1972-73 owners-mind your P's and Q's

[The Far Side]

You can add mine. Not sure what Trans Reg Spk is?

Sequence = R44540
Date Completed = Mar-73
T Case = J
Fuel Line = return
Steering = PS
Trans = Man
Dash = Light Bars
Trans Reg Spk = ???
DSO = 73

 

[The Far Side]

More info
Ginger Metallic
Parchment rosette buckets w/ rear seat
U151
4.11 non LS gearing
Power steering
Long toggle dash switch and under seat tank switch
302 engine

 

[DirtDonk]

...Not sure what Trans Reg Spk is?

Someone will know I'm sure. But it sounds suspiciously like the Ambient Sensor system, because it's related to both transmission and spark (ignition timing) aspects.

Paul

 

[Viperwolf1]

You can add mine. Not sure what Trans Reg Spk is?

Sequence = R44540
Date Completed = Mar-73
T Case = J
Fuel Line = return
Steering = PS
Trans = Man
Dash = Light Bars
Trans Reg Spk = ???
DSO = 73

Transmission Regulated Spark system. That's what the temp sensor in the door post is for. No temp sensor=no Trans Reg Spk.

 

[The Far Side]

Yep. Got the hole. Not the sensor.

 

[DirtDonk]

Were your screw holes on each side of the big hole drilled out, or were they just dimples?

Paul

 

[The Far Side]

Definitely has the mount holes.

 

[andyp]

I didn't take the whole VIN, and I'll let Andy add it if he wants, but the new "495 Mile" '73 Ranger is a 12/72 build Q model.
Has all the usual '73 stuff, plus has the return line and two tanks.

No ambient switch plate, but does have the rubber grommet in the big hole and two full screw holes, rather than the two dimples later models had.

Also noted that it's got the "long" toggle version of the fuel gauge selector switch on the dash, which was a running change from the earlier "short" toggle version.
I knew they changed at some point around there, but wasn't sure it was '73. Now I wish I'd bothered to check the other '72's and '73's I've listed so far, to see if any earlier Broncos in this list had them. Maybe I took pictures.
I know at least some in '72 had the early "short" toggle and when I bought my first replacement from Ford in about '79 or so, they naturally only had the later long style available.

It's a Ranger with the wiper cover intact, but I did not notice a dome light installed. I know they were available in the '73 model year, but it could have been a running change maybe?
Or I just did not notice. I'll check his other thread to see if it shows. Was that the first year for the dome lamp, as opposed to the under-dash map light?

Paul

My Marti. It does have the dome light.

 

[btatro74]

1972 with P88725

Sequence = P88725
Date Completed = not sure yet - Marti report on order - will update once I have it
T Case = T
Fuel Line = no
Steering = manual
Trans = Man
Dash = Light Bars
Trans Reg Spk = yes
DSO = 74

 

[DirtDonk]

Hey btatro, thanks for adding your info and welcome to classicbroncos too!

Paul

 

[jmhend]

Transmission Regulated Spark system. That's what the temp sensor in the door post is for. No temp sensor=no Trans Reg Spk.

I've always wondered whet that thing is.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[btatro74]

Sequence = P88725
Date Completed = not sure yet - Marti report on order - will update once I have it
T Case = T
Fuel Line = no
Steering = manual
Trans = Man
Dash = Light Bars
Trans Reg Spk = yes
DSO = 74

I got my Marti Report. It says completion date was October 16, 1972. 18 days behind schedule. Very interesting that a 72 was manufactured so late..... even if it wasn't 18 days late, it still would have been Sept 29.

My Marti report also said it came with Power Steering and I am 100% sure it did not. Maybe mine was supposed to be a 73 and they didn't have power steering parts, so they made it a 72 instead???

 

[DirtDonk]

I wonder! Of course, it's been noted that the Marti Reports are not always 100% correct either. So at this point it's pretty hard to say.

How are you certain that an early owner did not hate power steering and changed it out? Or maybe had the dealer do it as part of the sale?
I'm sure there aren't many out there by then that would have done that, but I remember I resisted power steering for YEARS before finally realizing what a boon it was. I just did not want the extra plumbing and the leaks and the additional parts that could fail.
But mostly, with a carburetor and taking it off-road in the Sierras, I hated the thought of losing my steering when the engine stalled out.

Anyway, it's interesting to contemplate the reasons for these late builds during this period.

Paul

 

[Viperwolf1]

I got my Marti Report. It says completion date was October 16, 1972. 18 days behind schedule. Very interesting that a 72 was manufactured so late..... even if it wasn't 18 days late, it still would have been Sept 29.

My Marti report also said it came with Power Steering and I am 100% sure it did not. Maybe mine was supposed to be a 73 and they didn't have power steering parts, so they made it a 72 instead???

What is the RELEASED date on the Marti?

Power steering seemed to have been available right at the yearly changeover in August so I don't think that was any reason for delay. Why do you think it did not have power steering? Does it have it now? What is the axle code on the glovebox tag?

 

[oldiron]

M70718
built sep 71
T-case=t
Fuel ret=no
Steering= manual
Trans= Manual
Dash light bars= No
Trans Reg Spk, Ambient sensor= Yes
DSO 21
Hope this helps
Greg

 

[btatro74]

I am thinking my Marti report just has an error for some reason. Axle code B9. Report dated 4 days ago. I cut and patted the text of my report below. When I bought it in 94, it had manual steering. I am sure nobody converted it from power back to manual.


DOOR DATA PLATE INFORMATION
Serial Number U15GLP88725
U15 U-100 Bronco 4x4 Wagon
G 302-2V Engine
L Built at Michigan Truck
P88725 Serial Number of this Bronco scheduled for
production at Michigan Truck
092 Wheelbase (inches)
V Mallard Green Paint, Ford #5005-A
U151 U-100 Bronco Wagon 4500 Lb. GVW
I4 Avocado Sport Bucket Seats and Rear Seat
C 3-Speed Manual Transmission
B9 3.50 Limited Slip Rear Axle
04500 Gross Vehicle Weight in Pounds
74 Seattle DSO (District Sales Office)
DEALER #: 74A001
Your vehicle was equipped with the following features:
- Skid Plates
- G78x15-D Black Sidewall Tires
- Mud and Snow Tires
- Left Hand Remote Control Mirror
- Bodyside Moldings
- Manual AM Radio
- Heavy Duty 55 Amp Alternator
- Extra Cooling Radiator
- Heavy Duty 70 Amp Battery
- Hand Control Throttle
- Convenience Group
- Auxiliary Fuel Tank with Skid Plate
- Power Steering
Your vehicle was actually produced on October 16, 1972 -- eighteen days behind schedul

 

[Viperwolf1]

I also think it is a mistake in the original Ford records. It happened a lot. Axle code says no power steering. The code would be either B9J or B9Q with power steering. Now it is true that power steering wasn't available in '72 so there was no axle code for it in '72. But your Bronco was completed months after the 1st '73 rolled out the door. It is a '73 in every aspect except sequence number.

And steering would be a major change to undertake in the plant. It would require a different steering box, steering column, addition of lower steering shaft, addition of pump and brackets, change of pulleys and belts, cooler and hoses. Not to mention the little things like different bolts that required for the belt system on the engine. It would not be worth the effort for Ford to convert PS to a previously built manual steering Bronco when PS equipped Broncos are already rolling off the line. If they got an order for this Bronco and it required PS they would have just built another with PS.

 

[JGbronc]

I’ll add one of our recent finds to the list

U15GLQ22990.
-Registered as a ‘73
- 9/72 on the data tag
-Manual transmission
-Manual steering
-Light bars
-Fuel return
-Trans reg. Spark
-T-shift

No Marti yet

 

[Viperwolf1]

Here's the latest data.

JGbronc, I can't read the DSO in your pic.

 

[JGbronc]

Here's the latest data.

JGbronc, I can't read the DSO in your pic.

230045, Memphis special order.