Intro thread and full size bronco questions.

[DieselFumes]

Hello all!

I'm new to the bronco/ttbworld but not new to the desert. I fabricate as a hobby and studied mechanical engineering in school. I work in sales for a custom shop attached to the biggest ford dealer in the world.

I recently purchased a 2017 F150 and went mid travel with it. After building it, I came to the conclusion that I'd rather have a dedicated dirt vehicle, again.

So here I am. I'm on the hunt for a 92+ bronco. Planning on keeping the stock motor for now or swapping in an LS. Will be going coilover conversion and q80s immediately.

Some questions I have:

I can fabricate, but for the initial suspension build, I don't have a lot of time away from work, so bolt on/wiy kits are enticing to me.

I've heard the solo parts don't have great fitment, worth buying solo stage 4?

What if I want to run shocks bigger than 2.5's?

Can I run 3.0's-4.0's with a solo engine cage?

Should I buy c/t/extended beams with rad arms and go from there?

I'd actually prefer to stay stock width as I believe it will be more multifunction, i spend a lot of time in the sierras on narrow mountain roads.

Goal of the bronco is to have a reliable camping vehicle that can keep up with my buddies when we hit mojave trail at speed. Currently, my f150 on king 3.0s is adequate.

Thanks!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ChaseTruck754]

Welcome.

I don't have personal experience with Solo so I can't account for their fitment on parts. i will say there seems to be lots more options for "bolt on' or W-I-Y kits for stuff now than there used to be. Threat, Southwest and Autofab all make bolt on coilover towers now. I say towers as they are more of a shock mount than an engine cage like solo.

[De$ertBronco]

Hollander Motorsports is also designing shock towers as we speak. He also sells and installs Solo's products, so I'd hit him up for sure.

[SteveG]

Welcome!

Keep an eye on the classifieds to save time and $$$$. There's some Autofab radius arms for sale here... cheap.

[ChaseTruck754]

ANd there was a set of Southwest coilover towers cheap too. Not sure if they sold already or not.

[SteveG]

That would make for a damn good and cheap front end set up!

[DieselFumes]

So it seems piecing a "kit" together can be done fairly easily? Do all the radius arms mount to c/t beams the same way? (I've seen desolate has a proprietary mount, but generally speaking)

Am I on the right track by going 92+?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Tchajagos]

I've installed a lot of solo stuff and it all goes together fairly easily. Almost everything is already figured out for you. It usually takes me about a week and a half for a stage 4 build. Might take less time for someone else but I am meticulous with my installs (clean/paint just about every part that I take off that goes back on including the frame) you can but 3.0 shocks on, you just have to cycle the suspension to make sure it doesn't bind anywhere. The lower shock tabs front/rear are weld on so you can mount them for whatever setup you have.

[Tchajagos]

92+ seems to be the most popular years. And most $$$.

[DieselFumes]

Well, I found one.



95 xlt sport 5.8L with manual tcase in KILLER condition. I bought it from a 22 year old girl who had it as her first car at 16.

When I checked it you, it had a dead hole. I made her and her "mechanic" boyfriend an offer reflective of needing a rebuild.

Turns out a rat had chewed through the harness for injector #2

And now, she's alive and has 160-170psi dry compression across the board.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DieselFumes]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk