Bronco Repairs , Modifications & Fabrications |
First thing every Bronco owner encounters is RUST . You don't have to live in the " rust belt " to find rust in your Bronco , Ford seems to have gone to great lengths to ensure that every Bronco owner would share in this experience . Front floors are the most common place to find rust, but the repair is fairly straight forward . |
This '76 Sport is a good example of a "dry" western Bronco. Body was perfect, but the floors ! What you're seeing above is the top of the aux. fuel tank & the 2nd body crossmember/ mount. I have cut away here all the affected metal. Pre-made floor pans are available but I choose sometimes to fabricate my own out of sheet stock. I weld in my new panels but screwing/riviting will work also. Finished floor is on the right. |
So, you have your heart set on a Bronco with uncut fenders but you can't find one anywhere . All isn't lost, while much more is involved than rust repairs , your cut fenders can be returned to uncut original condition. |
Now in my opinion the stock rear fenders on a Bronco are totally impractical on a 4x4 but.... there's something about an uncut Bronco ! There's two ways to go about this job, buy a new replacment quarter panel or find a donor Bronco. On this '70 Sport I used a donor panel. I first made a cardboard template of the cut fender, then traced it on to the uncut fender. That way the donor quarter wasn't totally useless, it could still be used.
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After grinding & fitting , clamp into place & tack weld. Now comes the tedious part, finish welding the entire seam. I do small sections at a time , moving around to keep heat warpage down. After the welding is complete , the welds are ground smooth & the warps are hammer & dollied out. Metal is then cleaned & final finishing with body filler is next. |
So now that you've got new floors & stock fenders you just HAVE to have a 1/2 cab ! Well.....it can be done but ya better have patience ! |
While not exactly like Ford made them , this top makes a good summer top or just a change of style for your Bronco. You need a stock full top, a damaged one or something you don't mind cutting up. Cut it apart at the startng point of the side window in the front & at the top corner of the window at the rear. 1st photo was the test fit after tack welding together. There's lots of filler pieces to add , endless grinding, but the results are pretty neat. |
This top can be viewed in it's finished form on my PROJECTS page. |
Ok here's a big one , steel roadster doors . Built these from original doors , made to open & close like stock . |
The first step is to find some doors you don't mind cutting up . These came from a roll over I picked up . Mark out the pattern then cut out . The removed panel is sitting on top of the door . |
Here's both sides cut . The trick is getting both sides the same . Patience Patience ! |
Ok , now things are happening . At this point I've welded in a new piece on the right side to "smooth" out the raised inner door panel area . A new filler piece for the cutout is sitting on the saw horse waiting for final fitting & welding . Also to be welded in are the recesses in the lower door for the old track mounting hardware . |
Here the welding is complete . Fillers were also welded in where the window frames used to be & the door handle & lock & all unused mounting holes . A release rod was modified to pull straight up at the rear of the door . |
Contents : Floor pan replacment Uncut quarter panels Half Top Roadster doors Custom Dash |
A couple more floor pan pics ... this of my '66's OEM panels |
Been awhile since I've had time for "fun stuff ! " If you have a 1/2 cab you know that storage space is at best , limited ! So ..... I bring you MEGA GLOVEBOX !
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I welded up all the excess holes that were still around after stretching the glovebox opening . The door is actually 2 pieces , an inner & outter skin that can carefully be separated . "Wings" were added to each end to keep the door original looking then reassembled . The glovebox liner was made from 2 cardboard liners sectioned then pop rivited together .
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Here's a second dash I built for roll cage clearance . I moved the glovebox to the left & eliminated the speaker grill & ash tray .... 2 things not needed ! All I need now is time to install the cage !!! |
Well finally got talked into building another for a friend . Amazing what 6 years of added experience & better tools will accomplish ! This one I used a panel flanging tool on the seams & it made one strong & easy to weld joint . Trimming & fitting around the drip rail was a bit tricky .
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Well I went & did it again . Decided my son's '67 would look better uncut so we welded a cut-out back in on the drivers side & replaced the passenger side with a new lower . Also welded up the body seams & did a '77 gas door conversion . |
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