How a Humble Bronco 2 Became a Solid-Axle, V8-Powered Monster

The Bronco 2 has always been the underdog of the Ford family. While its bigger sibling gets all the glory, the B2 quietly earned its stripes as a capable trail rig that won’t break the bank. What happens when you take that humble platform and throw caution to the wind? You get something like this V8-swapped, solid-axle monster that proves small packages can deliver big thrills.

Starting life as a bone-stock Bronco 2 picked up from Kentucky, this rig has undergone more transformations than a reality TV makeover show. The owner grabbed it in March 2019 when clean trail trucks were harder to find than parking spots at Moab during Easter Jeep Safari. What started as a simple weekend warrior with a Rough Country four-inch lift and modest 235s has evolved into something that would make even seasoned rock crawlers do a double-take.

The heart of any serious build is what’s under the hood, and this B2 doesn’t mess around. The original four-banger got the boot in favor of a stroked 302 punched out to 347 cubic inches. That’s serious displacement for such a compact chassis. The builder went with GT40 upper and lower intake manifolds pulled from an Explorer, paired with Advanced Adapters shorty headers to keep everything tucked tight in the engine bay.

Smart builders know that reliability trumps complexity every time. Instead of wrestling with a 30-year-old Mustang wiring harness, this build features a Ron Francis engine harness that only requires connecting six wires to the factory Bronco setup. The MicroSquirt engine management system keeps the tune dialed in, while the speed density setup makes adjustments straightforward without getting lost in sensor hell.

The transmission deserves special mention because crawl ratio is everything when you’re picking your way through technical terrain. The C4 automatic got the full treatment from Dynamic with a reverse manual valve body and their 2.9 planetary set. The result? A crawl ratio of roughly 60:1 compared to the factory 28:1. That means this thing will creep over obstacles at a walking pace while the driver sips coffee.

Suspension is where this build really shows its teeth. The factory setup got tossed in favor of a Duff Stage 3 long-arm kit with 5.5 inches of lift, plus a two-inch body lift for good measure. But why stop there? The builder went full send with a solid axle swap up front, ditching the independent front suspension for a Dana 44 with 4.88 gears and a Yukon Zip Locker.

Fox 2.0 coilovers handle the suspension duties - 12-inch units up front and 14-inch out back. The fully adjustable setup means dialing in the perfect ride height for different terrain, whether you’re cruising fire roads or navigating boulder fields. TMR coil towers frenched into the frame keep everything clean and protected.

Those 37-inch BFG KM3s mounted on Method 704 wheels aren’t just for show. The wheels feature bead grip technology with serrated outer beads that provide 30 percent more retention force. Running tire pressures as low as eight psi for maximum traction becomes possible without worrying about rolling a bead at the worst possible moment.

The hydraulic steering assist ram represents the kind of real-world problem solving that separates weekend warriors from serious wheelers. When you’re locked up front and a tire gets wedged against a rock, manual steering becomes an exercise in futility. The Saginaw power steering pump delivers the pressure and volume needed to muscle through tight spots without throwing out your back.

Modern technology finds its way into even the most hardcore builds. The Atoto eight-inch touchscreen radio brings Android-based functionality to the trail, complete with forward and reverse cameras, GPS navigation, and even YouTube access for those campfire entertainment sessions. OnX Offroad integration means having detailed trail maps and property boundaries right at your fingertips.

Air lockers front and rear seal the deal on this build’s capability. The Yukon Zip Locker up front pairs with an ARB unit out back, both controlled from a clean switch panel that keeps everything organized. When traction gets sketchy, full lockup transforms this rig from capable to unstoppable.

The attention to detail shows in the smaller touches too. Hood louvers help manage engine heat during extended low-speed crawling sessions. An auxiliary transmission cooler with electric fan keeps fluid temperatures in check. The electric vacuum pump ensures consistent brake booster operation even when engine vacuum drops during technical sections.

Rock sliders protect the vulnerable underbody, though these are mounted at an unconventional angle that sparked some debate. The builder’s logic is sound - angling them downward provides better protection for someone of shorter stature who might approach obstacles differently than a taller driver.

This Bronco 2 represents everything great about the hobby. It started as an affordable platform and evolved through careful planning and smart upgrades. Every modification serves a purpose, whether that’s improving capability, reliability, or driver comfort. The result is a trail rig that can hang with rigs costing twice as much while delivering the kind of reliable performance that lets you focus on the adventure instead of the breakdown.

The beauty of builds like this lies not just in their capability, but in their accessibility. While not everyone can afford a six-figure show truck, most wheelers can relate to the gradual evolution from mild to wild. It’s proof that vision, persistence, and smart choices matter more than deep pockets when building the ultimate trail companion.