Project Neo

[Northidahotrailblazer]

Well the time has come. My stubby ranger is going to get turned back into a partial bronco II. I’ve been gathering parts. I’m still on the fence on some of this but plan is.

Gen 1 front end swap.
Explorer V8.
I really want to 4 link the rear.
Custom cage.
B2 turned early bronco style.

It’s really hard for me to rip this thing apart. But the cab is in rough shape. Window frame has rust holes, cab roof frame bad rust.

I thought about selling it and starting new but I can’t even get someone to pay me what it would cost to build the axles….. so I’m just going to turn it back into a bronco II. So I can build more of tough rig. I love my v8 powered TTB Bronco II but rocks don’t like it and I’m tired of getting an alignment every time I go beat on it. This B2 means a lot to me, I wish I hadn’t hit the front end went plowing a few winters ago, but that’s were the front end swap comes into play. This is the og body that came off it. So I feel it’s right to give it another go in life rather than a junk yard.

 

[Northidahotrailblazer]

My goal is to build something like this. Except more of a cage. I want to be able to put a RTT on it. I’m going to have to probably bring the wheel base to around 100-105” it’s currently around 115”. I’m gonna keep it as long as I can. But I’ve had problems bending leaf springs on it. I have skyjacker leaf 6” leaf springs flipped around to push the axle back. And even with my anti wrap bar I still have leaf springs issues.

 

[bobbywalter]

rough....you should see my junk.


that projected paint job and headlights are killer

 

[Northidahotrailblazer]

rough....you should see my junk.


that projected paint job and headlights are killer

A previous owner of the ranger body, replaced the roof at one point. Pretty weird, almost looks like it was put on its side. The inside framing it’s in horrible shape. I didn’t know it was that bad until the headliner was pulled down. Idk it was a good deal. For a 91 ranger with a 4.0. I need more room for the family, I’ll give the wife back the white b2 and I’ll take this one.

I’m excited to start this project.

 

[Northidahotrailblazer]

Well haven’t got a lot done. Got the cab off flatbed off, I put my body on to see how much stuff I moved, turns out I moved things a lot haha

 

[Northidahotrailblazer]

I’ve been playing with the front suspension. Trying to get a little more up travel. Because 1.5 on the drivers side just isn’t cutting it. I’ve got to cycle it again but my James duff track bar mount is the problem. Also found my passenger side was not the same wheel base as the drivers, pushed the axle apart almost 3/4s of an inch. Playing with cardboard got my track bar mount made, I’m going to cut out the rest of the engine cross member and build a new one. Also going to weld and bolt the track bar and add a bar running to the other side to act like a steering box stiffer and a track bar stiffer. Slowly moving forward with this thing.

 

[Northidahotrailblazer]

Well I’m easily going to have a 4 inches of up on the drivers side might even be able to get more once the engine cross member is gone. Welded everything in solid. The track bar mount is welded and bolted to the frame. I have a bar running to the other side, to act like a steering box stiffer and it will add in the track bar mount. I just ran out of steam to get it built the rest of the way. But everything clears and I’m way happier with this. It’s definitely better. James duff mount is gone. Next finish support mount on passenger side. Cut rest of engine cross member out. Make another cross member that is removable. And then set the 5.0 in and see if everything clears. lol haha then it will be on to boxing frame in.

 

[Northidahotrailblazer]

Well decided it would be easier to remove the whole apron with core support. Got everything cut off. Not sure how it’s going to work to bolt it on. Not many of the bolt holes line up. Haha I’ll get what I can to line up. But looks good. I’ve always liked the second gen’s look more but this is growing on me. There is a guy on facebook that is working on 7” rounds that are completely bolt on. I’m going to get some from him. I’m still not sure what I’m doing for a transmission yet. I found a ok deal on a 4.2 m5R2 that’s in Canada. I’ll be heading that way in a couple weeks. I might do that. I know I’ll be way happier with a manual.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

On my race truck I just uses self tapping sheet metal screws. I haven't seen any back off but you could drill holes for bolts...

 

[Northidahotrailblazer]

On my race truck I just uses self tapping sheet metal screws. I haven't seen any back off but you could drill holes for bolts...

I’ll just bolt them on, I should of just cut the spot welds off of the b2 I’m using and that way there wouldn’t be a hole bunch of holes haha Olwell, I could weld them up to. And then drill the holes out on the apron. It was just way easier to poke the holes with the plasma cutter and then drill/step bit.

 

[bobbywalter]

i just bolt them.