Towing?

[youngbronc]

Hi All

I am just as new to this site as I am to the Bronco's. I picked me up a 72 from a single owner and am not sure is I got a good deal or not, but I did end up with a Bronco so thats a plus. It has el. ignition and power steering but no power brakes. He mentioned that you do not want to tow with this rig as it is too squirrely. The steering does feel a little squirrely, very quick-maybe to quick? It has good radial tires and they look like they are wearing even so I am faily confident that it is not the tires, and it rides straight. To me it feels like it is over sensitive. Anyway, can you give me any feedback on both towing with these and about the power steering?

Thanks YB

 

[S_bolt19]

Welcome to the list and to the world of EBs

Is it an aftermarket PS system? 72 didn't come with it standard or as an option. It started showing up as an option on 73 thru 77 though. If it is a late 72 (Last numbers of the VIN# P60000-L69999 were all produced in July of 72) it might have had power steering but I doubt it. I put PS on my 72 last summer and the steering seemed quick to me too, but you have to get used to it. There isn't another vehicle out there that will steer like an EB. They have the tighest turning radius of any 4x4 ever built so you could be feeling the effects of this. If you were driving a newer vehicle then you will have adjustment time to it as well. If I drive my wife's '03 Durango on a road trip then hop in the Bronco then I gotta get used to it because it is more responsive than her Durango is.

But for towing things, stuff like motorcycles, jet skis, small to mid sized boats, things of that nature and size, you should be ok. I dont think I would ask a 1/4 ton truck to pull a 20 foot bayliner or a 5th wheel though.

 

[Broncoholics]

Some added a quick steer option in after market boxes. 3.5 turns lock to lock. This is a nice option when off road but gets hairy on road.

Sounds like its pretty tight. How much did you pay, do you have photos so we can see? This will be easier to know what its worth just for a piece of mine. Either way an older Bronco is always a good starting point for being a bad ass piece of machinery!

 

[youngbronc]

I checked it out, my turning lock to lock and it looks like I have the quick steering option. I have about 3.25 turns lock to lock. It only takes a little bit of getting used to after not driving it for a while. It cost me $5700.00 out of pocket with a little horse trading on top of that. It was $7200.00 to him and about $6850.00 to me. Nothing to write home about but they are hard to find in my area and the price seemed decent to me. He was the original owner (bought it new) and an older fellow that took very good care of it and I did not find any rust on it, so both of them factors were huge selling points to me. It has only been in one accident where someone backed into the front of it while he was out on a hunt, nothing bad. He added electronic ignition and the power steering, it has 40,000 miles on the rebuilt motor, the flywheel\pressure plate was recently r&r'd. It also had some front end work done on it recently including some bushing replacements and the rear axel bearings have been replaced along with the brakes. It runs very well and the running gear/front end feels very tight driving it. The only problem I am having is trying to locate and destroy a very annoying squeak in the rear hard top. I believe it is in the latch mechanism for the tops rear window I just have not dismantled it yet. The spare tire rack also may need to be tightened up, it rattles pretty good going over railroad tracks and such. The more I drive it the more I like it. I had planed on picking one up for a project rig but am pleased that I now have one that I can drive right away and do a little bit at a time without it being down the whole time. Hope these pictures make it??

Thanks,

yb

 

[S_bolt19]

It looks like a pretty decent little EB. I would ask him what the power steering came out of so if, and when, something happens to it, you will know what to get the parts from. If it is like my EB, I have so many other parts off of other vehicles (Ch*vy discs front & rear, 73 EB p/s, etc.), then if you have to sell it, the people will wonder what the heck you did and be calling you back. So keep a running tab of what upgrades, conversions have been done and what you do to it. If not for the future selling point (which is very unlikely) or for your own sanity.

 

[Bandit]

&lt

Youngbronc;I wouldnt appologize for the price you paid,I think you did good nice clean rig.If you ask ,ten guys will say you did good others will tell you how they got a mint Stroppe for nuthin.If I had the money I wouldnt think twice about a nice clean BRONCO,cant have too many.As for your loose steering ,on my '73,when I replaced all of my front end bushings with urethane,it really tightened up my road feel.And when I replaced my steering unit with a Flaming river tilt,boy what a difference.Just repacing that old "rag" shaft with a modern unit made a world of difference.You got a thirty sumpin year old truck,and alot of times little things wear out a little at a time,every thing you renew,ball joints,rod ends,proper alignment,and balance...adds up to a tighter road feel....of course steering boxes and power units wear too.

Good luck

BANDIT...awesome '73

 

[Broncoholics]

Nice looking rig and its in great shape too! You can't argue the price much cause it is a collector vehicle.

What do you plan on doing with it? Paint and lift?

 

[youngbronc]

Guys thank you for the kind words. For now I am not going to do anything major. It does have a dead spot in it when accelerating so that will be my first fix. I am hoping that I can get it our by going through the carb and possibly some linkage adjustment? Other than that I only plan on replacing the stock steering wheel with the Classic Grant wheel along with covering the seats and driving it. I would like to get some air conditioning in it as we have some very hot seasons here but I dont know if it will be worth it? We have been in a 100+ heat wave most of last month and all of this month, 106 today with the night lows in the 70's. Eventually I hope to have power disc brakes, four or five speed trani, a little lift and some nice wheels and rubber along with new paint. I am considering doing the C-6 trani as my wife does not drive a standard but am unsure of how well an auto trans will work when four wheeling? How does the price of going that route compare with the standard trani and is this a four wheeling taboo? I assume that I would have to replace the radiator?? I have been wanting a project car for some time, looks like I now have a project rig that can go more places and one that will be never ending. (YES!!!!)

thanks

yb

 

[Bandit]

&lt

Guys thank you for the kind words. For now I am not going to do anything major. It does have a dead spot in it when accelerating so that will be my first fix. I am hoping that I can get it our by going through the carb and possibly some linkage adjustment? Other than that I only plan on replacing the stock steering wheel with the Classic Grant wheel along with covering the seats and driving it. I would like to get some air conditioning in it as we have some very hot seasons here but I dont know if it will be worth it?  We have been in a 100+ heat wave most of last month and all of this month, 106 today with the night lows in the 70's. Eventually I hope to have power disc brakes, four or five speed trani, a little lift and some nice wheels and rubber along with new paint. I am considering doing the C-6 trani as my wife does not drive a standard but am unsure of how well an auto trans will work when four wheeling? How does the price of going that route compare with the standard trani and is this a four wheeling taboo? I assume that I would have to replace the radiator?? I have been wanting a project car for some time, looks like I now have a project rig that can go more places and one that will be never ending. (YES!!!!)
thanks

yb &lt

You know ,now that you mention it ,I have a brand new Grant wheel I just took off.My wife bought it for me for my birthday,and then I bought a stainless tilt steering system that came with a new LeCarra.If you want it  let me know if you .might want to trade for sumpin?Its the 15 inch black and red leather wrapped grant ,was 150 bucks through Summit.

BANDIT

 

[youngbronc]

Thank Bandit, I already have it covered.

YB