re: 1977 Ford Bronco opinions

I've found some people like Jeeps or similar type vehicles and others don't. They may like them for weekends, but not DD. I've driven a soft top 4x4 for more years than not, and it just gets into your system. In time, the noise, heat, leaks, etc. kind of fade into the background.

That said, Bronco, Jeep, Land Rover, whatever, I would not do much of lift or run tires beyond 33" everyday. Most trucks going larger are being modified only for looks 99% of the time, anyhow. Big tires and extreme suspension angles will kill a drivetrain. This will force you to spend major monies on custom, heavy duty parts, that may or may not work very well together. Many of these parts are made by smaller fabricators, and tolerance levels are not always what they should be. The rebuilt drivetrains and suspensions seem to fail more often than those closer to standard, even accounting for heavier use.

The joy of older 4x4's is their simplicity. You can modernize many elements, like 4 wheel discs, but I would avoid doing something like an eco-tech. Stick with a 302, built for durability and low end torque, not high end horsepower. Parts are plentiful and mechanics anywhere can fix it. The eco-tech won't be around 40 years, and parts will be phased out, expensive, and work will necessitate specialized tools.

Build a truck focused on its intended purpose, and that truck will last many years to come. Put in a so-so built race engine, jack it up, go more for looks than engineering, and you will have a money pit piece of crap within months. There are lots of people who DD classic Broncos - go read the forums. There are ways to build them with an eye for that. Do your research, be smart, and the effort will pay off.