Whats up everyone. I am 15 years old and I am trying to restore the Bronco my dad had when he was about my age. Nothing on it works and I we want to put everything new on it. When you restored your Bronco, what steps did you take? I want to have this done roughly by the time I turn 16. Its probably going to take longer than that, but I am up for the challenge. If you can help, then that will be great.
Trying to Restore my 1966 Ford Bronco
- Thread starter MacPerson
- Start date
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1st. make sure it stops...cleanly & correctly---2nd. make sure it steers tightly & correctly---3rd. attend to any & all other safety issues---4th. inspect/test/tune engine for proper running condition.....then the same for the trannie, transfer, & axles.
NOW you can start the restoration.....depending on time & $$... .and what you found doing these tests.
A complete resto prob. won't be completed 'til you're 18.....BUT up & running & very useful could be just a matter of months.
Be careful not to "overwhelm" yourself with many projects at once.., as this could discourage you.., B)
Have fun...
B
NOW you can start the restoration.....depending on time & $$... .and what you found doing these tests.
A complete resto prob. won't be completed 'til you're 18.....BUT up & running & very useful could be just a matter of months.
Be careful not to "overwhelm" yourself with many projects at once.., as this could discourage you.., B)
Have fun...
B
After you do those things first, and they should be done before you go any further, make a list of everything you WANT to do with the Bronco.
#1 - 3.5" suspension lift
#2 - 33" tires & new rims
#3 - gears & lockers
#4 - roll cage
#5 - 1" body lift
etc., etc.
Then after you make a list of things you want to do with it, prioritize them and stick with that list. If you go bouncing around, you are going to throw money away when you shouldn't have. An example would be if you get a set of lockers and then 6 months later you want to lower your R&P gears. You will have to pay someone the money to set that axle up 2x if you do it that way, whereas if you save up the money and do it all at once, you only have to pay that price the one time. Come to the board and don't be afraid to ask questions. the only stupid question is the one not asked. And last but not least, if you have never worked on a vehicle like this, only take one side (be it the brakes or the hubs) apart at a time. That way you have something to look at if you get lost on the other side....Ask me why I know that one...
#1 - 3.5" suspension lift
#2 - 33" tires & new rims
#3 - gears & lockers
#4 - roll cage
#5 - 1" body lift
etc., etc.
Then after you make a list of things you want to do with it, prioritize them and stick with that list. If you go bouncing around, you are going to throw money away when you shouldn't have. An example would be if you get a set of lockers and then 6 months later you want to lower your R&P gears. You will have to pay someone the money to set that axle up 2x if you do it that way, whereas if you save up the money and do it all at once, you only have to pay that price the one time. Come to the board and don't be afraid to ask questions. the only stupid question is the one not asked. And last but not least, if you have never worked on a vehicle like this, only take one side (be it the brakes or the hubs) apart at a time. That way you have something to look at if you get lost on the other side....Ask me why I know that one...
Thanks for the tips, but the problem is, it doesn't work at all. It has been sitting in an impound lot for 20 years until they finally called my dad to go pick it up. I live in San Diego so its all rusty. Im not too woried about driving it this second. I want to get it ready so that I will be ready to go for the desert, and for the street.
Why do you know that one? Let me guess, you did it to yourself? I think i know im not going to take that way. I believe my dad showed me that when he started remodling the house and started 5 projects at once. it started to turn into a big nightmare. Well, thanks for the tip. This is something new to me, so I think that it should go pretty smoothly the way im looking at it.After you do those things first, and they should be done before you go any further, make a list of everything you WANT to do with the Bronco.
#1 - 3.5" suspension lift
#2 - 33" tires & new rims
#3 - gears & lockers
#4 - roll cage
#5 - 1" body lift
etc., etc.
Then after you make a list of things you want to do with it, prioritize them and stick with that list. If you go bouncing around, you are going to throw money away when you shouldn't have. An example would be if you get a set of lockers and then 6 months later you want to lower your R&P gears. You will have to pay someone the money to set that axle up 2x if you do it that way, whereas if you save up the money and do it all at once, you only have to pay that price the one time. Come to the board and don't be afraid to ask questions. the only stupid question is the one not asked. And last but not least, if you have never worked on a vehicle like this, only take one side (be it the brakes or the hubs) apart at a time. That way you have something to look at if you get lost on the other side....Ask me why I know that one...
"but the problem is, it doesn't work at all. It has been sitting in an impound lot for 20 years"
Now that's a diff. story...... this could still be a "diamond in the rough"..., or, maybe sadly, a parts vehicle.
Do you have someone handy that could advise you..? As, that's a long time to be sitt'n in the elements.
Now that's a diff. story...... this could still be a "diamond in the rough"..., or, maybe sadly, a parts vehicle.
Do you have someone handy that could advise you..? As, that's a long time to be sitt'n in the elements.
Ya, when my dad had the truck, it somehow got stolen. Don't ask me how, he gave me the short story of the whole thing. I guess the impound lot could not find my dads number until they were about to auction it off. They took one last look and saw my dad was in some recent activity. Im happy that I can fix this up and drive it. Did you go to an Auto shop to get your car fixed? Or did you do all of this yourself?
Most everyone on this board and other EB boards does the work themselves. They cost too much to have others work on them for you. Not to mention, you get the pleasure of knowing what kind of job is being done and it won't be half assed like some shops will give you and charge you full price for.
As stated above...and.., if you're 15 yrs. old, & in school.., maybe school "auto shop" will help you out. >
You're going to need a lot of school/training/experience to resto this rig.... <_<
OR a lot of $$$ $-)
h34r: /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />I would do auto shop, but my school took it away. I was really ******. I go to a charter school so they really focus on College. But why take auto away? But, I think once I strip the Bronco down, im just going to take one part in at a time.As stated above...and.., if you're 15 yrs. old, & in school.., maybe school "auto shop" will help you out. >You're going to need a lot of school/training/experience to resto this rig.... <_<
OR a lot of $$$ $-)
BroncoJoe19
Active member
You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders especially as a 15 y/o.
I'm curious... are you focused on restoring the bronco because you already own it, and you think that it is the least expensive way to get an up and running vehicle by time you are 16?
Do you have an adult who will be your financial backer to help you buy new parts?
McPerson said..,
"I would do auto shop, but my school took it away. "
Some community colleges have Auto-shop (San Diego should) & they're pretty reasonable price wise....
Those instructors would love to get their hands on & EB
"I would do auto shop, but my school took it away. "
Some community colleges have Auto-shop (San Diego should) & they're pretty reasonable price wise....
Those instructors would love to get their hands on & EB
Im restoring this Bronco because I like it and it was my dads when he was around my age. I know its not going to be the cheapest way to go, but we also want to trick it out for the desert. 2 for 1 deal we got going. I have my dad thats going to back me up financial wise.
Ya, I looked at like some community colleges and they had them. I was going to take them but then I had the issue of transportation. I dont drive yet so, I was going to wait till I started driving. I think each class is like $5. But since im in high school, i think its $3 for me.
/emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />"I want to have this done roughly by the time I turn 16"
"I dont drive yet so, I was going to wait till I started driving."
These two statments say..., you don't have your prioritys set yet.
There's always a bus or a bicycle.... we've all been there........ :-"
"I dont drive yet so, I was going to wait till I started driving."
These two statments say..., you don't have your prioritys set yet.
There's always a bus or a bicycle.... we've all been there........ :-"
BroncoJoe19
Active member
Well this can certainly be a great father son learning experience.
Both sets of comments made by Bully Bob, and SBolt19 are appropriate.
IF your dad isn't real handy, you will probably need some additional adult/instructor assistance, so the advice to try to get involved in a high school or community college program is great advice. In conjunction with that, a reference book for your year truck would be a good investment.
You may be able to get shop/service manuals for your year truck online at ebay, thumbing through those pages will give you a lot of information.
You may want to put a wrench to the crankshaft to see if it is siezed, as a start to seeing how much work will be required, to get your baby running.
Both sets of comments made by Bully Bob, and SBolt19 are appropriate.
IF your dad isn't real handy, you will probably need some additional adult/instructor assistance, so the advice to try to get involved in a high school or community college program is great advice. In conjunction with that, a reference book for your year truck would be a good investment.
You may be able to get shop/service manuals for your year truck online at ebay, thumbing through those pages will give you a lot of information.
You may want to put a wrench to the crankshaft to see if it is siezed, as a start to seeing how much work will be required, to get your baby running.
BroncoJoe19
Active member
Also, I forgot to mention, you can certainly use BrincoZone members as a resource of information. As suggested above try to stick to one issue at a time.
You may want to put information about your rig into your sig file so that we have it as a reference.. ie year of truck, size of motor, etc.
BTW... welcome to BroncoZone!
joe
You may want to put information about your rig into your sig file so that we have it as a reference.. ie year of truck, size of motor, etc.
BTW... welcome to BroncoZone!
joe
Lastly.., from me....
Having done over 15 of these rigs..... I would have to look long & hard at the veh. you describe....B/4 I would commit...even if it was free.
Do this...., get some pics & post them here.., or these conversations could go on for ever.....
Over & out...
B /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />
Having done over 15 of these rigs..... I would have to look long & hard at the veh. you describe....B/4 I would commit...even if it was free.
Do this...., get some pics & post them here.., or these conversations could go on for ever.....
Over & out...
B
/emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />
