jeep bronco swap

GotWood

GotWood

Sayer of Fact
Joined
Jan 12, 2007
Location
Maiden, NC
Planning a 78 bronco into jeep yj transplant and I'm interested in a little knowledge. I'm going to use the suspension from the front of the bronco mostly stock. What problems do you forsee? Also I would like to find a strait drive that will work with my motor and t/c, so what would be my options.
 
If you use the bronco frame then you're gonna have a long wheelbase and lots of frame hanging out the back. I did it a few years ago. You'll prob want to link the back to get rid of the excess frame
 
Going to use the yj frame but take the entire drive line from the bronco. The rear should go pretty easy with the leaf spring, probably outboard the springs but keep the standard location. I have a set of lift springs from a f150 I am considering using but that is minor. I know guys have put these axles under xj's before, so what issues did u run into with the arms (kingpins?) and mounting them. The goal will b to run 35's.

I checked some v8 yj's the other day but they all used the stock trans t/c. There seemed to be plenty of room to move the motor forward several inches and use electric fan, or at least that's my view on it.
 
Ok so going to clear this up a little:
1.Your going to swap the Bronco engine/tranny/tcase into the YJ

2. Swap the axles from the Bronco to the YJ

3. You want to mate the Bronco front susspension to the YJ frame

Right?

If so I think leaving the stock YJ spring in the rear will be the way to go. If you run them soa you should have no problem clearing 35s. Outboarding them is a good idea. Depending how much power your making you may run into axle wrap.

If your going soa I think any lift spring would put it too tall.

As for swapping the front suspension over there shouldnt be to many issues. Fab brakcets for the radius arms at the frame, some upper spring cups and a track bar frame mount.

If you plan to run the stock bronco front springs with the bronco engine and tranny i may would take a few measurmants of the installed spring height (with weight on them) to help with set up
 
That is the plan. I have noticed most have extended the radius arms to be able to get the caster right. Where can I get mine extended properly? When this is done I want to b able to drive on the roads with peace of mind and still wheel.
 

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Rides in Conover has extended some radius arms, and also done a few swaps into jeeps...

you can cut the coil bucket/shock and radius arm brackets off the bronco and reweld them to the jeep for a cheap swap.... but it might be easier to get new brackets
 
So I know I have a c6 trans, but what transfer case is it? Also I think I'd like a strait drive with a hydrolic clutch because I believe it is shorter than an automatic. What 5spd will bolt up to my transfer case?
 
This is how I did mine. These aren't extended, but you get the point. The only problem you will run into w/35's is that they will rub the arms unless you get a 2" bender that can bend them about 8 degrees. I used 2" .250 wall DOM. You'd need a good bender to do it.

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You would have a 205 t-case. It is super tough, but only has about a 2:1 low. You might be able to get a ZF5 to bolt to it, but they aren't cheap and are getting hard to find. You are gonna have a time getting it all to fit in the super short YJ. I do have a c6 out of an 88 w/the short tail housing. That might help.

Oh and if that engine is anything other than a 351W, you'd probably not want to use that either... The 351M (which is probably what is in there) is huge and heavy. In no way ideal for your swap.
 
351m. The parts I have r there. If I had my druthers it would b sbc and a list of other pricey goods. This is a low budget use what I have. I think I can move the motor forward and have enough room to get the c6 in but anything that can make me shorter will help. (this is not the first time I have been too long!).

I figure the stock bronco drive will b more than enough to push 35s. I hate to admit but it spends more time on the road than off. Thank God the wife has the xj.
 
budget and ZF's don't go in the same sentence. I'd really deep 6 that 351M and find a used 302 on the cheap. It won't take much to move that YJ. I think you'd really hate driving it on the road with that big 351M up front. Make sure your track bar and drag link angles are parallel when you get that far. You won't want to run the F-150 springs. Go with a light EB spring or an XJ spring along with some good shocks. Running duals like what you have the FSB would be a good thing.
 
Been working on the motor the last day or two. Pulled the valve cover today and found a bent push rod. After further inspection I realized another was missing!
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
What drivetrain is in the jeep now? Might be better off keeping that in it...
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4 banger. The jeep runs great with no problems. I would drive it to California today. I'll b selling the motor and drive train soon.
 
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