78 Blazer or 93 Bronco for winter and occasional towing?

After looking at a bunch more heaps on Saturday (and a nice RX7), I found a couple of vehicles that might actually consider opening the wallet for. Both are at small used car dealers - I don't like buying cheap vehicles from dealers, but in this case the prices seem fairly realistic. Well, before fees and sales tax...

First candidate is a late 70s Blazer, I think it's been repainted (looks way too clean) and according to the ad, it's got a new motor and interior. I've seen it in the flesh but haven't driven it yet. Which is probably a good thing because I still have my hearing (it's got cherry bombs fitted). This one's got a roll bar fitted inside at the tail gate - looks not very original to me but probably sensible.

Second candidate is an extremely clean '93 Full Size Bronco, 135k on it w/ 351. That one is so clean you'd swear it's got 10k on it and sat it some old dear's garage all it's life. Which it probably did as it doesn't suffer from burnt paint that is so common around here. All original from what I could see.

We did like the Blazer as it's got the removable top, obviously the Bronco's top isn't removable as it's one that's got proper rear seat belts on it and they mount to the inside of the roof. OTOH the Bronco is extremely nice and clean.

Both are autotragics so the wife would be able to drive them, too.

Any comments on either truck's merits?

The top is removable on the Bronco....and I would take that over the Blazer.

The Bronco with the 351W has EFI and an a Ford AOD, so will likely be more reliable, easier to start when cold, have more power, and get better fuel economy. And a better/quieter highway ride.

Depending where you are, the newer model might also mean a safety inspection and emissions concerns that the older one doesn't have.

I'm a Chevy guy but loved my big Bronco... even with the little 302 in it. My current parts donor '92 Bronco with a 351 feels like a whole different truck with effortless torque... that's why I wanted that 351 for my Laforza over the Factory 302.

That Blazer likely has a 350/TH350 or 400 (no OD) in it... could be stock, might be hot. Might not be something for daily driving. If a 305 i'd pass completely... if a big block, I'd have to go see/drive it out of principle...

Link to the Blazer: http://reno.craigslist.org/ctd/1941423975.html

... and to the Bronco: http://reno.craigslist.org/ctd/1947111239.html

I'd be paying cold hard cash for either so I'm not too bothered if I don't qualify for the buy here/pay here program on the Bronco . Probably gives me a little less room to haggle - didn't someone around here mention that the down payment is usually what they have in the car and the rest is pure profit?

Actually there is another, 93, Bronco around here: http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/1941758989.html

Probably should check with the guy if he's still got it.

@wcelliot, no safety inspections or emissions to worry about, the county I live in doesn't require either. BTW, I remembered your comments about your Bronco with the 302 which made me go look either for one with a straight six or the 351W...

Not enough info on the Blazer, but both the Broncos look good.

I'm not a fan of the 300 six either unless it's hooked to a manual trans.

My buddy had a 1978 and it had full-time (full-time 4WD?) front hubs, a 31 gallon gas tank, a 4" lift kit, and big tires. The gas mileage was tough and changing the hubs out increased gas mileage. We also pulled the 1/2 top off and never got the seals right after that.

I have never seen one that wasn't rusty and had "issues" with the back window. But the front end is a solid axle and will take lift kits and abuse easily. My other friend bought them exclusively for his snow plow business.

I love pre-80s Blazers, but for what you want I would do the Bronco. Fuel Injection is a huge plus.

I like the broncos. Give the silver one a very close look around passenger front side. Something about the trim beyond the missing piece...

Had an 81 Blazer. Best vehicle I owned.
K5 Blazer removable top is behind cab leaving the cab covered and the back open. Like said probably 350/350. Chevy truck parts mostly interchange except some suspension like springs. Solid (straight) axles front and rear with leaf springs front and rear. Making for a bit harsh ride.
Bronco probably has the removable top the same as the K5. Not sure. Front suspension is independent, coil (twin-I-beam) and has a smoother ride.
Personally I would go for the Bronco.

Bronco for a daily, as stated before EFI and Overdrive are really nice.

The K5 would be a sweet toy though.

oldtin wrote: I like the broncos. Give the silver one a very close look around passenger front side. Something about the trim beyond the missing piece...

Also note in these extra pictures of the silver one that the firewall is red. Whole body repaint? Why?
http://www.vpnad.com/eaglevalleymotors/81908v63seq95req876que7316/ACCT_list_dealer_inventory_stock_81908v63seq95req876que7316.php?display=editEntryForm&status=active&id=1282425165.1308&from=dealer_inventory&beginningEntry=1

jrw1621 wrote:

oldtin wrote: I like the broncos. Give the silver one a very close look around passenger front side. Something about the trim beyond the missing piece...

Also note in these extra pictures of the silver one that the firewall is red. Whole body repaint? Why? http://www.vpnad.com/eaglevalleymotors/81908v63seq95req876que7316/ACCT_list_dealer_inventory_stock_81908v63seq95req876que7316.php?display=editEntryForm&status=active&id=1282425165.1308&from=dealer_inventory&beginningEntry=1

Yep, and on the photo of the open door you can make out a red line the whole way around the door jamb, not a particularly good repaint. Also a hefty dent on the passenger front fender. Overall it doesnt look like a very clean vehicle to me. I'd check out the other bronco you posted, looked cleaner but the photos weren't very detailed..

I love this forum .

I hadn't studied the ad in detail, but I had looked at the Bronco - well, the outside, as we went there when the dealer was closed. Oddly enough I didn't spot the dent that's on the pictures - I'm either getting old or it shows up better on photos than it does in RL.

The green one in the other ad is still for sale (which doesn't surprise me because it's a little on the expensive side) but the guy just emailed me that it needs the aircon recharging. Makes you wonder why he didn't spend the fifty bucks that cost...

I'm beginning to rethink the purchase of a '79 Bronco from the father an acquaintance of my wife's. That one needs a paint job (badly) and the interior reassembling, but he's spent a ton of money on the mechnical side - it's got a monster 460 in it, freshly built & just run in, with paperwork, C6 rebuilt with heavy duty parts and pretty much anything that could give you grief while travelling has been upgraded with heavy duty parts. Body is pretty rust free but has a horrible late 70s colour with painted-on flames and a lot of dings (hence the need for the paint job to make it look presentable. Not very original, more of a trail rig with half-decent road manners...

Having never owned either of these, but observing friends and teh 1ntr4w3bz, y0, 79 K5 Blazer would probably be better for towing, but "rebuilt motor" scares the E36 M3 out of me. To me, "rebuilt motor" means complete garbage waiting to grenade. I trust no rebuilds but my own.

As for the Fords, my observation is that the 302 is not that good for towing. My friend burned up 3 of them towing a travel trailer. They just can't handle foot to the floor for 3 days. If you're not towing (much), the later model Fords would probably be the way to go. The one from your friend-in-law would probably be good if a bit thirsty, again, depending on the "rebuild." I really don't trust others' work.

Where you living these days, fish-head? Left coast somewhere? Just curious.

OTOH I figure that if I could get the Blazer a little cheaper, a grenaded motor wouldn't hurt that much and I could use it as an excuse to build a decent one. Given my luck tho' I'd grenade the engine the first day I really need the Blazer. But I'm still tempted...

The only Broncos I'm considering are the ones with the 351W (or bigger), simply because the 302 isn't really that good at towing.

The guy who had the Bronco engine & trans built does seem to know what he's doing when he specced the engine (it's a shop-built motor, not a home built one). Given that he was planning to build it for him and his wife to use on backcountry trips, he seems to have overspecced everything he touched. He also seems to be a massive gearhead but he's got too many projects and the Bronco is basically to big to tow behind the motorhome...

The main reason I'm a little wary of it is that I can easily see myself throwing another few grand at this particular Bronco that would have to come out of the track car fund .

We're now in what you'd consider the right side of Lake Tahoe (down in the Carson Valley). I've got to get used to living in a place with four proper seasons again...

FWIW I tow with a 1990 Bronco with a 302.

It never feels underpowered, but I never really tow anything that heavy (old VWs and Porsches on an aluminum trailer).

The steering is vague, gas mileage is abysmal and the window regulators seem to break a lot.

The full body respray does not have to be the reason to not buy it, just good reason to investigate further.
You mentioned that most cars in the area have sun damaged paint/clearcoat. That may be the reason for the repaint and the reason to not again go with a high fade color like red.
In you price range do not let a fender dent stop you from getting a vehicle that may run just fine.

350 motors are cheap. Near as I can tell, the junk yards are full of them. Maybe that means something.

In my completely non-experienced opinion, if you want something for driving around mostly, go for one for the later models with a un-touched factory engine. That 460, IF it was done right, would be great for towing. Bring the big debit card for gas. I don't discount home built motors, but it's just that I have yet to see anyone rebuild a motor properly. "Rebuild" usually means gaskets, new rings and a set of bearings. My wife had a 351M motor in a 76 Elite, big block, 351CI displacement. It ate ignition systems regularly until I swapped in a points dizzy.

In my experienced opinion, I'd say get a RN Truck. I tow my car hauler with 3000 lbs of Esprit on it and get about 19 MPG doing it. Not in any hurry, though, and with 2WD, it's a biatch in the winter. A 4WD model, though, does well.

I had a friend that lived in Lake Tahoe. He said you could spot the Californians in the winter because they would slide right through the red lights. He ran a charter fishing boat there for a while, then moved to Idaho.

Some quick searching while watching TV.
Shamed to admit it but VH1 is airing Roadhouse

Nissan V6 4x4:
http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/1952741115.html

4 runner with a meer 161k miles http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/1951473391.html

Isuzu:
http://reno.craigslist.org/ctd/1953956894.html

jrw1621 wrote: 4 runner with a meer 161k miles http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/1951473391.html

"Won't pass CA smog" is not good as that means that you probably can't sell it up in Reno as they've got smog checks there. Just not down here...

I must admit that I don't know much about 4runners, any comments on them as tow vehicles? Basically we're looking for something a little more pokey and better at towing than the wife's Cherokee...

just turned 300k on my 91 Suburban. Last year of the boxy body style, but modern enough to have fuel injection and overdrive transmission. 4wd, tow package, and AC and I have under 2k in it. I think I remember you saying suburbans are too big though.

If you don't like towing with a cherokee you won't with a 4runner either. Not that much of a difference....especially for the year range you'd be looking in. A friend of mine just dumped her v8 4runner for an Expedition to tow her camper.

I've got a newish 4runner - 2007. Does fine towing (v8 awd). Towed the e28 and my old bronco without drama. Not so sure on the older, lighter, taller, shorter sixes

Why do Blazers of that vintage all hunker down in the back? Spring going south?

My '94 4-Runner did that, once I put in new springs I noticed it on most other 4-Runners.

Dan

914Driver wrote: Why do Blazers of that vintage all hunker down in the back? Spring going south? My '94 4-Runner did that, once I put in new springs I noticed it on most other 4-Runners. Dan

I know the 4runner didn't have uprated springs in the back compared to the pickup. The closed in back weighs more than an open bed. So they sag.