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Dechromed and matte-tastic, this Bronco build skips the shine for tough-truck style
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| Blackout Bronco Parts List | |
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This build started with a TRX-4 Land Rover Defender, which has a 324 mm wheelbase. The Bronco body requires a 312 mm wheelbase, so step one converts the chassis to the shorter wheelbase. (All of the other current TRX-4 models have a 312 mm wheelbase, and can accept the Bronco body without modification). Converting the Defender to a 312 mm wheelbase with the 8058 Chassis Conversion Kit is easy—here’s a complete how-to article. The kit includes the shorter rear links and half-shaft required for a 312 mm wheelbase, plus front and rear inner fenders and a front battery tray.
The 8058 Chassis Conversion Kit has everything you need to shorten the Land Rover Defender’s wheelbase to 312 mmRiding High: Long Arm Lift Kit
Nothing transforms a truck like a super-sized set of tires and a lift kit, and Traxxas makes it easy to give your TRX-4 the look. The Long Arm Lift Kit has everything you need for the install in one box, including GTS shocks that are 20 mm longer, extended T-Lock cables, a lowered servo mount that preserves the correct Panhard bar geometry, a 10-T pinion gear, and full-color instructions. The links are pre-assembled to the correct length for 312 mm wheelbase models (like the Bronco). If you’ve got a 324 mm truck, just install the included longer rod ends. For a detailed look at installing the lift kit, check out our Maximum Mud Bronco build.
Method 2.2 Wheels & Canyon Trail Tires
With the Bronco’s chassis lifted, it was ready for 2.2″ wheels and rubber. The Method 105 replica wheels are offered in charcoal gray and black chrome, and black chrome got the nod. The beadlock rings are sold separately so you can choose orange, green, red, satin aluminum, or black. We chose black for this Bronco, which also helped speed up the assembly process as the black-chrome wheels / black rings / Canyon Trail 2.2″ combo is offered fully assembled and ready to install.
The Canyon Trail 2.2″ tires are available unmounted, or installed on Method 105 wheels
Can’t beat that stance!
Bronco Body
Traxxas offers the officially-licensed Ford Bronco body two ways: painted black complete with spare tire carrier, door handles, mirrors, and installed chrome grille and trim; and in clear polycarbonate minus the trim and detail parts. This allows a Bronco owner to save money by transferring their trim and detail parts to the clear body. For TRX-4 owners changing over from another body design to the Bronco (or Bronco owners in need of spares), all the detail parts are also sold separately. To give the clear Bronco body its unique finish, John applied the included window masks and hand-masked the hard top, then sprayed the inside of the body gunmetal gray for the main color and black for the hard top. Before peeling the overspray film off the body, John traced the window outlines with a fresh hobby knife blade so they would remain covered. This served as masking to keep the windows crystal clear as John sprayed the outside of the Bronco with clear matte polycarbonate paint to create its low-gloss finish.
The clear Bronco body includes window masks and overspray film
The matte finish is a clear spray applied to the outside of the body
TRX-4 Sport owners will need the 8215 body post set
De-Chromed Details
The blackout plan called for all the Bronco body’s chrome components to be replaced with black parts. Simply painting over the chrome might be fine for display, but for trail-worthy durability, John removed the chrome by soaking the parts in Super Clean degreaser before painting.
Bronco grille and headlights
Chrome trim and lenses
Bumpers, handles, and wipersAfter rinsing and drying the parts, the de-chromed components were painted semi-gloss black using Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover, which bonds well to plastic. Two light coats were applied for smooth, even coverage. Instead of stripping and painting the side mirrors, John simply traded them for the black versions.
Super Clean removed the chrome in under 30 minutes
Semi-gloss black paint did the trick
8073 black side mirrors
Replacing the Bronco’s brightwork with black really transforms its lookSpare Tire Mount
The 8074 Spare Tire Mount bolts up to the Bronco in just a few minutes, and looks fantastic with its authentic tire-cover styling. All the required mounting holes are already in the body, you just need to enlarge them to 7/32″ (the 3433 body reamer is the ideal tool for this). Since his project Bronco was wearing Method beadlock wheels, John opted to replace the tire cover with a fifth Method wheel and Canyon Trail tire in 1.9″ size to achieve the desired scale look.
The Spare Tire Mount features a simulated tire cover with realistic texture and painted graphics
No modifications are required to mount the spare 2.2″ wheel to the tire carrier
LED Lights & Illuminated Push Bar
Nothing puts a trail truck project over the top like a full set of LED lights, and Traxxas makes it easy to outfit the Bronco with a customized, plug-and-play setup. John installed the 8035 light kit to illuminate the headlights, tail lights, and side markers, then added the 8026X Rock Lights inside the fender wells.
The Bronco LED light kit puts out a ton of candlepower
Rock lights are essential for any hardcore night crawlingAll of the lights install with no modifications required, and plug into a color-coded distribution block that makes setup easy—no cutting, no stripping, no soldering. There are even tie-off locations inside the body to neatly route the wires. For a detailed look at light kit installation, check out Part 3 of our Mud Bronco build. For extra versatility, John also installed the 8037 High / Low switch, which mounts inside the body and allows the headlights to flip from low- to high-beam with just a touch. Click here for installation details.
The LEDs plug into a color-coded distribution block
A single lead plugs into the power moduleAs a finishing touch, John de-chromed and painted a 8066 push bar, and installed it with a custom touch: the top crossbar was replaced with the 8088 LED Light Bar. This light is designed to plug into the TRX-4 Sport’s front bumper, but by trimming off its mounting tabs and drilling a couple of holes, it tucks perfectly into the push bar. We’ll have a how-to article up soon to show you how to make this mod.
8066 Chrome push bar
8088 LED light bar
The blackout treatment really makes the LEDs stand outFinal Thoughts
We’ve featured some trick TRX-4s here at Traxxas.com, but John’s Bronco just might be our favorite. It looks tough, and its ultra-custom look actually requires very little bench time—everything bolts on, and even the custom, illuminated light bar only takes a few minutes to create. And the paint job is easy too. It’s just two colors, but all the detail parts make it look like intricate work. If you build your own, be sure to tag Traxxas when you share your pics.
