LongleafBronco
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2020
- Messages
- 3
Thanks in advance! Photos link at the bottom.
A guy I know has a 1972 Bronco (2nd owner), fairly original that’s been sitting for at least 10 years, probably more. I think he’s owned it for 30+ years. He said he quit driving it because it became too drafty with all the rust holes. It’s been cross-country and back, and he’s seen the odometer roll over twice so 200k+ and the ticker is sitting at 60k right now. I believe the only engine work he said he’d done was carb work over the years and hardened valve seats for unleaded.
There’s obviously a plethora of rust and small patch job attempts; the roof has had fiberglass patches. The door bottoms are completely rusted through. Rusted floorpan where the front of the tub meets the firewall and in the back bed. A lot was covered by the vinyl flooring but from underneath you can see all the rust. Pretty much where any two body parts meet there’s some rust. The passenger side inner fender was cut by the first owner. The tailgate is off a donor and missing the trim. It has all the seats (driver has seen better days, rear is in pretty good shape). He’s got the door panels stored in his basement (didn’t lay eyes on them). The headliner is pretty much trash but does have all 4 original hubcaps and the driver mirror. Glass looks original less the windshield and the passenger side quarter vent. He said both gas tanks worked, but unfortunately still have fuel in them. It’s got the original spare tire carrier, and he has a second in somewhat better condition. Some extra parts like driveshaft, 3 spares, radiator, random suspension components.
My dad and I restored a 66 mustang when I was a little guy and I’ve had a bug to do something of my own. I had a wrangler in my teenage years and loved to tinker with that, but I really love the stock look of classic broncos. My idea would be to keep it original as possible; column shift, 302, uncut, stock-ish suspension, probably a brake upgrade. I forgot to snap a pick of the plate in the glovebox but it’s there.
I’m wondering what you guys think of this one from the photos. I’m not a welder so I’m asking if the body is salvageable (for a competent shop) or if a pre-assembled tub is the way to go. Just browsing online what’s local-ish to me there’s a place in Wilmington, Delaware (North East Classic Ford Parts) that has assembled skeletons or full bodies that’ll bolt them to the rolling chassis if anyone’s had experience with them. I’d prefer to make use of the existing fenders, grille, and hood if I went that route (all with their own minor rust problems). I’m not so sure if the top is salvageable with all the rust and fiberglass patches. It doesn’t look wrecked but i think it bumped something at one point; front bumper is bent and the front driver grille/fender is slightly misaligned.
The frame appears solid to me, but there’s a fair amount of scaly rust. The body mounts I did see appeared pretty solid with the original bushings. Just tons of neglect, crud, and leaky orifices underneath was sort of overwhelming to get great photos. Are the frame/drivetrain components usable still with what rust and decay you can see in the pictures?
Do you think this one’s too ambitious of a project for someone who doesn’t do their own body work? My idea is to take the restoration fairly slow, with sort of one component per year. I.E. disassembly year one, frame year two, body year three, etc, etc. This would be so my young son could participate in some of the process. I definitely don’t have the checkbook to go all in at once but plan to spend around 5k in any given year, perhaps up to 10k for large component years. I'm pretty green when it involves full restoration work. I've got a good grasp on suspension and engine work. Obviously I'd like to keep the cost down but pretty much relegated that bodywork is out of my realm.
Now for the nitty gritty; I’m well aware folks seem to want too much for rusted out shells these days, but what would be a fair price for one in this shape? He said he’d be open to an offer by me but he’s not in any hurry to get rid of it. This is actually the second time he’s let me look at it in the past 2 years, but now the wife is on board with at least the idea of parking it in the garage so I figured I’d ask the helpful folks here. Sorry if the pics aren't the greatest detail inside, but I didn't want to rip the thing apart prodding for rust holes. I know it's rusty.
Thanks for taking the time to read and check it out; please let me know what you guys think.
Photo link: https://photos.google.com/u/1/share/AF1QipNG8pPpgAfIUbrAajoEE5TZniee_QKHith1c_wZFxe_03AyosX3KM778TEsjhUEWQ?key=Z2JxYjhnVlM5V0FmYWlCelFCR0x6d3RNb2p5UDhR
A guy I know has a 1972 Bronco (2nd owner), fairly original that’s been sitting for at least 10 years, probably more. I think he’s owned it for 30+ years. He said he quit driving it because it became too drafty with all the rust holes. It’s been cross-country and back, and he’s seen the odometer roll over twice so 200k+ and the ticker is sitting at 60k right now. I believe the only engine work he said he’d done was carb work over the years and hardened valve seats for unleaded.
There’s obviously a plethora of rust and small patch job attempts; the roof has had fiberglass patches. The door bottoms are completely rusted through. Rusted floorpan where the front of the tub meets the firewall and in the back bed. A lot was covered by the vinyl flooring but from underneath you can see all the rust. Pretty much where any two body parts meet there’s some rust. The passenger side inner fender was cut by the first owner. The tailgate is off a donor and missing the trim. It has all the seats (driver has seen better days, rear is in pretty good shape). He’s got the door panels stored in his basement (didn’t lay eyes on them). The headliner is pretty much trash but does have all 4 original hubcaps and the driver mirror. Glass looks original less the windshield and the passenger side quarter vent. He said both gas tanks worked, but unfortunately still have fuel in them. It’s got the original spare tire carrier, and he has a second in somewhat better condition. Some extra parts like driveshaft, 3 spares, radiator, random suspension components.
My dad and I restored a 66 mustang when I was a little guy and I’ve had a bug to do something of my own. I had a wrangler in my teenage years and loved to tinker with that, but I really love the stock look of classic broncos. My idea would be to keep it original as possible; column shift, 302, uncut, stock-ish suspension, probably a brake upgrade. I forgot to snap a pick of the plate in the glovebox but it’s there.
I’m wondering what you guys think of this one from the photos. I’m not a welder so I’m asking if the body is salvageable (for a competent shop) or if a pre-assembled tub is the way to go. Just browsing online what’s local-ish to me there’s a place in Wilmington, Delaware (North East Classic Ford Parts) that has assembled skeletons or full bodies that’ll bolt them to the rolling chassis if anyone’s had experience with them. I’d prefer to make use of the existing fenders, grille, and hood if I went that route (all with their own minor rust problems). I’m not so sure if the top is salvageable with all the rust and fiberglass patches. It doesn’t look wrecked but i think it bumped something at one point; front bumper is bent and the front driver grille/fender is slightly misaligned.
The frame appears solid to me, but there’s a fair amount of scaly rust. The body mounts I did see appeared pretty solid with the original bushings. Just tons of neglect, crud, and leaky orifices underneath was sort of overwhelming to get great photos. Are the frame/drivetrain components usable still with what rust and decay you can see in the pictures?
Do you think this one’s too ambitious of a project for someone who doesn’t do their own body work? My idea is to take the restoration fairly slow, with sort of one component per year. I.E. disassembly year one, frame year two, body year three, etc, etc. This would be so my young son could participate in some of the process. I definitely don’t have the checkbook to go all in at once but plan to spend around 5k in any given year, perhaps up to 10k for large component years. I'm pretty green when it involves full restoration work. I've got a good grasp on suspension and engine work. Obviously I'd like to keep the cost down but pretty much relegated that bodywork is out of my realm.
Now for the nitty gritty; I’m well aware folks seem to want too much for rusted out shells these days, but what would be a fair price for one in this shape? He said he’d be open to an offer by me but he’s not in any hurry to get rid of it. This is actually the second time he’s let me look at it in the past 2 years, but now the wife is on board with at least the idea of parking it in the garage so I figured I’d ask the helpful folks here. Sorry if the pics aren't the greatest detail inside, but I didn't want to rip the thing apart prodding for rust holes. I know it's rusty.
Thanks for taking the time to read and check it out; please let me know what you guys think.
Photo link: https://photos.google.com/u/1/share/AF1QipNG8pPpgAfIUbrAajoEE5TZniee_QKHith1c_wZFxe_03AyosX3KM778TEsjhUEWQ?key=Z2JxYjhnVlM5V0FmYWlCelFCR0x6d3RNb2p5UDhR
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