Original Exhaust - Should I change it?

[Dave in Houston]

Just looking for opinions. I've got a '74 Bronco Explorer with 40k original miles,302, automatic, power steering. It's uncut and absolutely original (except for the addition of power brakes). I've been thinking about changing the exhaust (it's all original too) to dual exhaust with Flowmasters. Does that hurt the value?
Also thinking about selling it...maybe. What's a clean, original EB worth in today's market? You can go to galleries and search under "Dave in Houston" to see it.
Thanks,
Dave

 

[t.lay]

that's quite a survivor. I think I'd leave it stock if you want max value - although duals wouldn't kill it - duals would be a slight detractor for one so original. For value - it's about finding the right buyer - just me, but I think I'd want that at one of the auction houses for a shot at bigger money.

 

[Vintage Steel]

I wouldn't change a thing. She's beautiful.

 

[Dave in Houston]

Thanks, I'll probably leave the exhaust as-is. There's nothing wrong with it. The Bronco is so original, and so clean that I almost hate to drive it. I bought it a couple of years ago from the old gentleman in Arkansas who bought it new. He'd get it out of the shed behind his house once a year to go turkey hunting and then put it back. He had turkey hunting stickers stuck all over the glass. He was too old to hunt anymore and decided to sell it. I couldn't believe it when he drove it out of that shed.

 

[bigbadktm]

I would think that it may detract from some, but could be seen as pro-active by others. replacing worn out items can never hurt.

 

[TN1776]

You need to ask yourself if you're trying to preserve it with the intent to sell it later, or if you want to enjoy it and make it yours. I guess it depends on the condition of the rest of the vehicle, if it is totally factory perfect, then to a true collector the original exhaust might add a little. It is however, your Bronco, and if you want dual exhaust, do it and keep the original exhaust somewhere safe so that collector one day could bolt it back on.

 

[broncnaz]

I dont think the exhaust would detract one bit worst case keep the old exhuast. Exhausts are easy to replicate and mostly out of sight. body panels are not. Would I run duals probably not just a good/better flowing single exhuast would be all you need with a stock engine.
Uncut broncos with no rust are worth quite a bit I doubt anyone would really care about the exhuast if the body is primo. I wouldnt.

 

[22213evl]

no one ever likes to be the first one to f*ck the virgin

 

[MattW]

So that's what a brand new Bronco interior looked like. That Bronco looks to be in amazing condition from those pictures. What did you give for it, if you don't mind?

 

[Dave in Houston]

Matt, I paid $12,500 for it a little over two years ago. I bought it sight unseen on Ebay. The pictures in the Ebay listing didn't show the Bronco nearly as nice as it really was. I was a little nervous about it until I went to pick it up. I was was pretty happy about it after I saw it. I got a ton of documentation with it from the old gentleman. He kept a lot of service records, inspection reports and stuff like that. He drove it on average 800 to 1,200 miles per year. I thought he was going to cry when I got in it to drive it off. I drove it five hundred miles home without a hitch. Had to replace the water pump when I got home. Unfortunately I only drive it about as much as the original owner did.

 

[MattW]

Neat story and great price for that. I can understand your dilemma however, would love to drive that daily, but afraid to at the same time

 

[surfer-b]

Very nice Bronco, If you decided to replace the exhaust you could always keep the original and ask them to not hack it up when its removed, then if you want to reinstall it later you can.

 

[wwgx90]

Nice - Nice - Nice! I guess I would use the old idea of "If its not broken don't mess with it". A lot of collectors of original vehicles want the closest thing to original as you can get, so if you are thinking about selling it the original exhaust may be a plus. Sweet looking ride. wwgx90

 

[Bradsp8]

Nice looking Explorer!

I have a similar situation with my stock '75 Sport with no rust and 65k miles when I purchased it. I say none but acutally there was some surface rust on the floorpans but nothing to really worry about. I also believe that the hard top had never been off as the bolts and seals were in perfect condition.

I struggled briefly with replacing exhaust, brakes, etc... due to everything being original but after several weeks of owning it I quickly realized I bought it to drive and enjoy not to pamper it and one day put in a museum.

I still struggle with decisions to modify but have so far installed a new brake master cylinger/bracket/booster from Tom's and am so glad I did. What a difference especially with drums on all 4 corners. I also put on long tube headers and dual exhaust and being it's a '75 and requires "cats" I like the fact it can breathe easier than with stock exhaust manifolds. I saved the orignal manifolds for any future owner but did throw the old exhaust pipes and master cylinder away as they were shot, leaking, rusted, lid dented, just worn out.

I have a roll bar and bikini top I have yet to install and it comes down to not wanting to drill 16 holes in my truck to install it. But I want so bad to ride around this summer with some shade and better protection in case of rollover. I figure since I've owned it 2 years, have no intention of selling it, see where most other EB's have roll bars....that I'm going to go ahead and do it. If I ever do sell and lose a little money on it, oh well, it is the price I pay for having enjoyed it so.

I also need to update the headlights with a better system as I have to drive at night with my brights on. Not sure the best route to go on this yet but definitley needs improvement. One day I will install disk brakes up front as the drums have their limitations but the one thing I'll never do is cut the rear fenders! I have come to the conclusion I need 2 EB's, this one and another that is modified more for off road use....just wish I had the money for the second one.

 

[JGbronc]

Dave, I absolutely love your Bronco! I believe I seen it on ebay as well. I am a HUGE Explorer lover. That thing is so nice, I'd be afraid to do much anything to it. So I'd definitely leave the exhaust alone. If mine hadn't been my dad's for so long, I'd just about trade you mine for it.

 

[Dave in Houston]

I did make a couple of changes to mine, but nothing that couldn't be reversed. I put a torsion bar on the front to minimize the sway in a turn, put power brakes on it (what an improvement), and put on a passenger door mirror. I'll leave the exhaust as is. It sounds surprisingly good with the original single exhaust. I've debated about taking the top off in the summer but have never done it. These Early Broncos really are cool vehicles. I've got a '27 Ford rat rod and get as many comments on the Bronco as I do on the rod.