My SuperCel thoughts: 15" wheels and secret passage to cargo area underside!

[VoltageDrop]

Folks have covered the ride-along well so I'll skip most of that but it was awesome and the wait just got more painful

Regarding 15" wheels... the 16" base wheel clearance is going to be the best indicator but the 17" aluminum wheels have about 1" clearance to the banjo bolt so a 15" steel wheel has a chance! It looked to be the closest thing but I didn't get too crazy trying to measure the caliper body since I own several grinders

On to the main reason I started this thread. I was curious if that bolt-in storage tray in the rear floor passes through to the muffler area and I'll be damned if it doesn't! Move the muffler up parallel to the fuel tank and exit the exhaust in front of the left rear tire then remove that tray and heat shield and you now have considerable space in which to build a storage compartment!

The muffler is 28Wx12Lx8H with 2.5" tubing, for scale. The area between the two crossmembers is (very) roughly 39Wx17Lx12H though the jack storage part of the body will take up some of the top rear of the area. We're still probably talking about at least 3 cubic feet or 20 gallons, if fuel, water, or air storage interests you. I'm going 2-door so 3 more cu ft down low is most welcome. It would be a good place for seldom-used, heavy recovery gear.

The area on the other side of the drive shaft is big enough to fit a similar volume muffler, though I didn't check an assembled Bronco for other things that might be hanging out here.

PS: As I was finishing up, the Ford guy said I was not allowed to take measurements underneath the Bronco! You B6G crazies must have Ford concerned there are a bunch of FCA spies running around measuring things.

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[Tricky Dick]

Good news on the wheels. I have a set of 6 lug 15" steel wheels and 16" alloys stashed away. I planned to test fitment when it gets here.

 

[Toccoa]

Why 15” wheels? The 16” wheels look tiny on the big Bronco.
Secret cargo? You running moonshine? Uncle Jesse is gonna be mad.

On a serious note, your exhaust relocation will have to get outside the frame rail somehow . You can’t go under it without fear of crushing it off-road. Go through it? That sounds sketchy just typing it.

 

[VoltageDrop]

Why 15” wheels? The 16” wheels look tiny on the big Bronco.
Secret cargo? You running moonshine? Uncle Jesse is gonna be mad.

On a serious note, your exhaust relocation will have to get outside the frame rail somehow . You can’t go under it without fear of crushing it off-road. Go through it? That sounds sketchy just typing it.

Because sidewall is helpful when the mall is not your destination.

The control arm bracket sits so low it could probably come out just in front of that with a skid plate to protect it. Or just cut a 3" hole through that massive frame. The exhaust could potentially still route over the axle and dump behind the driver side tire as long as the muffler is relocated to free up 90% of that space. Waylon says them Duke boys gonna find a way or be in a heap of trouble!

 

[Toccoa]

Because sidewall is helpful when the mall is not your destination.

The control arm bracket sits so low it could probably come out just in front of that with a skid plate to protect it. Or just cut a 3" hole through that massive frame. The exhaust could potentially still route over the axle and dump behind the driver side tire as long as the muffler is relocated to free up 90% of that space. Waylon says them Duke boys gonna find a way or be in a heap of trouble!

So, what size tire are you planning on running?

 

[Stampede.Offroad]

Why 15” wheels? The 16” wheels look tiny on the big Bronco.
...

A more flexible tire will have greater surface area available for contact with the ground. Taller sidewalls coupled with low pressure make that possible. Small wheels with a large diameter tire are strongly favored in many off road situations, unlike pavement driving.

 

[VoltageDrop]

So, what size tire are you planning on running?

Probably the stock ones This was mainly academic for me but I know others were interested in running 15's so I thought I'd look. Then again, I have always wanted to run the 35x15.5 SX on something

 

[Toccoa]

A more flexible tire will have greater surface area available for contact with the ground. Taller sidewalls coupled with low pressure make that possible. Small wheels with a large diameter tire are strongly favored in many off road situations, unlike pavement driving.

That part I understand. It was just that 15 seems so small to me.

Are we talking 37s here?

 

[Stampede.Offroad]

If they could fit adequate brakes etc inside a 12" that's what would be optimal. More better.

 

[MyATV]

...and you now have considerable space in which to build a storage compartment!
I'm going 2-door so 3 more cu ft down low is most welcome.

 

[BroncoAZ]

Because sidewall is helpful when the mall is not your destination.

The control arm bracket sits so low it could probably come out just in front of that with a skid plate to protect it. Or just cut a 3" hole through that massive frame. The exhaust could potentially still route over the axle and dump behind the driver side tire as long as the muffler is relocated to free up 90% of that space. Waylon says them Duke boys gonna find a way or be in a heap of trouble!

Side exit through the body in front of the rear tire didn’t work well in my 87, it resulted in exhaust in the cab. I was able to route the exhaust over the frame where it curved up between the front seats and rear axle, but it was a mistake.

I crawled for years on 15”, then 17” wheels. Both have their place, but I much preferred the street ride and handling on 17”. I didn’t find the offroad ability compromised comparing 17” to 15” but I did ding the wheels up a little more often in the rocks.

 

[VoltageDrop]

I just realized the 4600 race Bronco pics showed a nice view of the underneath with the tray removed and no exhaust.

 

[MaverickMan]

Thankyou very much for this. I do hope to find some either some vintage cyclone/turbine type wheels or steel outlaw type. And 15s are definitely more common. Also having the entire rear underfloor area for a storage box would be great to keep all my recovery gear under there and maybe a few always ready for beach items. It'd also be pretty cool to have a different dual exhaust on there.

 

[Silver-Bolt]

I don't see 15's fitting with the factory calipers. The profile of steel wheels is not flat. Now that storage find is gold. Perfect space for additional fuel.

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