• Welcome to ClassicBroncos! - You are currently viewing the forums as a GUEST. To take advantage of all the site features, please take a moment to register. It's fast, simple and absolutely free. So please join our community today!
    If you have problems registering or can't log into your account, please contact Admin.

"The Avocado", 1975 Sport Restomod Build

Laxdad32

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2017
Messages
63
Loc.
Fort Morgan, CO
So I decided i should start getting my poop in a group and documenting the Bronco project. The farther I get into this, the longer it looks like it is going to take, but that's to be expected I think, with a 42 year old vehicle ;D. It has been dubbed the Avocado by my daughters for the two-tone green paint (which it will not be keeping).

I plan to make this into a daily drive-able, trail capable, weekend/recreation rig. The basic build plan is solid body (no need for show quality, just no rust, decent paint), 3.5" suspension lift, 1" body lift, 35" tires, 4.88 gears, 351 EFI with a 4R70W tranny, and twin stick transfer case.

Here is where it started:
 

Attachments

  • bronco.jpg
    bronco.jpg
    143.1 KB · Views: 198
  • bronco2.jpg
    bronco2.jpg
    103.4 KB · Views: 143
  • bronco3.jpg
    bronco3.jpg
    140.6 KB · Views: 138
  • bronco5.jpg
    bronco5.jpg
    133.3 KB · Views: 136
  • bronco6.jpg
    bronco6.jpg
    121 KB · Views: 98
  • IMG_3483.jpg
    IMG_3483.jpg
    111 KB · Views: 120
  • IMG_3480.jpg
    IMG_3480.jpg
    110.5 KB · Views: 132
  • IMG_3479.jpg
    IMG_3479.jpg
    83.8 KB · Views: 118
  • IMG_3478.jpg
    IMG_3478.jpg
    88.4 KB · Views: 159
OP
OP
Laxdad32

Laxdad32

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2017
Messages
63
Loc.
Fort Morgan, CO
Started tearing into it on Labor Day weekend, was hoping to get a new floor pan in, get it driveable, and bring it to the house to continue doing a little at a time instead of leaving it in my dad's shop 300 miles away. That didn't work out so well. The deeper I dug in, the more rust I found, and I started to realize that this was going to be a much bigger project than I first imagined.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3489.jpg
    IMG_3489.jpg
    78.8 KB · Views: 94
  • IMG_3488.jpg
    IMG_3488.jpg
    88.1 KB · Views: 97
  • IMG_3487.jpg
    IMG_3487.jpg
    121 KB · Views: 106
  • IMG_3486.jpg
    IMG_3486.jpg
    93.7 KB · Views: 115
  • IMG_3485.jpg
    IMG_3485.jpg
    93.1 KB · Views: 117
  • IMG_3484.jpg
    IMG_3484.jpg
    114.5 KB · Views: 121
OP
OP
Laxdad32

Laxdad32

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2017
Messages
63
Loc.
Fort Morgan, CO
Didn't get back down to work on it until the first weekend in November, and decided that it was time to separate body and frame, to make everything a little easier to work on.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0237.JPG
    IMG_0237.JPG
    100.3 KB · Views: 79
  • IMG_0234.JPG
    IMG_0234.JPG
    132.8 KB · Views: 85
  • IMG_0233.JPG
    IMG_0233.JPG
    101.3 KB · Views: 73
  • IMG_0232.JPG
    IMG_0232.JPG
    101.5 KB · Views: 71
  • IMG_0231.JPG
    IMG_0231.JPG
    89 KB · Views: 68
  • IMG_0230.JPG
    IMG_0230.JPG
    117.4 KB · Views: 76
  • IMG_0229.JPG
    IMG_0229.JPG
    112.1 KB · Views: 84
OP
OP
Laxdad32

Laxdad32

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2017
Messages
63
Loc.
Fort Morgan, CO
Next trip was the week of Christmas, got to spend a couple days in the shop in between looking for a deer with my bow. Cut away a lot more rust, cleaned up more, and actually started putting pieces back together.

Last couple of pictures are what caused me to spend more time out hunting than working on the Bronco last week. Unfortunately, he will forever be known as the one that got away. I could never get closer than about 120 yards, which is just a little outside my range with the bow.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3885.jpg
    IMG_3885.jpg
    73.8 KB · Views: 101
  • IMG_3884.jpg
    IMG_3884.jpg
    70.1 KB · Views: 113
  • IMG_3883.jpg
    IMG_3883.jpg
    62.7 KB · Views: 109
  • IMG_3882.jpg
    IMG_3882.jpg
    90.9 KB · Views: 106
  • IMG_0272.JPG
    IMG_0272.JPG
    110.2 KB · Views: 93
  • IMG_0270.JPG
    IMG_0270.JPG
    109.5 KB · Views: 96
  • IMG_0268.JPG
    IMG_0268.JPG
    106.6 KB · Views: 96
  • IMG_0267.JPG
    IMG_0267.JPG
    88.3 KB · Views: 105
  • IMG_3879.jpg
    IMG_3879.jpg
    67.8 KB · Views: 141
  • IMG_3876.jpg
    IMG_3876.jpg
    77.9 KB · Views: 162
  • IMG_3887.jpg
    IMG_3887.jpg
    66.2 KB · Views: 102
  • IMG_3886.jpg
    IMG_3886.jpg
    82.8 KB · Views: 91
OP
OP
Laxdad32

Laxdad32

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2017
Messages
63
Loc.
Fort Morgan, CO
That's as far as I have gotten, I'm not sure when I will get to go work on her again, but I am in the process of gathering more sheet metal as we speak. I will be putting in a new rear floor, cross members, taillight housings, and braces on next. Then hopefully I can start gathering the rest of the mechanical stuff. I already have a 98 explorer v8 donor for tranny, wiring, computer, and such. Also have disc brakes for the front axle waiting to go on, and a hydrooost unit from an '02 duramax that I am planning to graft in.

I want to give thanks to all the guys on here that have already helped me tremendously with information and ideas. This site is absolutely top notch as a reference and educational tool, and the members just rock! I will keep updating with pics as more gets done, and I'm already impatient for the time when I can put her on the road.
 

bronkenn

Contributor
Bronco Guy
Joined
Apr 27, 2017
Messages
2,662
Loc.
Southeast Ohio
Yep, that's how it always begins. "Just gonna fix a little rust on the floor pan". Good luck and good practice to leave one of the door post on to help fit the door. It is a lot harder when you remove everything at once and have nothing to reference them with. One piece at time and before you know it your done. Ken
 

BRONCOchild

Bronco Guru
Joined
Sep 4, 2005
Messages
2,029
That's a neat color. It hearkens back to the old Ford Maverick my dad owned. It was the same color.
 

chuckyb

Contributor
Sr. Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2016
Messages
941
Looks nice! Impressive how much work you are getting done with it being so far away.
 

wsager

Full Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2014
Messages
333
Thinking about that engine and trans setup, too. Do you have a lower manifold picked out? The lightning lowers just seem too expensive. Might call around and see if I can find a cast iron marine lower.
 
OP
OP
Laxdad32

Laxdad32

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2017
Messages
63
Loc.
Fort Morgan, CO
I haven't really decided on the lower intake yet. I agree, lightning is a bit costly, but then again so are the edelbrock and trick flow intakes. I'm about to just go with the 5.8 lower/302 upper adapter from BC broncos. I have read that it is a bottleneck for performance, but I am not building for huge power. Just good overall drive-ability and function.
 
OP
OP
Laxdad32

Laxdad32

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2017
Messages
63
Loc.
Fort Morgan, CO
Made some more progress. Door posts fitted, rockers fitted, rear floor and wheel wells cut out.

I know I am going to go with the 23 gallon tank, no aux tank, so I was wondering what everybody else has done on the drivers side interior in that situation. Do you still use the front filler neck cover, and just have nothing behind it? I was thinking of modifying the inner quarter and just making it match the passenger side, no filler neck cover, no evap cover. Thoughts?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0290.jpg
    IMG_0290.jpg
    102.1 KB · Views: 85
  • IMG_0289.jpg
    IMG_0289.jpg
    95 KB · Views: 84
  • IMG_0286.jpg
    IMG_0286.jpg
    104.3 KB · Views: 79
  • IMG_0288.jpg
    IMG_0288.jpg
    86.5 KB · Views: 79
  • IMG_0287.jpg
    IMG_0287.jpg
    91.9 KB · Views: 84

Rocko1012

Full Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2016
Messages
225
Looking Good,
When installing door post, what did you reference to insure it was in correct position?
 

74BroncoCO

Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 3, 2004
Messages
2,374
Great progress!! Your work looks amazing!

As for the aux fuel tank hole...if you never plan to run one, then I'd put sheet metal in and make it disappear! But putting a dummy cap there isn't a bad idea either...maybe for the future diesel swap for the DEF tank?? LOL!

Anyway, I see you are in loveland. You should check out coloradoclassicbroncos.com. Another incredible group of guys and gals.
 
OP
OP
Laxdad32

Laxdad32

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2017
Messages
63
Loc.
Fort Morgan, CO
Looking Good,
When installing door post, what did you reference to insure it was in correct position?

I used the braces I built to fit the original door posts when I started cutting out the floors. Used a couple bottle jacks with a 4X4 to hold the dash up, cut out the old door posts, installed the new ones using the braces, and test fit doors. So far, so good.
 

ep67bro

Contributor
Bronco Junky
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
3,644
Loc.
Easton, MD
Looks great. When I did the metal work on my 73 I filled in the holes for the aux tank. Both on the fender and in the cab. I was using just the stock tank but planned on switching to a 23 gallon at some point. I think it just cleans things up.
 

sprdv1

Contributor
REBEL
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Messages
81,734
no aux tank, so I was wondering what everybody else has done on the drivers side interior in that situation.

Do you still use the front filler neck cover, and just have nothing behind it?

I was thinking of modifying the inner quarter and just making it match the passenger side, no filler neck cover, no evap cover. Thoughts?

Looking good bud..

U can get away with that if you don't feel like you'll ever use the Aux, or as stated, put a cap on it for appearance for now
 
OP
OP
Laxdad32

Laxdad32

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2017
Messages
63
Loc.
Fort Morgan, CO
Thanks you guys for the kind words. I actually got to bring the body up close to home now, and can work on it in the shop at the school I teach at. With the rear floors out, I am now finding some areas that I will be cutting out, fabricating pieces to go back in, and welding. Pics to come soon!
 
OP
OP
Laxdad32

Laxdad32

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2017
Messages
63
Loc.
Fort Morgan, CO
Cut out some sections of rot in the rear. Had to cut out big chunks of the drivers side front and rear sections of the inner quarter. Also took a piece out of the drivers side tailgate post that was rusted through.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0293.jpg
    IMG_0293.jpg
    78 KB · Views: 57
  • IMG_0294.jpg
    IMG_0294.jpg
    105.5 KB · Views: 60
  • IMG_0295.jpg
    IMG_0295.jpg
    105.1 KB · Views: 62
Top