1971 Ford Bronco: Homebrew Bronco

Up front on this Bronco is a simple but functional tube bumper that offers some frontend protection without stealing significant approach angle. The ’cage, inside door panels, and front bumper were powdercoated in a silver vein finish. After Brent did the major bodywork he delivered it to Maaco for the final prep work and the Cobalt Blue paint followed by a top clear coat.

The engine compartment received great attention. The centerpiece is the Ford 351W V-8 topped with an Edelbrock Performer intake and Holley Truck Avenger carburetor. Spark is handled by the MSD 6A ignition and distributor. Brent runs a hydroboost master cylinder from a Cobra Mustang and a PSC high flow P-series pump provides the pressurized hydraulic fluid for brake and steering assist. Hot gases exit through BC Broncos shorty ceramic headers and dump into a 2-into-1 Magnaflow muffler tucked up between the frame rails.

Ample front articulation comes from the West Coast Broncos 12-inch extended long travel tubular radius arms. Randy Ellis Design clocked the knuckles and pinion angle of the Dana 44 axle housing to accommodate the suspension and steering components. James Duff Extreme tubular front shock hoops are used up front to support the Rancho shocks. Beefy F-250 dual-piston front calipers offer strong stopping power with the hydroboost.

Brent converted the front Dana 44HD leaf sprung axle for use with the coil springs and radius arms, and added a Wild Horses track bar riser to the differential housing. Inside, 5.13 gears spin on an ARB Air Locker. Fortification is enhanced with a Ballistic Fabrication cover, Stone Crusher track bar with rod ends, and a Bullet Proof Steering Rock-Proof tie-rod over knuckle setup with rod ends.

All the small details were done with care as evidenced by the brake hose routing here. The Dana 60 stops using a K20 caliper conversion, providing modern disc brakes at all four corners.

For a steering box, the Bronco got a conversion that consisted of using a ’78-to-’79 Bronco or F150 4X4 steering gear, and reversing its rotation by swapping in the worm gear and valve housing from a 1980s Ford pickup, Bronco, or Ranger.

Drivetrain behind the Ford V-8 consists of an NP435 trans and a Dana 20 transfer case. Here you can see how far back the extended radius arms mount to provide decent lift, while maintaining good arm angles.

The rear axle is a Dana 60 in full-float form. Driven Auto Parts rear shock hoops support the tops of the Rancho 9000s which dampen the 11-leaf Wild Horse spring packs built to raise the Ford about 5 1/2 inches. This axle is also equipped with 5.13 gears and an ARB Air Locker.

Traction for this Bronco comes from 37-inch-tall BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM2s mounted to KMC Addict 17x9 alloy wheels. An eight-lug stud pattern is used front and rear.

A Tuffy center console sits between a pair of 2008 Honda Odyssey leather seats wrapped with Crow Industries 4-point harnesses. The console houses a Clarion stereo and Infinity speakers.

Behind the seats at the tail end of the 6-point rollcage sits a large lockable storage box. The interior sheet metal was sanded to bare metal then two coats of Rust Bullet Automotive Primer were laid down. This was followed with Herculiner over the entire interior.

Erin brought her fabric skills to the project and made a custom rollcage top using Sea-Mark vinyl-backed Sunbrella material and rollcage pads.

The dash has been reworked to accommodate an array of Autometer gauges and has been powder-coated in silver vein. The ARB compressor and solenoid switches sit within easy reach of the driver. A Grant steering wheel sits atop a refurbished factory steering column.

Brent fabricated a sturdy rear bumper and swinging tire carrier to support another 37-inch tire. The square tube bumper also doubles as a small air storage container.

Brent took a set of BC Broncos 1/4-inch rock skis and had tubular sliders welded to them to serve as an entry step and keep the rocker panels a little further from the boulders.