Narrowing My Bronco

[muleskinner]

I can vouch for Mike as well, He has made alot of guys driving tube'd out buggy's look silly.

 

[Andy]

I'm sure he has, but his statement of keeping the body off the rocks....that to me means building something that it dosen't matter. It's alot more fun that way, IMO. It looks like it will turn out very nice I'm sure, it's just that you can never go back.

Andy

 

[mswasey]

Thanks for the props guys. Lets just say I haven't taken this rig EVERYWHERE but it has been at least part of the way there and done some of that!
As far as tire and suspension specs:
35X14.5X15 Swamper SSR tires
4.5" Alcan rear leafs, 3.5 Wild Horse coils with 1" spacer
2" body lift
Wristed radius arm

After the body comes back together I plan to stretch the wheelbase when I put my 60's under it.

I want to keep as much of the Bronco look as possible and still be able to keep the body somewhat straight. The buggy route would be much easier without question but I still like to take my family along on some trail rides, a warm dry ride goes a long way!

 

[yellowbronco]

My frt end was already tubed out, not inner fendersand custom radiator/mnt....
Your hood will end up a little longer than your fenders, I just mnt'd my fenders to the frt of the door post rather than over it. Made up the gap at the post with my door inserts....But my body is FAR from looking good Lets just say it resembles a Bronco....

Yeah, my Bronco has a few minor scratches and whatnot I got it pre-rolled, so I don't really mind the body damage! I met a guy on Rusty Nail who had just narrowed his front, it was cool to see, I also got to chat with him about the benefits of a narrowed front.

 

[B-RAD]

That makes me want to cry! You should have just started a buggy, right now I would kill for a clean street ride like that!


Andy

Don't cry to hard while Mike's bronco is supper clean it has been on many a trail and it will still look clean when we're done with it. we wont even mess up that pretty green (stock 74) paint exept where mike has to pound out some dents. it's all about making a better wheeler. That still looks like what it was. I can't wait to cut the other side.

 

[ROCKRUNNER]

i will have to agree that is criminal to do that to such a classic! have a 68 and is straight and clean would never touch it. good luck

 

[B-RAD]

well for gods sakes don't ever put the cut out flares on a EB you'll just ruin it. Don't ever lift a rig you'll ruin it. Dont ever wheel a 4x4 you might scratch it. Don't ever modify any vehicle to enhance its performance cause you might devalue it.

while there is no arguement as to how clean Mikes bronco is his driving style can best be desribed as fluid and smoooth! I have wheeled with Mike since pushing Hot wheels through the dirt. our dads used to wheel together before mike and i were old enogh to drive. just because a rig looks good does not mean it can't wheel the hard stuff and just because a rig is beat and rusted doesn't mean it can. I sware some comp guys think they are the only ones in the world that can drive.
So am I criminal for cutting up a real clean 77 CJ-7
Mikes Bronco was really cool befor he started this project and it'll be bad ASS when he finishes it.
O.K. I ranted FLAME ON.

 

[Jinx]

well for gods sakes don't ever put the cut out flares on a EB you'll just ruin it. Don't ever lift a rig you'll ruin it. Dont ever wheel a 4x4 you might scratch it. Don't ever modify any vehicle to enhance its performance cause you might devalue it.

while there is no arguement as to how clean Mikes bronco is his driving style can best be desribed as fluid and smoooth! I have wheeled with Mike since pushing Hot wheels through the dirt. our dads used to wheel together before mike and i were old enogh to drive. just because a rig looks good does not mean it can't wheel the hard stuff and just because a rig is beat and rusted doesn't mean it can. I sware some comp guys think they are the only ones in the world that can drive.
So am I criminal for cutting up a real clean 77 CJ-7
Mikes Bronco was really cool befor he started this project and it'll be bad ASS when he finishes it.
O.K. I ranted FLAME ON.

Well said,

 

[mswasey]

AGREED!!
By the way, the trimming is going rather nicely.

 

[B-RAD]

AGREED!!
By the way, the trimming is going rather nicely.

cool were you able to staighten out the couple of spots that I wiggly? when we do the other side, I'll try my jigsaw its smaller size might help.

 

[Milner]

cool were you able to staighten out the couple of spots that I wiggly? when we do the other side, I'll try my jigsaw its smaller size might help.

Are you talking about getting a straight cut in the floor of the bed?
Long cuts like that, I have had good luck with a skill saw and carbon blade....it eats blades quick, but stays pretty straight....Or you could always use it for an excuse to buy a new tool....that double blade thing that Craftsman has is cooooool. Two blades turning opposite directions....

 

[ROCKRUNNER]

B-RAD.... THERE IS NOTHING CRIMINAL ABOUT CUTTING UP A HEEP INFACT YOU SHOULD BE PRAISED FOR IT, THEY ALL SHOULD BE CHOPPED UP AND FORGOTTEN ABOUT!! THE POINT IS THOSE THINGS ARE VALUABLE AND HARD TO FIND ESPECIALLY ONE THAT IS IN THAT GOOD OF SHAPE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS DRIVING SKILLS IN FACT IT IS JUST THE OPPOSITE IT IS JUST ONE MORE MOLESTED BRONCO AND THE HERD IS DYING OFF!

 

[mswasey]

The skill saw sounds like a good option. I have been using a clamped piece of angle iron as a fence with a grinder and cutoff wheel which is working pretty good. I like the sound of that new tool idea! I haven't heard much about it though.

 

[2BIGTJ]

Where are you in Highland. We are looking at a house at about 9700 north and 6600 west

 

[Milner]

http://popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/tools/2004/8/craftsman_twin_cutter/

Check it out....

The skill saw with the fence would get you real straight....

 

[B-RAD]

B-RAD.... THERE IS NOTHING CRIMINAL ABOUT CUTTING UP A HEEP INFACT YOU SHOULD BE PRAISED FOR IT, THEY ALL SHOULD BE CHOPPED UP AND FORGOTTEN ABOUT!! THE POINT IS THOSE THINGS ARE VALUABLE AND HARD TO FIND ESPECIALLY ONE THAT IS IN THAT GOOD OF SHAPE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS DRIVING SKILLS IN FACT IT IS JUST THE OPPOSITE IT IS JUST ONE MORE MOLESTED BRONCO AND THE HERD IS DYING OFF!

Check your numbers! I would invite you to check production numbers EB vs. CJ-7 EBs were munufactured from '66 to '77 , CJ-7 were manufactured from '76 to '86 there are alot fewer 7's than Broncos. Go try to find a clean late 70's CJ-7 with v8 and disc brakes and see what the price is. Now before ya get into counting all CJ's, yj's, TJ'sand hell even MB's & all the military Jeeps If we're going to count all of those then. we Have to count The FS Bronco The BroncoII and even explorer and Excursion cause they are what the Bronco evolved to.
I did'nt intend this to turn into a EB vs Jeep thing Hell I dig old Jeeps old Broncos & cruisers and even buggies. I like rigs that resemble what they were more then staight buggies and I believe early Broncos should be Wheeled. Wasn't that why ford built it? (to compete against Jeep) I'm aware of the Ford GPW Jeep. but My point is praticle trail rigs evolve and if they don't they get left behind.
Hell Hot rodders and Classic Restorers have had this battle for years.
whitch is more valuble ?????? I CHOOSE THE BLOWN BIG BLOCK SLAMMED AND TUBBED WITH FAT ASS MICKEY'S 57 CHEVY over a clean stock 57 chevy. I wont even go into what I think of Later model Toyotas

 

[SUPERFLY]

I wont even go into what I think of Later model Toyotas

hey hey hey new toyotas over in europe and austrailia kick a$$ its the junk that we get in america that stinks (yet still better than any jeep or ford, not that jeep and ford are bad its just that toyota is far better ).

anyways besides that, i personally would never chop that sweet bronco up like that, simply because im not a good fabricater(at least not yet )and i dont have the money to risk on something like that. or the skills to make it look right. but apparently this guy does have the money and acording to everyone who knows him hes got the skills, so if he can make this baby look good than go for it, i cant wait to see it on the trail. just dont mess it up cause that will be a sin against the off road world

 

[riffisban]

Hey all...

I have been wheeling with Mike and his group for a few years now. Most of the wheeling I have done has been in the passenger seat with Mike, and If I have learned anything from Mike, it is his driving skills are classic and a treat to ride with him. And because of his skills and the group of guys we wheel with, you can see that his Bronco still is very clean and pretty straight and still lokks like a classic. And it is an honor to be a part of his buildup. I am starting a ride of my own soon, its a 89 Toyota 4-runner, and I can't wait to have this group of guys that are helping Mike build his ride use their skills, to help me put mine together. I will also be looking for advice from all of you out there.

 

[tj guy]

I am starting a ride of my own soon, its a 89 Toyota 4-runner, and I can't wait to have this group of guys that are helping Mike build his ride use their skills, to help me put mine together. I will also be looking for advice from all of you out there.

You should start where every good rig starts Chrome diff covers, Stainless bumpers, 40" tires, Then swap in a hemi or something. That will definitely pull Chicks at the mall. :greg:

 

[mswasey]

I am just North of there and on 5800 West. Buy the house, it's a great area.........and there could stand to be a few more wheelers around here!!!

Where are you in Highland. We are looking at a house at about 9700 north and 6600 west