Rear leafs are broke. I need new leafs and the Shackel flip. This is about $500. I think I could go coil for that Price. It is just a though.