Classic Bronco Restoration

[Mylesofsmyles]

I seem to be struggling to find a wealth of restoration information regarding the classic Broncos. I am starting a complete restoration on a 1965 Mustang GT Convertible K-Code, and would like a classic Bronco as a solid daily driver/winter vehicle. I don't do any offroading, but can use an SUV for traveling to go skiing and transporting my bike.

My goal is to bick a Bronco (66-77) and restore it to factory condition in original sonic blue with white vinal interior.

I have seen various different engines in classic Broncos, but heard that as far as a v8 is concerned, the only available were 289 and 302. On some web site, I read that the 289 had more horsepower than the 302. As far as stock performance, which was a better engine? Also, does anyone have a good source of information regarding specific options/accessories that were available for the classic Bronco when new? I have seen replacement vinal interior panels for the back of the bronco, was this ever a factory option, and if so, on which trim level?

One final thing...I would like my Bronco to have electric wipers, power steering, and a floor mounted manual transmission. Which would be the best year for this?

 

[Bully Bob]

----"I read that the 289 had more horsepower than the 302"----

Basically the same eng. HP#'s were juggled to appease EPA

---"information regarding specific options/accessories that were available for the classic Bronco when new?"---

Try Dennis Carpenter or Jeffs Br. graveyard.

These were "TRUCKS" back then....there wern't a lot of "bells & whistles"

----"I have seen replacement vinyl interior panels for the back of the bronco, was this ever a factory option"----

Yes on the later Sport models.....again not real fancy.

---"electric wipers, power steering"---

later models but factory units adaptable to any year

----"floor mounted manual transmission (shifter)"----

All floor mounted units (shifters) are aft. mkt. adapted

 

[S_bolt19]

The best that you can find that will be the easiest to work with for everything you want is to try & find a 76-77 for the simple fact that you start out having front disc brakes. They also had the option of the PS & PB.

For 66-75 you need to find PS units off of 73-75. Those are the easiest to install & no modification needed. The 76-77 had an inverted Y steering linkage and the years prior to that had T linkage. Like Bob said, there were no floor shifters from the factory. You can buy an aft. market kit or swap to an NP435 4-speed or an NV swap to get a 5-speed.

69 the made the change to electric wipers. 66-68 were vacuum. There were a couple different trim packages. Mine is a Sport/Explorer. This means that it had all the outside chrome (sport) and had cloth/vinyl seats & door coverings (explorer). Most guys either have them redone or put new/different interior parts in.

Hope that adds a little help.

 

[Mylesofsmyles]

Thanks, you have been quite helpful. A little more searching on google helped too. I discovered that I deffinetly want either a 76-77. Where I am still fuzzy is regarding the options and trim levels. I know I want a carpet floor, all around, white vinal door panals w/ matching panels for the rear. Also, I want matching white vinal seats. For the exterior, I would like the grill and bumpers in white. I don't know what trim level would include that, if any. One last thing, was a roll cage ever a factory option?

 

[S_bolt19]

The white bumpers were a base trim model. There was nothing special with it, no chrome, nothing but the "Bronco" script on the sides. The interior trim you are wanting sounds to me like a combination of the Explorer & the Ranger packages. But don't hold me to it. As for carpet, I personally have never seen an EB with it unless someone put it in. All of the ones that I have seen have a vinyl floor saddle in the front and a rubber mat in the rear...that is the ones that were still original. It sounds to me like you are probably going to have to have your interior trim done in order to get what you want, but that is ok, I wouldn't waste my time looking for the exact thing. The reason I would just have it done is that most of the Explorer packages (I use this because it is what mine was) have the soft door panels. As for the rear panels, JBG sells those and that is probably the absolute best way to do that unless, again, you have it done.

As for the roll bar, no, I don't believe there was a factory option. Bill Stroppe put them in the Baja Broncos but that is it. Here is a link to what a Stroppe roll bar looks like.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~jmray/Baja/RollBar1.jpg