Photos are uploaded into my gallery; here's a sample - please view & make comments.



It seems that the vent glass is broken - this can be seen in one of the pics. He has a replacement, I was just wondering how to change out & how difficult the job was.

Thanks for the shop/manuel recommendation.

 

if you do swap for a 205 you will need a jack plate or mod yours i was in a jam and i made one from a 203 work with a little cutting and time to get it just right if you use a stock 203 jack plate to the 205 it will not shift the shif rods hit on the houseing you can pick up a 205 pretty cheap about 250 to 300 but i wouldn't shap till i broke the 203 if it and broke dop't fix it i have a 79 with a 460 t18 205 and d60 rear on 38 hogs i bought it for 700 with a parts truck the bronc had not motor i had to swap the 460 out of the parts truck later i put in the t18 over all they are a very easy truck to work on good to learn how to work on and digg in the pic looks pretty good man back window is a plus it gives a lot of brocs a pain in the *** mine i have to run two wires to the batt you can swap a d60 are a ster 10 1/4 for a cupple hunder bucks lifts are cheap they take a lot of tire with not alot of life keeps your center of gravity down the vent thing an't **** a 460 swap is also easy every thing plugs in down to the dizzy there also nice cuz every thing from a 73 to 70 f150 works except for the tub doors forward bolt up all running gear is the same mines pretty much bulet proof just worken the kinks out **** im only 21 so i know were your coming from man learned alot since i bought it you can't get any thing easyer to work on i love mine i would go for it first thing i would do is check the brakes and the stering any thing else can go to **** at least you can ster it and stop it let me know how it goes

 

Just talked to the owner, and we've set everything up for tomorrow. He even offered to change out that vent window (great). He's very happy that "his old friend" is going to a good home (someone who wants to fix it up).

supposidly the guy put a new (rebuilt) steering gear box & pwr. steering pump.

HAMMERDOWN, you talk about swaping in a 460 - is this a better engine than the 400? From what I understand the 400 is of newer design - not that it makes it a better engine.

The plan is to put a 6" lift (don't know which Mfr. to go with yet), some 36" x 15 tires to start and then just fix-up the small things.

Any recommendations / suggestions?

 

grey77,

Don't worry about doing any modifications until you get the bronco and start driving (if you get it...just because pictures look good doesn't mean you'll like it once you drive it). Fix the most important stuff first (e.g. need instead of want). Be sure to check the axles (ask the owner).

If you're dead-set on buying a bronco, this seems like a decent price (it also seems like he's ready to get rid of the bronco).

It looks like it may have the optional interior roll bar and it may need door panels (if you want them).

It looks like it had AC at one time, but there's no compressor.

hammer down...appreciate the comments, but dude, use punctuation or space your comments (they're hard to understand)

 

Hammer down summed it all up in one sentence. Albeit a very long run-on sentence (lol).

There are alot of mods you can do to the bronc... But as suggested above, I would drive it for a while before thinking about that stuff. Little problems are always hiding somewheres. I looked over my 78 bronc pretty good, but within about 6 months I had discovered many things, most minor, some in need of immediate repair. But this is to be expected with a vehicle from the 70's... unless it had just undergone a total frame-off restoration. Like I said, owning a truck like that will turn you into a good mechanic! (Thats a good thing though).

Nice pics too... Even with no huge lift or mud tires its got the look of a trail rig for sure!

 

I whole heartedly agree.

Well, the deal is done and the "beast" is at home. She made the 4-hour trip fine, except we have a motor oil leak who's final drip-off point was from around the bell housing, drenching everything down stream. Any ideas on what the potential cuplrit(s) could be (engine is a 400 w/ C6, NP203)?

The previous owner alluded to a minor oil leak from one of the valve covers, but this is more than minor - the oil pooled instantly upon stopping. We used 3 qts to get home and that was taking it very easy. Hopefully it's nothing major as the engine dos NOT smoke at all and runs very smoothly.

Overall, so far, we are very pleased with what we bought for $1,500. Thanks to all who provided input - everything helped.

 

The oil leak could be either the rear main seal or it could be something as simple as the back rubber strip on the intake gasket. 1500 is a good price for the Bronco. The 78/79 Bronco's are only going up in value. It was the best year that Ford made a Bronco in my opinion.

 

Thats new. I can't say that I have ever seen or heard of a NP203 in a 79 Bronco. The 205 is the way to go. They are tough. They are getting hard to find now. Alot ot truck pullers used them and would buy them up around here in KY. The 4sp 78 79 are also fairly rare. A 79 should have a T19. Also most had 351M's in them. I say almost because you never say never but I haven't ever seen one that had a 400. I think the engine code in the VIN is a "s" for a 351m.The 400 engines were common in cars. They can be pretty stout. The problem with the 351m and 400 block was that they would crack around the lifter and cam gallies. If you have one that isn't, you have a rare one. You will know it. The oil pressure will really fall of when hot. When you build one, if you use stock rods and pistons or ones that are offset. Put them in backwards. You will gain some torque. They offset them for noise. Dogs I guess.
Also with all ford engines with hyd. lifters you want to shim up the rockers. With the cam on the inner base circle you want the pushtube to drop in the lifter between .008 .010" . It makes a difference and if you don't open the exhaust ports in the heads you are stuck when you wan't big power. My brother pulls a 5800lb. Super Stock truck and he runs a 460. I have seen several of them on a Dino. Factory 460 four wheel oil pans can be hard to find Take care

 

Thanks for the info.

According to the VIN this '79 has a 400 w/ a C6 tranny and a NP203 for full time 4x4 - which may not have been too popular.

So far, the oil pressure is fairly steady between 25 & 30 psi, as high as 50 psi initially when cool and idling. Under power & working it stays in the 25-30 rang. Hopefully, that's a positive indicator that the engine is still OK.

 

you should buy it. it is a good investment.

 

I think he already did.