Author Topic: Car Check: 1975 Ford Bronco (Read 302 times)

Animal · « **on:** September 25, 2002, 08:42:07 PM »

An old friend is willing to sell me one of these for a very low price.
The guy is a mechanic so the car should be in good condition.

I want it for going to rough streets and off roads and other stuff I dont want to subject my car to.

Other than the huge amounts of fuel it consumes, anyone who has dealt with one can point me out to good or bad characteristics of this monster car?

I'm gonna check the car out this weekend and maybe take some pics.

Animal · « **Reply #1 on:** September 25, 2002, 08:44:24 PM »

Mistake I just talked to him and its actually an 1982

Sandman · « **Reply #2 on:** September 25, 2002, 11:12:07 PM »

Full size Bronco? or Bronco II?

I sold my 85 Bronco two years ago. I loved it, but needed something with a bit more mileage to it. Got an Xterra.

Animal · « **Reply #3 on:** September 25, 2002, 11:41:39 PM »

Full size none of that Bronco II crap.

Dune · « **Reply #4 on:** September 25, 2002, 11:51:03 PM »

I had an '89 with the 351 in it. I put almost 80,000 miles on it and loved the hell out of it. It would pull a loaded two-horse trailer up the mountains to Flagstaff at 75mph (of course the gas gauge would fall as the spedo went up....but who cares) It had the C4 tranny (no overdrive) and I got around 16mpg in it. The thing ran like a beast.

The only problems I had were that the left side of the exhaust manifold would crack in cold weather (I had it while attending NAU in Flagstaff, AZ) and, after awhile, the back-door mounted tire rack would pull the door out just enough that the window wouldn't go down. You couldn't use the button on the dash, you had to go around back and push the tailgate down to get the window to go down.

That's it. Other than those two minor things I loved it. I had it in some real rough country and it worked great. Until I bought my XTerra, I lived with the regret of selling it. If its condition is good and the price reasonable, go get it.

gofaster · « **Reply #5 on:** September 26, 2002, 08:13:05 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Animal
Mistake I just talked to him and its actually an 1982

Its a Ford and it was built in 1982, a period when domestic car manufacturers were getting hammered by foreign builders because the domestics' quality wasn't up to par. Some vehicles were built better than others, and if an 20 year old Ford is still running, its a minor miracle - guess it helps that it was owned by a mechanic.

On the upside, you could have a potential classic on your hands, depending on rust, dents, and missing pieces. Just be prepared for high fuel bills and regular service.

lord dolf vader · « **Reply #6 on:** September 26, 2002, 11:08:52 AM »

yea 82 was a low year in american auto quality lots o plastic and what does it have for engine controls? i had a 82 mercury with a 305 (ubiqutous ford/mercury V8) and ecm 3 I think it was, it was a decent system ( really one giant fuel injector in a carburator body feeding all 8 bangers) except that no one could work on it, or had tools for it. Even the ford dealership said they wouldent touch it . They only made that engine managment system for a single year or some such befor totaly redesigning it to one similar to what they still use, so pre 83 = unrepairable without great expence . made the car about worthless. so in short if it has the ecm 3 with the single injector pass on it. they suck

hope that helps

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #7 on:** September 26, 2002, 12:21:34 PM »

Too bad its not a 75 Animal... advice would have been easier. My brother has a 76 that I really like. Simple bodies... somewhat functional and damn fun offroad.

The later rides got a little bigger without offering much else. They are definately hit and miss. Before you get it... get the engine checked first.

AKDejaVu

Animal · « **Reply #8 on:** September 26, 2002, 01:19:11 PM »

Cool thanks for the advice.

Sandman · « **Reply #9 on:** September 26, 2002, 08:27:01 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by gofaster

Its a Ford and it was built in 1982, a period when domestic car manufacturers were getting hammered by foreign builders because the domestics' quality wasn't up to par. Some vehicles were built better than others, and if an 20 year old Ford is still running, its a minor miracle - guess it helps that it was owned by a mechanic.

On the upside, you could have a potential classic on your hands, depending on rust, dents, and missing pieces. Just be prepared for high fuel bills and regular service.

Were the domestic manufacturers getting hammered for the quality of trucks? Underneath that sexy exterior is a Ford F-150 pickup...