I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with ....

[lukn4oldbronco]

I've found a really nice 72 with Advanced Autoparts 302 w/20K miles and Performer RPM intake, 4V, headers, C4, 9 inch locking rear, Dana 44 front end, PS, electronic ignition, electric wipers, all three tops, Duff 2 1/2 lift, etc ....and really nice condition inside and out. $5,500 .... a good deal I think.

Here's the problem .....I am a 5-speed only person and would like fuel injection one way or the other too (this would be a daily driver, I would probably add A/C too). I would only consider a close ratio WC T-5 for a tranny. For fuel injection I would either consider Holley Projection DFI or I'd just go with an entire motor/tranny swap from a 5.0 Mustang.

The 5-speed is really the biggest "must have" for me .....so what's the easiest and cheapest way to go about it? I think it may simplify things to just transplant an entire 5.0 Mustang's guts into it, that way I get the clutch, the bellhousing, the A/C, the EFI .....all in one package. Would that be the way to go or would I be better off swapping in a 5-speed and putting Holley Projection on and a Vintage A/C kit?

I would have to have my $25/hour mechanic do all work for me ........so give me an estimate of what you think I'd be out of overall for one scenario vs the other. (mainly I want to know how much the 5-speed swap alone would be though). If I can't swap a 5-speed in for $3,000 then I don't think an early Bronco's a realistic thing for me right now. The A/C and fuel injection could come later or never. Buying the Bronco and driving it as is for awhile and saving for the "Mustang total swap" idea perhaps sounds like the best option to me. Is that just unrealistic in terms of total cost being through the roof though? What do you all think? Also, that way I can sell the entire powertrain out of the Bronco.

 

[broncodan1]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

?:?
dude,
We're not to fussy are we? If you don't like don't buy it!
If you got enough money you can have whatever you
want ,in what ever you want!! I've had mine for 7 years,
and changin' (not fixin') trannies hasn't even made it
onto my list of mods to be done in the foreseeable
future!!! An EB is a beautiful thing!! 3 speed,auto, 4
speed, or whatever speed!! Maybe you should just
leave the 5 speed in the mustang and drive that!!
And where the hell do live that a mechanic only charges
25 $$$$$..............I gotta stop!

 

[Hnrys69]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

1. Does it have any rust on the bronco?? Is the body straight... Sounds like you arnt going to be doing the work yourself so those 2 may be the biggest thing for you at this time....

2. Yes you can do a 5 speed pretty easy. I recommend a ZF tranny.

3. Dont even say the word projection!!!! I think pissing in your carb would do better for you! (jk) Nothing but bad things on those over priced POS's!!!! You can do a normal 5.0 efi ontop of your 302 pretty dam easy, or you can just do the whole motor from a 5.0, your call. I would only ever think about doing the ford efi as parts are cheap (mustang guys are going to carbs like crazy, that means cheap efi for the bronco folk).

4. AC?? are you kidding???????????? Take the top off and enjoy what mother nature has to offer!!!! (chicks dig it too)

good luck.. and remember pics are welcome!!!

 

[2badrotties]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

Sounds to me like you should be looking for a Explorer You could chop the roof off and have every thing you are looking for including SIX cup holders ;D Is there a reason you just have to have a 5 speed ? I think most of us can figure out why you want EFI. You may want to find one with the big overstuffed seats too, Broncos can ride a little rough

 

[hucklburry]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

I don't see why he should compromise, cause I am not going to either. I will have a 92 mustang EFI installed, with the underdash a/c from a 65 mustang, and a ZF 5 speed.

The t-5 isn't as desireable for the EB, its not THAT strong, and the adapters cost around the same or more than for the ZF 5 speed swap. I think the ZF swap is probably the best one out there, considering strength of tranny and cost of adapters and such. You can get all the ZF parts for the swap, including trans and adapters, for anywhere from about $1200 to $2000. Plus install.

Check out Joe's ZF page:
http://pages.prodigy.net/rjlougee/ZF.html

With the trans swaps, you need a trans adapter to mate it to the transfer case, assuming its a trans that will bolt right up to a 302. Some people install a checy 700R4 automatic, and also have an adapter to mate it to a 302.

You can find the t-5 adapters at www.broncograveyard.com

The NV4500 swap is a good one, but more expensive and possibly more work than the ZF.

The a/c can be had from various places like vintage air, but kits can be expensive. I am going to use the mustang a/c compressor, get some condensor that will fit, and the underdash from a 65 mustang (Ebay, $100-$150). I haven't done it yet, I might have interference with the shifter (ZF) with the underdash unit.

So what you want to do can be done, check out the webmap here on classicbroncos.com, http://classicbroncos.com/webmap/

I think you will really like it once you get it the way you want.

--Jim

 

[72BlueBronco]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

If you throw enought money at it........anything can be done.

 

[Newt]

hucklburry

Let us know how you come out with the underdash air and the ZF shifter. I understand the ZF shifter comes close to the dash without underdash air.

 

[broncobsession]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

I don't see why you couldn't get the ZF 5-speed and the EFI conversion done for the $3000 you were talking about. Don't go Projection...use 5.0 parts found at many junk yards that won't leave you stranded somewhere trying to figure out how to tune them. I was lucky enough to find a factory AC setup for $120 for those days here in Texas where everything sticks to you...your seats, your clothes, your steering wheel, etc.

p.s. Nice score on the $25/hr. mechanic

 

[77BroncoWag]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

I can't beleive the word 'projection' was spoken here again

 

[CodeeB]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

Buy the Bronco, it sounds like a good deal. The other stuff you want can be easily done.

 

[wildbill]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

;D ;D ;D If you like it go for it and the rest can come later the only thing holding stuf back is a vivid imagination and lots of $$$,$$$ good luck with your choice. Bill 8) :

 

[lukn4oldbronco]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

[quote author=broncobsession link=board=5;threadid=14783;start=0#msg111685 date=1046627618]
I don't see why you couldn't get the ZF 5-speed and the EFI conversion done for the $3000 you were talking about. Don't go Projection...use 5.0 parts found at many junk yards that won't leave you stranded somewhere trying to figure out how to tune them. I was lucky enough to find a factory AC setup for $120 for those days here in Texas where everything sticks to you...your seats, your clothes, your steering wheel, etc.

p.s. Nice score on the $25/hr. mechanic

[/quote]He's awesome too. How in the hell could I do the entire conversion for $3,000? You've got to be kidding me .....remember, this one's an automatic. If I could do it for that much I wouldn't even hesitate. Think of the expense of just removing the drivetrain, computer, and A/C from the Mustang.....then fabbing a clutch and pedal/shifter assembly. What's so bad about Projection? The EFI link here on CB.com makes it sound really expensive and complicated. I want it though. EFI and T-5 is the way to go for me because it would be mostly street driven and a daily driver. T-5 is strong enough for the duty it would have with me and I like it's gearing for street use .....you can always use low range offroad anyway. I love the way a 5.0 Mustang sounds, even my Supercharged LT1 Camaro doesn't sound as good as a stock Mustang breathing through long tubes, an X-Pipe, and Flowmasters. They say that great sound is mostly due to firing order .....just another reason I'd like to go the Mustang swap route. Thanks for the info and opinions guys. I don't have pics but the Bronco has a good frame and very little rust.....super shape inside and out and lots of extras.

 

[lukn4oldbronco]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

I talked with the guy some more and he told me he's done an entire frame off restoration on it himself. Says the frame is in great condition and the only thing he didn't do right was leaving the inner fender wells up front all rusty. He says it has less than 25K miles on everything. Has a "ratchet locking" 9-inch rear ....he says it's no problem around corners. He did the C4 up with a rebuild and shift kit and the T-case is the gear driven one. I'm going to look at it tomorrow .....I think it sounds like a good deal. Maybe I can get it for 5K even .....a steal I think. Anything I should look for on a 72 ? Thanks.

 

[bsaunder]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

If its as good at it sounds, your getting a steal!

 

[72Sport]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

The WC T-5 doesn't work with the AA kit I bought. The bearings in the input shaft on the WC won't work with the main shaft supplied in the kit. The AA kit uses a Jeep T-5 tail end and Jeep main shaft to mate up with the transfer case. The stock T handle is in the way of the Jeep shifter. So it either requires a different transfer case shifter or take apart the Jeep tower and reverse the shifter so it heads toward the dash.

92 and later T-5 have a syncro in reverse that makes the tranny too long to fit in the Jeep tail housing. You have to convert it to a syncroless reverse to get the Mustang main housing in the Jeep tailhousing.


These are a few of the problems I ran into that were not mentioned in the instructions. I did the conversion 4 years ago. Maybe the kits have changed. Check it all out before you buy a kit.

 

[4byford]

Re:I will only buy this 72 Bronco if a 5-speed/EFI conversion can be done with .

You might consider the NV3550 5 speed tranny instead of the T-5. It is smaller, smoother shifting, and has more carlike ratios than the ZF or the NV4500, but is heavier duty than the T-5 and easier to install.