WOOHOO! Got my new BOV

[MOlivo]

Trying to sweet talk my buddy out of his full size 90's model Bronco. It has the 351, lift kit, oversized tires ect. Will post pics if the deal goes through...

[yugoshooter]

Don't do it Matt. This is just my opinion but i have worked on cars now for 38 years and I worked on more fords then anything else. The 351 Windsor/mod is knowen to have bad lifters and a gas hog. If you want a full size truck look for a surplus military truck with a diesel in it. :D

[doc762399]

I second that, don't do it. with the price of gas/ slash the amount that pig will swallow. Get a mid size rig.

[wnn]

Bullshit the 351w may suck fuel but the 351 Mod was the motor to stay away from, you can expect depending on the year pre80(351M) about 11mpg if its 80+ (351w)you may get around 14 mpg i get 15 outa mine & im 4x4 but im in a f150

[MOlivo]

Another option is someone on craigslist is selling a Ranger 4x4 but seems like kind of a hack job...
http://treasure.craigslist.org/cto/858271632.html

I could redo the flatbed, the one he did on it seems way to small to be practical. Also would need to create some kind of siding system for it, preferable something removable.

[wnn]

bronco would be your best bet if its aBOV as you have tons of room & weight , unless you happen across an older style wagoneer. not much can stop em if you need to use them to push
just my thoughts tho

[MOlivo]

That was one of the main draws in the bronco was the room inside and the fact it could probably smash through whatever you needed it to within reason :D I wish I could find a AWD Astrovan, that would be my first choice...Throw a lift kit on it and you got a BOV with plenty of room for cargo/people and off road capability.

[bob200587]

The removable top is a plus...My 87 4runner has it, it's fun in the summer.

[MOlivo]

Yeah I liked the idea of that as well. Living in Fl it seems like it would be fun to pop the top off and head to the beach, river, camping, ect :)

[wnn]

may come in handy if you ever wanna pull a trailer to + dont you already have a small truck? the bigger trucks do hold up better in a wreck , i was rear ended by a women in a '02 saturn at about 35mph & totaled her car but only bent my reese hitch & bumper..insurance said it was 1300 in damage to mine her s was a write off...

[arpacker]

I'm running an 85 chevy blazer with a 350, 33" tires, low gears, and lockers. I get around 10mpg on the road 6 in town

[MOlivo]

I had a S10 extended cab but ended up selling it to buy a car when I took custody of my daughter. Judge said Fl. law says children under 5 arent supposed to ride in front seat (truck didnt have an adequate rear seat), so I got rid of it and got a 4 door sedan. So this isn't going to be my everyday driver or anything; The only time Ill have to worry about gas mileage is when I am actually bugging out :)

[yugoshooter]

Then go with the bronco if its only going to be a bov. The good thing about them is there is thousands of them in junk yards so parts are easy to find.:D

[MOlivo]

Smartass :D Good thing about it is my buddy has replaced a bunch of stuff on it...New tranny, starter, alternator, battery, fuel pumps ect.

[hitech_hick]

Personally, I like the Ford stuff. Say what you want about the twin traction beam suspension, but it is arguably the best IFS on the market (at least mass produced), there is a reason why the desert racers build them up. As for the 351, never messed with them much, have stuck mostly to the 4.0 and 5.0, but to each their own. Parts are a dime a dozen, you should have no problem running a truck like that over 200,000 (with a bit of work and maintenance mind you).


hick

[Kobayashi Maru]

I used to own the big horse! '79 Bronco - 351 Milford (yeah, the one DOWN side of that truck), Borg-Warner T-18 granny low 1st gear, & 33 a/t's - VERY schweet ride.

My current BoV, is still undergoing a restoration! I inherited it (I keep telling myself, "the truck was free, the truck was free..." :rolleyes:), but once it's done - SOON, I hope - it will kick 12 kindsa ass!

'92 Dodge Ramcharger - 4 1/2" of lift, and 36" mudders. 318 with a 727 Torqueflite, but we're gonna put manual hubs on it, and we're tearing down the motor to build it back up a bit stronger. Custom tube steel rear bumper with INTEGRAL (NOT body mounted!) swing out tire gate, designed to handle a FULL-SIZE spare (check 'em out at Kennesaw Mountain Products down in GA). Should be a VERY schweet setup, when all is done. :D

:cool:

[Gunfixr]

I got an '89 fullsize Bronco and it's great. Yeah, the gas mileage ain't great, but we also have a good mileage car, so we use that for tooling around.
It has the 351 engine. When I got it about 7 years ago, it had been mistreated quite a bit, so I dropped a new engine in it, and it's GTG. It has a moderate amount of lift and has 35" all terrain tires.
Like you, I like the weight and push power it has, coupled with the interior room. I also have an off-road capable utility trailer I can pull behind it.

[MOlivo]

Well I got my bronco today :) Drove it around the neighborhood a few minutes to get a feel for it. Its got a few minor fixes needed...Starter solenoid is kaput, but I bought a pretty nice one for it that Ill hopefully install tomorrow. Gotta replace one tire, it has a spare on right now (Tires are Cooper Discovery STT's 33x12.5x15). I think it needs new universal joints in the front axles. Other then that its good to go :)

[wnn]

congrats on the bronco,
one thing to think about if you dont already have them installed is a good set of lockout hubs for the beast , they'll help you with mileage somewhat ,no reason pushin that front axle if you dont have to& it'll help on some wear & tear of the front axle shafts....