Ford Bronco Frame Off Restoration

K

Kmoran81

Well-Known Member
#1
#1
This truck is going through an entire restoration. Everything will be new and will be done the way Ford should have built it. Im setting the truck up for heavy duty towing, not off roading. (although there will be some BFG All Terrain Tires on it) It will be able to tow roughly 10,000 lbs when completed.

Front Suspension
4 Monroe Reflex shocks
F350 Coil Springs
Air Bag Helpers

Rear Suspension
Custom Length F350 Leaf Springs
Monroe Load adjusting Coil Overs
Air Bag Helpers

Frame
Boxed in vital weak areas
1 3/4" Front and rear sway bar
100% Polyurethane Bushings through entire truck
Class IV Hitch with trailer brake

Electrical
Custom wiring harness front to back
Upgraded stereo
130amp Alternator
Auto Meter Gauges

Engine
351w stroked to 408 cubes
AFR 185 Heads
Forged dish pistons

Transmission
Ford ZF 5 speed out of 99 F350

Axles
3.73 Gears front and back
Trac Loc 8.8 Rear End

Interior
Custom Diamond Plate fabricated.

Cutting the old body off the frame


Sawzall, Torch, and Air Chisel


Rusty Frame




My Buddies Grinding the frame




Frame Painted With Chassis Saver








Picked Up a Rust Free body tub from Texas




This is what $2200 worth of parts looks like






Custom made F350 Leaf springs (They can handle over 2500# a piece)


Bead Blasting is messy


Front Suspension Mocked Up


Front Dana 44 Axle housing after paint


Installed the new U Joints in the new spindles


Steering Knuckle
 
BMad

BMad

Well-Known Member
#3
#3
Nice, What year Bronco? I had a 83 with a straight 6, and 91 with a 5.0. Besides my Excursion, they were the two best trucks i ever owned.
 
K

Kmoran81

Well-Known Member
#6
#6
I was originally going to do a Single Turbo 351 but I went to a local engine builder here in Rochester (ProFormance Spechis ialties) and the guy there said that with as heavy a truck as a Bronco is and the amount of heavy towing I was going to be doing with it, that a turbo motor would throw too much heat and I would have head gasket issues because boost + towing = too much stress on the motor. Now Im not sure if I believe that or not.

So heres my over all goal. Give me your opinion.

1. Reliability. This will be my daily driver that tows my lawn/landscape trailer 5 days a week

2. Low-Mid End Torque. My landscape trailer is only about 2000 lbs loaded. BUT I also tow my boat (5000 lbs) regularly and sometimes my dump trailer (7700 lbs)

3. Fuel Mileage. I wanted to go carb just because its a hell of a lot cheaper than buying a new MAF EFI set up with standalone fuel management, but I dont wanna end up with 7 mpg.

Which way do you think I should go?

a. 351, forged pistons, single 70mm Turbo, EFI
b. 351 stroked to 408, MAF, EFI
c. 351 stoked to 408 Carbed

Or any other suggestions???
 
EHA Racing

EHA Racing

Member Plus
#7
#7
Matt at Pro-Formance is exactly right. Towing with a turbo is fine if you have a diesel. It has severe duty everything and enough head bolt load to keep a roof on a house. I feel a gas turbo engine for towing would be a maintenance nightmare.
Fuel injection is going to give you the most reliability and economy, with decent power. However it is very expensive and you will need it tuned correctly.
Carb technology has come a long way. I installed a custom Pro-systems carb on my brothers street/strip Mustang. The driveability, throttle response, power and consitancy are awesome and unmatched to my wifes EFI Mustang which is a constant nightmare. I'm probably going to carb the car because I cant get it where I want it with EFI, at least without spending a million dollars.
Cubic inches and torque are key with towing. I would definately go with a 393 to 408, 10:1 compression, forged pistons and good flowing head. Honestly for the reliability and cost I have been very impessed with the SVO "N" cast iron head. They flow a ton, 10* valve angle and make great torque. I built a 393 with N heads for a off road Pro truck and the thing was dusting the competition all day long. On a short course he was pullin the competition by 2 to 3 seconds on just 2 laps.

Another option, which I really like, is to drop in a Turbo Cummins or 7.3L turbo Powerstroke. There are tons of threads on dieselsite.com about doing swaps into other vehicles. You cant beat a diesel for towing and general driving. I have a 2001 F-250 with a 7.3 and will NEVER go back to a gas powered truck.
 
K

Kmoran81

Well-Known Member
#8
#8
I think the carb is the way im gonna go for now just to get the thing up and running. Then Ill save up some cash and convert it to EFI after a year or so. Will pump gas be safe with 10:1? Matt told me to not go any higher than 9.5
 
EHA Racing

EHA Racing

Member Plus
#9
#9
Yes 10:1 is very safe on pump gas. The last 3 street engines I built are all around 10.5:1 and run on 93 octane. One is a 306, and 2 are 410's.
 
BlackOut2k11

BlackOut2k11

Well-Known Member
#10
#10
Kmoran81 said:
I think the carb is the way im gonna go for now just to get the thing up and running. Then Ill save up some cash and convert it to EFI after a year or so. Will pump gas be safe with 10:1? Matt told me to not go any higher than 9.5
Click to expand...
Well going carb or EFI (if you go EFI go MAF) all depends on the transmission you plan to use. If you have an E40D you will need to figure out how to control it electronically. You CAN go carb and control the tranny with a Bauminator (dunno if I spelled that right) transmission controller. If you have an older style vacuum controlled transmission then you're good to go with the carb setup right out of the gate.
 
K

Kmoran81

Well-Known Member
#11
#11
BlackOut2k11 said:
Well going carb or EFI (if you go EFI go MAF) all depends on the transmission you plan to use. If you have an E40D you will need to figure out how to control it electronically. You CAN go carb and control the tranny with a Bauminator (dunno if I spelled that right) transmission controller. If you have an older style vacuum controlled transmission then you're good to go with the carb setup right out of the gate.
Click to expand...
Yea E40D didnt come in the Bronco with a 5.0 til 92 or 93. I have an AOD with a TV cable. Probably gonna end up swapping to a ZF anyways
 
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