The Big Bend deserves a second chance.

[swing4thefence]

I love the Bronco Sport. My favorite part is having sedan gas mileage in a small SUV. We have a nissan sentra right now, but it just doesn't inspire.
We almost bought a Big Bend a couple of years ago from the dealer but couldn't swallow the $39k out the door price. Just picked this one up through Copart in Boise. Looking forward to the project.

2024, 44k miles. I'm in it $13k.
Just got my new hood from Vicrez. I set the bare black hood on top of the front end just to see what it would look like. I kind of like it. I'm thinking about painting the hood black, and then running black vinyl down the belt-line below the windows. Black vinyl on the roof too. Alternatively I might do Carbon Grey to match the wheels and the cladding.
I'll post additional photos as the build proceeds.

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[Ernest T]

Good luck with your project!

 

[Buford]

Good luck as well please post as you go would love to see what's the front structure is made of.

 

[JPtapt]

I love the Bronco Sport. My favorite part is having sedan gas mileage in a small SUV. We have a nissan sentra right now, but it just doesn't inspire.
We almost bought a Big Bend a couple of years ago from the dealer but couldn't swallow the $39k out the door price. Just picked this one up through Copart in Boise. Looking forward to the project.

2024, 44k miles. I'm in it $13k.
Just got my new hood from Vicrez. I set the bare black hood on top of the front end just to see what it would look like. I kind of like it. I'm thinking about painting the hood black, and then running black vinyl down the belt-line below the windows. Black vinyl on the roof too. Alternatively I might do Carbon Grey to match the wheels and the cladding.
I'll post additional photos as the build proceeds.

Bad day in the Walmart parking lot?

 

[RSH]

Personally I don't see a Bronco Sport with that damage as a worth while fix it project, obviously the insurance company didn't think it was worth it.
Unfortunately there is more damage than the hood, grill, headlights and bumper, the green spray paint markings show the unibody has been compromised.
If the goal is just a cosmetic repair, used parts on Ebay for example aren't too pricey when compared to new, you could likely do it on the cheap.

Interested in the outcome though parting it out could be the best bet and potentially getting your money back.

 

[Stircrazy]

Personally I don't see a Bronco Sport with that damage as a worth while fix it project, obviously the insurance company didn't think it was worth it.
Unfortunately there is more damage than the hood, grill, headlights and bumper, the green spray paint markings show the unibody has been compromised.
If the goal is just a cosmetic repair, used parts on Ebay for example aren't too pricey when compared to new, you could likely do it on the cheap.

Interested in the outcome though parting it out could be the best bet and potentially getting your money back.

I have find laitly that the hourly charge and such from the autobody charge is through the roof, and hence insurance companies are writing off cars based fully on if the cost hits a certian percentage of the cars value. if you have the ability to do it your self it can be a worth wile thing.

 

[TheX]

In the '70s and '80s I did a LOT of "body-off" restorations, back in the days of FRAMES.

Virtually everything was fixable with enough effort and time.

 

[swing4thefence]

Dang it. I got side tracked and never posted any photos of the process. But here's the final product:

Was able to save the bumper, headlights, and fenders. Just had to replace the Re-inforcement bar along with the radiator, condenser, intercooler and core support. Drives like a dream.

 

[swing4thefence]

Good luck as well please post as you go would love to see what's the front structure is made of.

If you to to Copart.com and look at enough salvage broncos, that will clue you in to a certain extent.

Maint structure in the front is provided by the reinforcement bar which has "ears" that stick up below and above it on both sides that the core support, which holds the IC, Rad, and condenser, bolts to.

 

[RSH]

Looks good in the photo.
What was the approximate tally in time and cost?
Also, what is the status of the title, branded, salvage, rebuilt or clean.

 

[swing4thefence]

Bought it as "Salvage". Once i completed it, it's now "Rebuilt/restored"
Spent about $4,000 on repairs.

Worked on it for about 12 ish hours but I"m not a professional and had to learn as I went. Spent $60 for a 1 year All data subscription for the bornco sport. so that helped a lot.

 

[Me3]

Bought it as "Salvage". Once i completed it, it's now "Rebuilt/restored"
Spent about $4,000 on repairs.

Worked on it for about 12 ish hours but I"m not a professional and had to learn as I went. Spent $60 for a 1 year All data subscription for the bornco sport. so that helped a lot.

Very nice. Are all the safety sensors working and calibrated? Any codes popping up?

 

[swing4thefence]

Good luck as well please post as you go would love to see what's the front structure is made of.

Just to give you an idea, here is a look at my next project which I just finished.

And then, this one is not mine, but I found it on the auction site and it shows what it looks like with the re-bar and radiator core out of the way.

 

[Ernest T]

I’ve spent more money than prudent restoring a few cars, motorcycles, and boats. It’s not about the money, but the satisfaction of saving something. Good job.

 

[swing4thefence]

So wasn't able to sell one of my trucks like I had planned, so that green one had to go. Good news, I made a few bucks on it.

The blue one is nearly done. Everything is good except some minor scuffs on the bumper and passenger side.
I bought a used hood on ebay. It was a dice roll, because the seller didn't have the color code. It looked 50/50 that It would be KU-Area 51 Blue. I took my chances because it was only $500 shipped.
Upon arrival I was super excited because I was positive it was Area51 blue. It's extremely close. Like maybe somebody tried to paint it with off-the-shelf cans. So close that if you looked at the hood laying on my lawn (Don't ask why it's on the lawn, just go with it) and then walked into the garage and looked at the car you would swear they are the same color. But installing the hood tells the tale. it does not match the fender below.

Current plan: a ~6 inch strip of glossy black vinyl following the sides of the hood, all the way down the belt lines wrapping around the back. $68 instead of $500+ to have the whole hood painted.

This one also had scuffage on the passenger door like it sideswiped something but not very hard. the door IS dented but it's hard to tell except at the edges. We'll probably just drive it like that for a while until we find a good deal on a new door.

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