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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,457
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,457 |
KDK, Yeah the front end had its limits for sure and it showed when the truck was on 36" tires. When I went bigger I converted it to 3/4 ton 8 lug outers and that helped. I still broke a couple shafts, spindles, ball joints, a coil spring with it on 42" tires. It performed best on 38 or 39" tires with the 5.18 gears I was running. I had a '78 8 lug D44 HD front axle that was built and ready to go under but all things pointed to getting out while I could.
FWIW I had FAR more problems with the 8.8" rear. I broke something almost every hard run. I swapped it out with a Corporate 14 bolt with disk brakes and custom driveshaft and that became the most reliable part of the rig.
Semper Fi
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 8,539
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 8,539 |
Had a 66 with 289-3 speed and a 74 with 302-auto.
Great rigs, but had lots of problems with auto in the 74.
Would love to still own the 66. First year production. Cobra cam, solid lifters and a big four barrel carb. That thing would haul azz.
Virgil B.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,408
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,408 |
i like the looks of those early broncos but would not want one for much road driving. too short of a wheelbase and squirrelly on wet/slippery roads. my buddy had a nice late 60's one and rolled it when he ran off the road and over corrected coming back on. i have had old willys and AMC CJ-5's in the past and have the same complaint and almost rolled my last one when the brakes grabbed on one side. great offroaders but squirrelly on the road. for all-purpose, i'd go with a late 80's - early 90's one if you can find it in good condition. they were a nice ride. just ask OJ
My diploma is a DD214
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,293
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,293 |
KDK, sorry about the "it's a jeep" thing in the video... Jerk! LOL That's what happens when you try to baby it in deep snow. The Kenny G. was perfect...
Last edited by KDK; 08/25/14.
This is a shooting forum, there is no place here for logic.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,293
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,293 |
FWIW I had FAR more problems with the 8.8" rear. I broke something almost every hard run. I swapped it out with a Corporate 14 bolt with disk brakes and custom driveshaft and that became the most reliable part of the rig.
It didn't burst into flames? Thanks, man. If I pick one up I don't think I'd go much more than 35s anyway...
This is a shooting forum, there is no place here for logic.
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,457
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,457 |
It didn't burst into flames?
Thanks, man. If I pick one up I don't think I'd go much more than 35s anyway... Not that time but it has been ablaze on an occasion or two. I tried to get my hands on a 10.25 Sterling but they were cost prohibitive and still would have needed some work. That 14 bolt was a military axle that I picked up already rebuilt and geared for like $800. Welded on new perches and shock mounts and it was drivable in a few hours. You would be able to run 35" tires on a 6" suspension with no worries. I had mine that way for a few years. That is the way I bought it. I was from Oregon as well and the babied toy of an old Master Sergeant from my squadron. The stock gears will do fine and you will have few worries. Any bigger and the rebuild/fortification will become necessity.
Semper Fi
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 22,274
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 22,274 |
I'd love to have a 1st gen, but if you actually use them off road, they will get dinged up and cost money. And no, they aren't so hot running 70 on the Interstate, though they are better then a CJ5. It's tough to find a decent one for less than $10k. Good investment though, if you just want it to fix it up and drive around town, or light off-road.
In 87 they got fuel injection, rear anti-lock brakes, and overdrive trans. In 92 the interiors were upgraded, and stayed that way until they were dropped after 96. I personally think the 92-96 are good practical users - fuel injected, reliable engines, big fuel tanks, good cargo and towing capacity, good on the highway, yet still short enough to have ground clearance in serious off-road use.
"...the designer of the .270 Ingwe cartridge!..."
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,460
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,460 |
Have seen some possible photos of Ford bringing back a Bronco in 2016
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