It's too far gone!

[shift1313]

Well ive had my 85 off the road for several years because the problems just kept piling up and the rust was pretty bad. Today after work i got the bug and started stripping the inside to pull out the rubber flooring. Its bad, i knew it was bad but its alot worse than I had imagined. Ill post pics tomorrow in the day light. i knew i had big holes behind each seat but it went all the way to the front mounts for the rear seat. also on the passenger side the seam thats hidden by the kick plate is rusted through from front to rear. mine had the inside spare tire holder and where it bolted to the floor there is about a 8x8" hole. also where it bolted to the wheel well is not a big hole.

I had planned on fixing the body but with the floor so far gone i have to consider other options. Right im thinking A. some sort of tube buggy but keep it looking like a bronco, maybe just skin the outside. B. find a donor body, or atleast one i can pull all the bad spots from.

Anyone ever seen a tube crawler bronco? I know putting an f150 cab on a bronco frame is popular but id really like to keep it full body.

 

[broncoman2004]

you do realize that they sell floor pans and rocker panels and even side body panels to replace all that metal due to the common rust areas.

 

[madmax]

you do realize that they sell floor pans and rocker panels and even side body panels to replace all that metal due to the common rust areas.

not only that but it's really easy to replace the floor pan parts especially if you're going with heavy carpet over it, cut out the old rotted metal and weld in the new parts, you might need to trim the new parts to fit the hole, or if you dont care so much simply lay it right down ontop of the hole (after cutting out the rotted part) and weld it down (stainless sheet metal screws for the ultra lazy) then some paint and a good heavy coat of bedliner

 

[shift1313]

ive seen all the body panels but ive never seen floor pans that cover more than the drivers/passenger area up front. and thats the only place its still solid. The problem is, its rotted at all the seams. When i thought i would just need 1/4s, tailgate skin and door skins I was okay with it. but all the other stuff it needs it might not be cost effective to fix this body. you will see once i put the pics up. Basically from the front portion of the passenger door gasket seam all the way back to the raise where the rear seat bolts, all the way across and back up to the drivers door is gone. i was working in the truck and almost fell through.

im a fabricator by trade so i realize the amount of work it will take to fix this body which is why a donor body that has been in an accident would be much easier to work with. This is a picture i took awhile back and might give you an idea.

If I really can get a full floor pan cheap i might still consider fixing this body but it would need a full pan. My other idea involved a tube chassis structure coming off the frame and utilizing the upper half of the bronco body. Im not really concerned with the time into this project but i really dont want to dump a ton of money at the body of this thing just to realize its either uselss or very unsafe.

 

[shift1313]

Pics <_<

 

[shift1313]

and here is the frame.









the frame is in much better shape than the body. i need to strip a few more things off but the amount of work to make this body passable is a huge expensive task. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

opinions/options welcome

 

[jsomedaysoon]

damn that does look pretty bad, personally i think i would look for one with a blown motor or something with a clean body for a few hundred and swap the parts. thats just me though since i have no experience with body work.

 

[michibronc]

About 8 years ago, I picked up a Jeep CJ5 (Ultra Cheap!) that was in similar condition. Ran good, frame was good, body was screwed. I decided that I'd take the body off, sandblast and paint the frame, then put a new body on. Although I had great intentions, the project started requiring sooooo much time and $ that I ended up selling the rolling chassis all fixed up to another guy.

If you really have your heart set on something like that, go ahead and dive in - but man is it ever a huge undertaking! I would have been much better off with the Jeep using patch panels and a total paint job with bedliner - it wouldn't have won any beauty contests, but it would have been a great woods machine.

I guess it all depends on your intentions, but there's my $.02.

 

[BroncoJoe19]

Hey Matt,

That Bronc is ahead of its times! /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

The new REAL Hummers are designed to sink immediately as they ford a stream so as to continue to maintain traction.

 

[shift1313]

ive had this bronco for about 10 years and before that it belonged to my brother and cousin before him. It has alot of sentimental value. Im definately not building a show rig but my plan was to make this my daily driver. That was before I dug into it this far. I know where a decent body is in the junk yard. im going to have a better look at it and see what they want for it because that would be the easiest thing.

michi, a girl i work with bought a jeep in rough shape but it was patched up so you couldnt tell. She ended up putting a new glavanized frame and a new aluminum tub on the thing. i know she has a ton of money in it.

Thinking....

 

[Seabronc]

That frame looks great for an 85. I'd agree that the body is pretty much TOAST. Some fiberglass parts are available, like the front clip, but I have never seen any complete body tubs for FSB.

Last Summer I replaced my front clip with a score from a local friendly recycle, (perfect hood, and fenders). This year I'm starting with new Rocker Panels, working my way back for the 2nd time since I have owned the truck, looks a little Ghetto right now, not the way it looked in my icon which was just after the first Go Round. If I didn't have so much time invested in her, I'd probably be making the same decision you are, the body tub isn't as bad as yours is though.

Good luck,

>-

 

[madmax]

yea thats probably not worth the work, It could be done with alot of sheet metal and patience, take a look at my gallery and you'll see what I've done on my truck.

 

[shift1313]

max it looks like youve got a good bit of work done on your truck! Looks good too!

i had to replace shackle bolts on my truck this morning and swap rod bearings in another car so i havent touched the bronco(except for bolting the drivers seat back in). I still havent decided what to do. Ill probably toss some ideas back and forth while scouting for a body swap donor. I know where a bronco in better shape is for under $500 running but its an 89. I could use the doors, tailgate and maybe the floor pan from the truck but i hate to tear up a running truck. Id rather save a body from the junk yard.

Maybe tonight ill come up with some drawings and see what you guys think.

Thanks

 

[madmax]

max it looks like youve got a good bit of work done on your truck! Looks good too!
i had to replace shackle bolts on my truck this morning and swap rod bearings in another car so i havent touched the bronco(except for bolting the drivers seat back in). I still havent decided what to do. Ill probably toss some ideas back and forth while scouting for a body swap donor. I know where a bronco in better shape is for under $500 running but its an 89. I could use the doors, tailgate and maybe the floor pan from the truck but i hate to tear up a running truck. Id rather save a body from the junk yard.

Maybe tonight ill come up with some drawings and see what you guys think.

Thanks

I'm not certain but I think you could put 85 panels on an 89 tub, actually I see no reason why not, the worst you'd have to do is a few custom mounts, you might be best off however salvaging what you can from your 85 and putting them twards another bronco.

 

[bidibronco]

Hope your shots are current... THAT'S A LOT OF RUST!

 

[shift1313]

max. im pretty sure the cab mounts are the same between the two but my 85 vs 89 engine bay seem totally different. i will have to take a bunch of measurements to see if i can get it to work. I have no doubt i could get the 85 rear 1/4s on an 89 tub, i think i could do the front using my 85 front clip. And then i run into the problem of loosing my cab which is really what makes a truck sentimental.

bidi, i took the shots yesterday so thats as current as they get.

 

[BroncoJoe19]

bidi, i took the shots yesterday so thats as current as they get.

LOL... I think he was talking about Tetnus shots. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

There may come a time when a keg of beer and a proper funeral may be in order, because once you replace all the fenders, the bed etc, it won't be the original truck any more.

I don't have any welding experience, so that wouldn't be an option for me.

Would it be crazy to suggest a gallon of resin, and some fiberglass sheeting? I'm thinking... that and a good coat of paint should make it waterproof enough that it will last for a few more years, and then it might be time for that kegger.

Just a thought.

 

[bidibronco]

Yeah, I was talking about tetnus....

 

[bko4x4er]

and here is the frame.








the frame is in much better shape than the body. i need to strip a few more things off but the amount of work to make this body passable is a huge expensive task. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

opinions/options welcome

HOOLLYY SHIT!!!!!!!!! /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

THATS ALOT FO RUST. DID SOMEONE TAKE THE TOP OFF .......AND LEAVE IT OFF?