Anyone familiar with Bronco II's???

[holeshot]

I just picked up a 1990 Bronco II 4X4 for $500 a couple weeks ago. The thing is in really good shape and it ran good until I killed the little 2.9 V6 last night. I was ripping on it pretty hard and all the sudden the oil pressure dropped and it started knocking. Its not leaking oil or smoking, but I imagine its only a matter of time before it lets go completely.

I want to make this little BII into something since the body and interior is almost perfect for a 20yr old vehicle. I am thinking about maybe swapping a 4.0 from an early Ranger or Explorer in its place as I hear that they will basically just bolt right in.

Does anyone have any experience with Bronco II's or swapping a 4.0 v6...or even rebuilding a 2.9??

I am going to put a 6" suspension lift and 33X12.50's and re-gear it to 4.56's with a locker in the rear. Should be a nice little off road machine.

You dont see too many Bronco II's on the road anymore.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2667/3849850880_5e58d9ac4e.jpg

[Ryan218]

my buddy has a Bronco II that he swapped a 4.0L from an explorer into it and a 5 speed from a ranger into. sweet with truck. i can ask him what was all involved if you want.

[holeshot]

my buddy has a Bronco II that he swapped a 4.0L from an explorer into it and a 5 speed from a ranger into. sweet with truck. i can ask him what was all involved if you want.

Yes, I would greatly appreciate it! Right now, this one is a 2.9 auto. If i find the right donor vehicle, I will try to swap all the parts needed to make it happen. It definitely helps having someone local to talk to.

Thanks!

[Blackpony]

I have a buddy that owned one 10 years ago. He rolled it on a turn while doing 25 mph. That thing was very top heavy and narrow. I hated that damn car

[Katmandu]

You dont see too many Bronco II's on the road anymore.

Cause all the other one's rusted out. :rolleyes:

Check these sites out for more info....

www.BroncoZone.com

www.Ford-Truck.com

[Dirtyd0g]

There are days that I miss mine, it was a great machine for camping. Fold the seats down and sleep in the back. On the other hand the damn thing was always broke. The front driveline U-joints suck. Hopefully the 2.9 distributor doesn't treat you the way my 2.8 one did. I bought 3 from KY motors before I finally bought a new one from ford to actually fix it.
Alan

[satan jamez]

You could do a 5.0 swap for less i'm sure. Check out rangerpowersports.com

[sean]

my buddy had one lifted and on 33's and rolled it on a slower turn. It can look really cool when your done, just watch how you drive.

[holeshot]

Damn...yeah I dont wanna roll it! Were they doing evasive manuvers or over correcting?

[holeshot]

You could do a 5.0 swap for less i'm sure. Check out rangerpowersports.com

I thought about that too....except I dont think the stock drivetrain will last too long with a V8.

[sean]

I cant remember. I am a firm believer that if you remember your riding higher and be careful youll be fine. Put some wide all terrain tires on it and be carefull. Someone else rolling something wouldnt stop me from doing the truck. do it and have fun.

[k062693w]

I grew up in Southern West Virginia, And drove Bronco II and never once came close to feeling like it would turn over !!! And that's on roads that when a curve says 35 you better be doing 35 !!! LOL

[Kevin1989]

the 2.9 tick many talk about it. but i havent seen it in 13 years, haha my dad had one solid ass trucks till they get the tick

[thecollector]

Cheapest route is probably to buy 4.0 powered NON SOHC motored explorer and swap into it (wrecks are easy to come by). Not sure of the bellhousing matchup's. If the trans won't work find a 5spd exploder to do the swap with, the A4LD autos in the first gen sucked and you are guaranteed a rebuild every two years. My old exploder with the 4.0 had 270k miles with the original motor when i got rid of it, it had a pretty loud valvtrain tick when I picked it up. I put 100k plus on it with the valvetrain making noise and it soldiered on constantly. It wasn't to bad for power either. As the flipping thing goes, I can flip a corvette if I want to. A little good Judgement should keep it shiny side up.

Good luck with the swap, that is one solid little B2.

[Dirtyd0g]

All 2.8/2.9's tick they have solid lifters. If you get one that is quiet it will run like crap because the valves are not fully closing. A 4.0 would be complicated IMO. What would be cool is a Supercoupe transplant with a c4/c5 that came in many of the bronco II's.
Alan

[94tchikinv8]

No way can you get the 5.0L swap done cheaper unless you already have an engine and a LOT of parts laying around. The expensive part is changing the tranny.

Since you have a 90 instead of an 84-88, it should be REALLY easy. We did the 4.0 L swap to my buddies 88 Ranger and swapped the dash to the newer 89+ style. The hardest part was the dash swap and making sure all the wiring would work. The 4.0L will bolt right in, literally! Bolts to the bell, same motor mounts, everything. You will probably want to get a y-pipe for the 4.0 though since it's a little wider.

The easiest way is going to be to buy a junked explorer or ranger with a good engine so you can the engine, engine harness, computer, radiator, etc. It really is a simple swap. If you have any specific questions, just shoot me a pm and I'll see if I can help. BTW, his swap cost about $350. He bought a 92 explorer from the junkyard a few days ago for $350 so he can swap his other ranger to four wheel drive.

-Rob

[Blkcobra01]

Had one typical BII rust liked it but was kinda a money pit sold it today.

[NUTTSGT]

The 2.8/2.9 were notorious for the valve train tick. The 2.9s also known to have cracked cylinder heads, so bad that World Products made a replacement head.

I'd swap the drive train froma later model Ranger/Explorer, like said by Rob above.



I swapped a 302 into a Ranger many years ago,it does take some cash and fabrication. I used a C4 trans with the output shaft out of a C5 Ranger ('83-84), this allowed me to bolt it right up to the transfer case. You'll also have to make new drive shafts, if you put a lift on it with bigger tires, play in the mud, that 7.5 rearend will be questionable.

[Dirtyd0g]

I don't know that everyone is up to the wiring project of a 4.0 is the reason I suggest something else.
Alan

[ClevelandMstang]

The 2.8/2.9 were notorious for the valve train tick. .

Thats because they are solid lifters, they have lash, that is the tick heard.

[glassman]

I had a 85 B2 years ago w/ 4" trailmaster lift & 31/11.50s'. It drove, handled, and felt more stable w/ the lift than it did stock. Everone said I was a fool for lifting it & it would roll. The lift kit was for a ranger cause at the time the suspension co's said it would roll & it wasn't recomended to lift. I beat that thing all the time took it off road alot.
I miss that lil truck It was great in the mud & snow.. All around good truck. I should try to find another one. Mine was a week lil 2.8 5 spd but it was great in the mud & would go about anywhere.
Check out explorer forum .com I think they had a B2 forum. After all it was the start of the explorer... Enjoy it I will see if I can find any pics of my old one.

[94tchikinv8]

I don't know that everyone is up to the wiring project of a 4.0 is the reason I suggest something else.
Alan

In a 90 BII, it would be almost plug and play as long as he gets a complete engine harness and computer. V8 swap would be MUCH more complicated!

-Rob

[wildstang89]

I had one w/ a 4.5 lift and a 2" body lift sitting on 33's. Went about everywhere at Haspin. Never once tried to roll over on the road or off. I miss it.

[Blkcobra01]

www.broncoii.org helped e when I had questions I believe they have the 4.0 and 5.0 swaps there to.

[holeshot]

Well, I finally got it on the road!

Here is my 1990 Bronco II. Added a 6" Skyjacker Stage II suspension lift, 4.56 Yukon gears, posi, 33X12.50 Mickey Thompson MTZ's, Eagle 15X10's

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4160920228_c7e26271cb.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4160922128_b4d9626daf.jpg

[94tchikinv8]

Did you do the 4.0 swap or not?

-Rob

[Blkcobra01]

clean alot nicer than the BII I had nice dude.

[Carl]

Looking good, I ALWAYS had a soft spot for Bronco II's. Yeah, what engine did you go with??

[306Power]

Looks good man, probably the cleanest Bronco II I've seen that I can remember. Only downfall is I'm not a fan of those rear side windows, they just go up too far to the roof IMO.

[lollygaggerjoe]

i like it im a big bronco 2 fan i have 3 of them if ur going 2 play with it i would swap the front dana 28 to a dana 35 if you havent all ready and a 4.0 is a great swap i had one in my ranger i built same body

[NUTTSGT]

Looks good.

[holeshot]

Thanks for the compliments!

I ended up getting a rebuilt 2.9. With the 4.56's it has enough power for me.
It has a Dana 35 already up front...in 90 they switched from the dana 28 to the dana 35.

[INSANEBA]

I did a 5.0 swap in my 91 Ranger x cab a few years ago. That was the best thing I ever did for that truck. I put a 6" lift on it, with 4:10 gears, a dana 38 upfront, and an 8.8 in the rear. I spent most of my money on the advanced adapters kit to make an AOD fit up against the stock t case. I am soo glad I spent that money, that truck went together like Henry wanted a 5.0 to go in it! I have a few pics of it in the lounge, it would fry all 4 tires without hesitation! I also got over 20mpg's with it on the highway lol... Now that I think of it, I miss the hell outta that rig!