• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Current Speed Limits - How Does It Handle


wildbill23c

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ham Radio Operator
Joined
Aug 22, 2012
Messages
3,917
Reaction score
572
Points
113
Location
Southwestern Idaho
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
0
Total Drop
0
Tire Size
215/70-R14
My credo
19K, 19D, 92Y, 88M, 91F....OIF-III (2004-2005)
Ok, so when the 80's Bronco 2 and Ford Ranger were made most highway speeds were 55mph, some were 65mph. Many places today are 75mph, and a few places are now 80mph.

So with that, how well do these older vehicles handle driving these higher speeds for long periods of time? I'd like to take my Bronco 2 out of state to a few different places for vacations, sight seeing, etc. It won't be for a while as I'm stopping at just the transmission rebuild that I have the cash saved up for, and right now I'm not wanting to replace engines or transmissions just to drive around at the current speed limits. Are there any actual issues related to driving these 75mph speed limits? I know my 88 B2 will do it, but any problems with engine and transmission by doing so?

I won't be towing anything with the B2 just a passenger or 2 and of course the normal travel items when going out of state.
 


alwaysFlOoReD

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
13,871
Reaction score
5,031
Points
113
Location
Calgary, Canada
Vehicle Year
'91, '80, '06
Make / Model
Ford, GMC,Dodge
Engine Size
4.0,4.0,5.7
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
I'm not sure there would be any problems to the drivetrain, perhaps slightly elevated wear rate. BUT you're mileage will drop into the toilet at higher speeds.
 

wildbill23c

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ham Radio Operator
Joined
Aug 22, 2012
Messages
3,917
Reaction score
572
Points
113
Location
Southwestern Idaho
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
0
Total Drop
0
Tire Size
215/70-R14
My credo
19K, 19D, 92Y, 88M, 91F....OIF-III (2004-2005)
As with any vehicle fuel economy drops after about 55-60mph.

Thanks for the reply. I was more concerned about the wear and tear on the drive-train than economy. I assume that having the newer B2 that has the overdrive transmission would help a little, but at 75-80mph it wouldn't be much LOL.

Looking to drive from the Boise, Idaho area to Twin Falls, Idaho occasionally which is about a 2-1/2 hour drive and all highway/freeway so 65-75mph the whole way, although East of Boise there's a pretty long stretch where you can drive 80mph. Not a race by any means, but don't want to poke along at the ole' 55mph either and be passed by every vehicle on the road LOL. I used to just set the cruise control at 65, may still do so but 70mph is now the max speed for 18 wheelers so I'd guess I'd better at least keep up with them HAHA!!.
 

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
34,623
Reaction score
3,613
Points
113
Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
Nah it's fine. My truck won't make it past 65 because of the MRL unit, but that is the top speed in PA, except for a stretch of I-80 that I don't take unless I am heading to Punxy or Erie, and I don't take the truck on those trips. I also get a nasty vibration around 75, but again, the MRL unit and speed limits make that unimportant. I've had my BII up to 80. Turns felt weird, but it didn't roll.
 

wildbill23c

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ham Radio Operator
Joined
Aug 22, 2012
Messages
3,917
Reaction score
572
Points
113
Location
Southwestern Idaho
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
0
Total Drop
0
Tire Size
215/70-R14
My credo
19K, 19D, 92Y, 88M, 91F....OIF-III (2004-2005)
Other than the reduction in fuel economy, sounds like nothing to really get worried about. The 84 B2 I had, I drove it out of town a few times but not on the freeway, so it only was running 65mph on those trips.
 

Totalled

New Member
Law Enforcement
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
Messages
795
Reaction score
3
Points
0
Location
Tumwater, Wa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
8 rabid gophers
Transmission
Automatic
They get a little twitchy after 75-80, depending on how good of shape your steering/suspension is in.
 

wildbill23c

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ham Radio Operator
Joined
Aug 22, 2012
Messages
3,917
Reaction score
572
Points
113
Location
Southwestern Idaho
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
0
Total Drop
0
Tire Size
215/70-R14
My credo
19K, 19D, 92Y, 88M, 91F....OIF-III (2004-2005)
They get a little twitchy after 75-80, depending on how good of shape your steering/suspension is in.
The service truck at work is the same way, but it starts at any speed above 60mph LOL.

Still seems like my B2 takes longer than it should to get up to speed, felt like my 84 with the 5 speed manual was much quicker. Must be the sluggishness of the automatic that causes the slower acceleration.
 

Totalled

New Member
Law Enforcement
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
Messages
795
Reaction score
3
Points
0
Location
Tumwater, Wa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
8 rabid gophers
Transmission
Automatic
The service truck at work is the same way, but it starts at any speed above 60mph LOL.

Still seems like my B2 takes longer than it should to get up to speed, felt like my 84 with the 5 speed manual was much quicker. Must be the sluggishness of the automatic that causes the slower acceleration.
Yes. I went from a 5 speed to a C5 auto in mine, and it felt like the 2.8 lost 50 HP. I couldn't spin a tire on a gravel road anymore.
 

wildbill23c

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ham Radio Operator
Joined
Aug 22, 2012
Messages
3,917
Reaction score
572
Points
113
Location
Southwestern Idaho
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
0
Total Drop
0
Tire Size
215/70-R14
My credo
19K, 19D, 92Y, 88M, 91F....OIF-III (2004-2005)
Yes. I went from a 5 speed to a C5 auto in mine, and it felt like the 2.8 lost 50 HP. I couldn't spin a tire on a gravel road anymore.
Ok, so apparently going from the manual transmission in my 84 B2 to the auto in my 88 B2 is the problem. Maybe someday I'll swap...but if I do that I want to do the Cummins 4BT and get rid of all the electronic crap LOL.
 

chewy012

New Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2016
Messages
427
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0 OHV
Transmission
Manual
2wd '92 runs good and handles just fine at 80. Tires don't like it much, but the truck will do it all day and handles just fine.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 

donaldcon

Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
265
Reaction score
19
Points
18
Age
38
Location
Lancaster, Oh
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
83 2.8 c3 auto. No issue doing 80mph but it sucks the fuel doing it

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
 

wildbill23c

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ham Radio Operator
Joined
Aug 22, 2012
Messages
3,917
Reaction score
572
Points
113
Location
Southwestern Idaho
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
0
Total Drop
0
Tire Size
215/70-R14
My credo
19K, 19D, 92Y, 88M, 91F....OIF-III (2004-2005)
I think any vehicle past about 55-60mph just burns a ton more fuel.

Well I haven't done much driving out of town yet due to having other things I want to take care of, but hopefully here soon I can get it out on the highway more. Just seems sluggish but from another thread its all boiled down to the automatic transmission which I guess is pretty normal for these and the rangers back then to be really sluggish compared to the manual transmissions.
 

donaldcon

Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
265
Reaction score
19
Points
18
Age
38
Location
Lancaster, Oh
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
I've owned every engine and tranny combination of ranger/bii from 83 to the early 90s and never had an auto the felt sluggish to me. Standards definitely feel like they get more power to the ground but even this old.83 im.driving now with the c3 will chirp the tires if I stomp it from a stand still. I run 60 miles one way to work around 80mph and it never skips a beat. But it is only getting 13mpg doing it.
A 5 speed doing 80 in the same truck would be getting me around 16 (as past experience shows)

No overdrive kills the c3 and c5 for highway driving.

My bii has a 4.0, with a 5 speed, 4.88 gears and 35s also has no issue running 80 down the freeway.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
 

wildbill23c

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ham Radio Operator
Joined
Aug 22, 2012
Messages
3,917
Reaction score
572
Points
113
Location
Southwestern Idaho
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
0
Total Drop
0
Tire Size
215/70-R14
My credo
19K, 19D, 92Y, 88M, 91F....OIF-III (2004-2005)
Hmm, maybe I should run it back to the transmission shop, I had a 1984 Ford Ranger 4x2 with the automatic and 2.8L V6 and if I recall it seemed to get up and go faster than my 88 Bronco 2, wonder if something isn't right in the new transmission then, it just seems like it should move faster than it does, unless I have brakes dragging, which reminds me I never did check out the rear brakes, guess I should do that first when I get it back this weekend.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,211
Reaction score
17,527
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
My 2.8 was literally dying (blowing oil out the dipstick tube) and the trans still shifted pretty snappy.

Of course it is all relative too, compared to a new trans of today auto's from the 80's are from a different world.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Latest posts

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top