BACK IN THE DIRT
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78 DESERT RAT
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:54 pm
- Bronco Info: 78 Ford Bronco
BACK IN THE DIRT
Brought my Bronco out of the garage this past weekend after a couple of years of hibernation. Its a 78 straight axle with a fabricated 9" housing straped at 12" sway away 2.5 on all corners, heimed steering and full cage front to back.
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ChaseTruck754
- Spy/Ninja
- Posts: 9194
- Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:46 am
- Bronco Info: Don't have one - just old Ford trucks
- Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
AWESOME bronco! More pics & info on it please.
Oh and welcome!
Oh and welcome!
Owner of only dead and forgotten projects
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hobbyturnedobsession
- Posts: 4673
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 8:34 am
- Bronco Info: 96 c/o w/ 5.0
- Location: High Desert CA
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ESHALLBETTER
- Posts: 1588
- Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:49 am
- Bronco Info: 85 class 3, 70's somthing trail bronco.
- Location: Minneapolis, MN
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
I love that body style. Welcome!
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RyanDS650X
- Posts: 1868
- Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2009 11:13 am
- Bronco Info: Autofab '96 XLT 5.8
- Location: Mesa, AZ
- Contact:
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
Sweet! Welcome to the club!
'96 XLT 5.8l lil edelbrock, lil Autofab, LOTTA fun.
"I wouldnt even call adding beer as part of a prep...its like putting tires on the vehicle, you just do it."
-shockseals.com
"I wouldnt even call adding beer as part of a prep...its like putting tires on the vehicle, you just do it."
-shockseals.com
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78 DESERT RAT
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:54 pm
- Bronco Info: 78 Ford Bronco
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
The rear end is 1.5" wider than stock has a detroit locker and Dutchman axles. Deaver spring pack 3" wide, Wilwood brakes. Motor, trans, and transfer case all stock. Front end stock but with heim steering and swayaway shocks. Replaced front lock out hubs with drive flanges after breaking a hub once down in Mexico. Front brakes stock, Deaver coil springs in front. 4.56 gearing front and rear.
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- rsz_1rsz_1000000436.jpg (273.86 KiB) Viewed 1312 times
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- rsz_1rsz_1000000435.jpg (237.33 KiB) Viewed 1312 times
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ChaseTruck754
- Spy/Ninja
- Posts: 9194
- Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:46 am
- Bronco Info: Don't have one - just old Ford trucks
- Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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Dust
- Posts: 781
- Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 1:41 pm
- Bronco Info: Go Slow Ford's From 1957 to 1994
- Location: Central Oregon
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
Sweet truck.
Have a 78 in the shop that is headed that direction.
Dust
Have a 78 in the shop that is headed that direction.
Dust
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Kel Fab Creations
- Posts: 727
- Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2011 2:01 pm
- Bronco Info: 95 Bronco
- Location: San Jacinto, Ca
- Contact:
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tcm glx
- Peanut Butter
- Posts: 7309
- Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:19 am
- Bronco Info: 93 Ford Bronco 5.8
- Location: Riverside Ca
- Contact:
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
Wat a gorgeous Bronco! More pics plz!!! Oh, and welcome.
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robertcrav
- Let me google that for you
- Posts: 4313
- Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:06 am
- Bronco Info: Lana - Stock width c/t coil-overs/bypasses -- Sylvia - Stock width 4" Rancho kit on Billies
- Location: South O.C.
- Contact:
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78 DESERT RAT
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:54 pm
- Bronco Info: 78 Ford Bronco
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
Thanks for welcoming me to the site guys. I will get more pictures posted as soon as I can.
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300
- Posts: 647
- Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 4:44 pm
- Bronco Info: 1979 Class 3 Race Bronco. Built in 2000.
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
Very cool and very clean truck! I would also like to hear how the heim steering change went and if the bump steer changed at all.
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78 DESERT RAT
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:54 pm
- Bronco Info: 78 Ford Bronco
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
The heim steering was one of the best changes I made to the Bronco from stock. I experience no bump steer that I can tell, and I drive the vehicle at a pretty good pace through the desert. The track bar and drag link are almost parrallel with the heim steering. All of the components are much lighter than the stock parts, well worth the investment.
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ChaseTruck754
- Spy/Ninja
- Posts: 9194
- Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:46 am
- Bronco Info: Don't have one - just old Ford trucks
- Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
Don - do you have stock type steering on the race truck???
Owner of only dead and forgotten projects
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300
- Posts: 647
- Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 4:44 pm
- Bronco Info: 1979 Class 3 Race Bronco. Built in 2000.
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
Yes, still all stock stuff and geometry. I have done some mock up with heims, cycling it in the shop, and couldn't prove to myself that I could at least match the stock bump steer. Have not spent enough time with it and come up with the right geometry yet when the stock geometry has been acceptable.
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ChaseTruck754
- Spy/Ninja
- Posts: 9194
- Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:46 am
- Bronco Info: Don't have one - just old Ford trucks
- Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
Got it. I figured you might go through tie rods pretty good with all those dirt/race miles on the truck, but it's a testament to factory geometry if you haven't!
Owner of only dead and forgotten projects
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300
- Posts: 647
- Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 4:44 pm
- Bronco Info: 1979 Class 3 Race Bronco. Built in 2000.
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
Haha, I didn't say anything about how LONG the stock stuff lasted! I have them piled up like cord wood around the place. The stock tie rod ends will go about 50 miles before they get sloppy again, and they are pretty well shot by 800 miles. Maybe I can build a log cabin with them?
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78 DESERT RAT
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:54 pm
- Bronco Info: 78 Ford Bronco
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
Thats why I changed mine, could not make them last more than 500 off road miles.
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ChaseTruck754
- Spy/Ninja
- Posts: 9194
- Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:46 am
- Bronco Info: Don't have one - just old Ford trucks
- Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Re: BACK IN THE DIRT
Ok now that makes more sense.
Is there something in the way of replicating the factory design/specs but with tube & heims on the ends? There's got to be a reason it's not that easy though or I suspect you would have done this already. What seemed to get in the way when you messed with it?
Is there something in the way of replicating the factory design/specs but with tube & heims on the ends? There's got to be a reason it's not that easy though or I suspect you would have done this already. What seemed to get in the way when you messed with it?
Owner of only dead and forgotten projects