Is this Bronco a good first project?

[BroncoUVA]

I am looking at a 1974 Bronco that is for sale for $3,500. I am looking to start a project and enjoy rebuilding a Bronco. This is about the price point that I was looking for and was wondering if anyone else could offer their opinions about the condition. I have done my research online and asked a bunch of questions and gotten some good pictures.

Please see the attached photos: I know that the Bronco is running and drives. I know it has a few patches on the floor and there is one body mount that looks to have rusted (see pic). There are some new parts to it and all the gauges and switches work.

Please offer your thoughts and feedback. I'm seriously considering it.

click on link below for photos of car
http://imgur.com/a/QFMra

 

[grant_71]

Not sure where you are, but I would give $3500 for that in a heartbeat.

But I am in the rust belt....

Depending on your skills, I would say that is a good first project. Looks pretty solid, and it sounds like the mechanicals are fair.

 

[Skiddy]

lot's of rust repair for sure, the door post's are one of the harder to replace. I really doubt it drives with one tire going one direction than the other%)

 

[Okbroncoman]

No way too rusty. I would start with something with a little less rust.
Rust = more $$$$

Spend a little more money now and save money later

 

[JAFO]

Not wanting to be a party pooper, but just want to convey my experience. I started with something similar back in late 2006. After you remove all the rusty metal it will look like the pics of mine below. Due to life getting in the way I did not get my Bronco on the road until November 2015. Back in 2006 I should have spent more money up front for a better vehicle and it would have taken less time and money to complete. I did learn tons. Did enjoy it. There were many ups and downs along the way.
If you buy something as rusty as in your pic, just expect it to be a few years of work.

EDIT: I looked over your pictures more. That one is more rusty than mine was and see how much metal I had to replace to get it back to totally rust free. I was very picky and wanted zero rust, so methodically replaced just about the whole body. You could have the body dipped and see if anything remains after. I suspect you are buying a $3500 rolling chassis. I haven't really tallied all my receipts, but have this mental number of $30k in mine. Might be a little more. But that is everything rebuild or replaced (body and mechanical). So, you look at my pics and then decide. It can be done. You can rebuild anything with time and money. I would try to get that rust bucket for much less than $3500.

Already replaced the door posts here. The body was about to fold in on itself.

 

[1strodeo]

It's not overpriced, but it needs a fair amount of metalwork, and if you don't do metalwork, that means a fair amount of $$...but it will always take your $$ regardless. If it's what you like to do, then I say go for it.

Where are you located?

 

[half cab]

I really doubt it drives with one tire going one direction than the other%)

I've seen people look like that

 

[thegreatjustino]

Just looking at the pictures in the link you're going to need to replace both rocker panels, both door striker posts, both front floor pans, and the rear body brace. With rust in those places, it leads me to believe you're also going to have to replace both door posts, both kick panels, one or both quarter panels, and parts of the bed floor. With all of that, you're replacing 70% of the metal on the Bronco. Do you have the auto body skills and tools to do all of that?

Additionally, the steering is wonky as pointed out above and the windshield wipers need work. All of this from a dozen pictures. What else are you going to find once you really start tearing into it?

Bronco prices are crazy these days, and rusty projects are running up to $5,000 so the price for what it seems to be doesn't seem terrible. I don't know that I'd pay that but if you can tackle all of the work yourself, it's not the worst starting point in that price range.

 

[BRONCOchild]

It's all relative. I personally, would spend a few more $$$ and get something that's at least rolling.

I learned some pretty expensive lessons with my so-called "projects". At the end, 10 years ago, I decided to just spend $6500 and get myself a truck that I could drive automatically and work on it as I saw fit.

 

[catfan]

I need my butt kicked, I scraped 8 or ten that were way better than that and I was paying less that a thousand for them.

 

[Timmy390]

What tools do you have and what kind of space do you have to work on it in? Skills can be learned but the price of "tuition" can be steep in time, frustration and money spent.

As others have said, lots of metal work. It needs 70% or more of the body panels replaced......You'll find rust in places you can't see when you start taking off panels. Two spots that come to mind are behind the rear door posts and under the front fenders.

My guess is the mecahnical is just a bad as the body.

Missing door panels and driver seat.....It all adds up.

Tim

 

[glass76]

Well....the gas tank looks good.

 

[joebronco73]

I picked mine up, when I was 16, as my first vehicle and my first project. Truthfully, I wish I had spent more time/money on a few things along the way, but as others have said, life got in the way. I am lucky enough to have an awesome dad, who paid to have the engine rebuilt when we got it (it had a bent push rod and some bad gaskets) and then helped with a transmission rebuild. It has been an awesome project and frequently a daily driver. To answer your question, if you have the means and time to work on it now, it should be ok. Otherwise, spending a little more cash now to have a more solid vehicle overall might be worthwhile in investment.

 

[BR549]

Plus after looking at JAFO's it is very apparent that it wasn't his first project. Be realistic about your skill level and what you can do vs. what will need to be subbed out.

 

[Jc.av8r]

Depends on the type of build you're after. I can look at that and tell you that buying a new steel body assembly will probably be cheaper.

I bought this thinking it would be no big deal:

It looked like this about 2 months later:

And now it looks like this:

You won't really know unless or until you have the body off and blasted.

It all depends on the scope of your project. Just be realistic with what is needed and what it will cost, and then accept that you'll need to do and spend about 3x more than that Have fun!

 

[Bradsp8]

That looks to be quite a serious first project. Have you done auto body repair? Do you have the space to store/work on it? Do you have a budget worked out? Do you have the skills and tools to do metal fab? Do you have a updated tetanus shot?

This is just my opinion, but for $3,500 you're going to be in it $10,000 before you know it. And it's going to be several years before you get it back on the road. I would save more money and go find a $10,000 rig that's in better shape and road worthy that you can drive now and enjoy. Then after driving it a while you'll be able to decide if you want to restore it, repair it, wheel it, etc... And you'll be able to sell it if you decide a Bronco just wasn't for your after all.

At $3,500 that's not an investment as it sits. At $10,000 you can have a Bronco that you can enjoy driving around and that will also increase in value should you eventually decide to part with it.

 

[BroncoUVA]

So, after the comments on here, I think I will pass on this "opportunity." This will be my first project. I have most/if not all of the tools including welding but I have never done actual body work.

I'm in Virginia. I would love to find a $7,500 - $10,000 Bronco that is more of a drive and enjoy and work on her as we go, become familiar with the Bronco even more and then maybe do a complete restoration.

 

[Bradsp8]

I hope I didn't talk you out as it's still possibly a good deal if you want a rock crawler or off road rig you're going to beat up. But this is not my idea of a truck to restore or enjoy as a daily driver.

Stay on this site, ask for help from all of us in keeping an eye out for you. Post in the "wanted" section what you're looking for and you'll receive leads and replies. The guys on here are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. Keep an eye on BajaFresh and a couple other guys who regularly have EBs for sale at reasonable prices. Start a dialogue with these guys as they may pass on leads to you regarding EBs they themselves chose to take a pass on.

Also, check Craigslist regularly as I see EBs for sale all the time in Winchester, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, N.VA, Norfolk, OBX and other reasonably close NC markets.

Ebay is another good site......but more for education vs. finding a good deal.

 

[BroncoUVA]

No, you didn't talk me out of it. I was already leaning towards feeling like this was too much to take on. I'm looking for a driver that I can enjoy with the family.

I will post in wanted. I'm always on craigslist looking for something.

I'm impressed at how quickly the response took place on my posts. I hope to find something soon to begin the process and used the forum for some great feedback.

Thanks!

 

[67RT]

No, you didn't talk me out of it. I was already leaning towards feeling like this was too much to take on. I'm looking for a driver that I can enjoy with the family.

I will post in wanted. I'm always on craigslist looking for something.

I'm impressed at how quickly the response took place on my posts. I hope to find something soon to begin the process and used the forum for some great feedback.

Thanks!

Save yourself some grief and do not buy our junk on the east coast. Buy a California, Oregon, AZ, NM, Washington State, OK, etc car where there is no salt on the road. I paid $850 to have one shipped from Sacramento to MD because it still wore original paint and I could see what was there. Bodywork is expensive. Put your money into a solid body that needs mechanicals, not the other way around.