1981 Bronco rear bench bounces

[Travis W]

Which brand of bondo did you use?

 

[Harleyjasondavidson]

The bondo brand, fiberglass filler

 

[Harleyjasondavidson]

Your truck was in much better condition body wise than mine. The guy i got it from said he had NEVER washed it and i believe him. The dirt packed up in the wheel wells rusted out all around.

I personally prefer the look, even two-tone, without the trim.

 

[Travis W]

Here was mine when I bought it. It’s been a fun project!

Where in WA are you? I’m in Vancouver.

Do me a favor when you reinstall your spare tire rack, can you check the gap between the top of the right side of the lift gate and the body of the truck where the rack is mounted? When my is swung open, perfect even gap top to bottom. But when the rack is closed and clipped, the gap closes to nothing. The body pulls all the way and touch’s the top right corner of the lift gate. Does that make sense?

I need to figure that out before paint or the paint will just chip quickly.

 

[Harleyjasondavidson]

Youre talking about the body panel gap between the bedside and the tailgate on the passenger side right?

I do know when mine was on there was no difference between open and closed. I can dig up photos of both. Can you tell if the tire carrier is tweaking the tailgate or if its the bedside thats moving toward the tailgate?

 

[Harleyjasondavidson]

I live up in skagit county, sedro-woolley.

Does your tire carrier look like its tweaked? VERY common for them to have been damaged in minor accidents and not perfectly bent back. I broke off all 4 lower bolts on mine where the pivot block mounts to the body. Had to drill and tap new oversized holes. That was fun. Im contemplating just filling all my holes prior to paint and doing without the carrier, its not gonna hold a 35" tire anyway. I kinda like the look since i took it off. Also, i wont have to remember to close the ******* thing after i put stuff in the back lol.

 

[Travis W]

Youre talking about the body panel gap between the bedside and the tailgate on the passenger side right?

I do know when mine was on there was no difference between open and closed. I can dig up photos of both. Can you tell if the tire carrier is tweaking the tailgate or if its the bedside thats moving toward the tailgate?

Correct on the gap. It is the bedside that is moving when the tire carrier swings open and closed. I am going to take off the spare tire this weekend and see if the weight of the tire/wheel is the problem. Then make the decision to try and resolve it, or just go with a bed mouthing spare tire kit. I like the spare tire on the back with the Ford Bronco tire cover so I’ll be bummed if I can’t figure it out. Maybe even a small and lighter spare tire might resolve it.

 

[Harleyjasondavidson]

Interesting. Have you checked the boltup between the topper and the bed? I would try loosening the mount in that corner and try pushing the "slack" outward and re-tighten. Maybe even add another through bolt to try and use the topper to stiffen up that corner? If your top was removed and mounted with all the play pushed to the drivers side it may already be kinda "preloading" the passenger bedside to that direction

 

[Travis W]

Hey dude, so I found Bondo at Harbor Freight. Is there a particular harder agent to buy to mix with it? It is all inclusive?

 

[Harleyjasondavidson]

It should come with a little toothpaste tube of hardener inside the white plastic lid

 

[Travis W]

Right on. Thanks!

 

[Travis W]

A body shop wanted $450 to repair this dent. I bought a $29 slide hammer and pulled it out and will do a skin of Bondo and some sanding. Not too bad!

 

[Tiha]

A body shop wanted $450 to repair this dent. I bought a $29 slide hammer and pulled it out and will do a skin of Bondo and some sanding. Not too bad!

Nice work.

amazing what you can do it you put your mind to it. Anything is possible just have to jump in and ask for help is you get stuck.

 

[chrlsful]

if I ever paint mine (after 40 yrs this Fall, yes it's been painted, but rattle can) I'll use the tutone scheme above (eventho a '70 bod). No chrome. Last yr we made upa paint booth (the house construction poly vapor barrier'n window or box fan). Not tall enuff for the bronk (no laborer for it anyway, hands too arthritic for me to do it). May B some day...
\_("-)_/
If the rig is anythin like the 1st gen U will need (not sure of name) cross pieces that "shim" (OE) the whole tail gait or fender. They R smaller pieces (ck an exploded body diagram) under tail gait &/or fender. Usually one needs to 'go back a few steps" (in the 'layers') to get panels lined up. W/age things sag, just like humans ("Oh, my poor body.") I use a 'smaller' tire on my rack. Never needed to use it anyway.

 

[Travis W]

if I ever paint mine (after 40 yrs this Fall, yes it's been painted, but rattle can) I'll use the tutone scheme above (eventho a '70 bod). No chrome. Last yr we made upa paint booth (the house construction poly vapor barrier'n window or box fan). Not tall enuff for the bronk (no laborer for it anyway, hands too arthritic for me to do it). May B some day...
\_("-)_/
If the rig is anythin like the 1st gen U will need (not sure of name) cross pieces that "shim" (OE) the whole tail gait or fender. They R smaller pieces (ck an exploded body diagram) under tail gait &/or fender. Usually one needs to 'go back a few steps" (in the 'layers') to get panels lined up. W/age things sag, just like humans ("Oh, my poor body.") I use a 'smaller' tire on my rack. Never needed to use it anyway.

Hi Chris. Can you give me more info on the shims. I’m not clear on what you’re describing. Thanks in advance.

 

[Travis W]

Thats gonna be a damn nice bronco man! Building a hunting rig out of mine. Will have a 2" suspension+ 2" body lift on 35's. Got most of my half-assed body work finished, will be rhinolining the whole thing.

The rear window has been a real PITA but other than that no problems than rusty bolts. Lots of making up for lack of maintenance!

Hey buddy, hope all is well. Just wondering if you’ve painted your Bronco yet? Mainly wondering if the body trim holes you filled in with Bondo have held well and don’t show signs of cracking? I’m still toying with doing the same, as a welder quoted an outrageous price to fill them in. The alternative is to simply reinstall the trim, but I like the flush look of no trim.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

 

[Harleyjasondavidson]

Nope, its too cold now so the paint will have to wait for summer. Got the lift done though. Moved onto other projects in the meantime, just swapped out the old lights to new LED's in my garage this week.

You made any progress on your bronco?

 

[miesk5]

Yo Travis,
I missed greeting you here due to an injury I had months ago.
Here's some information for you;

1981 Bronco Brochure - Gary's Garagemahal (the Bullnose bible) by Gary

1980-1986 Bronco/F Series Fasteners by Gary

1980-1986 Bronco/F Series Carburetors, Chokes & EFI by Gary

1980-1986 Bronco/F Series Specifications by Gary @ Axle Ratios - Gary's Garagemahal (the Bullnose bible)

Differences in 1980-1986 Bronco/F Series by Gary

➡ 1981 Bronco/F Series Electrical & Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual (EVTM), partial via Gary @ 1981 EVTM - Gary's Garagemahal (the Bullnose bible)

1980/1981 Light Truck Roadability Diagnosis Guide @ 1980 Light Truck Roadability Diagnosis Guide

EEC III Testing, if not removed or disabled by a previous owner or shop via Wayback Machine by Tommy

Haynes Red Manual for 80-95 Bronco & F Series @ Hanes guide 80-96 bko f series.pdf via BroncMom!

Partial Chilton Manual for 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 Bronco. Scanned by broncocity.com @ Bronco City

1981 Bronco Advertisement @ Ads0002.jpg

Al

 

[Travis W]

Nope, its too cold now so the paint will have to wait for summer. Got the lift done though. Moved onto other projects in the meantime, just swapped out the old lights to new LED's in my garage this week.

You made any progress on your bronco?

Oh great lift! I like that.

I just finished the engine carriage. I removed and sanded and re-painted the valve covers and air filter. They also cleaned up all the wiring re-organized it and glass step the carriage. All it needs now is blue spark plug wires.

 

[Travis W]

Oh great lift! I like that.

I just finished the engine carriage. I removed and sanded and re-painted the valve covers and air filter. They also cleaned up all the wiring re-organized it and glass step the carriage. All it needs now is blue spark plug wires.

Here is the “before” image. It took a lot of cleaning and sanding.