Over the years, I have grown to love this conversation. We receive what is perceived as a “clean Bronco” with no rust. In reality, we are always dealing with 50-year-old vehicles, and the “rust-free Bronco” just doesn’t exist. So where does a guy look when he is checking for a clean tub?
The first place I look is the inner fender wells under the hood. 95% of the time, these are rotten to the core. This was an inherent problem with the Bronco since mud and water were literally thrown up from the tire, and it was never able to be removed. If you follow the same path of water shed, you will find that the door post behind the front fender has the exact same problem. Usually, this area was well covered with some kind of undercoat protection either from the factory or dealership. Undercoating used to be an upsell when you bought a new car. I remember my dad telling a dealer he would never need something like this since we live in Florida. As soon as we moved from the sunny south, I quickly realized the need.
The second place I check is the tailgate. These had a bad drainage issue, and they would rot out from the inside out. A tailgate can easily be replaced with a new Ford stamped one, but if there was rot in the tailgate, it’s more likely in many other places as well. I usually take my pocket knife and check the bottom of the tailgate. Some shady places like to cover up the problems.
Another area prone to rot is the floorboards at the very first bend up to the firewall. The seam didn’t drain water very well and quickly succumbed to the dreaded oxidation. These panels were routinely replaced as early as five years after rolling off the assembly line, not always very well. Picture a stop sign as a floorboard. So, make sure you lift the carpet in the front to inspect inside and out.
The last places that usually rotted were the rear wheel wells, and if those are gone, you can guarantee that you are going to have some major reconstruction.
Hopefully, this gives you a good reference when you are out searching for your next build. But fear not, a completely new tub from us is not that expensive when you consider the costs involved in replacing panels. Sexton Off-road tubs are assembled on a frame jig and fitted with doors, hood, fenders, and tailgate. They are fully welded and ready for bodywork and paint.
-Dustin Sexton