In this video, you’ll see Thomas Bingham of RocketSlide Racing replace the roll cage in an old Ford Bronco. We make the swap easy with the family-style sport cage from Kincer Chassis.
Thomas says “The reason we’re doing that is that my kids have grown up with this truck in their lives, and I have been a terrible parent. I’ve been riding around with a ‘70s-style roll bar that only protects me and the front-seat passenger.”
Hear from Thomas on his install and how he feels much better about taking his family in his Early Bronco now!
Project Objective: Getting The Early Bronco Ready for Time with the Top Off
Thomas wanted to feel good about using his Bronco with his family! He said, “We drive this thing all the time. We use it whenever it’s nice out. This is the cruiser.”
The new sport cage from Kincer Chassis would provide provisions for rear shoulder harnesses which would give him the ability to add in the old style bench seat and remove the bulky car seats.
This lowers the children’s center of gravity, positioning their heads further away from the roof.
Preparation for the Installation
To get started, Thomas gathered all necessary components, including the family-style roll cage and the Bronco itself on a mechanics’ sit-to-stand workbench, AKA a lift.
The first step was to remove the existing roll bar, which was a straightforward task.
Removing the Original Roll Bar
Thomas began by unscrewing the bolts holding the original roll bar in place. Despite facing a few challenges with free-spinning bolts and limited tools, he managed to remove the old roll bar without damaging the vehicle’s interior.
Be careful on this step to avoid scratching the paint and ensuring a clean removal.
Overcoming Challenges with Limited Tools
Like many DIY enthusiasts, Thomas encountered the common issue of not having the right tools at hand. However, his persistence and resourcefulness ensured that the job progressed smoothly. He had to work around some challenges, such as accessing nuts placed in hard-to-reach areas, but his determination paid off.
With the original roll bar removed, Thomas began working on installing the new seatbelt anchors. These anchors, designed to bolt through the midpoint of the Bronco sport cage, would provide secure attachment points for the new seatbelts.
Preparing for the New Sports Cage
The next phase for Thomas involved removing the soft top to make way for the hardtop installation. Installing the hardtop is going to make sure that the front part of the sport cage bolts into the forward windshield frame correctly.
Any misalignment could result in improper sealing.
Handling the Early Bronco Sports Cage
Fitting the new roll cage required careful handling to avoid damaging the vehicle’s bodywork. Thomas protected the doors and other vulnerable areas with tape before moving the roll cage into place. Despite the tight fitment, he managed to position the roll cage correctly, preparing it for the final adjustments.
Advice from Kincer Chassis: Importance of Proper Installation
Our advice at Kincer Chassis is before you drill holes in the floor for the sport cage, you should to put the hardtop on! That way the front windshield frame sits at the right angle so that the seals and everything fit just the right way. There’s only so much adjustability in the hardtop fore and aft, but you want to get all that set up first.
It feels like a big step but it will help make sure that everything works when you go to put your hard top on later after enjoying going topless all fall.
Finalizing the Installation
The final steps involved adjusting the roll cage to ensure it aligned perfectly with the hardtop and the windshield frame. This required loosening and tightening bolts to achieve the right positioning. With the hardtop in place, Thomas could confirm that the roll cage was correctly installed and could feel good about spending time with his family with the top off his classic Ford Bronco.
Conclusion
Upgrading your Early Bronco with a family-style roll cage is a worthwhile investment with a relatively simple installation.
With the new Bronco sport cage, he’s ready for all the family outings.
If you’re considering a similar upgrade, take inspiration from Thomas’s project and make sure your vintage Bronco is ready for modern-day adventures with our products and upgrades from Krawlers Edge.
