Heartbreaking but I've no doubt you'll make the new one something amazing. Really glad to see you keep pushing forward in spite of the social networking dipshits trying to drag you down.
Sad Day, but Undeterred
1 - 20 of 32 Posts
Thank you so much everyone.
With my new engine, it has so much oomph. I can hit the gas at 70 and feel it put me back in my seat. So... going from 3.00s to 3.55s, I can't even imagine. But, I would like to see if I can get an overdrive somehow.
And darn right I'm keeping the emblems! I have a nice, red full standing tool box I just got, so I think I'll bolt the Bucking Bronco emblem to the side. Maybe paint a white stripe on it. :histerica
I also always dug the F O R D letters across the hood that only the '80 and '81 had.
My wife wants to frame a picture of it and hang the original keys from it.
![]()
I'm guessing the full speed limit, so around 35.
The biggest issue is HOW they hit me. They tried to swerve at the last second, so they nailed the left corner. Since it was the corner, there were just so many sections affected. Then, they went underneath.
I wonder if I'd been better off if it'd been a direct hit in the rear.
So glad I took so many pictures.
And I'll definitely continue to do so with the new one.
But, I was also looking into the FITech. It's just such a clean setup, not super expensive compared to some other options, and will bolt right in. I'd be able to use the EFI fuel tank/fuel pump from this '85.
Here's some quick pics I took on the first drive home. I didn't realize the sun washed the first pic out so much until after, but it's all I have at the moment.
![]()
![]()
And here they are next to each other. Look at that shine.
![]()
When my wife had an '84, it had a 300 with a 4bbl setup (stock otherwise) and 3.55 gears. That thing hauled. My biggest issue was simply interstate RPMs. I like being able to do 80 - 85mph in mine and not feel like I'm revving it. 80mph is around 2600RPM.
With my new engine, it has so much oomph. I can hit the gas at 70 and feel it put me back in my seat. So... going from 3.00s to 3.55s, I can't even imagine. But, I would like to see if I can get an overdrive somehow.
And darn right I'm keeping the emblems! I have a nice, red full standing tool box I just got, so I think I'll bolt the Bucking Bronco emblem to the side. Maybe paint a white stripe on it. :histerica
I also always dug the F O R D letters across the hood that only the '80 and '81 had.
My wife wants to frame a picture of it and hang the original keys from it.
The C-Clip is what always concerns me. Granted, I rarely, if ever, read issues about them. But one thing I love about my 300 I6, NP435, and 9" setup is that each one is associated with the word "bulletproof". :thumbup Didn't the 9" 3.50 still have a 3.54 up front? I don't see much in the way of different Dana 44 gearing ratios.
Well, here's their car:
I'm guessing the full speed limit, so around 35.
The biggest issue is HOW they hit me. They tried to swerve at the last second, so they nailed the left corner. Since it was the corner, there were just so many sections affected. Then, they went underneath.
I wonder if I'd been better off if it'd been a direct hit in the rear.
It feels like a death in the family! I'm still driving it every day, but hearing the steel creak and groan every time I go around corners is making me sick.
It's been an awesome experience though and man, I've learned a lot. So a pleasure to share.
So glad I took so many pictures.
And I'll definitely continue to do so with the new one.
I'm not 100% sure yet. I hadn't thought about drilling the 4bbl intake for injectors. That's a cool idea, and definitely less cumbersome than that huge intake setup the EFI 4.9 has. And I don't know how much, if any, of the existing EFI stuff I can use. Who knows, might be able to hybrid something really great.
But, I was also looking into the FITech. It's just such a clean setup, not super expensive compared to some other options, and will bolt right in. I'd be able to use the EFI fuel tank/fuel pump from this '85.
Here's some quick pics I took on the first drive home. I didn't realize the sun washed the first pic out so much until after, but it's all I have at the moment.
And here they are next to each other. Look at that shine.
4
Sounds like you're right BigBlue,
I think it was one of those things where the 9" is just so touted, that the 8.8" was always rated as lower. But, both a grade of an A+ and an A are both pretty darn good.
Everywhere I'm reading on line has everyone talking about the 8.8" being plenty tough.
My issue with RPMs is simply gas mileage. If it was a weekend warrior, I wouldn't care, but it's my daily driver. I drive it everywhere under the sun from work every day, to camping, to visiting family, so running it at 3000+ RPMs down the interstate is probably going to drop my gas mileage significantly. What kind of mileage do you get with your current setup?
I'll do a search for that post. Might be worth looking into!
I did a little zooming and color correction on the above picture, I think it turned out okay.
![]()
I think it was one of those things where the 9" is just so touted, that the 8.8" was always rated as lower. But, both a grade of an A+ and an A are both pretty darn good.
Everywhere I'm reading on line has everyone talking about the 8.8" being plenty tough.
My issue with RPMs is simply gas mileage. If it was a weekend warrior, I wouldn't care, but it's my daily driver. I drive it everywhere under the sun from work every day, to camping, to visiting family, so running it at 3000+ RPMs down the interstate is probably going to drop my gas mileage significantly. What kind of mileage do you get with your current setup?
I'll do a search for that post. Might be worth looking into!
I did a little zooming and color correction on the above picture, I think it turned out okay.
With the 390 Holley, I was getting 10-12 mpg. I understand the DD duties in a 1:1 final gear. That's why I'm ditching the c6 in my f350 for the zf5 (and I'm a sucker for manual transmissions). I'd say try it, and if it's too high of rpms, swap to a zf5 or nv4500 (from a dodge :doh0715 or back to your 3.00 gears.
That 85 looks really clean and very sharp! I like the push bars for that vintage feel.
or back to your 3.00 gears. That 85 looks really clean and very sharp! I like the push bars for that vintage feel.
Looks great! I'd be tempted to just fix the things that need fixin', use it as my DD and keep the 81 for weekend recreational duties...opc1:
opc1:
Yeah, I thought about that. And a friend mentioned that idea to me too. The problem comes down to I don't have enough to keep working on and improving both of them, and I'd never really feel like fixing the rust issues now on the 81 since there'd be no point in trying to make it nice now, and if I still had a Bronco to go off roading in, I might as well get a commuter car as a daily driver, and no place for three vehicles...... Haha, etcetera etcetera, it goes round and round.Looks great! I'd be tempted to just fix the things that need fixin', use it as my DD and keep the 81 for weekend recreational duties...![]()
Ultimately, I decided it was just better to let it go.
Sucks to be in the position in the first place!
1 - 20 of 32 Posts
