Going to Look at a Bronco tomorrow

[RedMerc04]

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/car/755712620.html
I think its a pretty good deal from what I see and what the caption says. It has the typical bronco rust but for 2 grand i think its a worthy winter beater to keep my MM out of the salt. Is there anything in particular I should look for?

[imorb1994]

From a past experience a friend and i had with a very similar F-150. Rear main seal, oil pan leaks, motor mounts, radius arm bushings, ball joints, and u joints are what i would look for.

All of those things went bad on a friends truck within 3000 miles and 6 month time

[Mike Poore]

We drove a 90 then a 95 for 100K miles +. The '95 had a 351 and was a great performer, while the '90 had the smaller V8 302? and was very weak in the pulling department, along with "shiftman" in the transmission that drove me crazy. I loved the '95, and wouldn't take that '90 back as a gift. Both were Eddie Bauer's. The only thing about the '95 was the 4X4 system and it was a major problem. You never knew if the damned thing was in four wheel drive, no matter what the idiot lights on the dash said after pushing the *%^$#@& button(s). And never, never, wait until you think you're gonna need 4X4, before pushing the &%^$#@# button(s) Given the opportunity to fail, leaving you stuck in the worse places, it never failed to fail. :mad2:

[SID210SA]

I had an 89 Bronco 4X4 and loved it.....the water pump went on mine but it was and easy change....never had any problems with it.....other than that make sure the 4 wheel drive works correctly....oh yeah....the a/c had to keep being recharged too. Only leaks I had were from the valve covers. And if he/she has removed the top it will likely leak....look at the seals if you can. Other than that....I wish I would have never sold mine.

[TAKEDOWN]

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/car/755712620.html
I think its a pretty good deal from what I see and what the caption says. It has the typical bronco rust but for 2 grand i think its a worthy winter beater to keep my MM out of the salt. Is there anything in particular I should look for?
you should look at local boys under "Just practicing threads" now...that's a Bronco!

[Motorhead350]

My dad used to have a 1980 so I don't really think I can help, but I will say my Blazer is very easy to fix and most parts you can find in a junkyard when the time comes. Also these are so easy to park you will forget you are in a fullsize truck!

Enjoy, but if you wanna give Chevys a chance the K5s are tons of fun! Had mine 17 years and counting.

[offroadkarter]

My uncle has a 94 eddie bauer with 60k miles on it, still is solid as a rock.

good luck on getting it, hopefully it turns out well.

[Glenn]

I owned a 1994 Bronco Eddie Bauer edition and loved it. It had the 351 v-8 which had good power, but gas mileage was 13-14 mpg. If the top has been off it WILL leak on you. Check if the rear electic window and defoster works. When the top is off these wires get pinched and they may not work. Check 4x4 transfer box and low low gear. You should hear a chunk noise when you put it into 4X4. You can tell when it is in low low it sounds and feels different. Good Luck.

Glenn :burnout:

[Egon Spengler]

What size motor? my mom had a '92 with the 5.7... MEAN! I loved the thing!!!

[larryo340]

If the top has been off it WILL leak on you. Check if the rear electic window and defoster works. When the top is off these wires get pinched and they may not work.

I had my top off a couple of times a season, and I never had a leak. You just have to remove and install top carefully lift it up, and not drag it off. As far as the wires for the rear window and rear defroster they come out of the body near L/R tail lamp and enter the side of tailgate so they are not disturbed when top taken off.

Oh yeah, most likely the upper and lower ball joints are done at 103K, also check radius arm bushings, the front drive shaft u-joints, and last but not least oil leaks. The ball joints are pretty easy to replace as long as the spindles are not fused to the knuckle. If you have any questions about Broncos don't hesitate to me or anyone else here who is familiar with Broncos.

Here is a picture of the '85 Bronco I had. The last of the great ones with a 351 4V HO, C6, and 9" rear:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/larryo340/SBY-UV3UcVI/AAAAAAAADqE/KSV-a26mJYI/Bronco1.JPG?imgmax=576

[Motorhead350]

Heck ya dude!

[rayjay]

If you've never driven one before keep in mind that it is a short wheel base truck and handles as such. If you drive it like a car you WILL wreck it. We had a 86 at our station that was an absolute animal in the snow. We drove it through a drift taller than the roof during the Blizzard of 93 and it made it through. It was still going after 11 years inservice, but the body was shot.

[Blackened300a]

My uncle had a 1990 Bronco with the 302 in it. Weak truck but lucky for him it was only to pull a small go-kart trailer.

Nothing like buying a large V-8 SUV with gas prices the way they are. Thats probably why its so cheap.

[larryo340]

If you've never driven one before keep in mind that it is a short wheel base truck and handles as such. If you drive it like a car you WILL wreck it.

Mine handled surpisingly well considering I drove aggresively. I'll bet it was those 12.5" wide Yokohama's on 10" wide wheels ;)


My uncle had a 1990 Bronco with the 302 in it. Weak truck but lucky for him it was only to pull a small go-kart trailer.

A friend of mine had a '86 with a 5.0L with EFI which couldn't get out of it's own way.

I rebuilt my 5.8L added Edelbrock intake, Ford Motorsport low RPM high torque cam, TCI towing converter, and true duals straight from the manifolds (no cats) Good thing I was working in a Lincoln/Mercury service dept at the time.:D

[Aren Jay]

I always wanted one of those jacked up really high. Then I worked with a guy who had one, and nothing but endless problems, and they are the hardest things to get into and painful when you fall out of.

[larryo340]

I always wanted one of those jacked up really high. Then I worked with a guy who had one, and nothing but endless problems, and they are the hardest things to get into and painful when you fall out of.

As far as problems goes it's also how well you take car of it. I did all the mechanical and electrical work on it with the exception of the trans overhaul, but then again I had full access to the shop. Mine just had a 4" suspension lift, and 33" tires. I had no problems getting in or out of it.

[03Farmmarauder]

Take a look at the 95 Bronco i repainted for a friend!!!!
Still trying to fix a couple rust problems on the tailgate.

[TAKEDOWN]

Local Boy! You gotta put those pictures up of your Bronco!

[DEFYANT]

Former owner of an 86 Bronco red / tan checkin in. I miss that truck. It had the 351, C6, 9" rear also. Unstoppable! I have got to get some pics scanned of that ole girlfriend. I really got myself into a few jackpots with that truck and she always got me home...somehow.

[teamrope]

I've got a 90 with the 5.7. The best place to find out the dirt and if it is worth it in your area is http://fullsizebronco.com

I've saved a lot of $$$ by searching their threads when I have issues.

[larryo340]

Former owner of an 86 Bronco red / tan checkin in. I miss that truck. It had the 351, C6, 9" rear also. Unstoppable! I have got to get some pics scanned of that ole girlfriend. I really got myself into a few jackpots with that truck and she always got me home...somehow.

I thought that Ford stopped the C6 and 9" in '85, and went with the AOD and 8.8". Although it would make sense since the redesign in '87

[High-C]

The only pic that I have on my computer at the office...

[DOOM]

I miss the bronco. I wish ford would bring it back.

[larryo340]

I miss the bronco. I wish ford would bring it back.
^^^^^^^^^ ditto

I heard a few years back they were thinking about it, but I guess in todays world it'll never happen :(.

[RedMerc04]

I just called the guy to set up a time to come look at the truck and He said he sold it earlier today... Oh well

[whd507]

I have a 94 with a 302, and a 96 with a 351, the 351 gets better mileage, and much better power, even though the 302 has a chip and no cats.

my 94 was from NJ and has rust issues, but I'll likely keep it around a while anyway.

I just had the dealer replace all the ball joints, shocks and align it, and replace the rear gate latch, and oil pan gasket, $1100.00