Bronco Driver Magazine reader story page about Centurion Broncos…

not take my eyes off of it. I knew that whether or not I had permission, I would be buying it. My husband ew out to pick up the Bronco after I won it on Ebay. I never heard so much complaining in my life. It was nothing like it was described in the ad, and he was not happy about it. Like most hen peeked" spouses, I nodded all the while thinking otherwise. Who cared that the Bronco did not have air conditioning or that the motor leaked four quarts every hundred miles? Maybe the seller really had over looked that? I was giving excuses in support of the truck already. I would have paid his asking price and then some. I wanted it that badly. Years went by with no real wrenching or even basic maintenance done. The poor Bronco just got rigged good enough when she broke down. I knew too little to do any- more than just a basic wash/wax on her, On one snowy day, reality hit me in the form of divorce papers, which came through the mail. It sunk in: I was alone Even when nothing was being done to take care of the Broncos, I somehow just pushed it off on the husband as his problem or responsibility or hoped that, somehow, he would take care of it. I was scared. My daily driver was a beaten down Bronco with all kinds of issues ranging from simultane ous oil, transmission, brake, radiator and powersteering leaks; to an enginevdying problem during hot temperatures. I had been towed so many times that AAA told me I was on my own regardless of my Plus RV status. Every person I knew, from my blood relatives to my oldest friends, had the same advice: I should dump the Bronco and buy something else. I was absolutely down on my luck, It had broken down so much that shops told me they would not work on it anymore... they refused to take my money. The local truck shops told me to scrap the dang thing. I refused to, I loved that Bronco. I knew I could never replace it and be happy. I spent $5,000 one year xing a Bronco that is worth maybe $3,000 or $4,000, I learned to wrench because I under stood that no one would ever care about my truck as much as I did. No one would ever put as much time and energy into fixing my truck correctly as I would. I turned to the Internet to find answers to my questions. I then learned that there were others out there who had these Centurion Broncos. It was an incredible dis- covery that left me hanging online for hours at nightjust looking at every single picture of them I could find. I finally mustered up some courage and made my very first post asking for help, It was the family I found at wwwfourdoorbroncocom that saved my Bronco. I was not asking for anyone to do anything for me, I was looking for advice on how to do it myself. The Bronco must have sensed I was picking up talent. I went from easy stuff; like code pulling, fuel pumps and lines, bearings, rotors, engine sensors; to major engine work involving the timing chain and gears on a 460 engine. Practically every thing on the front of the engine must be removed to reach them, and I did it. I even learned something about myself that I did not know: I actually enjoyed working on my truck. II was an escape, and one of the very few things that makes me happy in life. I became more and more attached to that Bronco as I worked on it. I began to know every nook, cranny and bolt, I also began to dream more of other Broncos. As I went through the divorce, I chose to light for that Bronco over a lot of other more valuable things I could have fought for. I had finally finished my divorce and could afford a nicer vehicle. I knew everyone envisioned me ditch- ing the Bronco and buying some nice, at least a newer vehicle, I could not do it. I did what everyone least expected. I bought a second one. I had secretly been trolling the Internet for months before then searching and dreaming of finding the right one, and I did. I found her on EBay. She had been listed in Truck Trader for a few months with no bites. It was an all-original Centurion with 2,100 miles, allleather intee rior, and every option available on that model. I really could not believe it, With quite a bit of apprehension and a healthy dose of skepticism, I flew into Houston, Texas to pick her up. She was beyond my wildest dreams. Imagine this: she still smelled new. The original tires were on her, and the oor mats were perfect. The promotional cups were in their plastic packaging, and the original owner was able to tell me about the day she saw it sitting on the showroom loor. She had not been shopping for a Centurion, but it came home with her. I could see why. The Bronco came home with me too. Every time I drove that Bronco, it felt ike a sin. I was putting miles on what was ikely to be the most original Centurion in existence. I could not handle it anymore and garaged her permanently when I bought Centurion Bronco Number Three. Number Three came to me as a sur rise too! It was the week of Christmas when I found out it needed a new home. A close friend was going through a divorce and, in order to afford it, he sacrificed the only truck he had ever really wanted. He new I had been looking for a diesel 3r0nco when I brought the last one home, so this was a noebrainer. Within days, I ad 21 I995, C350 Centurion Bronco with a 7.3 liter, Power Stroke turboadiesel to use as my new daily driver. Man, Centurion Three can fly. She has a Banks Turbo chip and a vendoreinstalled gear. It runs and drives like a dream. I get quite a few looks driving it around, and often, the assumption is that it belongs to a husband, boyfriend, brother, father, or a liveein friend. Actually, I live alone. and the Bronco Driver Magazine - for enchusiusls, by enmusiusvs