Buying advice - Am I nuts?

[Golfball]

$30K should be plenty. My advice is reduce your budget to $29K and use the other $1K for travel to go and actually lay hands on it before you buy. If you can afford a $30,000 toy, you can afford the cost of an airline ticket. Just a part of the Bronco investment.

[zdb104]

Anyone have experience with a dealer/reseller like Maxlider? Obviously you are going to pay a premium but hopefully the Bronco would be inspected better for trouble.

[hyghlndr]

Originally Posted by zdb104

Obviously you are going to pay a premium but hopefully the Bronco would be inspected better for trouble.

That would be a wrong assumption, unless they build it from scratch the quality depends simply on what they bought to flip. Even built can stink because their focus is simply profit. You're much better off finding one that somebody's had for years and it's well loved and taken care. Most of the unhappy people who come here bought from dealers.

[zdb104]

Thanks for the info I really appreciate it

[KANE]

Hey Zach, I'm in Mass. and bought my truck in California and had it shipped in an enclosed trailer to Ma. I think shipping was $2200- back in 2007. That was 11 years ago and I'm still amazed that there is Zero rust. I bought mine sight un seen but I had the PO send a lot of pics and even a walk around video. I got a great truck that had a lot of $$ in parts but more than anything I wanted a Straight Rust Free truck.
This site is SO helpful and my advice is go to any events that come from this site....this will help but the right parts that you can see on other trucks. And most of all ask questions...lots of questions. This site has been an incredible source for finding out how to tackle little to large Bronco projects!!
Best of luck!
Mike

[bdavis70]

Good advise to look in Oregon, they don't use salt on the roads on the coast. I know of six solid rigs in the town I live in. Here is one I just found on Craiglist in Redmond which is in the Cascades which is a higher elevation and I don't know if they use salt there. Good luck and have fun.
https://salem.craigslist.org/cto/d/6...565232726.html

[muskrat]

How about commissioning one to be built? Nicks Trix? Wonder if that would fit it ur budget? Not sure if ya gotta start w one or if he was something in his inventory.


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[Cortez]

Yeah - keep an eye on the western states, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Kansas...dry climates make a huge difference in minimizing rust. Big bronco community in Colorado, people to either help you out or who will know history on a truck.

[pipeline010]

I'm in your area, new(ish) EB owner. I didn't even look in our area and neither should you.

Classic Cars here mean something completely different than they do in places like Arizona. In college I had to fly out for a National Championship in Arizona and couldn't believe the amount of cool old trucks on the road. The ones you see here (east coast) may 'look' cool but they are rolling disasters. There are a handful of folks that are exceedingly careful with their classics, but not everyone has the income to maintain a climate controlled rust free atmosphere for their toys.

Look west, young man.

But in answer to your original question, yes you are nuts. You're spending a years worth of college education on a truck that smells bad, doesn't drive straight, offers questionable reliability, requires diagnosis and know-how that you MUST learn or pay loads for, and creaks more than every door you've ever heard in a horror movie...and that's just when you are getting into it.

So why jump in? Because it's awesome, that's why. Ever walked into a wedding with the hottest girl in the whole place? It's a lot like that.

Except she stinks like gear oil. And she rides rough. ... although that part may be the same.

[Rustytruck]

Spend all your free time on this site like the rest of us. Learn to use the search function and look and read every build post you find. It wont take too long to learn where the rust hides in these trucks. You will also learn on how previous owners hid the problems. Or just pretty up the outside to sell the truck. The drive train is cheep compared to dealing with body rust. The body shops don't want to deal with a rusty pig so there isn't a cheep way out. Remember lipstick on a pig is still a pig. If the previous owner didn't spend the necessary money keeping up the truck, you will spend it after you pay the big bucks buying the truck. A project truck is no bargain even if you can do everything yourself. Its not how much you spend on the truck that gets you a good truck its how much you know to make your money get the best truck you can get.

Welcome to Bronco College you have entered the Bronco Zone, life between dreams and Reality.

P.S. get a tetanus shot and wear gloves and safety glasses your going to need it.

[tasker]

our club hosts and event May 19, central Mass....maybe it would be worth it to come on up, talk to people and really crawl around some real trucks. Will give you an idea of what to look for and you will meet some rabid Bronco fans....feel free to ask any questions!

[bronkenn]

Always be leery of spray on undercoating! Been known to hide some dastardly deeds, Ken

[Mmflpa]

Where in PA are you? I am in Philly. I know of 3 in South Jersey that are within your price range. One is actually orange, another is gray and orange. I can put you in contact with the owner if you want more information.

[zdb104]

Just saw your message. Are the Broncos in Jersey rust buckets?



Forgot to mention I am in central PA (17777)

[chuckyb]

Originally Posted by zdb104

Just saw your message. Are the Broncos in Jersey rust buckets?



Forgot to mention I am in central PA (17777)

I can vouch that my NJ Bronco was a rust bucket, check the first couple of pages on my build thread. My grandfather used it as a work vehicle all year long, and kept it parked under a tree. Those salty roads are unforgiving and getting leaves crammed up everywhere didn't help either.