http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=290119267092&rd=1&rd=1

in addition to what's listed in the ad, it has:

Detroit locker in the rear (not totally sold on that...prob would pull it, sell it, and put an ARB in the back, since it already has one up front...or some sort of limited-slip. i don't know, i'd have to drive it first and see how much of a pain that Detroit is on the pavement)

front discs, rear drums

approx 5.5" lift

dual shocks up front

302 is stock.

oh, and that 45k miles is since a body-on resto.


here's the bad part: his reserve is $9900, and while it is probably worth that much, I just don't think I can bring myself to pay it for a 37 year old Bronco. However, I'm hoping he'll hook me up on the ol' 2nd chance offer. I'm not quite sure how much I'd actually pay for it. The fact that it won't depreciate, and will probably appreciate, is some consolation.

5/24/2007 12:06:21 AM

how much does it cost you to buy/sell cars with the frequency you do? you seem to make rather smart comments about investing most of the time but how much do you throw away doing this?

i understand it's what you like to do and have the means for it - just wondering

5/24/2007 12:12:18 AM

^from the sound of it, the last few cars hes bought, hes sold them for more than what he paid for them

5/24/2007 12:21:15 AM

Not to mention its in Oregon.

5/24/2007 12:27:42 AM

scru old hawtness, save yo money fo (the production version of) wunnadeez:



http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/22/jeep-jt-concept-is-no-show-car/
http://www.leftlanenews.com/wp-content/plugins/iimage-gallery.php?idpost=5114&idg=2&idi=6


[Edited on May 24, 2007 at 1:47 AM. Reason : typos]

5/24/2007 1:45:45 AM

a detroit is easy to live with, you only notice it if you want to

5/24/2007 2:10:48 AM

Quote :

"scru old hawtness, save yo money fo (the production version of) wunnadeez"

dude, gotta love the old busted hawtness

that said if you pay 10k for it are you going to be able to make yourself use it like it needs to be used off road?

not a daily driver right?

5/24/2007 6:20:27 AM

Quote :

"how much does it cost you to buy/sell cars with the frequency you do? you seem to make rather smart comments about investing most of the time but how much do you throw away doing this?"

haha, I've made a bunch of money swapping cars around. I pretty much won't buy one unless I pretty much know I can sell it and at least break even whenever I want to, and I try to buy low enough that I can sell at market value for a profit. I drove the S2000 for 1.5 years and made 2k, flipped the BMW for 3k, and will prob make about that much on the Evo...it definitely makes it a lot easier to justify swapping cars around when it's a financial boost, not a burden!

Quote :

"Not to mention its in Oregon."

That's actually no big deal. I'm moving to Washington state in about 3 weeks (and driving), so it wouldn't be too big of a deal to pick it up on the way...or I could just go straight to WA and pick it up later, b/c one of my roommates up there is from Portland and has lots of family there I'm sure he'd want to visit for a weekend.

Quote :

"scru old hawtness, save yo money fo (the production version of) wunnadeez:"

that's totally sweet, BUT:

1. half the point of getting rid of the Evo is to get something cheaper, b/c 1/4 of my net pay going to child support is killing me. plus, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to wheel a brand new truck very much. Plus, the new stuff is still depreciating, and I might keep this one for a year or two, or likely even more.

2. I need something with a backseat so I can strap a child seat in there.

3. It probably has a candy-ass drivetrain. In addition to the old stuff (CJ, FJ-40, Bronco, early K5 or Ramcharger, Scout, etc), I've been looking pretty hard for TJs (JK too $$$)...but it's tough to find one with a rear Dana 44...and it'll have a Dana 30 up front, regardless (unless you ante up for the Rubicon, which still doesn't have the greatest of Dana 44s). I see people putting 35s and lockers on a Dana 35, but I just don't trust it.

Quote :

"a detroit is easy to live with, you only notice it if you want to"

cool. I don't mind it chirping tires when pulling into a parking lot. I've just heard stories about them really jerking short wheelbase vehicles around kinda violently while driving at speed.

Quote :

"that said if you pay 10k for it are you going to be able to make yourself use it like it needs to be used off road? not a daily driver right?"

Well, that's the thing. I just don't think I can make myself pay 10k for it, but yeah, I'll wheel it. Maybe not bashing it hard off of big rocks, but pretty much anything else. and yeah, it would be a daily driver, although there's a very good chance I'll end up with another motorcycle that I would DD a lot.






The biggest thing I need to know is how much I can pay for this thing and still get it for enough below market value that I can unload it relatively easily for at least breaking even. 1-2k profit is even better. I know his reserve is $9900, but I don't know that it'll get that high. After talking to him, I get the impression that he needs it gone, and no price is firm if the seller is motivated enough (that's how I've made money on cars...find the right cars from the right sellers, and make them a lowball offer you can't imagine they'll go for. You won't get 'em every time, but you'll score cool cars for crazy prices more often than you'd think.)

If there are any things specific to early Broncos (I'm fairly unfamiliar with them...know more about Jeeps) to look for, or anything bad on this one that I haven't noticed, clue me in on that, too...and if anyone has driven an early Bronco much, your comments and "review" would be appreciated.

5/24/2007 9:06:00 AM

Well, you asked me to talk you out of it, so here goes...

I know that you know how to maintain a vehicle, but why would someone like you with a pillar-to-post military lifestyle who is going to be moving around the country for the next 2 years buy a 37 year old truck that:
gets terrible mileage
is neither suitable nor comfortable on long trips
Probably would have a difficult time hauling you and all of your gear/baby/etc around in comfort
is liable to need at least minor parts replaced regularly if it sees daily driver duty
looks to be highly modified, with all of the compromises and headaches that go along with such
and did I mention that it was 10 years old when you and I were born?

Hey, you told me to talk you out of it...

5/24/2007 9:21:50 AM

yeah, that's also a concern. My only other experience with a car that old was fun, but it was a bigger pain in the ass than any other car I've owned except for the Miata. However, it was a true original car. NOTHING had ever been replaced or rebuilt until I got it. On the other hand, vehicles like that are pretty easy and pretty cheap to work on.

the gas mileage will indeed suck. that's a concern...however (and this is why I'm not too concerned about the long trip thing), I won't really be going anywhere. Whidbey Island is in the middle of nowhere. Seattle is about an hour away, Vancouver is maybe 2. The furthest ski resort is Whistler, which I think is about 2.5ish. There isn't anywhere else to go. The only trips of any length I'll be taking will be to ski, and something like this would be the money as a ski-wagon. That's the biggest reason I want a 4x4 instead of, say, building another Miata and keeping a beater with a backseat for when my daughter is up there with me (or just swapping cars with a roommate).


It isn't too highly modified...stock drivetrain (which is one of the draws to an early Bronco)...basically just has a lift, lockers, and upgraded brakes.

It won't have any trouble hauling around all I need it too.

Basically, I'm worried about having to wrench on it every weekend like my old Miata, and I'm worried that it will be wound out and getting 10mpg or less at interstate speed...although the only time I'll be doing that regularly is to go skiing once it gets cold. I'm not worried about the crudeness and lack of creature comforts. I'm fully aware of that and ok with it.

[Edited on May 24, 2007 at 10:04 AM. Reason : dtuilugigkjguy]

5/24/2007 9:47:32 AM

^ I dont have alot of experience with Broncos in particular but had more than i care to mention with my old 77 CJ

I had done alot of the similar things that have been done to this bronco and it seemed like it was almost daily something had to be fixed on it. mostly little dinky stuff but every month or two it would be something more major. (brake issues, engine tuning, broken suspension tidbits)

looks like a great car, in great shape but i cant see you buying this car as a daily driver, your going to spend half your time wrenching. (granted fairly easy wrenching for the most part)

5/24/2007 10:00:51 AM

Quote :

"Basically, I'm worried about having to wrench on it every weekend like my old Miata"

Basically, that was what I was saying in so many words. I know you know how to maintain a car and what you're getting into.

5/24/2007 11:08:11 AM

yeah, no way to know.

if i get it for the right price, i don't care too much. if it's an asspain, i'll sell it.

5/24/2007 11:24:06 AM

Thats a pretty sweet ride, I might get one like that myself one day. I found this video of a Bronco on Lion's Back in Moab, its pretty intense.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0

5/24/2007 11:43:26 AM

that's pretty intense alright, but i don't see any Bronco in there.

5/24/2007 11:52:16 AM

^^ MOTHERFUCKING CUNT BAG RICK ROLLER

really this is probably a bad idea

5/24/2007 12:32:23 PM

^^^ Damn you Rick Roller!

I had 35s on my Tacoma and still only got around 15 mpg, granted it's not in tip-top shape and getting all the gas mileage it could, but I imagine 35s with a V8 would make for worse gas mileage. Although, you seem to know more than I do, so I could most definitely be wrong. Also, seems like there would be a lot of little things that would go wrong, and would require a lot of wrenching.

5/24/2007 1:15:25 PM

2nd car that would be an awesome one

but you don't want to drive an offroad vehicle daily

5/24/2007 1:35:49 PM

i say go for it. early broncos are only appreciating, so as long as you can get it at a decent price (6-7k would be fair i'd say) you shouldn't have any issue getting your money back out of it.

i've got a friend that daily drove a mostly restored and built 68 for a few years. he even took a few short trips with it. he payed ~8k for it, and sold it for about the same price years later in worse shape.

it should be very capable off road. the only thing i might would add is a wristed front radius arm. it'll do wonders for flex. i would also check what series front shafts/joints it has. the stock drum braked d44's were only d30 sized. not a deal breaker, but something to be aware of. if it's a stock disc braked axle, no worrys. if someone has swapped the discs onto it, hopefully they changed the shafts also.

don't worry about the detroit. as i've told you before, you'll get some clicking in slow turns. it'll very occasionally unload when starting off causing a bang that'll make you shit your pants the first time it happens. other than that you won't notice it under 95% of normal driving.

the only downsides i see are:

1. you WILL be tinkering on it from time to time. it's a 37 year old truck, it's going to nickel and dime you some. the upside is it's a dead simple truck to work on, and it's a solid as hell drivetrain so i wouldn't worry about any catastrophic failures.

2. gas mileage. it's going to suck. bad. be happy if you get 8-10 around town, maybe 10-12 highway.

3. a highway cruiser it is not. power is there, but it's going to be noisy, rough, and wander.

4. it rains a ton out there. it'll be a miracle if that soft top is totally leak free, at least while driving. you could always find a hard top for it though, eb's are alot more common out west.

5/24/2007 2:42:28 PM

I'm not really even into off-road toys but the idea of a full bedliner floor is very attractive!

(....says the man who spills coke all over himself at drive through windows on a regular basis. I wonder if I can get rubber seat covers too....)

5/24/2007 3:25:09 PM

hard tops leak too most rot near the rear window.
the one i almost purchased had a waterfall going down the inside of the rear window.

if you've never driven anything like this before it'll make your evo feel like a lexus.
nvh is on an entirely new scale

[Edited on May 24, 2007 at 3:38 PM. Reason : .]

5/24/2007 3:37:31 PM

the hardtops seal just fine with good weatherstripping/gaskets.

he's owned a yj, so he's not unaware of what driving such a vehicle is like.

5/24/2007 5:01:16 PM

well the hardest part about buying this is convincing the military to let you grow a mullet

5/24/2007 5:22:58 PM

Quote :

"don't worry about the detroit. as i've told you before, you'll get some clicking in slow turns. it'll very occasionally unload when starting off causing a bang that'll make you shit your pants the first time it happens."

my mom was driving the tj when i was out of town one time. she calls me up and is like.........matt....................i broke something. i was going and something in the back went BANG!!

i told her not to worry ab it and say hello to my detroit for me bwhahaha

5/24/2007 5:25:59 PM

yeah i daily drive a truck with 33s, 4.75s and a detroit rear and its fine

5/24/2007 5:36:29 PM

Quote :

" i would also check what series front shafts/joints it has. the stock drum braked d44's were only d30 sized. not a deal breaker, but something to be aware of. if it's a stock disc braked axle, no worrys. if someone has swapped the discs onto it, hopefully they changed the shafts also."

Yeah, the front has discs. I'm pretty sure they were swapped in, but he lists "forged 31 spline axles", so hopefully they were swapped into the front. I'll have to call him back and ask. Worst case, that's not too difficult or expensive to take care of, and it's the kind of thing that could be just upgraded if/when I grenaded the stock ones.

Quote :

"1. you WILL be tinkering on it from time to time. it's a 37 year old truck, it's going to nickel and dime you some. the upside is it's a dead simple truck to work on, and it's a solid as hell drivetrain so i wouldn't worry about any catastrophic failures."

Pretty much my thoughts. I'm not so worried about the expense of $20 this month, $150 two months later, etc. That's half the point of ditching the Evo in favor of something like this...i'll effectively have an extra $500/month, plus however much it saves me on insurance, tires, etc (and minus what it costs me in gas, although the Evo isn't really a miser, and it burns 93 octane).

Quote :

"2. gas mileage. it's going to suck. bad. be happy if you get 8-10 around town, maybe 10-12 highway."

hmm...you really think it'll suck THAT badly? I was kinda thinking about 15 pretty much all around.

Quote :

"3. a highway cruiser it is not. power is there, but it's going to be noisy, rough, and wander."

oh yeah, i know. i've played that game before. don't care about noisy or rough...wandering isn't so good. i'm also worried that it'll be screaming at 4000 rpm or more at 75-80 mph. I guess I could always regear it taller. that tranny has a really short 1st gear, so i'd still be ok in the dirt.

Quote :

"4. it rains a ton out there. it'll be a miracle if that soft top is totally leak free, at least while driving. you could always find a hard top for it though, eb's are alot more common out west."

yeah, I figured I'd keep my eyes peeled for a hardtop. If I get it, I'll probably eventually paint it (might do it myself). I'd get the hardtop first, though, obviously. Either way, my YJ leaked...I don't really care with a bedlined interior, as long as there isn't just water flying in everywhere. It's a new top, so it should be ok.

Oh, and Oak Harbor (where I'm going to live) only gets 22 inches of rain per YEAR...it's in the rain shadow of the Olympic mts...of course, if you go outside that little area, it rains constantly.

Quote :

"I'm not really even into off-road toys but the idea of a full bedliner floor is very attractive!"

Yeah, it's almost a must in that type of vehicle, in my mind (unless you wanna diamond plate the whole thing or something...I'd much rather line it.)

Quote :

"he's owned a yj, so he's not unaware of what driving such a vehicle is like. "

Exactly. that was my DD for close to 5 years...4cyl, no a/c, no hardtop, no backseat, no carpet, no cruise control. I drove it from Raleigh to Panama City Beach and back with 3 other people in it once...drove it to the beach, to the mountains, back and forth to northern VA a number of times, etc. Then I got a 240 rwhp Miata with no a/c that broke about every other week.

Quote :

"if you've never driven anything like this before it'll make your evo feel like a lexus."

haha

more like a Lambo or something...I remember learning to drive in a '66 chevy with a 292 and 3-on-the-tree, manual brakes and steering...i'd get out of that into dad's maxima and feel like I was in an F1 car or something.

5/24/2007 8:46:45 PM

My first truck was an early bronco. They are a handful, but when properly maintained, they are pretty dependable. The trick is finding out whether it's been maintained when it's so far away. After glancing at the ad, I don't see anything about engine work, and they didn't come with NP435s, so ask about the swap.. all of the parts he listed are quality, but it's the omissions that get you on sale ads.

I regret selling mine every fucking day. I loved that truck.

Good luck on the decision.

5/24/2007 9:38:53 PM

it's getting up there a little more in price. after seeing some more pics, it's definitely gonna need some paint and a little interior work to really look sharp. nothing bad, but i'd be spending a little more money on it. it's a sweet rig, but if the price goes up much more, i'll be holding out for another one.

5/24/2007 9:44:55 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/72-FORD-BRONCO-4X4-EARLY-ROCK-CRAWLER_W0QQitemZ220114974913QQihZ012QQcategoryZ6222QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

oh man, i'm actually even more interested in this one. i'm all about that ZF tranny with some overdrive action! also has a hardtop, a winch, and disc brakes on the rear...otherwise, pretty comparable to the first one, but the "buy it now" is $2900 cheaper than the other guy's reserve price (and about in line with what I'm actually willing to spend).

and it's almost exactly on my way to WA, since I'm stopping in Wichita for a couple of days to hang out with my old college roommate. only problem is that I'd have to drive it all the way from TX to WA, and would have to sell my Evo before going out there, and drive a rental from here to TX.

[Edited on May 24, 2007 at 9:54 PM. Reason : asdfa]

[Edited on May 24, 2007 at 9:57 PM. Reason : i'd prob replace those 37s with 35s whenever they wear out, though. that's a little much for me.]

5/24/2007 9:52:36 PM

fuck it duke...u went to enloe...u are like a mech engineer...u are gonna be rich as shit by 40...buy it and dont even think twice

5/24/2007 10:04:11 PM

haha, that's not how you get rich as shit by the time you're 40

but man, i'm really tempted by that green bronco. hell, the buy it now price is even pretty decent...

but i'm such a fucking miser i'll probably try to get it for right at the reserve

although someone else might buy it out from under me...but i don't know, i don't see too many people doing the "buy it now" (of course, usually that price is through the roof)

actually, i'm gonna call him up and quiz him over the phone...if all still sounds good, i might ask if he'll lower that buy it now to 6500, and if so, i'll snap it up right there.

[Edited on May 24, 2007 at 10:11 PM. Reason : asdf]

5/24/2007 10:07:05 PM

SONOFABITCH.

i was trying to get through on the phone to the seller, and the line was busy.

Turns out it was another guy interested in the truck, and he just hit "Buy It Now". Bastard.

Think I oughta offer him $500 to let me buy it?

5/24/2007 10:31:23 PM

welp...i tried

5/25/2007 3:09:36 AM

i'm tempted to try a few hundred dollar bribe to get the buyer to let me have it...



but i'm also tempted (potentially) by this...need to talk to the seller.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-TOYOTA-FJ40-LANDCRUISER-GREAT-SHAPE-400CI-CHEVY_W0QQitemZ250118787310QQihZ015QQcategoryZ6443QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting





and i'm also tempted not to do anything until i get to WA no matter what i find, so i don't have to drive one of these bastards across the country and sell my Evo more quickly.

5/25/2007 7:46:50 AM

honestly i'd do that man

i'm one of those kinda people that waits til the timing is right...there will ALWAYS be cars for sale...i'd wait til you get situated in WA

5/25/2007 7:53:56 AM

aha, fake beadlocks ftl.

5/25/2007 9:09:03 AM

5/25/2007 10:11:14 AM

^^ haha, hadn't noticed that. oh well...that's small stuff.

^^^ yeah, but on the other hand, i have all the time in the world right now in terms of not really having anything to do day-to-day...that won't be the case in a few weeks when I get to WA. there are pros and cons.

5/25/2007 11:09:45 AM

I used to dd a rig with a full spool, 5" lft and 37's. all with a little 4banger. a little rough, but you get used to it. I'd say goferit. I had a 69 bronco back in the day, and it was awesome. nothing beats the classic style of one.

thats actually a good deal considering everything he's got in it it. all the important stuff is done- 4spd, disc's, long-travel suspension, etc.

[Edited on May 25, 2007 at 11:27 AM. Reason : ..]

5/25/2007 11:25:25 AM

I forgot about this truck conversion kit for the previous wrangler (http://www.quadratec.com/Showcases/aev/aev_brute_conversion_kit.php...they make a hemi conversion too)...I was just kidding about saving up for the jeep truck since that's a few years off and even then would be new and undepreciated... obv not going to prevent you from buying/beating up/selling an old bronco.

5/25/2007 11:40:57 AM

dude
Early bronco + efi 351 +nv 4500 + 9' front w/ dana 60 knuckles and 9' rear w/arb's and a custom 4-link
that w/ 35"-37" tires is my dream rig always has been.

i test drove 7 broncos and all were vetoed by the parents because although i was paying for the vehicle i was still 16 and they had control of my bank account.

either too tall or too much power or bias ply tires scaring them or drum brakes... always something wasn't quite right for a 1st car.

but maybe i should get one now.

5/25/2007 11:55:34 AM

^^^ yeah, the price is getting up there now, though, and the more I think about it, finding one with an overdrive tranny (or an aftermarket overdrive unit, if i happen to stumble across one set up that way) is prob gonna be the deal for me.

It will mostly be used for around town driving, but when I want to head up to Whistler for the weekend or drive down to Seattle, I want to be able to run on the interstate at normal speed (75-85 mph) without having it at redline. The problem is, that's just not a priority for 95% of people with one of these old 4x4s...and doing the swap yourself is (a) very expensive on a truck that's already pushing the limits of how much I can justify for an old, crude truck, (b) more than I will have the time to do once I get up there, and (c) potentially above my ability level. I might could pull it off, but I could see that as something I'd get stuck on and end up taking it to a shop, where I'd pay a ton and just have to hope they did it right.



and also, the more i think about it, the less i'll probably focus on Jeeps. the entire CJ drivetrain, from radiator fan to differential cover (possibly save the transfer case) has to be swapped out for it to do what I want (run 33-35" rubber and lockers without breaking anything, and being able to cruise easily at interstate speed). on a YJ or TJ, the 4.0 has adequate power, but the axles are still fragile, and it's tough to find them swapped out (and the tranny and t-case are adequate, but no more). by the time I spend at LEAST a couple grand addressing the axles, it's no longer so much bang for the buck.

I've always liked the early Broncos and FJ-40s, but they were more expensive than the Jeeps. However, the Bronco has all of the major bits in place from the factory, except the transmission. the FJ at least has good axles, and there are plenty of them with SBC swaps...just gotta find one with the right tranny for the right price.




^ yeah, I wanted an SS 396 Chevelle with a 4-speed when I was 16...my parents finally let me have a Cutlass with a 350/350. Somewhere along the line I developed a strong affinity for rice rockets, but I still have a redneck domestic iron streak that rears its head from time to time.

[Edited on May 25, 2007 at 12:19 PM. Reason : asdffasdsdf]

[Edited on May 25, 2007 at 12:20 PM. Reason : asdfasd]

[Edited on May 25, 2007 at 12:21 PM. Reason : asdfasd]

[Edited on May 25, 2007 at 12:22 PM. Reason : asdfasdaf]

5/25/2007 12:12:12 PM

dude, get this before I'm tempted to get it.
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/car/338660172.html

5/26/2007 9:01:37 AM

nah, if i get an FJ, i wanna find one with a V8 swap, and probably a 5 speed swap.

5/26/2007 9:28:38 AM

Theres an old Landcruiser at that service station at the corner of Avent Ferry and Western Blvd. Its been sitting there for quite some time, I wonder what the guy wants for it.

5/26/2007 11:01:24 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230132486666

a little more hardcore than i really want, but it wouldn't be too much trouble to put stock height springs (keeping the spring over) and 35s (MAYBE 36-37s) back on it whenever those 40s are worn out. he says it gets 12 mpg right now with 5.13 gears...I bet if I put 3.73s or 4.11s in it with smaller tires, it would be better enough to be acceptable without an overdrive. regardless, for the right price, I'm down. i don't think he'll sell it for a price i'll be willing to pay, but it's located in WA (good), and it's worth a shot.

it would be absolutely bomb-proof in terms of big stuff breaking...it would just be a loose/corroded wire here, a wiper motor/blower motor/heater core/etc there.

[Edited on May 26, 2007 at 2:54 PM. Reason : fasd]

[Edited on May 26, 2007 at 2:56 PM. Reason : asdasd]

5/26/2007 2:53:53 PM

that cj is a steal, the drivetrain alone is worth the 4550.00 or so it's going for right now

5/26/2007 6:46:16 PM

oh, easily. that's what i'm saying...i'll buy it for the right price, and i'm the leading bidder right now (out of only 2) with 15 hours left to go, but his reserve isn't met and I kinda doubt he'll let it go for that price or anything close enough to it that I'd pay it...

but a CJ like that isn't gonna sell as readily as a Honda Accord, so if he really wants it gone, you never know. I've bought cars for prices I never thought possible before, so I always at least give it a shot.


and more correctly, the drivetrain would COST at least that much (more, really). It's only WORTH what someone's willing to pay for it.

I'm not gonna pay what the right buyer will. It's more than I need...it's really more than I want, to be honest (and I'll admit, I've kinda developed wood for an early Bronco). However, it's a lot easier/cheaper to tame a truck like that down a little in a few ways than it is to do an in-depth build up a limp-wristed vehicle...and if the price is right, the price is right.

[Edited on May 26, 2007 at 6:53 PM. Reason : asdf]

[Edited on May 26, 2007 at 7:12 PM. Reason : sfad]

5/26/2007 6:52:10 PM

i've got a 68 mustang - my main suggestion would be wait until you have a place to keep it secured - you'll end up starting a repair/upgrade job only to find other stuff along the way that needs to be fixed. That weekend project will then turn into a few weeks - so it's nice if you have it in a garage so you can leave it dismantled until you get all the parts together. (when i bought my 68 first project was swapping manual drum brakes for power discs all around.... but the more I removed, the more other stuff I found that needed to be replaced - finally triaged what had to be done vs. what'll wait for the future). Nicer still if it's an extra car, makes the frequent trips to the parts store easier

as to the detroit locker - mine's got one, and w/ a manual it's a mean bastard going through parking lots etc. It REALLY wants to stall the car out, so you're on the clutch a lot. I've also heard a few stories of the d-locker kicking in on freeway offramps and such - speed+turn+locked rear wheels = not fun. Hasn't happened to me yet though.

if you get a manual, go for the 5 speed trans upgrade- my engine is fine at high speeds, rpm's stay low (it's just the rest of the car that makes me nervous at 90+ )

5/26/2007 8:01:06 PM

exactly how are you comparing a mustang to a bronco, besides them being similar year models?

5/26/2007 8:44:13 PM