Hello everyone,
I'm new to the forums and I'm in the process of looking/buying an older Ford truck.

My specs are pretty straightforward, but tough to find in the right configureation:
-F150 or Bronco
-V8; preferably 351 or bigger
-carbureated engine
-1970-1985ish
-Manual Trans (4 or 3 Speed)
-4WD
-Ability to off-road
-Not too much rust, not too many mechanical problems
-Not really looking for a 'project' or a show truck
I have +-$5500

In my search for a vehicle like this, I've found some that I like, but have some questions for the experts on the "big broncos."

My questions are all related to the '78 and newer, 351CID+, Manual trans, 4WD setup in a bronco, but general info is also welcome. I also understand some folks have aftermarket parts + engines too.

1) Do you like your Bronco? Is it a reliable, fun ride with not too many mechanical issues?

2) How does it do at interstate/higher speeds? The vehicle I'm looking at is very far away and I would have to fly-in Drive-home.

3) Is there anything Broncos have that are notoriously bad, or things one should really watch out for when looking at one?

4) How does it perform off-road, on-road, working, etc.? Is there sufficent power, or lack thereof?

5) What are some common modifications that you folks like to put on your vehicles, in the performace-enhancing category?

Any additional information would be great!!

Thanks for your help, I'm just looking for an education about what I might be getting into.

 

count me in as I've got major gas for a big beast 78 or 79 Bronco. I agree with you as it has to be a manual tranny too. I've justified the need for one that even though it will get low mpg it will be an around town soccer dad type vehicle. I've been hit broadside by an emergency vehicle running a red light so basically I don't care if gas reaches a hundred dollars a gallon I'll be running around town in a full size with me and my mini-me's surrounded by steel.

I've been drooling over all the ones on craigslist big time.

I would seriously suggest that no matter what the seller says about the vehicle's abilities to take you home from where you buy it that you drive there yourself with a big *** trailer to safely load it up and get it to your house and not have to worry about not having tools and a vehicle with a completely unknown to you previous history.
and have brakes on the trailer too.

 

Well first off all US made Broncos are 4wd. The 78-79 are solid front axles. The 351m in the early trucks (up to 82) is an easy crank swap to a 400 cid. I have a 351w fuel injected and its nice and has plenty of power. I can't remember if the old broncos had full time 4wd but id stay away from strong, NP203 isn't as strong. Also the 351m trucks have the big block bellhousing so a 460 is a bolt in option.

 

Part time 4wd.

NP203 is ok. NP205, I think is the one that isn't chain driven.. I can't remember.



Wrong about the bellhousing. Its got to have the c6 automatic. With the 4 speed, you are going to swap bellhousing.

If you have a 351m with the c6 and you want to do a 460 swap. KEEP THE 351M/400 towers!!

 

the 351m and 400 both use the same bellhousing as a 460 whether its an auto or manual. The cleveland ran the W/302 pattern, but not the M.

 

Yeah, if they had the 351M/400 and a 4spd but you will have to get a new clutch I think and stuff

 

78-79 broncos only came with 351m/400's and they use the same flywheel as a 460 as well.

 

Yep. All 3 have different size glitches and flywheels I believe, but they will work with either motor. I had he 351m in my 78 and I could upgrade to the 460 clutch which was bigger. It was I think 12 inches and the modified was only 11. But you needed a different. Laurel unless you had a 400 originally. Since then it had the bigger bolt pattern for the clutch. Hope that makes sense.

 

Thanks for the info guys, I've learned some interesting stuff. I know the truck has the NP-205 transfer case, and is also a manual. The 2 transmissions avaliable for the 78-79 Broncos were the NP-435, and the T-18. Not sure which one this truck has, but is there any advantage to one over the other? I've heard the NP-435 is pretty tough.

Asking because awhile ago I drove an '89 Dodge Ramcharger that supposedly had the NP-435 tranny in it. It was pretty beat up, but it seemed like I was in 3rd gear and only going 30mph and didn't have a chance to "open it up." What sort of speeds are these Broncos capable of? I want to be able to drive this thing around whereever I need to go, will I be limited to rock-crawling speeds? Or is there some sort of modification to get these things over 50mph?

Just looking to expand my knowledge about the 4-speed trannys and Broncos.

 

There is an overdrive unit that bolts to the NP435 but its real pricey. Speed os also gonna rely on gearing. I had 4.10s in my 78 but I was still able to cruise down the highway at a decent rpm.

 

Also the two transmissions are practically identical as far as gear ratios go. One has a pto port on the side. Can't remember which.

 

I have a '78 and just parted out a '79 as an organ donor for that '78. As previously mentioned, the '78 and '79 are both solid axle fronts with Dana 44s. The rear ends are Ford 9-inch with varying gear ratios. (Don't trust the tag on that... jack one wheel and spin it. A PO may have changed them out at some point.) You'll hear lots of people tell you to upgrade the suspension but it's not remotely necessary unless you plan to wheel the living s$#% out of it. If you want a little more strength but don't need to go nuts (like a Sterling and a D60), opt into some 35-spline axles/gears. Some F-250s from that era shipped with 8-lug setups instead of the 5-lugs which were standard on the Bronco.

As for your engines... you're going to get a 351M or 400M if you want a V8 '78-'79 Bronco. They're the same engine except for the stroke. The 400M is a "square motor" at 4" x 4" bore & stroke. The 351M is essentially a de-stroked 400M with a 3.5" stroke. Both engines are VERY close to the famous 351C (same motor except for the main bearing journals and the deck height) so a number of the performance bits carry over.

That said -- there are plenty of performance mods available specifically for the 351M/400M, like intake manifolds (Weiand 8010, Edelbrock 2771/3771), heads, pistons (Keith Black makes some), headers (Headman 89210) cams (Comp Cams, Edelbrock) and other small-block Ford parts like distributors. If you're in California, pick those options carefully so you don't anger the CARB demigods.

Street-worthy? Hell yeah. It's a short wheelbase F-150 4x4.
Performance off-road? Designed for it.

Watch out for:

• RUST!!
• Tailgate rust (internal)
• B-pillar rust
• Quarter panel rust
• Drip rail rust
• Floor pan rust
• Missing emissions bits (if you're in CA)
• Did I mention rust?

News to me. I didn't think the 205 mated to a manual, which implies to me that a PO may have divorced it. The 203 is the t-case they shipped with the manual. The automatics were married to the 205s.

 

Another thought -- the 460 is nearly a direct bolt-in upgrade if your 351M/400M ever craps out on you.

Find out if it has the quad-shock setup, too. Kind of nice to have four shocks up front.

 

NP203 is full-time, chain-driven.
NP205 is part-time, gear-driven.