The tailgate is one of the most common, damaging, and difficult to find repair parts for if things start to disintegrate. The seal at the window rots and becomes brittle (no one ****ing changes them) and them dirt and moisture collects at the bottom of the tailgate rotting it out. If you find one with a decent tailgate dont dick around and try to go the easy route with patches and whatnot. Get it blasted, new metal welded in, and then at least primed with a good primer or e-coated so you wont have to worry about it again. That back window is a sexy feature when it works correctly. Check body mount points on the frame, rust from debri stuck between the fuel tank and fuel tank skid plate, floor pan at the driver and passenger footwells underneath the carpet, and area around where the evap case bolts in. If the hood is rusty just get a new one. The metal is too thin to get blasted and painted and still maintain any rigidity. My 79 has sliding rear windows and had rust inside the rear fender underneath where they had leaked for many years as well. Also, if you're building a mud truck, use a 90's model as they are more common and you wont be sending a piece of history into the muck.

 

para -

What are you looking to enjoy doing with your Bronco? That may rule out or rule in some models.

My preference is for the '78 - you have the larger size, the removable top from passenger back, the solid axle, and a great classic look.

 

A relatively maintainence free daily driver AND to take it on the beach down cape cod or mild off roading

I also have a new caddy CTS and I want to keep the miles off of it and the winter

 

Okay I've looked at this thread and have been temped to say this from the beginning.

The best Bronco is MY bronco of course!


Jokes aside, I do like the 92-96 style the most. There are definitely some advantages from the older styles (such as the solid axle from the 78), but the 92-96 have the most advanced features and safety equipment that make them better in my book. The 96s also have OBDII systems which make them a little more easy to diagnose some issues (when the engine light comes on). I believe 94s started to have mass air flow sensors in most of them as well which makes tuning and upgrading easier if that's something you plan on doing.


Either way, pretty much any full size Bronco is going to be a good rig. The most important aspect will be the previous owners' maintenance. The 302, 351 and inline 6s in these trucks were excellent motors. The older style v8s (I believe 351m? and some others) are also pretty good from what I hear.

 

I owned a 68 bronco and it was completely rust free.. but of course i sold it when i moved in 1972 so not really old yet.. my 90 bronco is a rust bucket on the floors, tailgate, wheel wells and frt. fender... my 89 bronco is not as bad.. i guess it all depends on what side of the rust belt your on