Since the last update:

I picked up the door shells and fenders last week. I bought some closeout pieces that had slight damage at a significant discount. I was able to repair them fairly easily. Not perfect, but good enough for me. Once that was done I primed and painted them.

Then, I was finally able to take down the paint booth. It is soooo much nicer having room to work again.

The last couple of days have been spent painting the pedals, steering column, and making sure everything fits. I had to drill a few mounting holes, and put a couple in for the main harness connectors.

I’m back to being excited to work on it, had been getting kind of burned out on the body and paint.

Still a long ways to go, but I’m planning on being back on the road in the spring.

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Still looking good OP! 😃

You need to build/design a collapsible spray booth.

tagged.  Awesome thread.

I’ve been working on the Bronco here and there. It’s coming along slowly.

Since the last update, I sprayed bedliner in the bed. The last couple of days we have been working on the front clip. I test fit it, needs a couple of tweaks, but overall it’s ok. Also got the tailgate installed, need to adjust it a bit yet.


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Bump

I haven’t been spending much time on the Bronco lately. I have been doing a little work here and there. I’ll take some pics later today and do an update.

It’s been a period of minimal progress over the last few months, but since the last update I have done a few things here and there.

The front clip is on, the dash is permanently mounted, and I’ve been hooking up the harness and getting various pieces installed.

A few days ago, I tried to hook up the parking brake, and it’s seemed like the left rear cable was too short. After some head scratching and comparing the new with the old, I realized the bracket had been welded on backwards. That made the mounting paint about two inches further forward than it should have been. That part of the body came welded together, so whatever factory it’s made in had welded it on wrong. I wonder how many others have had the same issue, So today, I cut the bracket off, flipped it around and welded it back on.

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I also picked up all of the parts needed to finish it up last week (as far as I know). I had been delaying spending the cash, but finally ripped that band aid off.

I think the last remaining big expenditure is a set of tires. Waiting until spring on that, I have it on an old set of Jeep wheels/tires to roll around the shop. They don’t exactly “fit”, they don’t quite clear the brake drums. Good enough for moving it around though.

It runs!!!

I’ve been doing some work here and there since the last update.

Today I stuck a battery in it, cranked it over without the spark plugs in long enough to get oil pressure. Then I primed the fuel system with an electric pump, and cranked it up.

It fired right up, and ran until the carburetor went dry. The new mechanical fuel pump I put on wasn’t pumping. So I stuck the electric pump back on temporarily, and ran it long enough to warm it up good. It was charging right off the bat, too. While it was warming up, I checked all of the lights, and other electrical stuff. Everything worked as it should except the horn. It was making a weird sound when I hit the button. Then I realized the sound was very similar to the washer pump. So I hit the washer pump button and the horn blew!

Switched the connectors, and then they worked properly. I also ran the transmission through the gears, and it seems to shift ok.

The gas gauge doesn’t work, and I found out the radiator now leaks, but overall a very successful test run. My dad told me the gas gauge had quit working a few years ago. I put a new sending unit in, so I suspect the gauge itself. Need to do some more troubleshooting in it. The radiator is original, and it looked a little suspect when I took it out. Just ordered a new one.

I pulled the fuel pump, took it apart and found the diaphragm wasn’t attached to the arm. Put it together properly, and now it pumps fine.


New floormat really ties the room together!

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Sweet!

That's great news.  The washer pump / horn switch reminded me of a Brady Bunch episode where Greg Brady did something similar.

You're getting very close!

Man that’s gotta be a good feeling. Looking good!

Regarding the leaking radiator.....

Find a radiator shop, have it boiled out and repaired ....if it's repairable.

A new coat of heat safe paint and done.

Love the Jeep more than your Bronco though.....

That thing will be worth 20K when you're done.

On Bring a Trailer, an off frame restored early Bronco is bringing 35-40k

I love this thread. I raise my glass to you, O.P.

You have inspired me to do some tweaking to Mrs. O's 2021 JL Wrangler.
I messed with the equalizer...

The radio sounds less bad
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Thanks for all of the kind words.

I’ve been making slow progress. I got a new buffer and rubbed out all of the paint. Burned up my old cheap one on the first panel. It looks much better, could still use a little more though.

Last week I got the glass installed in the windshield frame, and then got it mounted. I used a local glass shop to put the window in. I tried to do it myself on the Jeep, and ended up breaking the glass. I didn’t feel like taking the chance on this one.

I’ve been messing with the hood trying to get it fitting ok. Took some doing, but I finally got it close enough. I set the top on the body but want to get the doors on before I mount it permanently to make sure they fit together. So now I’m working on the doors. The first one is about half done, need to make a slight modification to the new rear track I got.

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Coming along great. Gonna be a bad ass little truck great work man.

I’ve been doing some work off and on.

Since the last update I hung both doors. They fit pretty well. I need to get a new plastic bushing for the window regulator, then I can put the inner panels back on. Need to get the door weatherstripping on, then I can permanently mount the top and do the final door adjustment.

Today I got my new tires mounted. I got BF Goodrich ko2 for it. Stuck them on this afternoon.

Getting closer. Still need to put the new foam and covers on the seats, but I’m finally seeing the end in sight. I’m so ready to be done with this thing, it’s been a long 2.5 years and a lot of effort.

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Can’t wait to see it rolling in a video.  Looks awesome

That's ameteur shit bro.  I switch the time on the radio on the womans ride during time change in Spring and fall

And yes, this thread is awesome!

Still awesome OP!

Over the last few days I’ve been working on the seats, and finally finished them up today.

Stripped them down, painted the frames, replaced a broken spring, then put new foam and covers on.

They turned out ok, not perfect by any means, but they’re much better than they were.  

I painted the mounting brackets for the passenger side today, and need to pick up a spring for the locking mechanism on the drivers side before I can install them.

I did stick them in the cab this afternoon to see how they looked, though.

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Amazing work OP.  Nice job saving another one!

For the first time in over two and a half years, it moved under its own power.

I made a couple of laps around the yard, put my wife’s Datsun on the lift in the Bronco’s place and parked the Bronco back in the shop. Made an adjustment to the clutch, went to restart it, and the starter failed. I put the one off the parts Bronco on, and was back in business.

I need to put insurance on it, get the tabs, install the wiper arms and back window yet. I think that’s it.

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Very nice.

You mentioned Datsun?  Haven't heard that name in a while. First car was a 510. Mom had the 280....

Thanks!  

Yeah, it’s a 1967 SPL311 that my father in law bought new. We restored it a few years ago. I need to throw a clutch in it, the input seal on the trans was leaking. I replaced the seal a couple of years ago, though the clutch was ok, but it started slipping last fall. Needs an oil change too, so I’ll take care of that next week.

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Nice job!  Just a cool 4X4 with tons of memories.

Looks like a handy trapping and hunting rig.

Good work on the Datsun.  I don't think I've ever encountered one in person.

I had no idea what a Datsun roadster was until I dragged it out of the barn it was in to load on a trailer.

Not many of them around in Michigan at all.

Beautiful car and if anything else of that era... So easy to work on.

I lost two auctions for Datsun Roadsters in the last year. Yours it a lot nicer than what I bid on.

My father had one when he met my mother. I believe it was a 65 1600. Story goes she made him sell it, lol.

A couple of weeks ago, I got plates for it. I also get the back window put it . I had been vacillating on doing it myself, or taking it to the shop that put the windshield in. Finally decided to give it a shot myself. I used some paracord for the rope trick, and it went right in.

Put about 4 miles on it that day, and found a few squawks to work off. Also had to replace the clutch on the wife’s Datsun, which I wrapped up today. So then I was able to get back at the Bronco.

Issue #1:
The carburetor was still a little lean under mid-rpm acceleration. Same as it always was, it has always done it for as long as I’ve had it. I had soaked it in the carb cleaner dip for several days and put a kit in it during this restoration. I found a new reproduction carb on eBay cheap, so I figured I’d give it a shot. I installed it today. It wasn’t exactly the same choke and accelerator hookups so I had to do a little parts swapping between the two. I got it installed and it seems to run good. Can’t road test it yet due to issue #2.

Issue #2:
The accelerator cable sticks occasionally. Which is not good. Ordered a new one from the only place that seems to have them for the six cylinder Broncos. Went to install it today, and the socket for the accelerator pedal end is missing. Waiting to hear back from the company I got it from.

Issue #3
It had a pretty good shake in the steering wheel at about 30, got better faster and slower. I assume it’s a tire, but I did bend the hell out of the right front brake drum a couple of years ago trying to get it off, it had seized on the hub. I had banged it back to where it looked straight, but I replaced it today in case that was the issue. I’ll drive it when I can, and if the shake is still there, I’ll swap the wheels and tires front to back.

Issue #4
There was a mysterious puddle of coolant underneath it today, and it wasn’t obvious where it was coming from. Until I pulled the carb, and then I could see some coolant puddled up on the intake around #5 and 6. Which is right under the heater control valve. I tightened the hose clamps, and that should take care of that. Hopefully

Got my new wiper blades installed today too. Just need to get a grommet for where the choke cable comes through the firewall, and buy a spare tire and get it mounted, and I think that will be it. At least I hope so

Thanks, it’s a really cool little car.


It’s so compact everything is in the way of everything else under the hood. I’d rather work on airplanes than her damn Datsun. I curse at it every time I have to do anything. Especially messing with those stupid carbs! The clutch job went pretty well though.

It wasn’t nearly this nice when we started on it. She was pretty rough.