Learn me the Bronco II

So my girlfriend has decided she must have one. She has $1600 and being that we live in MI, that means I'm getting a rust bucket. I already know I got a nightmare of body work ahead of me and she doesn't have a lot of money so it'll be challenge price built. So what do I need to look out for? What's easy to fix and what's a nightmare? Lemme know what I'm up against I suppose.

They liked to rollover

http://www.therangerstation.com/resources/BroncoII_History.html

Try to shop out west. You may pay a bit more, but the lack of rust will more than make up for it. Couldn't tell you the last time I saw one on the road in MI.

I owned one years ago. From what I remember the heads on the 2.9L engines like to crack for the earlier years. Ours was constantly overheating and the engine had a nasty and load knock when hot. We almost flipped ours from a big cross wind after passing a semi.

Gearheadotaku wrote: Try to shop out west. You may pay a bit more, but the lack of rust will more than make up for it. Couldn't tell you the last time I saw one on the road in MI.

Same here. And they sold a bunch of them around here, too. Back in the early 90s I knew 3-4 people who had them.

There are better choices. As much as I'm a Ford guy, the Bronco II was not one of the blue oval's better offerings. Might I be the first to suggest an XJ?

I haven't seen one of those on the road in years, and for good reason. They are rolling piles of garbage.

Another vote for getting a XJ Jeep Cherokee instead.

Trust me, I know. She sold her WJ jeep and now wants one of these or a rover disco 2. I can't tell her anymore than I already have how these two are the worst choices possible.

I've also owned Lada Nivas - the Lada is a way, way better vehicle than a BII

I had one for a couple of years. About the only issue I had was changing out the #3 spark plug on a 2.9 (AC hoses are in the way) and the driveshaft (!!). Lots of Ranger parts and it did pretty good in snow. http://www.therangerstation.com/ is your friend among others for info, tips and known issues.

I didn't care for the layout and now have a Ranger 4X4.

In reply to ArthurDent:

I really wish we got Lada's here. Maybe if we did I could experience them and not wish for it anymore... but a Niva would be great.

My son had one in high school. They went from a 2.8 to 2.9 to 3.0 in just a few years. Problem with his and with my same gen Ranger; cam bearings roll over in the hole and close off the oil galley lubricating the rocker assembly.

PITA to fix, but drops the price down considerable when shopping.

Dan

I bought a new Bronco II, off the dealer lot, in 1987 or thereabouts. I started having head gasket/head issues around 65K miles. Rust had started to form underneath the body after a couple years as well. Traded it soon after. Other than that, I do not remember much, good or bad, about it. I was glad to get rid of it at the time.

A Disco 2 seems less painful then a Bronco II. At least the Disco drives decently for a truck.

Those were so bad I see more Yugos in the junkyard today than Bronco IIs.

I think my dad sold his nearly perfect condition Bronco II for $500.

A Bronco II is like a cute girlfriend that is a little top heavy and makes really bad decisions.

It seems like a great idea when you are drunk but it is all regret from there on out.

Fletch1 wrote: They liked to rollover http://www.therangerstation.com/resources/BroncoII_History.html

Really! I have had one for two years and they won't roll over unless you are an idiot. Don't forget Ford added read doors and then renamed it the Explorer and it became a best seller. Further it is a Ranger and yes they had issues like all other cars of the time.

You guys are making me grumpy.

Front suspension is bouncy and small steering inputs make for big changes in direction. Nasty on the highway but a lot of fun on sand dunes. That's all I remember.

I had an '86 BII in high school. It had the 2.9L which leaked oil from everywhere. It was a decent enough vehicle to get through winters in the PNW though. It was black with a porno red interior. I remember it got like 14MPG and was pretty gutless. I never had any issues with the M5OD 5 speed. I wanted to lift it about 3" but the TTB scared me away from that idea. Oh, and hope you never break one of the back windows. They are pretty much unobtanium.

That being said, I still cruise CL for one in decent shape haha

Dealer loaned me one for a weekend.

My thought, I will never own one of these. the ride was very bouncy as mentioned above.

shove a 5.0 in it?

I had a black and silver 85 BII with the same porn red interior and hideous 2.9L six as stanger.

I have owned many, many vehicles. I had an automatic Chevette with fist sized holes in the floor that was better in every way than my almost new Bronco II. It was the worst piece of E36 M3 I ever owned and it made me swear off Ford for... well... I'd totally rock a new GT, Boss 302 or even a Focus RS but... in practice... the ban still lives.

Sultan wrote: Really! I have had one for two years and they won't roll over unless you are an idiot. Don't forget Ford added read doors and then renamed it the Explorer and it became a best seller. Further it is a Ranger and yes they had issues like all other cars of the time. You guys are making me grumpy.

there used to be 2 door explorers too. I had a girlfriend with one

I worked for a Ford dealer when they were new. Even then they were sorry ill handling unstable pieces of E36 M3 and I can't imagine they have improved with age.

Weren't they insanely slow? Somewhere from the back of my mind I recall a 17 second-ish 0-60 time. If I'm wrong, let me know.

I know not everyone wants a fast car, but not merging onto the freeway at 30 mph is a plus.