Introducing the BioBronc project - with lots of video
"Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world's first biodiesel Ford Bronco. The BioBronc will be that truck. Better than it was before. Better...stronger...faster."
Alright, enough of that. Anyway, readers of ABG may be supportive of this project: converting a 1994 Ford Bronco to biodiesel. Well, first converting it to diesel in the first place, as the Bronco was not sold with a diesel option. The current plan of the car's owners is to purchase a Ford F-250, pull the engine, gas tank, etc. and install them into the Bronco. Then, convert that engine to biodiesel. Megan, a friend of the owner of the Bronco, has been documenting the journey on YouTube, and I have copied her first video below. The rest can be seen after the break. Enjoy!
Continue, and see the rest of her videos after the break.
[Source: YouTube and BioBronc.com via Hugg]
Full Text portion of the website, unedited:
My friend has a 1994 Full Size Ford Bronco. For obvious reasons he loves it and for environmental reasons he just can't justify driving it. Biodiesel is a legitimate and straight forward option for diesel trucks to cut their CO2 emissions. Unfortunately for the Bronco, a gasoline engine cannot be directly converted to biodiesel, but instead the engine will need to be replaced with a diesel engine first. Is it feasible to convert the Bronco to biodiesel, without breaking the bank, wasting our time and losing the Bronc.
In America the big truck is loved at an iconic level. Rather than fight that car culture, manufacturing new cars which can not compete with the character of the Bronc and creating more waste in the process, retrofitting this classic car to cut emissions is a viable option.
Most people do not have the level of expertise needed to carry out a job like this, and more importantly, don't know where to start or who to ask. Capitalizing on my personal lack of knowledge in the area of auto mechanics, I am inviting those that have this knowledge and the interest in reclaiming the Bronco as a low emissions vehicle, to carry out the job, learning and teaching as we go.
The BioBronc looks at the identity that is associated with the car you drive as well as examining the current state of alternative fuel research. In most cases utilizing alternative fuel means a purchase of a new, efficient car that does not speak to the typical american driver. In america we pull our identity on the back of our car in the form of trailers, boats and mobile homes. This fabric of american culture can not be supported with many of the current solutions to our dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, many of the solutions (including biodiesel) do not completely get us off of fossil fuels, but reduce the amount we use or redirect how we use it.
I am not looking discover the end all alternative to fossil fuel as energy, but rather figure out how to to save this one Bronco from the junkyard or from continuing its current level of emissions. The journey of the BioBronc will allow us to accept our love of the big truck and take a closer look at what effects alternative fuels have.
Videos (some bad language):
Whew! That was quite a few videos, and if you made it this far, you're probably interested in helping out, right? If so, you can find contact information for Megan at her site.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
KRISTY 11:56AM (2/06/2008)
I am SO excited to find this site!!! I have a '94 Bronco XLT and am so torn between love of the big blue beauty and serious guilt over its' emissions. I live in East Tennessee and am currently trying to find the right people to do this job. If there's anybody out there who has leads...I'm listening!
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dennis 11:37PM (2/17/2007)
Hi! I'm big ford bronco fan,I had a 1978 at one time. I saw your 1st video and I'd liked your idea.
A few things you have to concider, the diesel choices are 6.0, 6.9, 7.3L which are made by the
International "big" truck co. these's are all v-8's
but there is a v-6 they also make, ford do not use
this one. It's called VT275= 275c.i. (4.5L) it's about 220H.P. and 440 foot lbs. torque. Which is enough for the bronco. The v-8's are heavy! and you would have to beaf-up the front suspension and maybe the entire drive train even axles to handle the extra torque also. Exp. a 5.0 is about 500 lbs. a 7.3L diesel is about 1150 lbs. but v-6 is about 790 lbs. and the drive trian will be fine. Just H.D. front spings and all set! The next problem is the transmission, it should have an EAOD4 Auto. this is JUNK! throw it away. The v-6
would have an Allsion Auto. or 5-speed Man. You can these in little front cab-over trucks like a flat-bed tow truck made by International. But there nothing you can buy to be able install the motor/trans. combo. into the bronco or to hook-up the transfer case at the end of transmission, unless you are willing to go with rear wheel drive only for now, then figure it out later. So the whole porject would have to fabercated from scarch! A lot of time and money! Try looking up-state, you should find somebody up there that will do it.
P.S. PLEASE don't call the bronco a CAR! SUV or truck, but not a CAR! Thank you.
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megan 1:09PM (2/18/2007)
wow! thanks dennis for all the specifics. Some of that I hadn't come by. I have a mechanic (upstate actually) that is does SVO conversions. We are looking at finding a Ford f25o, preferably the whole truck with a junk body, so we can have access to everything we need. He and I have talked about the suspension, so I know what I am getting into with that. We haven't gone into what you mention about the hook up with the transmission, but he is a major ford guy so he may already be thinking of that. I will def. bring it up. Thanks for all the advice.
And you are completely justified in your response to calling the Bronc a car. I won't let it happen again :)
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Travis 2:33PM (4/06/2007)
Hi, my name is Travis. I own a 91 Bronco and am looking at doing a similar conversion. i'm not so intereste in the biodiesel conversion but I would really like to have a diesel for the power and torque. The engine and Transmision are on the way out and instead of replacing them with the same things I would like to swap in a diesel engine, transmision and some front suspension/drivetrain components out of a 250 of 350. I thought maybe we could swap info. Whick diesel engine are you looking at swapping into your Bronco? What do you and your mechanic have in mind for engine mounts? Can you direct swap from the donor truck? How about the ECU (computer)? Let me know what you have in mind
Reply
contact 10:10PM (4/11/2007)
Travis,
We are planning on using a Ford F20. I can't answer any of other ques., but my mechanic is supposed to get me all those specifics in the next week, and I will put them up on http://www.biobronc.com/ where I am documenting the whole process. If you want to shoot me an email feel free. contact at biobronc.com
Megan
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kk 7:49PM (7/08/2007)
Hey~
I have a '71 Bronco that I have refused to drive for years because I wanted to wait for someone to help me convert it to GREEN if possible. Can you share your upstate mechanic's info?? I'd sure appreciate it. :)
Peace~
KK
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kk 8:52AM (7/19/2007)
Okay . . . SO I DIDN'T WATCH the video clips first!! All the info I need is right there! Curious to know what happened with your project though?
Peace~
KK
Reply