Ladies and Gents, I have a problem. With four bald tires.

I recently (April 12th) purchased a 1978 Ford F-100, two wheel drive. Initial price was one grand, and it came with 4- 15x8 wagon wheels (5 on 5 1/2) and 4 Chevy six lug Keystone Klassics. It was in 'excellent mechanical condition' when purchased.

It came home and got new valve cover gaskets, windshield, two day of buffing/ polishing/ waxing, seat belts, distributor cap, all new hoses, new air cleaner (housing and filter), and a new battery, not to mention totally redoing the brakes.

In the past month, I've replaced the gas tank and carb. Two new carbs, and it still wont run as well as it did with the first leaky one. Vacuum leaks, idle problems...the only way to keep it running when you pull it in gear is to idle it so high it idles at 5-7 mph in first gear. And it dies when you hit the brakes.

Replaced every gasket except the ones under the intake manifold, all on a truck I didnt want.

Now, dont get me wrong- my parents help me get (note the word 'help'- they did not buy me a truck) into a Ford truck, get it road worthy, and it got me to work (havent been able to drive it since July 12 due to carb problems). So I liked the truck, was grateful for the truck, etc...

But it wasnt my dream vehicle.

However, I recently found my dream. It's an Early Bronco pickup. Brown paint, white half- cab, bad fender trimming and bald Swamper TSL tires. A phone call revealed that 'it ran when parked' and he wants 1600.

Now, I got the better deal on my truck. But I'm actually considering selling my pickup for 1500-2k and going and buying this Bronco. My dream truck is sitting in a field.

I could drive our 'spare vehicle', an '89 Suburban 4x4 with a 6.2 Diesel, which I've been driving, until I got the Bronco road- worthy. Or, I could save roughly 100 bucks a week from my job for the Bronco.

My truck has been such a pain in the rear, I'm very, very tempted to slap a 'For Sale' sign in the rear window and tow it to town.

I'd love to fix it. But no mechanic will work on carbs around here, and we're just shooting in the dark. We think intake manifold gaskets might help. Maybe. Another replaced part on a truck in 'excellent mechanical condition'. Buyer beware, eh?

I suppose I'm asking what you would do in my shoes, because right now I have no idea. I'm picking up gaskets tommorrow, and more Tylenol. This truck has just been one headache after the other...

 

What motor does it have, how many miles?

I think you have already made your decision. I would like to see you keep it. That way you will have something to show for your hard work. The Bronco is more valuable than you truck.

 

It has a swapped in 302 with allegedy 42,000 on it and an automatic transmission...and I'm assuming you were asking about my truck.

I have no idea about the Bronco...

 

yeah I was asking about the truck.

The worst thing that anybody an do to a vehicle is let it sit. Beware that this Bronco is going to be a pain in the rear until its running like you want.

 

Yeah, I'm expecting to tow this Bronco home on a trailer, then sink several grand into just getting it running...probably.

Then again, there's the chance I could put gas and a battery in and have it start right up...but I'm not holding my breath.

Still not sure what to do, though...I'd love to have the Bronco, and my truck is irritating the heck out of me, but I dont know if selling the truck is the best move to make.

 

As long as you have something to drive while the bronco is down, go ahead and sell the truck. Just so long as you know the risk of buying a "ran when it was parked" vehicle.

 

If you can get the bronco, buy it and keep the truck
Just buy a new/rebuilt carb for the truck and drive it while you fix the Bronco
What did you do w/ the 6 lug Chevy wheels that came w/ the 5 lug Ford? Just curious

 

Andy- I'm on my second remanufactured Motorcraft carb from AutoZone. I've got the 6- lugs sitting in the shed. They'll either be sold or traded for some nicer rims on the '78. I think I'll hold on to the truck, and start saving my paycheck and selling paintball stuff to finance the Bronco project.

Mil1ion- My bad. Didnt realize this was Tech, or would have put it in appropriate forum. Sorry.

 

Well, I should have worded it different.

My thought was to place it where you will get the best feedback.

Not everyone reads the GC forum.

No harm done

 

Yeah sorry, I thought aout that too, just thinking that the guys here would all tell him to keep the truck. when I see that I see a high school student trying to pay insurance on two vehicles, fixing them both up, and not being satisfied with either one, like me.

 

The Bronco will go up in value. I would get it but keep the truck as a daily driver. The carb problem can be fixed.

The Bronco takes a lot of effort with stuff like door seals, misc this and that. The truck is easier to get the basic stuff done on. The Bronco is a never ending project.

 

your problems with the carb is probally because it is from autozone, my friend is also on his second, they are junk, get a better carb, or even better get a holley 500 cfm 2v, or put on a 4 barrel. just loose the autozone carb.

 

Yea, autozone carbs are junk.
Get a good one.
As for the wheels, do you have pics of them Im interested in those, or getting a set like them I think

 

Hillbilly- I'd believe it. The first one wasnt even complete, missing some vacuum ports. Got a new intake manifold today...if that isnt it, I'm buying a Holley.

Andy- I'll snap some digital pics of the wheels tommorrow.

 

my friend got one for his 78 f-150, I think the first one leaked and did'nt run right, not sure, he took it back and the second one ran ok, but the choke does not work, figured it ran ok so he kept it, gave them the original carb so no rebuilding it, and I don't wanna fool with one auto zone did, he is just gonna put on a 600 holley, the only thing I get from autozone is name brand fluids, sometimes gaskets cause they are felpro, I go to western auto for everything important.