New Project - Need Advice

[DJS 85 Bronco]

Greetings! I am new to this forum (and hobby), and need some advice. I am inheriting an 85 bronco, everthing stock, 302, 4-spd manual w/ granny 1st, 100K miles, sporadic running condition over past few years, some rust. I would like to build it up to do moderate technical trails but remain streetable, specifically to drive in the summers about 600 miles to the mountains and take it up jeep trails that I have successfully done in stock rentals (4wd suburban, jeep wrangler with tiny street tires).

Suspension:

My spec list at this point is: 4 inch lift, 35 inch tires, possible fender cuts, ARB front and rear lockers.

Shop #1 (national chain) is suggesting no axle upgrades, no TTB to straight axle conversion, no gear changes, and advocates pro-comp or superlift + ARB front and rear lockers.

Shopt #2 (local "guru") is suggesting axle upgrades, front straight axle conversion, detroit rear and ARB front lockers, and gear changes.

I need advice on my approach to this build up:

1. For moderate technical trails and 35 inch tires, do I really need an axle upgrades, front straight axle conversion, and gear swap?

2. What are the best lifts for this application - either leaving TTB or going with straight axle conversion?

3. Is an ARB good enough? It seems that a detroit locker will not be too friendly on the street. Shop #2 says that ARB's break a lot and I won't do well with one and that a rear detroit locker will handle just fine on the street.

4. Is the 4-inch lift/35 inch tire combo about right for my application? It seems that this would be a good compromise between street and trail, and might be "small" enough of a build up to keep the stock axles but still be a bit beefier than going with 32 or 33 inch tires. Thoughts?

Engine:

Get the 302 running good vs. just start with a 351 swap or even 460? Advice?

Body:

Sandblast the rust and fiberglass over the holes - nothing pretty but stop the rust. Tricks?

Thanks for the help!

DJS

 

[Krafty]

its my opinion the best combos are 4" lift with 33's or 6" lift with 35's, as long as you use 4 low you shouldn't break much. you don't need a full lockers, get a posi for the rear after finding out which rear end you have, and maybe a locker for the front depending on how crazy you want to go off road. and as long as the 302 still spins, you'll get more than enough power at the wheels in 4 low to do whatever you need to do.

save your money, just do tune up, and paint, then 4" and 33's or 6" and 35's, then if you play too hard and start breaking stuff then look into axles. if you do more street than off road then stick with 32 or 33's at either 2" or 4" of lift.

 

[AdamDude04]

View attachment 9437Greetings! I am new to this forum (and hobby), and need some advice. I am inheriting an 85 bronco, everthing stock, 302, 4-spd manual w/ granny 1st, 100K miles, sporadic running condition over past few years, some rust. I would like to build it up to do moderate technical trails but remain streetable, specifically to drive in the summers about 600 miles to the mountains and take it up jeep trails that I have successfully done in stock rentals (4wd suburban, jeep wrangler with tiny street tires).
Suspension:

My spec list at this point is: 4 inch lift, 35 inch tires, possible fender cuts, ARB front and rear lockers.

Shop #1 (national chain) is suggesting no axle upgrades, no TTB to straight axle conversion, no gear changes, and advocates pro-comp or superlift + ARB front and rear lockers.

Shopt #2 (local "guru") is suggesting axle upgrades, front straight axle conversion, detroit rear and ARB front lockers, and gear changes.

I need advice on my approach to this build up:

1. For moderate technical trails and 35 inch tires, do I really need an axle upgrades, front straight axle conversion, and gear swap?

2. What are the best lifts for this application - either leaving TTB or going with straight axle conversion?

3. Is an ARB good enough? It seems that a detroit locker will not be too friendly on the street. Shop #2 says that ARB's break a lot and I won't do well with one and that a rear detroit locker will handle just fine on the street.

4. Is the 4-inch lift/35 inch tire combo about right for my application? It seems that this would be a good compromise between street and trail, and might be "small" enough of a build up to keep the stock axles but still be a bit beefier than going with 32 or 33 inch tires. Thoughts?

Engine:

Get the 302 running good vs. just start with a 351 swap or even 460? Advice?

Body:

Sandblast the rust and fiberglass over the holes - nothing pretty but stop the rust. Tricks?

Thanks for the help!

DJS

I'd go with 33's.. better MPG and don't need to do a lift. Saves $$$

Sandblast the whole truck, and do some roll-on bedliner (line-x). It'll look good (flat black) and provide some awesome offroad protection. No worries about small dents/scratches! Not to mention you can do your whole truck for under a couple hundred bucks and a few hours of work - no prep work needed.

I got 31's on my truck, stock everything, including stock 302 v8 with 309k miles on it. Truck does better offroad than my two new pickups with all the works!

 

[DJS 85 Bronco]

Good thoughts on all accounts. Definitely has me thinking (and doing some more research on Line-X, lockers/spools/LSD's, and everything else).

I like the low center of gravity idea and buy into this and it seems like there are a lot of ways to go with lift/tire size combos, especially considering fender cuts. I might be a dreamer, but I really like the idea of 35's and want this kind of "meat" to go over obstacles. Krafty points out what many seem to believe - 6" for 35's. Steve seems to be on the other end - 2" for 35's; BTW, Steve, great pics and video - very helpful.

I am working on the engine to start, but am still thinking the happy medium of clearance and low center of gravity for me might be a 4" lift with fender cuts made as generously as needed. I also like the idea of more suspension travel and the rig I have could use new shocks/springs anyway. I am going more for a rock-crawler look than for a restored truck look, as well.

Thanks to all for the info. I will keep the group posted on my progress.

DJS

 

[Krafty]

For me I would want to stick with as much body clearance as I can so going with the the 6" lift and 35's is my best option. When the snow flies I still need to be able to get around, with my bronco at 4"/5" lift and 33's I would still have to drive through snow I could see was higher then my hood. and i always keep a tow strap handy, cause I have pulled many people out of the snow.

 

[DJS 85 Bronco]

Krafty, point well taken. I plan on more rocks than snow. I will keep researching a bit . . . Thanks.

DJS

 

[DJS 85 Bronco]

Steve, I have been thinking along these lines. I looked at a lot of pics online of broncos w/ 35's. I just don't like the "high" look you get with a 6-inch lift. I also figure this - I have 31's on it now; if I lift it 4 inches, I should get more or less the same clearance I have now w/ 4 inches more tire, i.e. 35's. Add a little trimming as you mentioned, and I should have adequate clearance even during articulation.

DJS

 

[green streak]

Here's another vote for the 4" lift and 33's. I have personal experience with the 6" lift and 35's and can honestly say I didn't go anywhere with that combo that 33's couldn't take me, even in thick mud. You will also be able to see obstacles better when climbing inclines, have more power without changing gear ratios, and have to change your U-joints less frequently. Now, that being said, a 6" lift does stand out a little more and look meaner going down the road or trail than the 4". It's all a matter of preference, but if you're doing moderate trails the 4" and 33's will do fine.

 

[DJS 85 Bronco]

Green Streak - I hear you loud and clear - very logical point you are making. If I was smart, I would likely follow your advice. There is just something itching me to consider 35's. Childhood dream? Not sure. This all relates to me hiking up near Aspen CO in the summers. If you check out Peterson's from 2 months ago, there is a bad ass '44 dodge on a '74 blazer frame. It has 40's and I have been hiking where this thing has been wheeling - up some pretty technical jeep trails. I don't want to go that far into a build up, but I think 35's might be better able to handle some of the rocks and rock ledges that I have seen on some of these trails.

Steve - I also hear you loud and clear. Even more of a push for 4 inch + 35's +/- fender cut, since as you point out, 31's to 35's only adds 2 more inches towards the fender.

Great input from all and much appreciated.

DJS

 

[DJS 85 Bronco]

Steve - what you are saying makes sense with the 2 inches. I would even consider just a 2 inch lift but the ones I have seen all use blocks and I want to avoid them. The best solution may be to put the 35's on it and see how they look, then figure out the lft issue vs. just fender cuts.

DJS

 

[Krafty]

consider mostly the terrain and size of rocks you want to climb with your bronc, the extra 2 inches will only give you more height to the bottom of the frame along with the slight negative effects that Steve83 listed, which may be a a good thing so you don't get hung up as often on rocks.

but like steve83 was saying about body lifts, they are horrible especially in a crash, they only give you clearance in wheel wells but do nothing for the height of the frame which is what will hit the rocks first.

if you decide to go with the small lifts, then you can use 2" lift coils (not spacers) with 3" add a-leafs (usually work out to 1.5" to 2.5" depending on current spring sag) then if you want to go to 4" then you just have to get the taller front coils and the appropriate drop and alignment parts. with a 1 or 2" block in the rear along with the add-a-leaf.

 

[DJS 85 Bronco]

I agree on the body lift - it's not for me either.

Krafty - good idea on the lift coils and add-a-leaf - I had not considered this as an option. And, I agree that 4 inches on the frame may help getting by some of the rocks on the trails I have seen and plan to do.

I am inserting some pics:

1. this is the big dodge body/blazer frame (featured in Petersen's) with the 40s and a very built up rig (my hero, but more than I want to do).



2. this a budy of mine on part of the road, it shows one of the more difficult sections; it doesn't look too crazy on the picture, but hiking it looked a little different, off-camber in some sections, rock ledges, etc.



3. this is an '85 w/ a 4-inch pro-comp lift and 35 BFG's - it has a solid axle front, but otherwise it looks about like what I might want.



4. this is an '89 w/ a 4-inch lift and 35's; I could live with this one, as well.

89_4in_35s.bmp

more thoughts?

thanks

DJS

 

[Krafty]

the 4" with 35's sounds good to me for what you want to do. i Know Im gonna do 6" when I have the money, I want to start with 35's (also when I have the money) but maybe move up to a 38 with some trimming at some point.

good luck on that rocky section.

cheers