1980 Ford Bronco Off-road racer.. a Cannonball non-starter, restarted!

[JTalmage]

EDIT: Since I failed to meet the deadline for Cannonball 2016, I almost gave up on it... but I have too much time invested in this project to give up. So it continues!

 

I don't believe I ever created a thread for this for updates besides what I posted in the cannonball thread. I'm hoping this renews my interest in this project, because I'd actually like to finish a cannonball at some point! 

So here's what I started with:

I'm going for something like this...

 

I decided to use the wheels and tires from the snap tite jeep rubicon because they were 5 lug instead of 6 lug.

 I raised the front suspension by basically breaking it apart and bending it a little, and cutting off the "hubs" and re-gluing them straight. I also made some "shackles" for the rear to raise it up a bit. 

Then I made a roll cage for it. However after seeing some of the Australian road laws about having NO bars coming forward of the front seats... I may have to modify my cage....

I also made a spare tire mount for the rear of the cage. Can never have too many spares in the outback! The sides of the bars at the rear should have room for 2 fuel cans. 1 on each side. 

What's nice about it is, I can still put the top on it... you know, in case the weather gets bad lol

Also discovered that the pegasus disc brake rotors fit on all 4 wheels. So this Bronco will have 4 wheel disc brakes. 

Since this is a Bronco there was usually 1 fuel tank, but in my favor the old monogram error of using the F150 chassis has blessed me with 2 fuel tanks!

However I will have to figure out some sort of "fill" for the 2nd tank since there's only 1 fuel door. 

 

Last I left off, I was working on an offroad tube bumper and skid plates for the chassis. I wasn't having good luck bending evergreen for the bumper and getting consistent results and that's when I boxed it back up. I still need to make some lights and a winch for it too. 

I'm also still debating a powertrain. I'm thinking a 5.4L DOHC w/ a carburetor. Will have to make a hat for it to go to a snorkel... you know.. just in case.

I'm also thinking orange and white for a paint job, a very 80's original look to it. 

Edited February 20, 2017 by JTalmage

[JTalmage]

I realized I also want to cut out the stock molded in exhaust. Which, as of this writing, I haven't done yet. But, hope to. I also realized it's too late to get the "engine of my choice" for this thing too... Oh well. I'll make due.

So, I also think I got my front tube bumper finally laid out the way I want it. I just need to make some down tubes to go to the frame and make a skid plate setup too. 

I also finished the mounting bars for the dual shocks... which I've also yet to make. Hopefully this week along w/ coil springs. 

Still a few other things I'm thinking of adding, depending on if I can get it done in time.

[cobraman]

Cool project !

[MeatMan]

Looking forward to see the finished product Jesse.

[Ron Hamilton]

Nice!!!!

[GTC]

Nice build so far. 

[slusher]

Great work so far...

[JTalmage]

Thanks guys. I need to keep working on this thing. But I don't think it will be done by the deadline. 

I built a crude but effective LED light bar for it last night. My non hazing glue, hazed the plastic a bit. Oh well. 

So here's another mock up of this thing. I just love looking at it mocked up. This thing is gonna look sweet when it's done. If it ever gets done.

[JTalmage]

I also decided it was time to finish the front bumper. Well, almost.

A few more braces and some sheet for a skid plate and it's done.

So I started on a rear. I used a roundfile to shape the rear frame rails to accept the tube bumper. Sits in there perfectly.

I saw a bumper on the internet that I loved, and so I decided to replicate it.

 

more to come

[bobthehobbyguy]

Nice fab work. Definitely want to see more.

[Modelbuilder Mark]

Cool project!

[MeatMan]

Nice work Jesse.

Hey for my light bar, I just used white glue in the bottom of the channel with a toothpick and then just dropped the "lights" in.

Did a short section at a time so the glue wouldn't dry.

[JTalmage]

Nice work Jesse.

Hey for my light bar, I just used white glue in the bottom of the channel with a toothpick and then just dropped the "lights" in.

Did a short section at a time so the glue wouldn't dry.

Thanks, yeah I should have used white glue for the beads and for the "glass" but I wanted to get it done quickly. Next time I'll definitely use white glue. I'm going to weather this one just a tiny bit, so it should mask a few not so perfect spots. But thank you for the advice. I'll definitely follow that next time around. Light bars are cool!

[JTalmage]

I dragged this one back out of the box after admitting defeat to myself over not getting it completed for Cannonball... which will make my 3rd non start. One reason I didn't enter this year. Ugh!

Anyway, a little bit has happened since then. So here's some pics!

The last picture you saw, I was building a back bumper for it. That's finished now but I didnt take pictures for whatever reason. 

I also removed the molded in exhaust from the frame. There's a little work that needs done to clean up the look of the chassis still after doing that. Still working on that. 

I also took some craft wire and made some coil springs for the front suspension! 

Not sure if I'll keep them silver or paint them w/ a clear blue or something. I'll figure that out later. It added a smidge of height to the front end so I think I need lift blocks for the back now. 

Here's a mock up of it after the coils

I had a REALLY nice day saturday and was able to get some paint also flung on this thing!

The color is '79 Ford Tangerine. Which is super close to '80 Bright Carmel. Shouldn't be able to tell a difference.

Pulled the tape to reveal the base of Ford Wimbolden White.

So obviously another mock up was in order!

 

I still need to do BMF, decals, and other details before I clear it. Also will be flocking the interior carpet... I hope I have enough flocking for this big thing!

 

Hope you all enjoy the latest update.

[Intmd8r]

Really cool build. Keep up the great work.

I'd love to build the 1:1. 

[MeatMan]

Hey Jesse, I'm glad to see up you picked this back up after all the nice work you'd done on it.. That paint looks sweet!

[JTalmage]

Thanks, I got impatient and pulled the tape so there's some touch up to do. I'm hoping the fender flares will cover it. I hope I don't have to repaint anything because I was running out of that custom orange!

I'm hoping my engine will get here sometime this year from Clearly Scale. I know he had issues but I figured it would be here by now.

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Looks sharp!! I really like what you've come up with! Great Work!!

[1930fordpickup]

Carpet, Jesse ? This is a racer, spray in bed liner. I like the color choice. 

[gatorincebu]

 

  Jesse,

            Its nice to see that you are working on this one again . Youv'e done some real nice work here. looking good !

 

 

  Be Well

   Gator

[JTalmage]

Carpet, Jesse ? This is a racer, spray in bed liner. I like the color choice. 

Still have to be a little civilized! haha! Since it's not deemed to be a Cannonball competitor anymore, plans have changed, it's basically like a Resto-Mod offroader. I didn't want to go thru all the trouble of building bare interior and all that. 

Thanks everyone, Still waiting for my engine/trans from Clearly Scale... I might get some motivation back if I ever get that package.