Project: Black Betty

[LittleBigFoot]

The real fun is in the works this winter season. Time to start my build thread. I'll start at the top.

In January of 07 I bought my Ranger. A black 2000 XLT stepside, bone stock.

After finding a sweet deal on craigslist.com I threw on a set of ProComp 33x12.5r15s on some bent up rockcrawlers.

Wheeled her a bit and decided she needed some more room. After reading up in the Tech Library I decided to go for the simple torsion bar crank.

(Photo taken at St. Marrys Glacier, Idaho Springs Colorado)

Still felt a little short, so being a broke highschool kid I went with a 3" body lift.

(Photo taken at Red Cone, Georgetown CO)

With the removal of the front sway bars and taking the torsion bars to stock, I had decent flex but decent just isn't good enough!

I picked up a Dana 44 out of a 1985 Jeep Wagoneer. I decided to go with a different route then the leafs up front and I don't have the shop to fab, so I decided to go full width after seeing a buddies Exploder.

I wish I had a pic, but it's an 1993 Explorer Sport w/ a HP Dana44 and 9" from a 73-79 1/2 ton Ford 4x4. He's using the stock Bronco suspension with addition of some aftermarket coils. It's measured at 14" over stock and this thing is sound. But back to my build.

I decided to go the same route, and because leafs kill approach and I'd need to fab a shackle for the front big enough to keep the arch right with the leaves.

The Waggy 44 is still for sale by the way!

As soon as I finish this post, I'm on my way up too look at a 78 FS Bronco parts truck. $400 for everything but the engine and tranny. I'll update as the swap begins.


Adam

 

[LittleBigFoot]

Today I checked out the Bronco and it'll be in my driveway by Friday. 6" lift and a good set of 35s on the stock wheels w/ spare.

Horray, now I have my street set!

More pics to come

 

[danger88ranger]

Got any pictures of your friends explorer?? Sounds like a sweet rig

 

[LittleBigFoot]

Next time I'm over there I'll snap a few. This thing is amazing. He could fit a todler between the top of his tires and the fender. A todler standing up...

 

[351ranger]

Next time I'm over there I'll snap a few. This thing is amazing. He could fit a todler between the top of his tires and the fender. A todler standing up...

You don't want anything that high if you are actually wheeling the damn thing. You want it as low as possible with room enough for big tires. My b2 only has about a 4" lift and cut wheel wells to fit 36" tires, works perfect.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

It's not as wobbely as one might think, i thought the 14" was a little much, i'm sticking around 6" and I'm debating pulling the body lift after the suspension lift.

Even now I feel a littly tipsy on the trails...

 

[LittleBigFoot]

I towed the Bronco home and began the tear down. This was a bitch considering most of my tools were in storage at the time. Here's some shots of the beast.

 

[zainyD]]

I'm sure you already know this but make sure you get all the brackets and bolts that you'll need off the Bronco so you don't have to spend additional $$ on buying new stuff.

Also, you might check over at www.fullsizebronco.com to see if some of the folks over there might want some parts off that thing. It looks fairly straight and rust free.

 

[PaleBlue90]

I'm sure you already know this but make sure you get all the brackets and bolts that you'll need off the Bronco so you don't have to spend additional $$ on buying new stuff.

Also, you might check over at www.fullsizebronco.com to see if some of the folks over there might want some parts off that thing. It looks fairly straight and rust free.

+1

 

[NewCastleRob]

thats going to be a bad ass truck

 

[PaleBlue90]

yea it will be, hopefully both Black Betty and my ranger (PaleBlue) will b done by the time the TRS 10th ann. comes around

 

[Neurotoxin]

Looking good

Did you have and rubbing problems with the 12.5" wide 33's when you only had the torsion bars cranked?

 

[predator]

thats a nice lookin bronco...*slaps himself* no jesse NO! no more fullsizers!!!! aaawwww......sorry


sorry bout that, trying to kick my 73-79 ford addiction.



man what a nice bronco....oops

 

[LittleBigFoot]

I'm sure you already know this but make sure you get all the brackets and bolts that you'll need off the Bronco so you don't have to spend additional $$ on buying new stuff.

A few of em are worth replacing. Broncograveyard.com is my new grocery store.


Also, you might check over at www.fullsizebronco.com to see if some of the folks over there might want some parts off that thing. It looks fairly straight and rust free.

I put the body, chasis, and tranny, on craigslist. Some kid and his dad are starting a bronco build and I figured, if i got a good deal, might as well pass it on. I know I'm a retard for doin this, but i support the cause. I'm givin him the chasis, body, tranny, and aftermarket exhaust for 200 bucks. What ever, I support the cause

thats going to be a bad ass truck

Why thank you!

yea it will be, hopefully both Black Betty and my ranger (PaleBlue) will b done by the time the TRS 10th ann. comes around

I'm aiming at March 22 to be finished. So get your shit together man!

Looking good

Did you have and rubbing problems with the 12.5" wide 33's when you only had the torsion bars cranked?

No problems with the 33x12.5s. The 15.5s rub like a lonely jr. high boy.

thats a nice lookin bronco...*slaps himself* no jesse NO! no more fullsizers!!!! aaawwww......sorry


sorry bout that, trying to kick my 73-79 ford addiction.



man what a nice bronco....oops

There's nothing wrong with that. Once I'm swapped and locked I'm lookin at restoring an old F100. The 73-79s were the last years trucks were trucks and simply that.





UPDATE:
Things have slowed down, work is gettin in the way. I'll have a few weeks off over Christmas to pound this away. The hillbilly that installed the lift on the bronco used all sorts of random shit making it really hard to rip it apart with ease. I'm drowning in debt so the tear down is in process, but the swap is on hold. I also need a little town car. 8MPG sucks.

I'm thinkin: (objections will be valued)

A detroit for the rear
And an ARB for up front to power down in the city

I'm still lookin at coils, tryin to figure out what will flex like Arnold


Thanks for the support!



Adam

 

[Ranger44]

Good Job!