Updated 1-20-15 Steering issue all but solved!!!

[/B]Here is what I just bought. A bone stock, uncut and unmodified 73 *actually a 74* Ranger package. The guy that I bought it from has known the original owner since he was a kid and finally was able to buy it from the old man with the intention of restoring it. Well, he has run into some time/money issues and since he knows I love the EB's he offered to sell it to me.

I know the truck because I helped him remove the body and put it on my bunk that I built for my 67 and I media blasted it myself. It has a little rust in the drivers floor (easy fix) and a little on the drivers side wheel well where the washer fluid bag was (another easy fix). Other than those two spots it is completely rust free. The grill and passengers fender where bent where the old man's daughter hit a mailbox learning to drive so they will have to be replaced but other than that (not too bad, the fender chrome is still perfect), all of the body metal is perfect.

It was equipped with the dealer installed underdash A/C (York compressor) and the dealer installed luggage rack. From the factory it was a Ranger package with an automatic, power steering, manual drum brakes. The original color is Sequoia Brown.

The original motor has already been rebuilt and the heads reworked with all new valves, springs and hardened seats. I also have every bit of the original underhood parts as well as all the original chrome (bumpers will need a rechrome because of the backs have surface rust) and the complete interior.

My original thought was to go with a 2.5" lift, convert it to power brakes with front disc, do the Explorer front cover, swap to an overdrive transmission and make it a modern drive line but stock appearance EB. Now, after going through all the parts and all of the documentation from the original owner, I'm waivering and thinking about bringing it back to the absolute original condition (except i'd still like to convert it to power disc brakes).

1. What would be y'all's advise, absolutely stock, stock with power disc or to heck with it, go all modern driveline?

2. Since either way I'm going to leave it uncut and stock interior/exterior, where would I be able to find the exact spec's for the Ranger paint scheme and does anyone remake the decals? I'd have measured it exactly when I blasted the body but I didn't expect that I'd be the owner who was restoring it at the time.

3. Where should I go to do the research and get photographs of an absolutely original chassis, assembly line marks, third member color, etc....?

Ultimately, I will end up taking this to Barrett Jackson and selling it so however it is done it will have to be perfect.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dave

Congrats! If your going to sell it that route, I think you're better off going bone stock. Not sure where to get the specs, but I can't wait to see it.

Broncitis makes the only vinyl Ranger stripes that are true to Ford's original specs and have the orange printed on the white. Whatever you do, don't paint the stripes on!

Good luck with it. I have a 74 Ranger same color which is 99.9% original and stock - it does have an aftermarket brake booster on it now but I think I'm going to take it off.

For BJ I would go absolutely stock.

I agree, it sounds too nice to sway to far from stock. If you are planning to re-sell it go all stock. If you are going to keep it put power disks and everything else stock.

Justafordguy said:

I agree, it sounds too nice to sway to far from stock. If you are planning to re-sell it go all stock. If you are going to keep it put power disks and everything else stock.

Click to expand...

+1 People like power brakes at Barrett

Where are pic's?%)

x2 on Power Discs

Another vote for leaving it stock. Broncos that are still that original are few and far between.

I had some friends that lived in Tyler Texas... One my still be there.

Another fan of keeping it stock, you could still modernize the driveline, I bet a potential buyer would be interested in that.

Good luck and as the rest say, Bring on the Pics.

Is it a light green/teal colored one with silver stock steel wheels?

Amazing how things aren't as they seem. I picked up the body the other day and today went after some more stuff. What I found was not what I had expected. After getting the documentation I found out that it isn't a 73, it's a 74. The color is Lt Copper, not brown. It was purchased new in Mesquite, Texas 12-12-73, it has the warranty card, the warranty book, the owners manual and the manual for of all things the dealer installed speed control. Not sure what I'm going to do with the cruise control but I have all the parts for it. This is going to be an interesting build and it may not end up in Arizona after all.

I'll post pictures tonight.

Keep in mind, it spent many years in a barn.












And we're off....

Body after media blasting and primer.




Little rust in the drivers floor.



Some more rust where washer fluid bottle was.



Little added character, 2 bullet holes. Obviously a Texas truck.




Rust free everywhere else











Tire blew out. Little body work.

Built the frame and put the body on the rotisserie today. I've never put a Bronco on the rotisserie before so it was kind of interesting to get it to balance correctly. End result came out good though. Sure will be easier to do the body work on the rocker and paint the underside.

Wow! What a great surprise after blasting! That thing is cleeeeeean

Yea, other than a few little things, it turned out to be a very nice place to start. Especially after having to replace the floor from the firewall to the tailgate on my 67.

That body looks good over all.

Man that thing is nice!

Back to work on the 74. Have the completed goals set so I'm moving along with the build again.

The body will be left un-cut. Suspension is a 2.5 inch from Tom's and if needed will have a 1 inch body, depends on the air cleaner.

C4 has been rebuilt and the D20 has been gone through and resealed. Both diff's have been blasted, new bearings and seals and refinished with Eastwood's Extreme Chassis Black. Frame has had the same treatment. Paint was sprayed and baked in the paint booth so I had now cur
ing issues that seem to be common with the Eastwood's stuff. It's also hard as nails. Driveshafts have been redone with all new ujoints and cv joints and are ready to install.

I'll mate the engine and trans back together and install them sometime next week.

Body is in the shop having the assorted repairs done and getting ready to have the bottom and front apron painted.















I'll update with some more pictures when I get the motor installed.

Wow David, it sure is clean and looking good!