[swampthing]

well its been a while (not sure if i have posted about my new bronco)...but i purchased another 78 bronco about 3 months back...400M runs very strong previous owner had it rebuilt, brand new brakes calipers drums and rotors...found some bad floor rot in it so i fixed all that with sheet metal and a hammer. im in the process of making a custom tube bumper for the front just needs one more plate welded on and needs to be bolted up to the truck...im ordering 36 inch tsls for it have a 4 inch lift already...going to be doing custom exhaust on it. setting it up to be a good trail rig and be ready for any situation...i will post pics up as soon as i can

[scoobysteve]

Hey Swampthing, I have a 78 also with some floor rot. What do you mean you used a hammer and sheet metal??? I put down one piece of sheet metal but it was on a flat area so there was on bending and such. I guess what I'm asking is how does one get a curvature on the sheet metal?? I have some rot at the rear seat that will have to be curved beside the roll bar. Any suggestions?? I will try to post a few pics later so anyone with tips can help meout. I think I may have gotten more than I bargained for with this rig.

[swampthing]

alli did was set it in place...took a deadblow hammer (rubber mallot) and a ball pein hammer...and started banging it into place you can get technical and cut slots in the metal to give it real nice curves but i simply hammer the edges down and pop rivet it all in place..i will try to get some pics of it for ya

[swampthing]

sorry everyone i have been busy working and working on the truck...so far i have re-done my y-pipe (it was rotted) added a dynomax race bullit muffler to it... floors are all fixed interior is gutted and painted only the front seats remain...thing runs strong as could be...had a wiring gremlin witht he dash lights but got that fixed....i have a 4 inch lift and 36 inch tsls for it just waiting for the time to do it which will hopefully be this weekend...i can not upload pics on this computer so if i can find someone to take pictures of it i will gladly post them up.

[Justshootme84]

I would like to see pics of the Bronco, your floor repairs and that tube bumper. I have a SkyJ 9" lift kit for my 78, but just cut the fenders 3" for now to fit the 38" TSL's. JSM84

[swampthing]

im working on getting pics...sucks when your computer wont take the USB cable or the software to upload pictures lol...im taking it out for its first trail ride this weekend see how it does...motors coming out soon though for new oil pump bearings headers and possibly timing chain and cam..i have everything except the headers timing chain and cam

[swampthing]

sorry its been so long everyone but i have updates..pulled motor put ARP pump shaft in needs crank kit and cam bearings so im re-doing everything this summer along with bigger cam intake carb and heads...got the headers on they fit very nice exhaust ran(using flowtech raptors) driving it around for a couple weeks get bugs worked out then doing lift and tires i got 38 inch tsls for it...thats about all for now going to get pics soon...got a brand new computer now so i can upload them

[swampthing]

well some updates for yall...pulled motor new timing chain and gears headers new gaskets...started on the body work took the cap off for the first time found some rot that needs to be fixed but i have a soft top for it so im going to be running that once the rot is fixed might run the cap during the winter...painting the whole truck jet black i will be posting pics up as i go along

[swampthing]

well fellas here are some pics of my truck as im going along if you want the video of me running it in my shop i can post it up for you hope you enjoy please let me know what you guys think..oh by the way the whole trucks going jet black

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[swampthing]

more progess tonight..front bumper off front valence panel thing ready to come off, pass side fender off all rust/rot spots are ground down ready for body work. slowly but surely getting things done.. will have more pics to post shortly

[zach351]

like the rig and it seems like u have GREAT plans for it keep up the good work i would really like to see the end result!!!

[swampthing]

thanks..yeah i have a lot of plans for it mainly body right now...doing the lift and tires within the next couple of weeks...i have a custom tube bumper that i made for the rear making a custom tube bumper for the front....diong chromoly axles this summer motor comes back out in the spring going to machine shop getting heads milled a little bit mild cam pistons sfi flywheel possibly gears lockers lot of work to do just takes time

[swampthing]

some more pictures...fender off valence ready to come out quarters cut out everything ground down ready for more body work

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[Broncobill78]

swampthing, on Mar 25 2008, 09:57 PM, said:

more body work

Yeah, there just never seems to be any shortage of THAT with the 78/79's now is there ? Why the hell did Ford only make them for 2 yrs? Before anyone bothers to respond, I KNOW, I was just kinda venting. Best one they made and it had a TWO yr production run. There's just something inherently *wrong* with that.

Oh, $hit. Forgot to mention that it looks damn good. Too many guys today BUY their trucks instead of *building* them. Leave all that silly bull$hit for someone else to do then they wonder why the paint is bubbling up around the wheel trim or why it won't start when they turn the key. I'm willing to bet *most* (not all but most) of the guys who tackle their own trucks were able to take SOME sort of shop class in Jr.High or High School (I was able to take woodshop in 7th,metal in 8th and then auto for 9,10,11 & 12) but how many today offer those classes ? $hit, how many guys can tell you what ignition dwell is

Sorry, didn't mean to 'jack the thread or turn it into a rant. The truck looks good. There aren't too many guys who can show a pic of their truck in that condition, much less explain what they're doing with it or why. Good job.Also, hafta say that you've got one NICE looking shop, mine's maybe half the size and not nearly as clean. I spend 5 or 10 minutes looking for every socket I need Really, NICE shop. I'm one of those guys who doesn't care so much what your truck looks like, I wanna see your shop & tools. *anyone* can take a photo of their truck, shops are a different story. I don't care if it's a chainhoist hung from a branch, *show* me that you turn your own wrenches. That's a damn clean shop and a fine looking truck. I'm not sure from the photos if it's your own shop or not, but if it *isn't* then tell the owner that whatever he's doing is dead-nuts right. I dunno if that's a welding table I see in some of the photos but if it IS then either be *real* damn proud of your shop or *don't* quit because you'll always be sorry that you did. Wherever the hell your truck is it's in a NICE shop. DON'T piss off your boss, do something stupid or walk away. There are plenty of guys like me who who would kill you in your sleep to have access to that (well, no, not *really*, but figuratively speaking yes. If it isn't yours then appreciate the HELL out of what you have access to and if it IS yours then know that there are a LOT of jealous MoFo's out here)

This post has been edited by Broncobill78: 26 March 2008 - 01:00 AM

[swampthing]

thanks broncobill i appreciate it and the guy who owns the shop is a good friend and old boss and 3 of us rent an area bigger then a 3 bay and we have acess for the whole shop 2 fork lifts compressor ample storage torpedo heater woodstove heater and yes i do all my own work none of my stuff goes out of house for work i dont believe in that..a real truck is built not bought right. as to learning the trade my dad started teaching me mechanics the day i walked i went to votech for auto tech and wound up taking body shop because everything they taught in auto tech i knew hah so i would have to say i have been turning wrenches for about 15 years now and building my own stuff for around 6 years (im 20) no theres no welding table you might see our lathe though we do have a welder just on a cart the welding table is coming this spring though and you only see about 1/4 of that shop one side is probably 30x60 the other is 40x40.

[swampthing]

oh and i think what you see and are thinking is my welding table is the hood for my truck sitting next to my buddies chevy on 42's hah

[swampthing]

and to add a little more to it i dont want it to seem like im a master mechanic because im not i dont know it all but i know a lot and it all comes from experience which that is the best and only way (in my mind) that you can truely learn to do this stuff

[swampthing]

new update...valence off both fenders off headlights off cleaned sanded and primed rad support will be starting on fenders tomorrow welding and all the body work...she looks weird with nothing on the front...will have pics tomorrow night

[swampthing]

theres the vid of it running..sounds like its revving high but its not

[swampthing]

fender is all welded up ready for a little more body work will have pics up later tonight or tomorrow