1976 BOSS 302, Restomod build..

[luckieschmuck]

Ok. sooo...people have asked me to do this build thread and I said why the hell not.. before I start this, I just want to say, that I'm a big "kid" with a dream (older kid ). This dream has been itching inside of me for many years, this dream has also changed and morphed into many different other dreams multiple times, all coming together for this one idea.. I was very fortunate to meet some amazing people along this journey, also to call some of them now my family. I know we have all had good times and bad times, and a special thanks to our wives who have had the patience to let us play.. but after years of pissing people off and asking 1000's of questions.. thanks to everyone that has helped me along the way, I have a lot more to go but, I'm very lucky to have such a great team working with me on this..



Well, here we go..side note: (Just to let you know this build started in 2011, it all started when I joined this amazing site and saw all the ridiculous 5.0 fuel injected, bad ass broncos ( I blame you, you know who you are). So, now it 2015 and I'm finally ready to get this thing rolling. )



I'm gonna start with when I bought it, how it looked, how I fell in love with it.



Sorry, having some problems with the pics hold tight please!

I flew up to Calgary, AB to grab this thing and it took 2 days to drive back (that was a hell of a story), I know it's a trek but, it was well worth the price and the hike.
History: originally from CA, I'm assuming it was in a crash or something because the owner back in 96 decided to switch it to a fiberglass tub, one of the 1st I think back then. The crappy part about the glass was that it didn't have a tailgate to use, so I was sol on that part.

When I purchased it, it was female owned. The lady had some mechanic friends in the drag racing scene whom ended up building a ridiculous 347 all tweaked out, she almost crashed it and told them to dumb it down.. They still didn't dumb it down that much.. a sweet 289 with a .40 bore and a mild cam. it had some light to medium balls

So I decided to bring it back home and enjoy it until it was time for me to upgrade..

 

[badmuttstang]

Nice and buy the way we are all to blame but hay its an addictive hobby.

 

[Gpops]

Nice work on the engine, looks great!

I wouldn't be surprised if the previous owner went glass due to the amount of salt they toss on the roads up here in the winter. If it was a daily driver, you'd be replacing the floors every couple years.

 

[luckieschmuck]

Nice and buy the way we are all to blame but hay its an addictive hobby.

Thanks @badmuttstang, I don't know how to tag you on this reply so I'll try this. And yes you ALL are to blame for my addiction, lol

 

[luckieschmuck]

Nice work on the engine, looks great!

I wouldn't be surprised if the previous owner went glass due to the amount of salt they toss on the roads up here in the winter. If it was a daily driver, you'd be replacing the floors every couple years.

Thanks @Gpops,.. There is more to this story, hold on tight for the ride.. .

And I completely agree with the salt, could have definitely been that.

 

[luckieschmuck]

So, as I stated before this project started in 2011. These pics are mostly 2011-2012. Story goes: I had a mechanic back then that told me he could do the engine swap no problem, at the time I had no idea what was involved and I fully trusted him... I bought this incomplete engine from CL for $600, then came spending the time and money to finish piecing it together.. That took $500 in used parts and also about a year.. Once he had all the pieces he told me that it was a nightmare and no longer wanted to figure it out....ya... he even installed the 23gal gas tank wrong too.. Here are some pics; Pics are of the 94 intake not working with my set up.. So my 1st mechanic said.. I realized afterward (after buying another) that it didn't matter.. Yup

So I took it to the guys in Venice, ASC. I asked them if they could finish the engine swap? Of course they had already done a lot of them and were more than happy to finish my nightmare.

Just so you guys know I'm trying to catch up everything that's happened over the years till today.. Bare with me.

 

[JSmall]

Can't wait to see the upcoming pics...I know what's comming ;D

 

[luckieschmuck]

Can't wait to see the upcoming pics...I know what's comming ;D

Yes!! You know it bud

 

[luckieschmuck]

After a few more months (now dec 2012) we ended up getting her running. I can't find video of the first start up, but here is the first drive. Sorry for the shitty video quality, I mean cameras phones weren't like they are today ️. https://vimeo.com/129404509

 

[luckieschmuck]

The story continues: Dec 2012
I was overseas when I got the news that the 76 was up and running with a fresh stock roller 94 5.0 fuel injected engine with the rjm harness and a 23 gallon tank. I literary jumped off the plan and drove straight to ASC.

When I got there and jumped in it, I'm not gonna lie.. I wasn't a fan... I came from a carbureted bored out 289 that made more hp and was a lot faster than the stock roller motor... I drove it for 2 weeks and then had enough of it. I wasn't impressed, just disappointed. I really thought I was gonna have it all.. Nope

So I started talking to David, and he told me about this amazing new motor that icon and bc bronco have done and how it was the best thing out there.. I went home that night and spent about 10 hours researching the damn thing until my eyes went blind.

Needless to say I did the unspeakable... I went out and bought a coyote engine with a 6r80.. Yup... After a year and a half of trying to piece together a 94 5.0 to driving it for 2 weeks and deciding to scrap the whole deal... Call me crazy, I know I am.. I learnt a valuable lesson that day.

I decided to take on the coyote swap project for the 76, it was gonna be a hell of a task since it was gonna have the 6r80 behind it.

Here are pictures of the 1st day of collecting it..

That's David with a big smile on his face, lol

Frank is helping us out too!!

 

[JSmall]

Now you're getting to the good stuff ;D

 

[luckieschmuck]

Now you're getting to the good stuff ;D

Ha!!! You know what's coming!!

 

[Weevil]

OK I am waiting on the Boss 302 . Like with Cleveland heads

 

[luckieschmuck]

OK I am waiting on the Boss 302 . Like with Cleveland heads

Ha!! You be patient!! I'm getting there

 

[luckieschmuck]

Since I already had the 6r80 4x2 transmission, I thought I could try cutting cost by looking for someone to modify it, change it into a 4x4 (like other interchangeable transmissions). I hoped to find someone with those skills. After sending it to a guy who said he could do it (no names will be disclosed when it's to do with negativity..) , and 2 months later and $200 of wasted time nothing was able to be done.. We got them back in the original condition they came and went from there. After another 1-2 months of trying to locate the 4x4 transmissions we finally found a couple for sale.

I forgot to mention the most important part of this story!! One the hardest part of this whole swap and idea was finding the 1 guy who could do it, he knows who he is and we owe a huge thank you for all his hard work. Van.. to the many more builds and being the mad scientist you are, cheers!

Continuing on, we waited for a while before parts were available for us. First came the Trans adaptor for a Dana 20, motor mounts, then came the headers, then came the cross member.

 

[broncobsession]

More. More! MORE!!

 

[xfalcon]

ASC Are some Great Guys.

 

[luckieschmuck]

More. More! MORE!!

I'm trying!!! Lol, there is A LOT to catch up on!!

 

[luckieschmuck]

ASC Are some Great Guys.

Couldn't be more happier to be part of the family!! I agree!

 

[badmuttstang]

Loving it keep it coming looks sweet.