I bought a project last week. 66, originally a full cab, been converted to a half cab and I plan to return it to full. 289 V8 originally and has 300 6 and factory three speed. I have plans to install a 5.0 from a late 90's Explorer and put a NV3550 5 speed in it (as per research in seems like the best economic/reliability/performance way to go). Thought about a Coyote motor from a Mustang or F150 but way more $$ and much harder swap to do due to size of engine and excess torque on other components. Most of this will bolt right in with a transfer case adapter and Painless Wiring harness.

Anybody got one of these? If so, what have you done to it. This one has a lift kit and 35" BFG's on aluminum wheels and tons of new parts. I will likely spend $20k getting it the way I want it, but the market for these fixed up is insane. At least the asking prices are. I may have screwed up, but it won't be the first time.

Don’t have one....but I want to see pics when you get yours finished. Dream ride of mine.

I’ve got a K5. It’s in great shape as it is compared to 90 percent of them out there but I plan to full resto it one day

I love those early broncos. I have a friend that's restored 3 of them. Very nice rides. I just bought a project myself. Going to start on it this fall. 1983 wagoneer.

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Klay those have a cult following I'm told. People were doing full restorations on them and selling for big money 20 years ago before all this latest fad started.

Yep, fully restored are bringing 25 to 50 thousand. Nice looking grocery getters bringing 15 to 20 thousand range. Mine a little rough, but it'll get there.

That look nice. Your picture makes me realize I need a big garage/work shop up here at the cabin. I just need to find space for it.

. Now that is nice!!!!!!

Love em! There's a guy and his son I know on Skyline that does frame off , full restos of them . He finished a all black 1/2 cab last year that is beautiful. It's a 50K plus machine on the market. He has a roadster that was the last one used on the TV Show Green Acres. Keep us posted with plenty of pics.

My dad gave my brother his old ‘75 bronco and he has it stripped down to the frame now rebuilding it.

I have had a dozen or so of these over the years. 1966 is different than 67 and up. I did a frame off on a 1968. I built it for my son when he was a senior in high school in 2000. Unless you already have a 289, I would try to build a 302. Parts are easier to find and cheaper. I used a 95 mustang timing cover so I could changed all the pulleys to serpentine belts. I moved the glove box to the middle of the dash so I could mount the computer. I used the 95 mustang mass air and fuel injectors. I did a 4 link with a panhard bar and coil overs in the rear. I moved the wipers the bottom of the windshield so I could put a full roll cage inside. Also did floor boards and rocker panels I still have a 68 half cab with 77 running gear in about 1000 pieces that I hope to start on soon and lot of spare parts if you can't find something. Good luck with your build.

I hate to bring this up because as soon as I recommend something another person’s experience will be less fortunate than mine. But I never seem to learn.

Those NV 3550’s have a reputation for issues with not staying in gear and sounding like a box of marbles about to explode. I think it’s the bushings material used combined with the the manufacturer recommended lube being inadequate. Be sure to research this before getting one. We dumped our TJ’s troublesome nv3550 for an AX15.

It’s crazy what classic cars are bringing right now. I’m knee deep in two project trucks and just dragged home a 67 mustang for the simple fact I could double my money if I needed to. Check out Jeff’s Bronco Graveyard, pretty good parts house for 66-77s, and 78-79 Full-size. I’ve ordered a good bit from them restoring the 9” in my F150 after I sheared the pinion and decided to completely restore the rear and suspension.

Based solely on your post I have done more research and decided to go with the AX15. I can buy them new from Advance Adapters (as part of the swap kit) for not much more $ than the same kit with the NV3550. Thanks for the tip.

I found some junkyard 5.0 Explorer engines for cheap ($450 and $500) with some 30-90 day warranties. Think I’m gonna buy one of them to get the ECU, intake and injectors, manifolds, etc and use the JY engine for my core charge on the long block. By the time I buy these and do paint and body I suspect I’ll have north of $20k in it. Maybe $25k. BUT, based on what I see as the current market in these fixed up, I will be able to roll out of it without any heartburn, possibly with a small profit.

Late model 302 blocks don't have a threaded hole for the ball that the bell crank pivots on. You will need to make a mount unless you are going with a hydraulic clutch master and slave. If you use the ecm you will need to shorten up all the wires and disconnect a few things like the rear o2 sensors and the canister purge solenoid and maybe a few others. There are some good books out there on Ford ecms. I used 95 mustang heads and intake ,so the plenum would be on the passenger side and not interfere with brake booster. I also had to have the flow reversed on the radiator because the late model timing cover and water pump has the inlet on the wrong side. Good luck with your build.

My Grandaddy had the nicest one I’ve ever seen around here that had not been restored. It was all original other than having the fenders cut. It even had factory A/C. I begged him to sell it to me when I got out of college, but he never would. My cousin wanted it too and Grandaddy didn’t want either of us to get our feelings hurt. He wound up letting my uncle trade him out of it years later and he sold it not too long after that. My cousin and I both got our hearts broken. It was a 76 model and it was really nice. Good luck with your project, still hope to have mine someday.

I have a 1970 half cab frame off restoration. Powder coated frame. New exhaust, gas tank and lines, new rubber everything. New engine, rebuilt trans mission snd transfer case. No bondo. Unbelievable paint job original skyview blue and white. 302 V8. 3 on the tree. It will be for sale in a few months. It’s a show car, not a grocery getter.

Bronco show in Townsend TN starts April 21st. I’ll be there scrounging parts for a project 😄

Guess my post about my Bronco being for sale violated a rule. Almost any bronco will bring $20-30k. Frame off full restorations will bring north of $100k

Saw a really nice 74 go across the block last night for $77k. Pretty much restored as original, uncut fenders, slotted mags and BFGs.