Keeping the I6, but which vehicle?

[MPGmustang]

this sucks... I want both... Wife wants only 1... grrr...

the mustang or the bronco? one has to go and the other stay.

the money from one will be poured into the other, to make one complete car.

I've always wanted a truck but got the mustang and became attached. the bronco is fullfilling the first dream.

which ever route I go, I will keep the i6, mustang 200ci or the bronco 250ci. we will invest in the alum head for either vehicle. but I only get one or the other.

why can't I have both? finances... niether will get fixed if I keep both. they will rot and sit and I won't play with them. if one is gone the money will be sucked up by the other... I'm sure quickly...

the mustang... I've done it wrong... I want to tear and rip it apart. start over... but the funds from the bronco won't be enough. so I can't in a way. this canvas has been painted many times over. wish I did it differently, invested so much dyno time and research. i want to keep it!!

the bronco... it needs everything... so I guess it's an empty canvas and I don't feel bad throwing anything away from it. I guess as it's blank it's a fresh start... more usable... get me that truck I've always wanted... insta convertable!!! ... more family oriented... i want to keep it!!

I've been playing with the idea of either vehicle for about 3 months... I got the bronco cause I LOVE camping and the mustang sucks off road, but I love to just drive the mustang the feel and rush of driving it. I don't know about the bronco and the feel/handle of it. maybe someone here in AZ could let me drive thier bronco to see which I'd rather drive.... I'm so torren between the two... I need more help on pros and cons...

if you were in my situation what would you choose?

 

[CobraSix]

Personally, I choose the mustang, but that's what I'm partial to. Go out and look at both and see which talks the most to you. Dollar for dollar, the mustang will be a better return on investment than the bronco as in money in will just about equal money out if you are doing the work yourself and it's fairly good quality work. The allure of 4 wheeling is fun but honestly I'd rather pick up a 90s Jeep Cherokee for camping/4 wheeling. The 4.0L I6 is just a monster and the Jeep design is just so nice and easy to modify and easy to keep up as a daily driver (my mother still has her 91 Jeep Cherokee).

Any way to focus on one and keep the other stored for now? then in a few years down the road, revisit it?

 

[CoupeBoy]

You solicite, I will respond..
I voted Bronco. Why? Well there are lots of reasons, some you have listed on here. Off road, truck hard top and convertible. Other reasons as well like there were 1 million early mustangs made (64.5-66), Broncos were much lower with total production between '66-'77 around 226k according to the totals found here --Bronco Grave Yard. You can easily find another Mustang when/if the time comes.

If you keep the Mustang you will have a certain level of resent, you've invested quite a bit of money and time, which has sentimental value. But at the same time if you don't rid yourself of the car you will only keep adding $$ onto the existing costs and you may never be able to part with it, which is OK if you are already attached.

 

[bmbm40]

If selling the Bronco is not enough money for the Mustang then the decision is kind of made. Personally since I want a Mustang as well as my Bronco I would just get the Bronco roadworthy and drive it while taking my time on the Mustang. For the way you want to use the Bronco the stock 250 is way more than adequate, or even a good used later 200 for it. Don't know what you paid for it but it will hold it's value. Most of the mods on mine were done with used parts I gathered over a couple of years. But I drove it for about 15 years in pretty much original condition.

 

[xctasy]

I didn't vote. I'd go with your wifes instantcs and plan to make something within that your goal, and aggree to be aggreed.

Your working as a military team, a scared alliance of minds. The two of you together is greater than the sum of its components. And as you exponge the civilian matters, you focus on your joint goal.

I'd listen to my wife, and then make a descision that honours both your desires. For ladies, its normal to switch and flitter between options, for guys, its easy to be constant.

I've been married 22 years, and I never regretted backing down on the more expensive option of shoving an Explorer 4.0 crank in my 2.3Cologne Turbo Cortina, even though it wasn't really expensive in total dollars.

We've reverted back to the old time way of doing things, saving up and doing only what you can afford, and slowly acquire the things that benefit you. It took me 7 years and you guys at FordSix saw how I shelved both the V6 Cortina, the 229 cid Chev pistoned 221 cranked reverse stroker, the supercharger kit and final sold all my V6 and I6 carson 2003 and then nothing expect three project wrecks from then until the XLT Explorer in 2011. I pulled appart five I6's, an EFI and two carb x-flow Falcons, Cortina 6, and that allowed me to get good parts and 'Get Smart' with the i6 journery.

Now, I'm on the road and doing it, with my non Ford loving wife. Sheryl and I have our own spirit of 76...

the celebration of Ford Australias 1976 X-flow Ford where suddenly, the base engine became the best engine. Every car I work in has to cover off the high compression cross flows good head flow and great torque that came from the Geelong boys modifications to the 1976 3.3 and 4.1 sixes.

And my Ford loving son is helping me. You don't change your partner, you morph, and get with the joint mission goal. one that both endorse. No matter how hard it gets, from the halls to the shores

 

[JackFish]

I tried to vote, but kept getting an error. :|
Your wife probably likes the mustang, so I vote Bronco.
My wife is not someone I consult for input on the car thing.

 

[Route--66--]

What year/model Bronco / Mustang??
I have a 65 I6 Mustang but an older bronco would be cool so pics please! !!!

 

[MPGmustang]

http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac17 ... 180223.jpg

here's the mustang vs bronco... at the top there is a poll, describing what each will be.

my wife wants the bronco and wants to get rid fo the mustang... I think I'm liking the idea of starting over and doing the bronco from the ground up.

 

[Route--66--]

Nooo that's just too hard to choose
Mustang is really really smart.. white is en vogue too at the moment making it even cooler.
Bronco is peachy though with lots of character.
Well, even though I'm in the M camp, if the wife likes the Bronco that would be the decider.. that way she'll be happier going out in it AND she can't complain about you spending time in the garage on the resto!
My wife loves the mustang ..here's a pic of her driving it http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg572/Route66uk/Mustang 2012/drive.jpg
Just asked her and she says "The Mustang is really nice but it can look after itself.. the Bronco needs taking care of" sighs
so will have to go with the Bronc - vote cast
All the best and please post resto pics .. (any more pics of it in its current state??)

 

[STEVEN.]

I too,didin't vote however,I feel you should buy MORE Vechicles.... ~OO6.

 

[Gene Fiore]

Richard...how would you feel if the Mustang was gone tomorrow and you just had the Bronco? How would you feel if tomorrow the Bronco was gone and you just had the Mustang? Which scenario makes you feel worse? Do the oppposite of what makes you feel worse.

 

[CobraSix]

Are the proceeds of one going to fix the other?

Instead of tackling both simultanously, can you keep them both and slowly fix one at a time? I mean, it seems that your mustang is up and running. So, honestly if it were me and you loved both cars, finish one...take a break, drive it, and save up money to start the next. I know that's easier said than done with a car that isn't on the road (bronco) which is why m y next project car I'm already looking at is already road worth (though cheap) and I can keep it running while I finish my mustang (again...for the 5th time, but I swear I'm done after this).

 

[MPGmustang]

I think there's also the issue that the mustang loves to break on me... I agree with coupeboy, I do have resent on the mustang, I've sunk so much money into the mustang that I've kinda given up on it. and it begs for more!!! I think the bronco is the way to go. yeah I'm attached to mustangs, but this one keeps breaking, and I just want it to end (money spending).

I've tried to just keep one, and let the other sit, she won't have it, this contention is not healthy so I'm probably going to get rid of the mustang, as she wants the bronco, she won't be able to disagree with ANY of the $$$$ (4digit) mods...

All proceeds from either vehicle will be sucked up by the other...

 

[CobraSix]

I think there's also the issue that the mustang loves to break on me... I agree with coupeboy, I do have resent on the mustang, I've sunk so much money into the mustang that I've kinda given up on it. and it begs for more!!! I think the bronco is the way to go. yeah I'm attached to mustangs, but this one keeps breaking, and I just want it to end (money spending).

I've tried to just keep one, and let the other sit, she won't have it, this contention is not healthy so I'm probably going to get rid of the mustang, as she wants the bronco, she won't be able to disagree with ANY of the $$$$ (4digit) mods...

All proceeds from either vehicle will be sucked up by the other...

I think your path is made obvious then. Its why I like my mustang...because my wife likes it more which means it's easier to get stuff done.

I'm sure you realize, your Bronco will be no less apt to break down as it is of similar vintage and actually has more parts to break with 4WD. But, if you resent your mustang...then get rid of it.

 

[82F100]

Richard, just put the stang body on the bronco chassis problem solved. That way ya get to have a lil of both

 

[JackFish]

Here's a bronco for sale.
It's at $6000 and it still needs restoration:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/White-Gr ... 4abe897f99

 

[xctasy]

......Your wife probably likes the mustang, so I vote Bronco.
My wife is not someone I consult for input on the car thing.

In this instance, there is no wrong descision. Its an Bronco, the worlds first SUV, or the Mustang, the most popular classic or modern vintage car ever.

Make up your own mind. Slow decision making has saved my hiney many times when its cars. My wife loved my old 58 PA Vauxhall, my 82 V6 Cortina, and my 96 RAV 4 G spec 5 door, but I sold 'em off fast after a few weeks of soul searching.

She hated my Explorer, but I kept it for a year and a half. The 84 Falcon she loved, but couldn't handle me doing rust repairs each six months on it, so we sold it for a song. At that time, my wife became a Toyota convert (she remains so today, and thats okay by me) because she thought that one particular brand was better than another by design. After a sucession of 110 000 mile Toyotas, three Aisin transmissions, a split 3SGE block, and the awfullness in my sons eyes of the 1S-C 1812 engine and its 1982 front drive Corona body, my son believes in Mitsubishis. I'm not like my wife or son, I belive once I touch a car, I can make any prior piece of SH!+ be ble$$ed if I pray and work my butt off. Vauxhall, Cortinas, Falcons, Explorer, Mustang, it doesn't matter, if I touch it, I bless it. You need to have the same belief, so that when your ride is spread out in 20000 parts on your garage floor, you won't be dishartned ever by a mere piece of iron that has no soul. Your soul makes inanimate objects move, just like everyone who uses and fashions machines. You don't worship them or rely soley on them, but you use them as tools for as long as you can, and turn them over to someone else when you have to, for everything you have should be an anuity that has residual value.

You make the final call after considering your wifes position, and you'll be ble$$ed. You overturn or over rule only on the basis that your convinced by faith or evidence, depending on your creed. I use faith, becasue it's the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. Your decisions become greater than the sum or their components. That's the way it seames to be for all people of faith. In my case, its taken 9 years to bear fruit.

Sometimes you'll go one way, sometimes the other, but at all times, think for yourself. This is not a Doris Lessing quote, just how it is for guys in marriage.I know you won't ever blame your beloved for things that you yourself have the casting vote on. I recon that no one holds me at gun point in a marrigage, you are ultimatley responsible for everything. Its like President Truman with "The BUCK STOPS here" sign on his desk.

And that's what makes marriage and the art of car maintenance so much fun. Now go a kick some serious hiney!

Relish it, and enjoy the ride...

 

[Gene Fiore]

Richard, just put the stang body on the bronco chassis problem solved. That way ya get to have a lil of both

Good one Rich! Seriously, sounds like you really want the problems you have had and may continue to have with the Mustang to just go away. That being said, sell it and use that money to fix up the Bronco.

 

[bmbm40]

Mustang body on Bronco chassis-I like that.

 

[bmbm40]

You talked about the driving experience, the Bronco is loads of fun and mine is my daily driver when I am home-but there would be certain roads/excursions that a Mustang is perfect for. If you are planning a frame off resto-mod the first part of that is mostly labor/time intensive so if your Mustang is driveable you could keep it for awhile. Getting the frame prepped and painted and the body work is not that much money if you can do it yourself or part of it. Going slow in the beginning might be good taking your time planning the basic structural mods. I have thought about this for my next Bronco and would consider the shackle flip, F250 front spring tower and moving the rear axle back about 1"-1.5". If you had a 250 block you could work on the pan mod and the 4R70 fitment. It would be much easier to do so much of this with the body off.