66 'restoration'

[casadejohnson]

Guess I'll just stay in the Stroppe hole.

I know where there is a Baja that I have been working on adding to the fleet for a few years. It has some title issues that need to be resolved and the owner has limited interest in dealing with it. If it ever works out it might kill me.

[akaFrankCastle]

Guess I'll just stay in the Stroppe hole.

I know where there is a Baja that I have been working on adding to the fleet for a few years. It has some title issues that need to be resolved and the owner has limited interest in dealing with it. If it ever works out it might kill me.

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa....what?

Sidebar.

[akaFrankCastle]

Oddly, I don't think mine has all the holes necessary for the bucket passenger seat or footman loop.

What defines "early build" and why? When did Ford start making the bodies vs Budd?

Talk around the virtual water cooler over on CB.com points to ~ November 1965 as when Ford gained the ability to produce their own bodies. Or when they finally ran out of the Budd bodies. I think Ford was likely cranking them out earlier than that. Not like they would just wait until they ran out of Budds and then put their own stuff on the line. They needed to assemble some trucks and make sure things lined up and what not.

Most people define an early build as those trucks built on Budd bodies. Others will expand that out to include the presence of some of the rare '66 parts.

Here are a few easily identifiable traits of the Budd bodies


Short kick panel and open rocker/door post

driver kick panel and door post.jpg

Passenger wheel well support, bolt on

Passenger Wheel well.jpg

[akaFrankCastle]

Oddly, I don't think mine has all the holes necessary for the bucket passenger seat or footman loop.

What defines "early build" and why? When did Ford start making the bodies vs Budd?

I just went through your photobucket again. Looks like a Budd body to me.

[Gunnibronco]

Thanks for all the info. I forgot about the fender brace, I got that too. I'm glad to hear it's a Budd body.

Back on the mirror topic. My truck has an aftermarket electric wiper set up. I'd love to add the 66 rear view mirror, but is there a good looking way to keep the electric wipers & add the mirror? Seems that any electric wiper cover, is going to interfere with the mirror mounted to the frame. If adding the mirror requires vac wipers or exposed wiper linkage, I'm not 100% sure I want to make the change.

The Stroppe hole seems like a cool place, too.

[mickphatmac]

I would think you could just "Dremel" out a little notch at the bottom of the wiper cover so the mirror can hang out without interference.

[casadejohnson]

I would think you could just "Dremel" out a little notch at the bottom of the wiper cover so the mirror can hang out without interference.

Another option is individual electric wiper motors to replace the vac motors. The 68 I have has one vacuum motor and one electric. with the individual motors there is no linkage to sync the wipers but also no linkage that needs to be covered up.

[Gunnibronco]

I've done some reading on CB.com about these early trucks. I still have a bunch of threads bookmarked, for future reading. But I have come up with some info.

Both mirror ideas are good. I need to pull the electric wiper motor cover and see if the window frame was drilled for a mirror. From what I've read, there was a glass mounted mirror shown in some sales lit, and there may even have been some trucks sold without rear view mirrors. I'm not 100% on the no-mirror-option, I've read so much it starts bleeding all together.

There were several hoods on 66's. According to one person on CB, I have the 2nd gen hood.

1st gen

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2nd

get-attachment-12.aspx.jpeg

Also there was a sheet metal air box (not sure if its driver or passenger side) that was only on the earliest trucks. I don't have one. According to one post on CB, it means my truck likely didn't have the eyebrow grill. But that's just one opinion. It seems October, maybe November, 65 was the end of the eyebrow grill. So mine is right on the cusp. And maybe this disqualifies my truck as a truly "early build".

[akaFrankCastle]

Your short kick panels and door posts combined with the bolt on firewall/wheel well reinforcement pretty much make your truck a lock as an "early build".

Also, check the platform under your driver seat. The vertical portion that faces the door should have an indentation, rectangular in shape, for a Ford badge. If it doesn't, Budd build.

Definitely start comparing notes with Colby45. His truck was made on day 1. Like, no crap, no doubt about, made on day 1. His VIN number is THAT low.

[Gunnibronco]

Thanks for the lead, I'll look his up.

I'm sure its a Budd body, too. I'm just saying by October, there were maybe already changes to production happening. It really wouldn't matter to 99.9% of people.

[casadejohnson]

I have the metal air box. My understanding is that many of the metal boxes were replaced because they got clogged up with leaves and debris and rusted out. I must say that I am impressed with the longevity of the early 66's ( At least the one I have ). Mine was originally sent to the twin cities DSO and made its way from N Dakota to S Dakota to Wyoming and finally to Colorado. Logically, one would expect a lot of rust based on where it has been yet my 66 survived much better than both my 68 and 74.

[mafconc]

Thanks for the great info. I have a Nov. 65 bud body that is radio and sun visor delete. It came w/a snowplow that looked like dealer installed and full time hubs.
The door posts and jams are solid but has lots of rusty panels. It came from NH where I am. The air box vent is plastic and it is a u150 w/bulkhead. The rear view mirror looks like the one shown here. The good part is that it has just under 15k orig. miles. Color is sahara beige.

[Gunnibronco]

15k original miles, that is awesome. I'd love to see some pics.

I'm glad my thread has been a help. Once you get down to it, these 66's are a different breed. Just saw last night, that some 66's had vac wiper motors with "helper" handles. So you could wipe your windshield by hand, if you were sitting at idle and the wipers weren't moving under their own power. LOL.

Thanks!

[Gunnibronco]

The amazing akaFrankCastle found me a metal air box in great condition. I didn't even know these existed a week or so ago, now I have one for my resto. I really never thought I'd see one, let alone get to put one in my rig. Thanks so much, this truck is going to be awesome. I'm beyond thankful.

[mickphatmac]

Wow! Now that thing is cool! Congrats on your rare find :):):)
Ole Zac, he's a pretty good Cat, always going out of his way to help his Bronco brotheren!
... now if I could only get him to take pictures of his shocks for me ???

[akaFrankCastle]

You've got a headliner in the truck right? If you can get a peek behind it, see if your support ribs are bolted on versus welded in.

[Jesus_man]

The amazing akaFrankCastle found me a metal air box in great condition. I didn't even know these existed a week or so ago, now I have one for my resto. I really never thought I'd see one, let alone get to put one in my rig. Thanks so much, this truck is going to be awesome. I'm beyond thankful.

I think I had one of those in my '74...

I have many holes in my '73, but I can only close them by placing my feet over them.

[Gunnibronco]

You've got a headliner in the truck right? If you can get a peek behind it, see if your support ribs are bolted on versus welded in.

Yes, there is still a headliner in the truck. I'll take a look when I get a chance.

Viperwolf pointed out another 66 only "thing". The passenger air box is slightly different than later style. I don't know how long that lasted.

P1020984.JPG

I think I had one of those in my '74...

I have many holes in my '73, but I can only close them by placing my feet over them.

They were all plastic after October 1965ish.

[Jesus_man]

Ahh, perhaps it was. I remember that same lever and access to fresh air. I kinda miss that feature on newer vehicles!

[colby45]

I just saw this thread. Anytime you want to compare notes or anything on the early trucks, let me know!

[Gunnibronco]

Awesome, thanks. Maybe when I'm up in Denver sometime. I'd love to look your truck over.

[colby45]

Definitely! Give me a holler and I'd be happy to show it to you anytime.

[casadejohnson]

Another odd 66ism is the passenger side door lock. Some ( mine included ) don't have a key lock on the outside of the passenger side door. If you want to open the door for your wife you have to go in through the drivers door to unlock the passenger side door than get your ass back out to walk around and open the door.


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[colby45]

Another odd 66ism is the passenger side door lock. Some ( mine included ) don't have a key lock on the outside of the passenger side door. If you want to open the door for your wife you have to go in through the drivers door to unlock the passenger side door than get your ass back out to walk around and open the door.


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Hmm that is a weird quirk. Mine does have a key lock on the passenger side door. Was that actually an option or something?

[casadejohnson]

Honestly, I don't know the details on the doorlock. At first I thought mine was like that because it was originally a roadster and didn't have doors. However my doors are from another 66 BRONCO and are original. I have also seen two other 66s that are like that.


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[akaFrankCastle]

Passenger side door lock was an option in '66. I don't know when it became standard, but I would imagine it was probably after Broncos went into full production mode. Makes no sense to have non-lock door shells on hand for the one to two orders per month they might not have required them. Adding them to all doors simply makes better financial sense.

[casadejohnson]

The option was probably $5 or less. That's the kind of thing my dad would have considered to be an unnecessary expense.


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[Gunnibronco]

Passenger side door lock was an option in '66. I don't know when it became standard, but I would imagine it was probably after Broncos went into full production mode. Makes no sense to have non-lock door shells on hand for the one to two orders per month they might not have required them. Adding them to all doors simply makes better financial sense.

Another option my truck has! Man, it was loaded!

My 39 Plymouth only has a key lock on the passenger door. It was considered dangerous to get into & out of your car into the road. Everyone entered & exited cars from the sidewalk through the passenger door.

But it seems weird to enter the car through the passenger side, if you were say, parked in your driveway or other "safe" location.

[colby45]

That's a pretty cool tidbit of information. It's amazing what they considered options back in the day.

[Gunnibronco]

Added running list of hard-to-find 66 items I'm needing. Any help is appreciated.

Thank you!

Is there a tailgate silencer on 66 models? and is it 66 specific? Mine is homemade, and I don't know what should be there.