S_bolt19, thanks for your answer. I really am a newbie and my car vocabulary is limited at best. I suspected a newer engine would spawn additional upgrades. Cost is only one category of ignorance for me and your response definitely helps. No, I don't have 20K sitting around, but if I did, do you include a whole makeover (like bodywork and paint) in that estimate? I hadn't thought about A/C, but I live in N. Virginia - summers here are warm to say the least and this would be my work car - can't afford a separate weekend vehicle, so A/C is a must. I need to take a moment and tap out ALL the modern tweaks I would want. Do you know of anyone in N. VA who specialized in EBs? Thanks again!
It's funny you are talking about doing something like this because I have kicked the idea around for a couple of years about having a completely stock "looking" EB. From the outside, this thing would look like it rolled off the showroom floor, but crack the hood and she would be a whole different animal. Not to mention, it would have a ton of nice new amenities. I figure that if you can pick up an EB for around $2,000-3,000, you will have a good base to get started. It would probably have minor to medium rust, so I will plan on patching and/or replacing those spots. So, here is what I would do, with costs, if I had the money to build one for a regular driver, but didn't intend on wheeling it. Which is what it sounds like you want.
Decent shape vehicle - $2,500
Patch/repair rust (L& R inner fender aprons, rocker panels, floor pans & tailgate) - $299
Body work (prep & paint) - $4,000
Fuel Injected (EFI) 5.0 (Mass Air System, 89-93 Mustang, rebuilt engine) - $2500
Transmission with adapter kit (NV4500 - 5 speed) - $3,000
Disc brakes front & rear (Blazer front/Cadillac rear) - $1,000
Hydroboost Power Brakes (Astro Van Unit, junkyard) - $200
Power Steering Conversion with upgraded dual return pump(73-75 Bronco) - $950
New Complete Wiring Harness (Includes vehicle & EFI harness) - $1,200
G3 Alternator (better electrical charging system) - $180
Air Conditioning Kit - $839
New Stock Suspension - $850
New Steering Linkage & Trac Bar (Heim joint system) - $425
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Total Cost ~ $17,943
That is just SOME of the major or big ticket items that I would do. Now, this is with me doing ALL of the work except for the paint & minor body work. You can probably add about 15-20% more for labor costs if you have it done. Now, granted there are some things that aren't necessary (G3, steering linkage, A/C kit, maybe even the suspension replacement) but the engine, brake system & transmission are an absolute must in my opinion with the body work and everything else coming after. Man, I really haven't ever sat down and added things up like that, but now that I have, I just realized that I have more than that ******* in my current EB...lol...But that gives you an idea. It also doesn't include ANYthing on the interior of the rig. New seats, dash, guages, stereo, etc. Add another $3-5,000 on to that price and that is where you can end up. But then you look at what you have and what you can buy for that same amount. The resale value of an Early Bronco over something in the same price range in 5, 10 or even 15 years is going to be astronomically higher than anything you could buy for a $20-25k price tag in the same time frame.