1984 Ford Bronco

[FleshEater]

Man, I have been looking for another full-size project for a long time. Everything I have looked at is either 400 miles away on Craigslist, or nearby and $5,000 rusted out shit buckets.

Today, my employee comes in and says, “Hey boss man, I wish I had your cell phone number this weekend! I found a sweet 1984 Bronco for a good price.”

I got the run down and told the wife, I have to look at this after dinner. We’re leaving for CO tomorrow and I just had a feeling.

Man...it’s from Texas and looks like it’s never spent a moment in a Pennsylvania winter. Apparently his neighbor brought it up from Texas when he moved up here and needed quick cash. Truck checks out with the story and is rust free. Just beautiful.

Plans as of right now is to get this thing in tip top shape for daily driving. Going to leave it stock or so for now, nothing exciting, but I am so pumped to have another project vehicle. FINALLY! It’ll be sweet just cruising in this thing enjoying an older vehicle.

I only snapped two pics. I’ll post more after I pick it up next week.

 

[6gun]

Sweet! I will be following this one! I have an '84 rust bucket that is inline for shop time next for a resto-mod type dealio.

 

[TiTRD]

Great score. Looks to be in amazing shape.

 

[FleshEater]

I’ll be taking my time with this one and just enjoying every moment with it. So stoked to find this.

6gun, a lot of the Broncos I’ve seen locally are fully rusted out. Such a shame.

EDIT: I’m not going to lie, I’m really kicking around the idea of leaving as much patina as I can. Interior and exterior. It has aged very well. I’ll post more pics next week and get feed back.

 

[Aggie06]

You have to watch out for TX vehicles that spent life along the coast. Most broncos of that vintage here have rust issues.

It looks like it aged well. Any idea what part of TX it came out of?

 

[FleshEater]

You have to watch out for TX vehicles that spent life along the coast. Most broncos of that vintage here have rust issues.

It looks like it aged well. Any idea what part of TX it came out of?

No idea. I can look when I get the vehicle next week. It has the original owner’s card with it.

There are a few spots where the paint is bubbled up, but I crawled all underneath it. Check it over good. It’s 99% rust free.

 

[Aggie06]

It looks in really good shape in the pictures for sure. Almost like it was garage kept. My wife’s 2013 4 runner has worse paint than that.

 

[FleshEater]

It looks in really good shape in the pictures for sure. Almost like it was garage kept. My wife’s 2013 4 runner has worse paint than that.

It “might” have been repainted. I’ll have to look closer to be sure.

EDIT: Eh, I zoomed in on the interior pic and the dash pad looks great. I agree it was probably garage kept. No way that dash could handle the Texas sun without fading or cracking or both.

 

[FleshEater]

Brought it home! Guy said it was from Central Texas, at least that’s where he got it from.

It was repainted and quite shittily, too. I want to drive this, though, so I’m not sweating it.

Upon closer inspection the one fender did have some rust through, but this thing is still clean. I got a few pictures to start with. This thing taxed me on play money, so it’ll be cheap stuff getting done right now. I really like that it has the original wheels, but ultimately some Outlaws would look sweet on it.

 

[FleshEater]

Today I basically cleaned the Bronco all up, detailed it a bit, fixed stupid things that needed fixing, like the bumper guards being loose, a loose bracket on the rear bumper, etcetera.

The metal around the wheels cleaned up nicely, so I think I’m going to paint the wagon wheels white and keep it looking stock.

Me and the oldest kid took this for a ride down our road. It was knocking the bump stops every bump. Haha! Whole suspension needs redone. Steering, too.

However, I started looking at the electrical on this. What a nightmare. I’m finding some frayed ends near the factory connectors. Do you all think I should find new factory connectors and rewire them, or just do a whole new wiring harness?

 

[WaterH]

Following for fun. Been all through a few BB's. I'll help if I can. I've never changed a harness, so can't help you there. (I kind of scared of wiring)

 

[FleshEater]

Following for fun. Been all through a few BB's. I'll help if I can. I've never changed a harness, so can't help you there. (I kind of scared of wiring)

Per your other comment...the longer it sits there, the more tempted I am to put 32's or 33's on it, and a very small lift. It seems relatively easy to put a 2" lift on it, but I'll need a regear. I hate running under geared.

Right now I'm trying to do as much research to see what I can remove from under this hood, but finding information is tough, because apparently Ford started changing stuff in 84' for emissions and such? I don't know. I'm new to carbs, vacuum lines, Fords...I'll probably have to post pics here and ask stupid ass newb questions like a bitch.

Also, your Hemtt is AWESOME!

 

[WaterH]

Per your other comment...the longer it sits there, the more tempted I am to put 32's or 33's on it, and a very small lift. It seems relatively easy to put a 2" lift on it, but I'll need a regear. I hate running under geared.:

I think 33's will go on it with no lift. (And barely rub) I ran 35's on my old Bronco with a 4" lift. The gearing sucked till I changed it. But I don't think 32's would be a problem if the engine runs good.

 

[FleshEater]

Tore into the wiring today. Can anybody tell me if this thing needs to stay wired up? The vacuum goes to nothing, but they’re still wired into the harness.

 

[FleshEater]

Better pics.

 

[FleshEater]

Sorry one more question: Are any of these needed at all? They’re currently haphazardly spliced together.

 

[FleshEater]

At least I got the A/C out today. Just need to decide if I want to cap the lines from the A/C or just take it all out. It was a noticeable difference under the hood with that gone.

 

[Will12785]

If you want to sas this mf'er ive got a set of geared/locked axles I'd sell real cheap, suspension and all from a 78.

 

[FleshEater]

If you want to sas this mf'er ive got a set of geared/locked axles I'd sell real cheap, suspension and all from a 78.

Not on the table right now. All I want to do currently is get this wiring done, and then fix everything that's worn out and needed before I can drive it. It's hard not driving this thing around right now.

 

[FleshEater]

Well, today I dropped the rear gas tank to see if I could get the fuel gauge working. The sending unit gets stuck at 1/2 tank, so that's getting replaced. Going to do all the rubber, replace the gas tank, and shove her back in there. Couldn't get the siphon hose in, so had no idea it was full. Yeah...also didn't know Ford used the skid plate as the "bottom" of the tank straps. That fucker pinned me under the truck.

Anyways, also ripped off more emissions stuff, and it's starting to really look like an old vehicle under that hood. Got a trade set up to get an old 1BBL non-feedback carb for A/C brackets so I can get this pig running. I want a 4BBL set up, but not wanting to drop $1,000+ right now.

Also researched the loose rear pinion on the rear axle, and discovered the 8.8 is a heap of shit and not worth fixing. Thinking a 9" swap might be in my future.

 

[WaterH]

I didn't know they had 4 barrels for a six cylinder. On the 8.8, it has its good points and bad. If your not going any bigger than 33's, it's probably fine. A good upgrade to it is convert to rear disc. Then you have solved a couple problems. (Better brakes and don't lose a wheel over a C clip) A 9" is nice way to go if you got one handy.

 

[FleshEater]

I didn't know they had 4 barrels for a six cylinder. On the 8.8, it has its good points and bad. If your not going any bigger than 33's, it's probably fine. A good upgrade to it is convert to rear disc. Then you have solved a couple problems. (Better brakes and don't lose a wheel over a C clip) A 9" is nice way to go if you got one handy.

Oh yeah, man. Offenhauser makes 4BBL intakes, Holley 4BBL carb, and Clifford Performance headers...should wake her up. But that's long term goals.

Just so happens I logged onto Craigslist last night and found a 9" about 15 minutes away out of a 1984 Bronco. Just called the guy this morning and he said $200, and he'll cut it out of there for me. SCORE!

I'll keep the 8.8 around, for shits and giggles. But, I can't pass up the 9" that close to home.

 

[WaterH]

I believe they made two differnt 9" rears. Big and little bearing. I would assume one from a Bronco is a big bearing, but you should do some research and make sure.

 

[reptillikus]

Sorry one more question: Are any of these needed at all? They’re currently haphazardly spliced together.

Looks like TAD & TAB. Theyre for the smog pump. If the emissions are gone then junk em, and all the accompanying vacuum lines.

 

[FleshEater]

I believe they made two differnt 9" rears. Big and little bearing. I would assume one from a Bronco is a big bearing, but you should do some research and make sure.

They did. I’m not building this to wheel. Just want an axle that isn’t needing a ton of work to get on the road.

 

[Tiha]

That is an awesome find. Fun project. Congrats.

 

[CDA 455 II]

They did. I’m not building this to wheel. Just want an axle that isn’t needing a ton of work to get on the road.

Where is it parked at home?

In a garage? A carport? open driveway?


The reason I ask is because the FSBronco have rain/water drainage issues.

Ever see top of wheelwells and bottom of quarter panels rusted out on said FSBroncos?

It's because water and sand find their way there and stay.

The sand make their way there and stay and build up; the water make their way there and stay via the built up sand.


When rust ate through the top of the driverside rear wheelwell on my Bronco; I found AT LEAST a pound of sand packed inside said wheelwell.

 

[CDA 455 II]

Well, today I dropped the rear gas tank to see if I could get the fuel gauge working.

The sending unit gets stuck at 1/2 tank, so that's getting replaced. Going to do all the rubber, replace the gas tank, and shove her back in there. Couldn't get the siphon hose in, so had no idea it was full. Yeah...also didn't know Ford used the skid plate as the "bottom" of the tank straps. That fucker pinned me under the truck.

Did you remove the rubber filler-neck hose from the tank?

If so; how difficult was it to loosen/remove that hose clap?


I'm going to be replacing said rubber filler-neck next week due to ripping it open on the bottom when I lowered the tank to get to the inside of the frame.

 

[FleshEater]

Where is it parked at home?

In a garage? A carport? open driveway?


The reason I ask is because the FSBronco have rain/water drainage issues.

Ever see top of wheelwells and bottom of quarter panels rusted out on said FSBroncos?

It's because water and sand find their way there and stay.

The sand make their way there and stay and build up; the water make their way there and stay via the built up sand.


When rust ate through the top of the driverside rear wheelwell on my Bronco; I found AT LEAST a pound of sand packed inside said wheelwell.

My Bronco is parked in the bigger shop at my house, and will always be parked there. I know all too well about older vehicles and their habits of leaking water and killing metal where you don't want it to.

As of right now, the inner fenderwells are EXTREMELY clean. Not sure a picture could do it justice.

 

[FleshEater]

Did you remove the rubber filler-neck hose from the tank?

If so; how difficult was it to loosen/remove that hose clap?


I'm going to be replacing said rubber filler-neck next week due to ripping it open on the bottom when I lowered the tank to get to the inside of the frame.

I cut the filler neck hose in half, and cut through a plastic tube, too. Didn't know it was in there. I'm just going to buy fuel line (if I can) to the proper size and skip on buying a $23 filler neck tube hose from Summit.

My hose and even the lock ring on the sending unit all came off very easily, because there was no rust.




Anybody have a working sending unit for one of these old girls? Need a single outlet on top, and single wire going into the tank. Jeff's Bronco Garage was the only place I found them, and they were about $70.