Help with upgrades

[BB33's]

Hey guys that topic on gas milage and the other on prices got me thinking about selling my 1985 F350(see signature) It was fun and got TONS of looks but got 5 miles to the gallon and I retired it to a weekend driver 6 months ago. Well, My college shop teacher races circle track cars and his 2005 2500 with the 8.1 was in the shop(chevy, figures right?) and he needed to get a car to a race. I let him use my F350 to tow it (it had air bags trailer brakes and a 460 so it was up to it) and when he got back he gave it to me with 2 full tanks and a serious offer to buy it. I shrugged him off but when he showed me 5000 bucks it really got me thinking. I told him no and he said that was cool he respected that. Well I just sold it to him for 5,200 bucks. It was fun but I now have the cash to do some serious mods to my daily driver '95 Bronco. Check it out and fling me some ideas of mods I can do to it. I'm thinking Dana 44 High Pinion front(Ihave a used one from a '79 Bronco) and interior roll cage for the rear. Let me know what you guys think I am all ears.

 

[dhpt99]

A lift would be cool. But would worsen your gas mielage.

 

[Miss Kitten]

the big question that i'm going to pose to you bb is if you are more concerned about fuel mileage or the lift on the bronco.

the solid axle swap is not an easy one and requires a fair bit of modification. i would recommend going through all that effort if you are planning on running 35" or bigger tires. if you are wanting to keep fuel mileage somewhat in check then you may be better off going to only 33" tires

gearing is the next thing that you'll have to account for. if you aren't prepared to spend the money on regearing then the larger tires are definately going to bring your fuel economy waaaaay down.

there are simple tune ups that you can do to the engine that will help some fuel mileage. but regardless the bronco is still a big heavy machine

 

[JLasvegas]

do you still have the chevy PU in the driveway? lol

 

[wileec]

If you wheel it I would go with the roll bar. Safety first.

I should talk, still no roll bar, but I do not have 5k needing to be spent on my bronco.

 

[JLasvegas]

check local salvage yards for a roll bar, I found 3 of them locally here

 

[Miss Kitten]

if you go with just a single tube behind the seat roll bar just please make sure that it's all mounted properly. failure to do so will result in absolutely no protection in a roll over and could punch the roll bar through the floor boards. i would spend some time researching a small cage. just remember that these are top heavy machines and adding more weight on top could make you more prone to rolling over

 

[BB33's]

Thanks for all the good points of view. I think I'm gonna do a 6 inch lift with the extended arms and a roll bar that will fit under the top. I already have an upgraded rearend but I am gonna do the swap to lower gears. I'm going 35 inch All Terrains and 4.56's

 

[BB33's]

Oh yeah I did a MSD ignition with cap rotor wires and coil a month ago and after running two tanks through the truck I have setteled on an average of 14 miles per gallon and that is with a 5.8 and two offroading trips during this average I am pleased.