Oppo I need help with a Bronco II

"Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa" (bularmy)
04/21/2014 at 12:30 • Filed to: Bronco

So I and a friend of mine want to get a Bronco. The only problem? We are in Europe and more specifically Bulgaria, so those things are more or less unicorns. The only currently here in is a '87 Bronco II with the 2.9l engine. It looks very mint on the outside, but I more or less don't know anything about them. Is is good at offroading or is it better to just wait for the real deal. We really need your help.

DISCUSSION (13)

Nibbles > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa
04/21/2014 at 12:36

Other than the 2.9 being anemic, especially paired with the A4LD transmission, that looks like a pretty fresh example. They're definitely nothing compared to their fullsize bretheren, but all around not bad little SUVs. I've heard stories of the rear hatch coming open for no reason, and their relatively skinny wheelbase owing to some rollovers, but in my experience they're not bad vehicles. Not particularly good at offroading, but decent softroaders.

Merkin Muffley > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa
04/21/2014 at 12:37

don't bother with that. The bronco II isn't all that great, especially offroad.

offroadkarter > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa
04/21/2014 at 12:39

holy shit that thing looks pristine.

The 2.9/A4LD is anemic and underpowered but the engine should be pretty reliable. a 4.0 OHV is literally a direct swap and would put the truck at 160hp. I've seen plenty of people build these into offroaders, they share many parts with the ranger and first gen explorers which replaced the BII.

jariten1781 > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa
04/21/2014 at 12:42

They tend to be composed of 95% rust. I haven't seen a clean one since the 90s. There were a bunch around in HS and they never left anyone stranded that I remember so there's that.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > jariten1781
04/21/2014 at 12:53

I dunno. When in less rust-blasted areas, they can go literally forever. There's one that's been in mail service around here since I was a kid -easily 20 years - that's still going strong, and not a rust pile.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa
04/21/2014 at 12:56

They're surprisingly heavy for their size. As others have said, not completely amazing off-road, but solid, and pretty brutally reliable. There's a mail-lady around this area driving one pretty much non-stop since the early 90s.

briannutter1 > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa
04/21/2014 at 14:30

Sorry, I had one. The most unreliable vehicle I've ever owned...and the slowest. Amazingly slow. The heads are prone to cracking as well. Have fun with it till it dies, but I wouldn't invest a Stotinki in it that you can't get back out.

handsoff > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa
04/21/2014 at 17:07

There are two in our work parking lot. An '89 with close to 300k, but only 100k on a rebuilt automatic, and an '87 that's beat to hell with only 140k on it. They're great rigs, they won't get you anywhere in a hurry, but all the ones I've been around have been very dependable. That one's a beaut!

biturboism, the cult > briannutter1
04/22/2014 at 04:15

Haha nice, Stotinki is plural btw :)

wontacceptthis > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa
04/22/2014 at 08:00

The A4LD is a big steaming turd, in my opinion. I've seen way too many of them fail.

If you can get your hands on an m5od from a ranger, then get it, and swap in the transmission when it fails. In my opinion, the TTB front end is stronger than traditional IFS, and its not as hard to align as people say. The down travel on that setup is astounding.

MEESTALUBBA > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa
04/22/2014 at 09:39

very tippy when offroad. a fullsize bronco would be much better all-around.

Vic-in-Norway > Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa
04/22/2014 at 10:51

Buy one of the ones that an American soldier probably unloaded in Germany back in the 80's or 90's and import it! http://suchen.mobile.de/auto/ford-bron…

briannutter1 > biturboism, the cult
04/23/2014 at 11:37

Yeah, I admit I had to look it up because "dime" wouldn't have been appropriate.