Wood body Bronco (Cherry)

[olddog]

I was at a car show today and actually saw and touched a Ford Bronco with a body built out of cherry. The trim was oak. It was certainly something different. I hope Beefy pops back in and sees this one. The body shape looked like original. The guy claimed it is 300 lb lighter, but I do not see how, as the wood is fairly thick.

http://www.cherrybronco.com/


Go into the photo gallery and click on the pictures and they will open up. Honestly the pictures do not do it justice. It is quite beautiful when standing next to it.

[Saltmine]

Yeah, and if you got stranded, you could use the body for firewood...

Not a new idea, Olddog....The Marcos Roadster built back in the late '60's had an oak frame...

[justen]

Strap a few strings across the hood and turn it into a fiddle. :p
That thing reminds me of the old wood wagons. Which a original today is worth alot. But back then not so much.

[Saltmine]

Yeah, Ford ought to start building wooden bodies for the latest batch of c*** they're trying to palm off on the unsuspecting public... Finely finished wood might take a customer's mind off of the fact that most of the head bolts pulled out of the block in 1500 miles, or somebody forgot to put a locking nut on the left rear wheel bearing retainer...or sparkplugs that blow out or spark plugs that won't come out when you need to remove them......

[dougbfresh]

Yeah, Ford ought to start building wooden bodies for the latest batch of c*** they're trying to palm off on the unsuspecting public... Finely finished wood might take a customer's mind off of the fact that most of the head bolts pulled out of the block in 1500 miles, or somebody forgot to put a locking nut on the left rear wheel bearing retainer...or sparkplugs that blow out or spark plugs that won't come out when you need to remove them......


WOW-don't like the Blue Oval anymore? I kind of like my Sport Trac-40K miles and it's been OK so far. That 4.0 seems tobe an OK engine.

[Saltmine]

We had a couple of Sport Trac's when I was at the County shop....We had what seemed to be continuous oil seepage from the transmissions, and wait 'til you need to check the transmission fluid, or service it (no dipstick or filler tube) And an unusual abundance of alignment problems....Seemed like every time we took one over to the dealer, they determined the front end needed an "updated" alignment....under warranty....And when I asked the service manager if there might be a problem in the front end, he replied that it was "normal" for them to wear out tires in 15,000 miles, and the weird wear patterns on the tires was not caused by alignment....

We also had one of the fiberglass pickup beds start cracking (they weren't meant to be driven on dirt roads, we discovered) AND, the replacement bed is "only" $4500..without matching paint or installation.

Hopefully Ford has had enough time to iron out the problems they had with the 4.0 V-6....It's the same family of engines they used in the Taurus, Windstar and Aerostar...
And they were notorious for blowing head gaskets, intake manifold gaskets, and cracking cylinder heads...(ask an Aerostar owner...comes with the territory)
For many years a lot of Ford techs put food on the table by doing manifolds and cylinder heads on Taurus', Windstars, Rangers, and Aerostars....
There was even a coalition formed to get Ford to ante up for all of the manifold and head gaskets people were having to pay for.

[vetteonr]

We had a couple of Sport Trac's when I was at the County shop....We had what seemed to be continuous oil seepage from the transmissions, and wait 'til you need to check the transmission fluid, or service it (no dipstick or filler tube) And an unusual abundance of alignment problems....Seemed like every time we took one over to the dealer, they determined the front end needed an "updated" alignment....under warranty....And when I asked the service manager if there might be a problem in the front end, he replied that it was "normal" for them to wear out tires in 15,000 miles, and the weird wear patterns on the tires was not caused by alignment....

We also had one of the fiberglass pickup beds start cracking (they weren't meant to be driven on dirt roads, we discovered) AND, the replacement bed is "only" $4500..without matching paint or installation.

Hopefully Ford has had enough time to iron out the problems they had with the 4.0 V-6....It's the same family of engines they used in the Taurus, Windstar and Aerostar...
And they were notorious for blowing head gaskets, intake manifold gaskets, and cracking cylinder heads...(ask an Aerostar owner...comes with the territory)
For many years a lot of Ford techs put food on the table by doing manifolds and cylinder heads on Taurus', Windstars, Rangers, and Aerostars....
There was even a coalition formed to get Ford to ante up for all of the manifold and head gaskets people were having to pay for.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: Jeez, makes me want to go out and buy a Ford :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[dougbfresh]

My tires are wearing fine and no leaks. I thought the 3.8 were the stinkers. I know several people that have had good luck with multiple Fords and the 4.0 in particular. Maybe those county guys just beat the cars??

The only guy I know that's had a problem was with a trans in a Windstar.

[Porcupine]

Personally, I feel that all the manufacturers are NOT doing enough research before vehicle X goes to market. How many recalls do we have to endure before manufacturers (any of them) realize that things are not up to snuff.

One would think that with computer design and computer engineering and with more robotics that less problems enter the formula of today's cars/trucks.
But, then again there is a price to be paid for mass production, something has to give. Don't forget too, that there are many, many parts that are outsourced by other manufacturers, hopefully made to GM, Ford or Chrylser specs.

Many of those imports are made right here in North Amercia. So, in theory we're still keeping our nighbors employed.
My next vehicle my just be of an import name but withe a big difference...that it's made here in North America

[danny]

[B]
My next vehicle my just be of an import name but withe a big difference...that it's made here in North America


figures, you drive a ford and then want to drive a toyota, it's all downhill from here :eek: :rolleyes: :p

[Porcupine]

By watching the news lately Ford and GM are in big trouble. Ford in Oakville cancelled a shift just before starting the new shift.
GM Oshawa has had tons of layoffs due to SUVs and largely due to their pickup truck line.
I heard about one used car dealer that has SUVs for sale almost ten cents on the dollar. No one wants them so you can buy them really cheap. People frown at Hummers around here.
I tried to trade my Explorer in and during the few weeks that I tried my trade-in value dropped week by week. My Explorer, that is in mint condition, is not worth much. It makes more sense to keep it and endure the gas prices. At least gas prices are dropping a little.

[danny]

People frown at Hummers around here.



me too-happy frown :eek: :D

[danny]

me too-happy frown :eek: :D


err i mean i like them-would buy one for the right price.

[Porcupine]

Just for fun, would a Hummer be your truck of choice?

AND.... money no object, what would everyone else buy, money no object? It has to be a truck NOT a car.

[justen]

Saltmine, I hear yeah there. My wife's malibu and a few other cars I've seen have no dipstick for the transmission. So I have to drive the car on too ramps start the engine crawl under the car and check the transmission oil level. Real pain in the "A". I tried checking it one time without the engine running and about 3 quarts came pouring out. So thats just stupid how some these cars and trucks are made. Might as fill it with oil and weld the hole shut. Hope like heck you don't spring a leak.

That will be the next thing, from factory fill with oil do not touch. Then when it needs oil. You have to replace the whole dang thing. Because theres no filler hole lol.

The wife's malibu the filler hole for the transmission is under the exhaust manifold. I got sneaky and use a gas syphoning pump and pump oil into the hole.

[Porcupine]

Just think. If you drove that wooden Bronco, I'd have to detail it with Pledge

[Saltmine]

There's not even a filler plug on some Ford transmissions. They're filled, at the factory, through the oil cooler lines. When it comes time to service or replace the fluid, you need a flush machine to do it properly....

Of course, you'll never know if the fluid is getting skunky, because there's no way to check it....Except for a small plug in the center of the drain plug....Inside, there's a "quill" that is machined to the correct level for the fluid. By removing the plug, fluid will drip out.....if the level is right. If it's too low, none will come out, and if it's over full, it will pour out....Clever, totally out of character for Ford.

[vetteonr]

Just think. If you drove that wooden Bronco, I'd have to detail it with Pledge

Don't laugh, but I use lemon pledge on my dash and door panels. Works great and smells good too!