1993 FORD
BRONCO

Someone had very kindly stripped the drain pan bolt, meaning we left a puddle of oil at every stop.  We decided to put in a brand new oil pan.  The oil pan straddles the cross member, so the engine has to be lifted up to get the old one out and the new one in.  This was the perfect time to replace the worn out rubber motor mounts with new solid Solo Motorsports motor mounts to secure the engine in place.  At the same time we put in a new oil pickup, water pump, radiator and hoses, plugs, wires and distributor.  To make sure the engine was healthy we added an oil pressure gauge.

Just when we thought we were ready to rock and roll, the transmission failed, leaving us stranded on the side of the road.  It was time to call in the cavalry, and the trusty Raptor came to the rescue and towed the Bronco back home.  We opted to upgrade the existing stock E4OD transmission with Ford diesel components to take the extra torque that would come as a result of the rest of the upgrades that were on the horizon.

Now it was time to get busy with the real upgrades.  After many hours scouring the internet, looking at forums and different offerings we stumbled upon Solo Motorsports, out of Covina, CA.  These guys have been building desert race trucks for about 30 years and they are really familiar with the Bronco platform.  They agreed to partner with us on the project.  They were readily available to discuss options and, together, we devised a plan to breathe new life into our tired old Bronco.

Once the plan was in place we took a road-trip to Covina and dropped the Bronco off at the Solo Motorsports facility.  We handed over the keys and went off to enjoy all Los Angeles has to offer for a few days, eagerly anticipating the transformation that awaited us.

The centerpiece of the upgrade was the solo Motorsports Stage 4 suspension overhaul.  Up front the stock suspension comes out, the shock mounts are removed and replaced with a DOM tubing shock cage that extends up into the engine bay.  This allows the massive 2.5” King coilovers all the room they need to provide an incredible 15” of travel up front and 17″ in the rear.  To accommodate the new height the stock twin traction beam axle is cut and turned to provide proper alignment.  The extra wheel travel is helped by the Solo Motorsports radius arms and their sturdy heim joints.  Out back the stock springs are replaced with Deaver Q80s on extended shackles and a tremendous pair of 2.5” triple bypass King shocks are positioned under the bed with a custom weld-in mount.

The idea for this build was to create an unassuming look with lots of capabilities.  With this in mind we didn’t want to draw too much attention to the exterior.  We replaced the stock chrome bumper with the Solo Motorsports Pre-Runner front bumper with a black powder-coated skid plate.  The tail of the Bronco got the same treatment, with the chrome bumper going to the parts graveyard and getting replaced with the Solo Motorsports rear bumper, which also doubles as a great dimpled step for getting in and out of the back when you need to.

When it came to wheels and tires we wanted to keep the stock look, so we opted for a set of the factory 15” Acloa wheels and added some beefy 35” BF Goodrich A/T KO2s, which are known for their desert capabilities.  We wanted to carry a full-sized spare and the Solo Motorsports drop bracket allows you to put the larger wheel and tire combo on the factory spare tire swing.  To prevent the spare from getting away from us we opted for the Solo Motorsports swing stop.  To keep the spare from bouncing around in the whoops Solo Motorsports welded a custom support to the rear bumper for the tire’s weight to sit on when it was stowed.

Over the course of the week I received progress photos of the Bronco, as it was stripped of its stock parts, chopped and cleaned and all the shiny new parts were installed.  At the end of the week we showed up to what looked like the same Bronco, but just a little bit taller – the plan had worked!  That image was soon shattered when we took the Bronco for a test drive and got to experience how plush it was.  We were excited to get it home and plan a trip out in the desert!

Once home we started working on the details, to prepare it for desert overlanding trips.  Putting safety first we installed a fire extinguisher at the base of the passenger seat using the Solo Motorsports fire extinguisher mount.  Next it was time to tackle on-board air, which was handled by installing an ARB CKMTA12 twin compressor on a custom-made bracket in the rear wheel-well. 

To make sure that things stayed cool in the desert we added Flex-a-lite electric cooling fans to the radiator and a B&M transmission cooler.

Knowing that the Bronco would be out in the dark and the dust of the desert we wanted to ensure that there was plenty of lighting.  Sticking with the “stealth” theme we wanted the lights to blend into the Bronco and not draw attention to it.  To this end we installed a Rough Country Black Series single row light bar behind the stock grill using the Solo Motorsports light-bar mount brackets.  We added a pair of Black Oak amber LED pods underneath the front bumper.  These provided excellent visibility in the dust as well as making sure other drivers saw the Bronco coming.  For safety we added a Black Oak LED to the center of the spare tire carrier at the rear as a chase light.  The lights and compressor were all tied into a Nilight switch panel, that has a factory look in the engine compartment, and switches that are the same green as the interior.

To take care of our luggage and storage, we installed the Solo Motorsports rear slide-out tray and the parcel shelf above it.  That provided enough space for the ARB 50qt Fridge to keep our drinks cold, a floor jack, recovery gear and camping equipment without taking up any of the seating area.

Through meticulous planning, collaboration with Solo Motorsports, and a series of upgrades, our 1993 Ford Bronco underwent a stunning transformation into a capable desert runner. From repairing and enhancing the engine and drivetrain,  to improving suspension, exterior appearance, lighting, and storage, no detail was overlooked in creating a vehicle ready to conquer the desert.