Ranger for a Bronco?

[Shoeboy]

Well, I was at work today, and I guy called in and said that he was having his 1975 Bronco in to have us look at it, as it has sat for the last year. He said that he was sick, and he knows that he's going to die becasue of it. He's going to be selling this thing for about $6000. I'm thinking of selling my Ranger (thats in the body shop for a major face lift), and picking this thing up, if its in good shape. From the sounds of it, he's had this thing for some time now, and its been his toy, so I'm assuming its in good shape. I get to look at it on monday. I know absolutly nothing about this Bronco aside from it being a 1975 Bronco, I don't know what engine, transmission, drive, I don't know the body style, anything,its going to be a complete mystery for me. So what do you guys think, sell the Ranger (that I do love and am spending lots of money on the body right now) and buy this Bronco that may need just as much work, or even more. If any of you have one, how is it in the winter? (I'm in Calgary, Ab, and can get some sever snow and ice storms), how is it on parts (I'm assuming it should be that bad for mechanical componants, maybe a little harder for body parts). I'm thinking I'm going to keep the Ranger because I really like it, and I've put quite some time and money into it. But an original Bronco would just be completly bad ass. what are your ideas? What should I do?

 

[Bent Bolt]

I'd buy a 75 Bronco for $6000.00 as long as the body was in decent shape. A fibreglass body would be the best. Engine,trans,driveline are fairly cheap to rebuild/repair so I'd be more concerned of the body and if it had p/s and disc brakes.

 

[Legion]

i think they came with 5.0s and should have some pretty weak axles

 

[Shoeboy]

Hey, Bent Bolt, I'm not looking that hard, I like my Ranger, I'm assuming this is going to be something that I'm going to back down from. If I do back down from it, and it does seem in good/decent shape, do you want me to give the guy your name, or tell him I have someone intrested in it. You're only a few hours away, I don't know exactly, but this may be worth a trip down to Calgary. I don't know about everyone here, but I would rather it go to someone who will care for it and put some effort into it, rather then a kid buying it, and beating the piss out of it, and leaving it for scrap.

 

[PARKINGLOT]

it'll probably have a 5.0, NP435 (?) or C4, a Dana 44 front (disc too, i think), and a 9" rear...

 

[4LO 4.O]

i think they came with 5.0s and should have some pretty weak axles

The bronco's came with 9 inch rearend which is one of the best rearends ever made. Every car in nacsar runs one and the are super easy to fix. The front's were dana 44''s, and they are just as stong. You could easily run 40's on these axles with no problem.

 

[Dave R]

Base engine in the early broncos was a 250 I6 w/ 3spd about 1/2 the production came with the small V8 (either the 289 or 302).

Let me get this straight, your thinking about paying $6000 dollars for a 32 year old bronco?

 

[Bent Bolt]

Base engine in the early broncos was a 250 I6 w/ 3spd about 1/2 the production came with the small V8 (either the 289 or 302).

Let me get this straight, your thinking about paying $6000 dollars for a 32 year old bronco?

Yes I would. You'd pay $35,000 for a new truck ? I wouldn't.

 

[Shoeboy]

I havn't even seen the vehicle yet, I'll see it tomorrow at work. I've Called Paul (my body guy) and its a little late to back down on the Ranger (I could still back down, but he's done about half of the body work, so its going to cost quite a bit, and I'm not going to able to sell the truck for anything afterwords). Bent Bolt, I'll tell him that I know someone intrested, and I'll see I can lower the price. I'll check it out for you, If you would like.

If I didn't have my Ranger, I would so buy the Bronco. With some of the vehicles in Calgary, $6000 is nothing for something 30+ years ok. A friend of mine has a 18 year old Volvo thats been appraised at $35 000. I have a cliant with a '73 Cutlas, In decent shape, little rust, but over all a nice car, its been appraised at $16000. I would much rather a vehicle thats 20+ years old then one of these plastice things made today. The originals are a treat to work on because there is actually space under the hood to work.

 

[Bent Bolt]

Sorry Shoeboy, I'd pay $6000 for a Bronco but I can't. I already have 2 Rangers, my wife has a Fusion and there is a tent trailer in the driveway now. No room at the moment. I love driving my 87 and have some more building planned for it.

 

[Shoeboy]

Well, anyone else in the Calgary/southern alberta area intrested (if I don't take it)?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Base engine in the early broncos was a 250 I6 w/ 3spd about 1/2 the production came with the small V8 (either the 289 or 302).

Let me get this straight, your thinking about paying $6000 dollars for a 32 year old bronco?

I think by then the 302 was standard.

I would pay $6000 for a nice early Bronco if I could afford it, they just don't make them like that anymore.

 

[Shoeboy]

Well. I had to tow it into the shop today with our shop Jeep. We were setting it up on the hoist and when I was setting up the arms on the frame and I hit the tank with the head of the arm, and the front tank ended up falling off because the straps were rusted apart. To make matters worse, the owner installed something inside the cab and drilled into the floor, and also into the tank. It just happened to be a full tank of year old gas, so it was spraying everywhere and stunk up the shop for the rest of the day. After we got the tank completly disconnected from the truck (held up the the fuel lines), we got it up in the air, and I'm not sure there was a place underneith the thing that didn't have major rust. The thing was a mess. The only thing that was decent on the thing is the glass, and rims and tires (American Racing rims, the very cheap steel ones), and new BFG tires. Aside from that, I love the things, don't get me wrong, the thing should have been crushed a long time ago. The owner is either BSing us about the appraisal he "had" done, the Appraiser is on crack, or the apprasial was years ago, when the thing was actually half decent. Needless to say its not worth anything.

By the way its a 351W with auto (no idea what one, didn't look that hard, and didn't care that much), and 4 wheel drive.

 

[Bent Bolt]

Typical issues with those things. Might be worth it if you could grab it for $1000 or less and put a fiberglass body. Lots of work and $$$

 

[Shoeboy]

The guy had it appraised at about $8000 - $9000 and has his heart set on that, and wont take anything less then $5500. Otherwise the glass would be ordered and so would the new interior. Its quite sad how one person says what they think its worth, and suddently it has to be that price, I hate it when people go off of blue book value, its an average, how are averages made? highs and lows. My father has a 1997 Dakota sport with amazingly low milage, he's the original owner, and the truck is mint, it still has the "new car smell" to it. If he were to sell it he could easily sell it for $15000 in the condition its in. There is no rust, and the rims are not even oxicized (which is very rare for Calgary). He was offered by some guy on the street, $8000 because thats what blue book says its worth. I hate that book, that book should die. Its sad, even after my truck gets the body work done ($6000+) and all my custom touches, such as LED's, HIDs (waiting for them to come in, as it looks, no time soon), roll pan, box liner (spray in after I get my truck back from the body shop), and so on. Blue book value on my truck would be about $1200. Eventhough its worth so much more, and anyone with half a brain can tell that. Blue book is whats wrong with selling and buying cars. People are so concerned with what they can get, and what they will pay. They want to pay $1000 for a truck, and sell it for $5000 after they beat the piss out of it, because thats what blue book says its worth.

Sorry, rant, I've had a hard day, and nothing has gone right.