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Started By
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Older Broncos
Posted on 4/25/25 at 8:55 am
Posted on 4/25/25 at 8:55 am
I’m in the market for a 80’s or 90’s Bronco to play with.
What do I need to look for when looking at one and what do I need to stay away from. Thanks
What do I need to look for when looking at one and what do I need to stay away from. Thanks
12
Posted on 4/25/25 at 9:13 am to WestMTiger
quote:
what do I need to stay away from.
OJ
Posted on 4/25/25 at 9:46 am to WestMTiger
Make sure you have a mechanic lined up willing to work on your Bronco. Lots of shops only will go back 20-25 years working on vehicles. If your doing everything yourself great.... but there will always be that one time you can't fix something and need to bring it to a shop.
Posted on 4/25/25 at 10:03 am to WestMTiger
The biggest problem I've seen on the shows they complain about is rust around the window wells. And it doesn't seem like you can always spot it from a visual inspection.
Posted on 4/25/25 at 10:16 am to WhiskeyThrottle
Way underpowered. Horrible stopping ability. Electrical gremlins from hell. Bad gas mileage and ride awful as well.
Posted on 4/25/25 at 10:34 am to Bawpaw
I don’t know a thing about them, thanks for the insight.
Posted on 4/25/25 at 11:01 am to WestMTiger
Get a 79 to 82.
No computer.
Much simpler to work on.
Lots of parts available.
Northern truck can have rust issues. Southern not as bad.
I’ve had early broncos and an 81. Loved them. 351 w is pretty dependable.
Have a 76 Toyota Land Cruiser I rebuilt now. Really like it, but would really like to go back to a bronco.
No computer.
Much simpler to work on.
Lots of parts available.
Northern truck can have rust issues. Southern not as bad.
I’ve had early broncos and an 81. Loved them. 351 w is pretty dependable.
Have a 76 Toyota Land Cruiser I rebuilt now. Really like it, but would really like to go back to a bronco.
Posted on 4/25/25 at 12:23 pm to Bigsampson
My first vehicle was an ‘82 Bronco with a 351W under the hood. It was pretty painless to work on but that was in the late 80’s. I am sure parts could be an issue now. My neighbor actually has an ‘80 and it literally brings flashbacks of mine seeing that big Bronco. I chuckle the gymnastics I attempted in the backseat when I had a cooperating date back then. My neighbor actually dropped a Coyote motor into his which he says was an easy but expensive swap.
Those 78-early 90’s Broncos hardly get any love while the smaller ones pre-78 get the attention. I would love to get another one. Not sure if the prices on the big ones are actually ok. The smaller ones go for a kidney and a first born.
Those 78-early 90’s Broncos hardly get any love while the smaller ones pre-78 get the attention. I would love to get another one. Not sure if the prices on the big ones are actually ok. The smaller ones go for a kidney and a first born.
Posted on 4/25/25 at 1:07 pm to WestMTiger
I just traded a running 1979 for some home renovations. Sorry I’d have made you a good deal
Posted on 4/25/25 at 1:08 pm to Bigsampson
quote:this…F100 parts, cheap and plentiful. I rebuilt a 74 and had to have everything built or sourced from reman suppliers, huge PIA
Get a 79 to 82
Posted on 4/25/25 at 2:24 pm to WestMTiger
When my brother was 15 and I was 14, my dad got us a brand new 1980 Bronco, was a manual 4 speed with a 302. I turned 15 four months later. First thing I did was teach my GF at the time to drive a stick. The rear seat folded up giving you plenty of room to wrassel.
Good times
Good times
Posted on 4/25/25 at 2:54 pm to MWP
quote:
Those 78-early 90’s Broncos hardly get any love while the smaller ones pre-78 get the attention. I would love to get another one. Not sure if the prices on the big ones are actually ok. The smaller ones go for a kidney and a first born.
I like to catch some of the Barrett-Jackson Auction and those Broncos are going for insane prices.
Granted almost all of the ones crossing the stage are fully restored, but compared to other vehicles in like condition, they are going for stupid money.
I know some municipalities used them for Emergency Vehicles for Fire Department District and Deputy Chiefs and they were known to not be the most stable vehicle in relatively high speed turns and there were a lot of roll-overs with them.
Posted on 4/25/25 at 3:25 pm to Bawpaw
quote:
Way underpowered. Horrible stopping ability. Electrical gremlins from hell. Bad gas mileage and ride awful as well.
All true but most can be fixed with some modern upgrades, especially the brakes and suspension.
Posted on 4/25/25 at 3:56 pm to WestMTiger
I would consider going two ways. Buy one completely restored by a REPUTABLE professional group, or do the restoration yourself at a pace comfortable to you. Probably the smartest way is to find one already restored that some rich guy has become tired of playing with. You can often find really good deals this way. Best of luck. I am a huge fan of all of the old 4 wheel drive vehicles. Brings back fond memories of my grandfather and his hunting buddies, which I suspect is the main attraction for many who cherish these dinosaurs.
Posted on 4/25/25 at 3:58 pm to rltiger
If you let the back glass down and didn’t have the front windows open the exhaust would choke you to death. If you had the back glass open on a dirt road the whole thing would fill with dust. It was a terrible vehicle but was amazing to play with. I hit a deer one morning in it. Killed it dead as a doornail with the front stock steel bumper and it did not so much as leave a dent.
Posted on 4/25/25 at 7:58 pm to WestMTiger
Get a 78-79 bullnose and drop a carbed 460 in it. Or throw a Holley Sniper on it if you don’t want to mess with the carb.
Posted on 4/25/25 at 8:53 pm to WestMTiger
Get a K5.
Posted on 4/25/25 at 10:57 pm to WestMTiger
With older vehicles, Buy the nicest one you can afford.
With Broncos, the generations are broken down by these years:
1966-'77;
1978-'79;
1980-'86;
1987-'91; and
1992-'96.
With Broncos, the generations are broken down by these years:
1966-'77;
1978-'79;
1980-'86;
1987-'91; and
1992-'96.
Posted on 4/26/25 at 6:11 am to WestMTiger
If it's lifted any check the drive train, friend of mine had one and couldn't keep the UJoint from breaking.
Thing was broke down more than running
Thing was broke down more than running
Posted on 4/26/25 at 7:44 am to WestMTiger
I have a 92 Eddie Bauer I'm restoring (or will when I have time).
Only gave the lady $225 for it. She thought the motor was locked up, I crawled under to try to bar over the engine and saw wires dangling from the starter. I immediately crawled out and asked her what she wanted for it.
She told me the scrap yard was going to give her $200 for it. I told her I'd go $225 and pick it up the next day. Got that dude home, threw a battery in it and hooked up the solenoid wires and she popped right off.
At some point they swapped it over to an automatic from a manual so their son could drive it. I'm going to put it back to a 5 speed manual when I go through everything..
It's a fun toy to play with.
Only gave the lady $225 for it. She thought the motor was locked up, I crawled under to try to bar over the engine and saw wires dangling from the starter. I immediately crawled out and asked her what she wanted for it.
She told me the scrap yard was going to give her $200 for it. I told her I'd go $225 and pick it up the next day. Got that dude home, threw a battery in it and hooked up the solenoid wires and she popped right off.
At some point they swapped it over to an automatic from a manual so their son could drive it. I'm going to put it back to a 5 speed manual when I go through everything..
It's a fun toy to play with.
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