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2,359 Posts
Meet Bog:

Not named for it's capability in mud, but for the amount of body filler that surrounds the back end.
Here's the deal. I own an 87 XLT, not because it's my favorite body style, but because it was the only Bronco I could find whose owner was willing to trade for a 97 F150. My favorite body style in the whole wide world is the 78-79. It makes me feel tingly inside. So I keep an eye out.
My wife spotted Bog on FB local yardsale and pointed it out to me. Asking $3,500 but I asked and he agreed to accept $3k if I purchased so we went and took a look at it. It's got a 351m and a standard 4 speed has been put in with an ultra granny first. It's got a lift with 36's that have about 25% tread left. The engine sounded and pulled strong but he said it's got a tap on cold startup until the lifters are wet and then it sounds fine. There was no oil press gauge so I don't know the status of it other than no death noises when driving. I've been told that one hub is frozen unlocked and he had welded some metal into into the quarters before filling but it's pretty obvious that it's going to need some quarter panel love in the very near future. It's just your typical 30-something year old utility vehicle.
My 87 is not in bad shape. The body is great, with one rust spot on the TG. The driver's window shit the bed two days ago, but the other windows work. Interior is pretty great and there's really no down sides. The motor, however, is a different story. It's got an undefined knock on mid-range RPM when not under load. I think it's a wrist pin. Add to that the fact that the oil pressure bottoms out with 10-40 when warm. It shows right above "you have no oil pressure" at idle and goes up a bit when at speed. I'm taking it easy but the writing is on the wall that it's going to need an engine soon.
I just need a sanity check. If I pick up the 79 for the agreed upon price, I will have tapped my funds completely and will be in a pickle in the event of a mechanical issue, as it's my DD. On the other hand, it's a 79 and I need to issue points, even if a large part of it's shape is done in bondo. The 87 just doesn't provide the warm fuzzy(and I dread the engine swap bill).
I know that opinions are like assholes, but to be clear, I don't want to hear about your asshole but would appreciate your thoughts on the matter. What would you do if you found yourself in the same boat?
Thanks a bunch!

Not named for it's capability in mud, but for the amount of body filler that surrounds the back end.
Here's the deal. I own an 87 XLT, not because it's my favorite body style, but because it was the only Bronco I could find whose owner was willing to trade for a 97 F150. My favorite body style in the whole wide world is the 78-79. It makes me feel tingly inside. So I keep an eye out.
My wife spotted Bog on FB local yardsale and pointed it out to me. Asking $3,500 but I asked and he agreed to accept $3k if I purchased so we went and took a look at it. It's got a 351m and a standard 4 speed has been put in with an ultra granny first. It's got a lift with 36's that have about 25% tread left. The engine sounded and pulled strong but he said it's got a tap on cold startup until the lifters are wet and then it sounds fine. There was no oil press gauge so I don't know the status of it other than no death noises when driving. I've been told that one hub is frozen unlocked and he had welded some metal into into the quarters before filling but it's pretty obvious that it's going to need some quarter panel love in the very near future. It's just your typical 30-something year old utility vehicle.
My 87 is not in bad shape. The body is great, with one rust spot on the TG. The driver's window shit the bed two days ago, but the other windows work. Interior is pretty great and there's really no down sides. The motor, however, is a different story. It's got an undefined knock on mid-range RPM when not under load. I think it's a wrist pin. Add to that the fact that the oil pressure bottoms out with 10-40 when warm. It shows right above "you have no oil pressure" at idle and goes up a bit when at speed. I'm taking it easy but the writing is on the wall that it's going to need an engine soon.
I just need a sanity check. If I pick up the 79 for the agreed upon price, I will have tapped my funds completely and will be in a pickle in the event of a mechanical issue, as it's my DD. On the other hand, it's a 79 and I need to issue points, even if a large part of it's shape is done in bondo. The 87 just doesn't provide the warm fuzzy(and I dread the engine swap bill).
I know that opinions are like assholes, but to be clear, I don't want to hear about your asshole but would appreciate your thoughts on the matter. What would you do if you found yourself in the same boat?
Thanks a bunch!