69 Bronco Build

Discussion in 'Overlanding / Off-Road' started by indulf, Mar 9, 2018.

  1. indulf

    indulf Member

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    finally getting around to working on this a little more, so i thought i'd post up for some motivation and encouragement.

    By a stroke of luck I learned that an old friend who moved out to CO was taking bids on his old 69 bronco. Sure it's a little beat, sure it's a little old, sure it's seen better days, but the bones were still good.

    I put in a bid and ended up winning.

    My 11yo son and I made an epic road trip from Western NC to Colorado over the 4th of July weekend to pick it up. We drove to Columbia, MO, spent the night, then on to CO, spent the night, picked it up the next morning, drove back to Columbia, spent the night, and headed home the next day.

    A few asides..

    - We had an amazing trip. It was much needed "guy time". Lots of bonding, discussion, and we listened to some audiobooks to pass the time.
    - Out and back we hit 9 states. My son is well traveled, but not by car. He now has a better understanding of just how big this country really is.
    - A truly good friend let me borrow his 2016 f350 King Ranch dually AND a trailer for the journey. I still don't know what I did to get so far onto this guy's good side, but what a friend!

    Specs on the Bronco:
    - 1969 model. It's well used (in other words, the body is BEAT!)
    - 351w, fuel injected
    - np435 with custom hydraulic clutch
    - T-shift Dana 20, cryo'd input shaft
    - hydroboost brakes
    - f150 steering conversion
    - dana 60 front, ARB, 35 spline stubs, full time hubs, 1 ton brakes
    - dana 60ff rear, moser 35 spline shafts, 1 ton brakes
    - custom long radius arm rear suspension on airbags with forced articulation
    - long radius arm front suspension
    - full cage
    - premier power welder
    - Set up for 38s on stock H1 rims - came with a set of recentered H1s which I'll use in order to step up to 42s.
    - 8274 with custom 15" drum
    - an entire truck bed full of all sorts of spare parts. Example - a complete second fuel injection system.. A 750 demon carb with all AN connections to hook it up.. All sorts of great stuff.

    The air source was an old CNG tank which the previous owner would pressurize to 3000psi. I'm dumping that and going with something else - likely a CO2 setup, but maybe a viair and small storage tank. Looking for simplicity.

    Plans:
    - Fix the body, at least the front end..
    - New fuel system, soup to nuts. I'm going with a Fitech EFI setup, custom lines, fuel cell, and some nice pumps / filters. I have some spare SX Performance pumps that I may try to use. They are high dollar, but not in production any longer.
    - New ignition system. The Mallory Unilite setup is 90's tech and very finicky. Going back with and traditional MSD CDS setup but also considering a cam sensor and single coil per plug setup.
    - New radiator with 2spd electric fan, likely from a taurus.
    - Rewire the entire thing.
    - Install a new air source - CO2 or compressor / tank
    - Replumb the air system - it's leaky after all these years. Will likely use solenoids instead of manual valves.
    - Add some gussets / rings to the recentered H1 wheels.
    - Cut and trim to fit 42s
    - New harnesses
    - Lighting
    - Radios
    - Wheel the heck out of it :)

    Recently I scored two (!) parts broncos. I'm in the process of stripping them down now, and I'm going to get all the parts I need for the body and then some.. I'll be able to sell off the rest for a little dough.

    Here are some pics, will add more over the weekend.

    L to R - previous owner, my son, me
    [​IMG]

    clear shot of how it was when we got it.
    [​IMG]

    land train!
    [​IMG]

    partially disassembled in the garage..
    [​IMG]

    mashed!!!
    [​IMG]

    mashed!
    [​IMG]

    cabin cleaned out.. seats removed, air tank removed, etc.
    [​IMG]

    original build!!!
    [​IMG]

    pictures from the rig's last wheeling trip.. Moab, Utah. the previous owner parked it right after this.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    one of the reasons the body is so mashed up :D
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    will post more this weekend :)
     
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  2. indulf

    indulf Member

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    also, back in November i bought myself a new Nissan titan XD turbodiesel so i can haul the bronco around. it's already proven itself invaluable, as i was able to go grab those two parts rigs quick and easy. i'll have to get my hands on a trailer sometime soon - have been borrowing a friend's.
     
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  3. R Stowe

    R Stowe Moderator Staff Member

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    Looking forward to following your progress on this one. No doubt it'll be tricked out to the 9's.
     
  4. shaneadams90

    shaneadams90 ESEE Knives Marketing Director Staff Member

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    Been following this since you picked this beast up! Can't wait to see where it goes!
     
  5. BlueDogScout

    BlueDogScout Member

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    Looks sweet
     
  6. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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  7. OKcherokee

    OKcherokee Member

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    Sweet!!
     
  8. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    Best post ever on Esee Forums!
     
  9. nathan shepherd

    nathan shepherd Member

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    Cool truck. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it.
     
  10. Bruno_GO

    Bruno_GO Member

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    Nice thread...waiting for updates.
     
  11. indulf

    indulf Member

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    current status of one of my parts rigs... more progress to be made this weekend. you can see the other parts rig in the background.

    #neighborsloveme

    [​IMG]
     
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  12. indulf

    indulf Member

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    ps, getting that windshield frame off was a major pain in the rear. there were probably 40 spot welds holding it to the piano hinge.. air hammer to separate, angle grinder with a cutting wheel to cut, move on to the next one. not fun.

    i bought a spot weld cutter and will be disassembling the rear sides soon. cutting them off this guy with a torch so i can get rid of the carcass and do it in my garge. good times.
     
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  13. BlueDogScout

    BlueDogScout Member

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    Awesome job
     
  14. indulf

    indulf Member

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    not a ton of updates. we're in the middle of moving, so i've been unloading some stuff.

    delivering one of my parts rigs to a guy in South Carolina today. he's giving me a lot more for it than i thought i was going to get... awesome.

    more updates soon!
     
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  15. R Stowe

    R Stowe Moderator Staff Member

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    That’s a good problem to have.
     
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  16. indulf

    indulf Member

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    getting closer...

    sunday i'm picking up a set of 42" swampers with 80% tread for a crazy deal. i have all the body panels i need. just need a few brackets and such.

    big purchases left:

    - radiator
    - new ignition system
    - fuel system (tank, pumps / filters, lines, FI kit)
    - air system
    - wiring

    i'm sure there's more i'll need to do, but once i get over this move it won't be long before it's back on the road :)
     
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  17. ThreeRidges

    ThreeRidges Member

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    Great find and best of lick with the build I like my Broncos uncut, but to each his own
     
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  18. indulf

    indulf Member

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    i love them uncut too, but this one was already cut when i got it. plus, it's a rock rig - not meant to be pretty. fitting 42x14.50s on an uncut bronco would be a feat!!
     
  19. Mountainmistwanderer

    Mountainmistwanderer Member

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    +1
    I miss my 79 & 89. 78/79 are the best.
     
  20. indulf

    indulf Member

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    got the swampers. they are huge, and hugely heavy. going to be even heavier when i get them mounted on the h1 wheels with the internal beadlock!!!! was fun getting them into the truck by myself :D

    change of plans on the FI - going to go with an MSD atomic system. easier to integrate with the MSD ignition i'm installing for timing control. plug and play! they also sell a complete kit with pump, filters, lines - everything but the fuel cell. still hunting the right cell to fit. it's on hold a bit since we're moving.

    picked up an enclosed trailer for the move. the bronco will fit with the original wheels and 33" BFGs, but if 100% won't fit with the swampers on. i'll probably keep it for other things and find an open deck trailer once the bronco is running and sorted out. may try to trade it, who knows.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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