Beautiful resto-mod. 302 V8, automatic, upgraded suspension, new interior, two tops, stereo, and more! Designed to be everyday comfortable and still go anywhere. Super clean inside and out, ready to get dirty!
Starting with a remarkably clean truck from down south, this off-roader has been extensively upgraded for use in today’s world without losing what’s awesome about the early Broncos. Everything but the custom cowl induction hood is steel, including the front fenders, and finish quality is impressive. You’ll note that the rear fenders have been subtly modified with a set of front fender wheel openings to change the arch ever so slightly and a custom rear roll pan under the tailgate to add a finished look. Everything was painted a late-model Mitsubishi color called Bizen Orange which glows in the sunlight. That cowl-induction hood wears a pair of stripes that set it off just right, as well as a set of ‘302’ badges. Of course, you get a simple factory grille painted the same color as the stripes, plus shiny chrome bumpers, bright chrome ‘Bronco” emblems, door handles, and aftermarket tubular step bars.
The interior is just as nicely finished as the bodywork, including seats from a 2008 Jeep Wrangler that wear new tan neoprene seat covers. The whole inner tub was treated to a color-matched layer of spray-on bedliner material, so it’ll last forever and you don’t have to worry about getting it dirty—just hose it out after a day of playing in the mud. You’ll note that the door panels were refinished to match and the door frames were modified so they can be removed entirely for a very clean look with the top removed. A Tuffy center console was installed so you have some secure storage and a pair of cup holders, A tilt steering column from a 1978 Ford F150 looks right in the vintage Bronco and it’s topped by a wood-rimmed steering wheel. Original gauges are in the simple round housing to the left of the steering column, while a modern Jensen AM/FM/CD/iPod/satellite head unit (marked “Heavy Duty”) is in the center of the dash, along with a pair of power outlets and iPod connections. A full roll cage was installed for safety and the rear seat folds down to add storage capacity. There’s also a bit of cargo space and the truck includes an expensive off-road jack secured to the cage in back. There’s a removable soft top and frame, along with a bikini top for some protection from the sun.
The engine is a stock 302 cubic inch V8 that’s still running a 2-barrel carburetor, as it would have in 1976. In a tall vintage 4x4 like this, that’s more than enough to make performance entertaining. It was rebuilt about 18,000 miles ago and runs great with no fussiness and a smooth idle that comes from sticking to the factory recipe. A giant radiator an auxiliary electric fan live up front, so slow going in the mud isn’t going to stress the engine, and an HEI ignition system fires it reliably under all conditions. Thanks to proper tuning, it starts quickly, idles nicely, and runs superbly. Power steering and power disc brakes are part of the package, too, so it’s easy to handle both around town and in the rough.
The undercarriage was finished with black spray-on bedliner material for protection, and most of the components that were bolted on were painted to match. A C4 3-speed automatic transmission was rebuilt with a shift kit and feeds a Dana 20 J-type transfer case with high and low ranges. The front axle is a Dana 44 with 3.56 gears, while a heavy-duty Ford 9-inch was built with 3.55 gears and oversized drum brakes, making this a very formidable truck in the slippery stuff. The suspension offers a modest Rancho 2.5-inch lift with adjustable RS2000 shocks at all four corners, as well as a steering stabilizer and drop radius arm brackets to improve steering feel and precision on the road. Nickel-coated long-tube headers feed a custom stainless exhaust system with a 2-into-1 Magnaflow muffler, giving this Bronco a fantastic soundtrack that’s more Mustang than utility vehicle. It sits on polished Pro-Comp Extreme aluminum wheels and 305/65/17 off-road radials that have just a few hundred miles on them.
Broncos are red hot today and if you want one that combines V8 power and great looks, one that’s in incredible shape, and one that is built using all the parts you’d use if you were doing it yourself, this is a smart choice. Why build when you can buy this one today and be playing with it by next week? Call now!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
