Need advice on some life decisions

[Dave]

Most of my activity has been on the off topic forum for the past few years. My 70 Sport has been tucked away inside for about 20 years now. Some of you have followed my project. A major house remodel, career change, some major health setbacks, moving back home to care for my folks, more health issues….

Like Bill, it’s time to realistically look at the end game and decide what I have the time and energy to complete. Its been a difficult decision but I believe it time to pass this protect on to someone that will pursue my dreams. There‘s a lot a posts and pictures in the tech section through the years.

In a nutshell, it started as a straight body with the only rust issues being the floor boards and rockers. They have been replaced. The body was media blasted with with some minor dents hammered out. No filler on the body. it been Sean sealed and primed with an epoxy primer. Ready to be block sanded and painted.
the frame was rust free and has been painted with 2k ceramic frame paint.

The bottom of the tub has been neatly sealed and coated with Raptor.

Top is in very good condition.

My plans were to put a 5.0 and transmission from an 2000 explorer in it.

I can give a lot more details on it but am just looking for a starting point of marketing it and getting a fair price.

Thanks for any advice.

Dave…

 

[BronCowie]

Well Dave, having owned my '69 Sport for 30 years, the time finally came for me to give it up after the "passing" of my wife. I have four kids, and they all know how important this ride is to me. I offered it to my middle daughter Becky last year, and she jumped at the chance to come get it. The deal is, if she ever needs give it up, it stays in the family. It sits safely in her garage now not too far from where I live.

 

[SteveL]

I feel your pain. Since injuring my back I can't do much wrenching without help. Since then the wife left so the broncos really went on the back burner raising my teenage daughter. No I'm having a couple more health issues and my dad is not doing well. There's days I think of unloading everything but I still hope to hold on to my 72. It just needs the hydroboost dialed in and I can drive it.

 

[fatboy]

Dave, I sold one project last year to a friend and a CB member. He knew what I had invested. He is local to me and I have stored it in my barn. My second one needs probably 4 hours on it to make it road worthy, I just don’t have the time nor can I crawl under these anymore without activating 6 weeks of vertigo, but that’s another story for another time.

What are new steel tubs going for? And yours is Original, must be worth a premium to the right person. And a complete roller minus the engine and transmission, I’ve seen some crazy money being asked for those as well. Is it titled? If not, can you do some minimal leg work and get one? A title will make a big difference to some.

 

[bmc69]

Bax came north with a huge enclosed trailer and cleaned me out. I feel much lighter now. ;-)

 

[Dave]

Dave, I sold one project last year to a friend and a CB member. He knew what I had invested. He is local to me and I have stored it in my barn. My second one needs probably 4 hours on it to make it road worthy, I just don’t have the time nor can I crawl under these anymore without activating 6 weeks of vertigo, but that’s another story for another time.

What are new steel tubs going for? And yours is Original, must be worth a premium to the right person. And a complete roller minus the engine and transmission, I’ve seen some crazy money being asked for those as well. Is it titled? If not, can you do some minimal leg work and get one? A title will make a big difference to some.

I does have a clean Colorado title.

 

[Dave]

Bax came north with a huge enclosed trailer and cleaned me out. I feel much lighter now. ;-)

Kind of a swap here. Money and indoor storage for a new boat. I’ve always bought used toys and resurrected and maintained them. My brother and I are lusting after a brand new boat for our retirement. Both of us are to painful to crawl under greasy vehicles.

 

[bmc69]

Kind of a swap here. Money and indoor storage for a new boat. I’ve always bought used toys and resurrected and maintained them. My brother and I are lusting after a brand new boat for our retirement. Both of us are to painful to crawl under greasy vehicles.

Same here..including the boat part. ;-)

 

[Jaybr]

We moved, remodeled a house and dock, and built a new garage,, and bought a new boat, all preparing for eventual retirement. My broncos didn’t get touched over that time. Been working on the 73 all winter and told the wife this week I’m not even going to start on the 76 until fall so we can enjoy the boat over the summer.

New bodies run $15-20k, frame with titles run ~$5k. That should give you a starting point.


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[904Bronco]

I too ponder the how many more projects question... One son has graduated college and is working, the other has 3 more years of college left. The Wife says she is retiring next year and then comes the big questions... Do we stay here, downsize, par down our collections of stuff, travel, etc. While I am in good health so far, after putting in a full day in the shop, I definitely feel it the next day more so than I have before. I don't know if another Bronco project is in the works after 79 I am working on is Finished?...

With Jaybr's numbers above you have a starting point, Try the Classifieds here and see if anything happens. A lot of folks are looking for Broncos that are affordable. Maybe someone local will pick it up? Taking something from Mary's Podcast with Todd Z, you might find a buyer that will remain a friend after your sale. Good luck Dave.

 

[bax]

Well I guess I look at it a little different. One day I might retire. One day I may die and never see retirement. Missed a good chance 9 years ago to not be alive. Had a few other events that I managed to dodge, still here. I dont plan on getting rid of my tools, my trucks, my favorite anything. The people that are left behind can do that for me. Getting rid of the stuff you like is not for me. Now if you are ready or want to move on to something else and need the room or whatever reason you have, that's all good. Lets move on. I have a project going on right now and plans to do another as soon as the current project is done.. I want to add onto the shop. I want to build a deck around the cabin along with several other cabin projects. When I retire from woodworking I am not getting rid of my tools. I got lots to do. Love to help Dave get rid of his stuff.

 

[Dave]

I feel the same. Will never get rid of tools but being realistic, time is the factor. Right now I’m considering liquidating 2 passions to pursue others. The bronco and I own 2 of 26 Airstream classic diesel pusher motorhomes. I bought my first Bronco, a 73 sport, when it was 8 years old from a coworker in Colorado. Put 100K on it and explored every mountain trail from New Mexico ot Canada. Not like I haven’t experienced the fun. When we lived in Boulder I couldn’t wait to get out of town and hit the mountains on my time off. Picked up the first Airstream and we took that thing places most wouldn’t pull a pop up behind their 4x4.

Now we live on a beautiful piece of property on a river. Not a lot of desire to drive to some crowded campground.

 

[bax]

I totally get it Dave. Now, Can I totally get it?

 

[71 CA Bronco]

I never knew AirStream made a motor home. That's really cool. Love the Golden Retievers as well. Good luck with what ever you choose.

 

[bulletpruf]

Dave - Kind of difficult to give advice without more details. What part of the country are you in? Do you have any pictures or can you post a link to a thread with recent pictures? Does it come with the Explorer drivetrain? Is the suspension stock or has it been lifted? Do you have all the interior?

Scott

 

[bigmuddy]

The only thing I can add, is once your bronco is sitting and all you do is stare at it or spend money on it, most sensible people decide they would rather have the money. Dave, go take a drive in someones that is still running, I bet the bug bites you again... Its happened to me several times...

I will say, my wife and I are trying to sell our home and so we had to a deep clean out of the house, shop, property. I have to say I am a bit of a pack rat and feels good to be shed of a lot of things I thought I needed...

 

[Dave]

Here’s a couple pictures from the move from Boulder 2016.

 

[bax]

Looks very buildable.

 

[cannunz546]

Go with your heart, Dave. It's served you well so far. Whatever decision you make will then be the right one.

 

[Dave]

Here’s a link to my project.

Thread 'OBD II Engine/Transmission Swap - The Next Generation'
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/t...transmission-swap-the-next-generation.124065/