My 76' Work in Progress

Post by **Moab Mike** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:12 pm

OK, here's my project. It is bone stock 1976 U15 with factory original paint and no rust. It has a 302 CID engine coupled to a C4 trans, Dana 20 and 3:54 running gears. I bought this rig in June of 2003 on ebay sight unseen from a guy who was more con artist than mechanic. It was pretty bad cosmetically but I like ugly women. I replaced the dash pad, front seat covers, steering wheel, numerous weather stripping components and the spare tire (the old one blew out on the carrier due to sun rot). I am currently looking for a new hard top for it as there was a vent hood cut into the sheet metal just above the rear bench seat.
After I got it where my wife wouldn't throw things at me when she passed through the garage, I rebuilt the engine. This was necessary because the jackass I bought it from replaced bad bearings with without turning the crank or any further engine work. Well what do you know it spun the bearings again. The bore is now .030" over with flat pistons for higher compression. The only drawback is she now sips only the finest high octane. I do have a 95' Mustang 5.0 HO engine for it but I'll save it for later. I have spent a fortune on spare parts over the years that I'll probably never use but at least I have options for the future. You may see some of them for sale on this website from time to time.
FYI, I have owned six of these beautiful works of art over the years and have a true passion for them. I would prefer these over a new vehicle any day of the week. After I have my fun with this thing, I'll be restoring it for my grandson who is now three years old. I hope the passion is instilled in my DNA!

Post by **Zenzone** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:55 pm

I like it. Thats what my 76 looked like when I bought it, only difference is mine was cut in the rear. I still remember the smell of the old girl when we she came home. Looks clean to me. I really like it. Keep the pics coming.

Post by **Cortez** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:07 am

looks like a nice specimen...keep up the good work.

Post by **Entourage** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 11:47 am

That is a gorgeous Bronco and a great story. Ebay is definitely hit and miss but it looks like you were able to turn that project around. I love the old radio. Is that a Cassette deck under the dash? That is a clean Bronco - it even looks like original carpet. I agree that these older trucks are cooler than anything at a new car dealership. What a great truck.

Your Grandson is a lucky kid smokin

Post by **Moab Mike** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:57 am

Entourage, That is an old FM tuner under the dash. They (we) used them in old cars before FM radio was the thing to have. All you have to do is dial your AM to a certain channel and then you can tune in your favorite FM station.
Yes that is the original floor pad in the vehicle with just a few small tears. FYI, the parchment color was found in the sport models, explorers and rangers. The black was found in the balance of the models.

THANKS everyone for the feedback!

Post by **Jesus_man** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:44 am

That's nearly identical to my '74 when I bought it except I had a "little" more rust. Anyway great looking bronco. Maybe one day I'll get a stocker sunday cruiser again!

Post by **Moab Mike** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 7:33 pm

Well I decided to get off of my A$$ and get going on my EFI swap. On February 23, 2014 Gregg, Rox Crusher and Viperwolf1 came over, we pulled to old 302 out as well as the transmission and transfer case. The later two were impromptu as I was only going to pull the engine. Phil stayed a little later and used some C4 explosives on my C4 and tore it down to a large pile of small parts. He came back on March 3rd and showed me how to reassemble it (sure, just as much as a dog can watch TV and understand the show he's watching). Needless to say I now have an official "Viper Built Stealth" model C4. Why Stealth, well it is only one of two Phil never painted during a build.
Yesterday and today I spent pulling the old gas tank and cleaning things up. I tried to emulate Phil and tore down my Dana 20. I'll start cleaning things up and reassembling tomorrow.
I will hopefully have the D20 done before this weekend and the new fuel tank and lines run by the end of the weekend. I am shooting to have the project completed by the end of April.
I guess I shouldn't leave out EFIGuy who has been working on my harness and computer. He's very detailed oriented and has been a real pleasure to work with. Highly recommended if you are thinking of going EFI.

Post by **Gunnibronco** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 7:40 pm

Nice! Good luck on the rest of the project.

Post by **akaFrankCastle** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:06 pm

A box full of Dana 20, Greek yogurt, sour cream, and petroleum jelly...

Post by **Justin** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:09 pm

Looks like progress!

Post by **Viperwolf1** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:21 pm

akaFrankCastle wrote:A box full of Dana 20, Greek yogurt, sour cream, and petroleum jelly...

Mike always puts on a good show.

Post by **plumbdoctor** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:49 pm

Maybe I'll put yogurt in my tranny to fix it

Post by **Jesus_man** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 3:29 am

I hope you make your timeline! It'll be great to have it ready for the summatime!

Post by **Rox Crusher** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 5:35 am

That is going to be such a beautiful sleeper when you are done !

Post by **ZOSO** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 6:04 am

About time you started the swap.

Post by **Rox Crusher** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 1:20 pm

Wait, did you say April ?

Anybody worth their salt can do a body off refresh and EFI upgrade in 3 days or so.

Maybe that's terribly optimistic (naive) of me though

Post by **ZOSO** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:26 am

Done yet? Moab is coming up quick.

Post by **Moab Mike** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:52 am

Not even close! Work thinks I should be there every day. I hope to drop the drive train back in and have it running next weekend.

Post by **Gregg** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 9:09 pm

Awesome. It's about time you quit belly aching about "some vacuum leak" you got going under the hood.

Post by **Moab Mike** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 12:24 am

Well it's 1:25 AM and I just got home from work. Supposed to start on the engine install at 8 AM.

Post by **akaFrankCastle** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 12:27 am

Just drink coffee. Forget about sleep.

Post by **landshark** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 12:30 am

Whooo hoooo

Post by **Moab Mike** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 12:43 am

Yeah I know, you find sympathy in the dictionary between $hit ans syphillis.

Post by **Entourage** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 12:46 am

Take and post lots of pics. Going to be a great build with the dream team back together.

Post by **Viperwolf1** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 5:05 pm

Where's the pics?

Post by **Moab Mike** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 8:54 pm

Viperwolf1 wrote:Where's the pics?

I'll post some tomorrow!

Post by **Moab Mike** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:06 pm

Well a quick update, the engine, transmission and transfer case are back in thanks to the hard work of Rox Crusher, Gregg, my neighbor Robert, Landshark and Viperwolf1. I have to give a special thanks to Gregg for making the new engine a beautiful work of art and Viperwolf1 for ensuring the transmission and transfer case are in perfect working order. We are still working out the minor issues of such a project but it should be roaring to life by no later than next Saturday. I'll post some pix tomorrow.

Post by **Gregg** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 8:13 am

Here's a pic of me breaking it in...paybacks....

Post by **Kinder** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 9:26 am

"It's only Mike's Bronco!"

Post by **Moab Mike** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 10:01 am

Funny he was turned around before that picture was taken!

www.ColoradoClassicBroncos.com