Hi all,

A friend of mine recently mentioned he wanted to get a 4x4 to play in, and asked weither he should get a jeep, or a ford bronco(hes a mustang guy). I told him I'd ask the board and get some opinions. He's looking to get a pre 74 4x4 due to california smog laws. Can you give me some pro's and cons, and what he should look for? He does like high power engines.


Thanks
Dave

hey there,
thats a toss-up....
most pre-74 vehicles are downright bulletproof if you take care of them and don't abuse them(too much:))

early bronco's -both fullsize and small ones- lend themselves greatly to buildups and 4x4ing

you can't go wrong with a jeep either, parts availability is great and you have great camraderie on the trail.

early yota's are a good choice, too. the parts can and will be more expensive, but early landcruisers are tanks, more than making up for $$$ parts.


thats my two cents, anyways. also, if your friend decides upon jeeps and you are close to san diego, look at my add for a 59 cj5...it might still be around when he/she is looking.... its under:

"buymebuyme...early cj5 for sale..cheap" in the vehicles for sale section.

hey there,
thats a toss-up....
most pre-74 vehicles are downright bulletproof if you take care of them and don't abuse them(too much:))

early bronco's -both fullsize and small ones- lend themselves greatly to buildups and 4x4ing

you can't go wrong with a jeep either, parts availability is great and you have great camraderie on the trail.

early yota's are a good choice, too. the parts can and will be more expensive, but early landcruisers are tanks, more than making up for $$$ parts.


thats my two cents, anyways. also, if your friend decides upon jeeps and you are close to san diego, look at my add for a 59 cj5...it might still be around when he/she is looking.... its under:

"buymebuyme...early cj5 for sale..cheap" in the vehicles for sale section.

Your as you say "all original, worth 10,000 to a collector" cj wouldnt be the rig for this guy who wants to play around with a 4x4. He needs some beater to learn to wheel in, then he can move up. Stock all original cj5 isnt a good start.

If he's a ford dude tell him to get a ford and stop asking idiotic questions in a tech forum. Newbie forum would be a wonderful start....

lol,otto....

your right...xj...a beater would be a better start...like a beat sammy or a yota...

don't want him crying on the side of the rubi, cause he scratched his paint....haha

regards

Yeah hes looking for an older beater, but hes not heading for the rocks. He's looking more of a woods/mud kinda machine. But it HAS to be pre 74. He likes horse power, and I'm sure hes gonna add all sorts of mods to what ever he gets. I tried to convince him to go the Land Cruiser route as I have 3, but he likes american metal. The kinds of things I'm looking for here is which frames to avoid, what engines like to spew metal, what years are hard to find parts for, that sort of thing.

Thanks
Dave

Recomend him to get and old v8 1 ton chevy, good axles, good power. then lift it with big tires, and he will have a mud machine.

i think a sammy could be built cheap...they do great on 31's with a lunchbox locker in the rear...maybe put a shackle lift on it.

regards

i think a sammy could be built cheap...they do great on 31's with a lunchbox locker in the rear...maybe put a shackle lift on it.

regards


He does like high power engines.

Which puts a sammy in last place....

New wheeler, big engine, high lift, big tires. Get a fullsize Bronco, It already has an 8 with easy parts to get, it's stable, it's cheap, it has a tough drivetrain. I'm a jeep guy, short wheelbase, not many v8s, easy rollover, doesn't sound like what your looking for.

XJ called it right. Have him get an old Chevy pickup and be done with it.

A big motor is gonna need bigger axles. Why bother getting a 1/2 ton if you're gonna have to upgrade the axles. I agree with the above posts, start with a 1 ton for a build up.

I got a Built 82 Jeep CJ for sale see my add Built 82 Jeep CJ For Sale

I got a Built 82 Jeep CJ for sale see my add Built 82 Jeep CJ For Sale


Hes new to 4 wheeling, a expensive (12,500) built jeep is wrong for him, and he said "pre 74 4x4 due to california smog laws" which doesnt go with what you have.

Would 74 work? Tell him to get a 74 Wagoneer. AMC V8 muscle, dana 44 axles are plenty tuff for learning and 74 is easier to work on because they use under the frame front spring mounting for better axle swaps (73-under uses weaker post mounting).

My .02

i think hes just looking for recomendations right now, everyone whos offering rigs should ask "dave E" if hes ready for a purchase. "A friend of mine recently mentioned he wanted to get a 4x4 to play in".

how about a hyundai santa fe and a big pep boys 4x4 sticker across the front window.

how about a hyundai santa fe and a big pep boys 4x4 sticker across the front window.


Haha, my mom has one of those, take off traction control on that beast, you will go any where...lol

Early Bronco's or Chev or Ford Fullsize Trucks, if you can find one an early land cruiser would be an excellent choice.

IIRC, its '75 & older vehicles are California smog-exempt now, so you could go as late as '75 (a buddy of mine is fixing up a '74 Ford because of this now)

Almost anything that old will need some axle swapping if big HP is involved.

Just get a 404.1 Mercedes Benz Unimog. You can just go wheeling and not welding. No mods needed, lots of parts availible and you get the worlds most capable offroad vehicle. Portal axles, lockers, huge articulation, coil springs, and ready to go. All for way under 10 grand.