Think I found a Bronc

[KRUPP]

Been on the hunt for a while now for an early Bronco, '66 - '77. Had a '77 a long time ago, but sold it ahead of having children and raising a family. Crazy how their value has skyrocketed in the last 20 years. It's been a bit of a task to find a "builder" bronco without it either being a $20k rusted p.o.s., or a driver bronco that costs over $40k.
I think I found one locally that has the right potential, but without too much upfront investment.

It's a '69 project Bronc. Been sitting in pieces for at least 10 years. The guy started the work and then life got in the way and it's just sat there...
-He's installed a fresh 351W with go fast and loud goodies.
-He already replaced the front with an upgrade Dana 44 with discs and 4.56 gears.
-Has new front long travel radius arms and Wild Horses 5.5" coils with ungraded coil towers.
-Has a new NP435 Transmission and the original Dana 20 Transfer Case has twin sticks.
-Rear 9" has 4.56 gears and new 5.5" Wild Horses springs.
-Frame has been blasted and recoated.
-Body is in decent shape but will need new floor panels, fenders, etc.

Looking forward to bringing it home and beginning the build. Will probably update the process once in a while here, if our buddy CJ doesn't mind

 

[Belizean]

Looks like a great start !

 

[CJ]

Broncs have indipent front!

 

[KRUPP]

Broncs have indipent front!

Nope. Radius arms, track bar and coils. Early ones ('66 to '70) came with a Dana 30 and later ones ('71 to '77) had the Dana 44 .

The new ones (2021 to present) do indeed have independent fronts.

 

[CJ]

Damn, I don't know Broncs.

 

[KRUPP]

Damn, I don't know Broncs.

You will

 

[CJ]

You will

But why?

 

[KRUPP]

Got her home today. Just like every project, the more I look at it, the more stuff it needs.

It has a solid drivetrain and at least the tub is ok.
Front sheet metal, from floor pan forward, will need replaced. About the only thing I’ll keep up there is the hood. Tremendous amount of aftermarket sheet metal available for these things though.
Top is for sale already. Will take body to our boneyard storage and work on chassis for now.

 

[Belizean]

I always like those early ones. Since you are selling the top, does that mean it just going to be out in fair weather and no winter runs ?

 

[jzak]

I'm sorry, but every time I see a Bronco owner it's usually some Elon Musk wannabe who just spent $50K getting some shop to restore it for him. The guy wouldn't know how to change a spark plug. You don't need to have stock options to buy and maintain a CJ.

 

[KRUPP]

It’ll be a fair weather vehicle, like the CJ.
Hell, I might not even put a heater back in it.

I understand the sarcasm about the Bronco owners. 6 figures$ now is not that uncommon. Just crazy!
I wouldn’t dream of someone else building a Bronc for me though. Something I’ve wanted to do for decades now. The going rate for a “builder” early Bronco is astronomical now. Can’t touch a builder that runs for under $20k around here.
I sold my stock and running ‘77 back in 2007 for less than I paid for this one, which is in pieces and needs a ton of work. They’re so frikn cool though!