Our 84 Ford Bronco 2 4x4 build thread. From Junk to almost glory.

[redneckfordbroncoii1984]

on 10/20/13 we put the passenger window in that our dad broke and it took all day to put in

 

[redneckfordbroncoii1984]

trav will post pics soon or later he is to dam busy with a 73 ironhead harley
dj

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

started painting the 84 B2 a rattle can royal blue.
Looking into doing a 4.0L and/or auto swap as we need it auto instead of Standard.
Trav

 

[swynx]

4.0 swap is fairly simple.

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

Ya but the truck I found I don't know if we can use. I found a 99 Explorer 4.0L V6 with auto transmission and want to put the t-case, engine, trans, and such in our 84 B2 just don't know if it will work and what I would need also.
Trav

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

So a few updates since last time also going to update the to do mod list:
traded my brother door lock knobs before this B2 had chrome ones and my 88 F150 had black ones he wanted black ones and I wanted chromes so got those traded. Finished painting it.

Ok the new mod list:
4.0L swap once the 2.8L lets go (hopefully a while from now), brush guard (have just need to slightly modify and paint black and put some light tabs on it), maybe an auto trans swap but hoping to stay standard (whats a good 5 speed or auto that bolts to a 4.0L?), picked up a 60/40 seat from a 2000 ranger going to reupholster it in black and blue and maybe throw that in (free), going to paint the trim and roof rack black, plastidip the bumper (rear) and grille, install the black mirrors, do a 2 tone black and blue interior, VHT night shade the side markers tail lights and turns, composite beam headlights, headlight relay mod, get some black rims or plastidip the jeep wheels, more lights, a light bar on the roof, small lift to fit 31s (hopefully the Ford 7.5 and D35 front will handle that), ARB air lockers front and rear, LED lights all the way around, fix rust and dents, repaint a dark blue (not sure what color yet), POR15 the entire frame, electric fans, maybe if we do the 4.0L swap get a tuner if possible, nice sounding exhaust system (if we do the 4.0L swap will have to find one that sounds sweet) probably going to do 45* out each side with slash chrome tips in a 2.5" exhaust with 2.5" tips, sweet stereo system with custom boom box in the rear, front hitch for a winch, tint the windows to the same as our 02s windows, probably missing a lot hopefully Dylan will get in here and add to the list as I am not 100% on what he wants and I have been loosing interest in the B2 with my 88 getting so close to being able to run again.
Trav

 

[BroncoIIPower]

After the blue paint that Bronco looks identical to the 87 I had.

As for your transmission question, the 2.8, 2.9 and 4.0 share the same block. Any transmission will bolt up as long as its from a 2.8, 2.9 or 4.0. I've read that if you do the 4.0 swap you want to use the transmission from the donor. I've also read that if you nurse the transmission you can get away with just running your old transmission. If you want to do the automatic conversion you'll want to steer clear of the A4LD. I've had bad luck with RBV automatics. I stick with the manual transmissions. They are more fun to drive and I feel they are less likely to be stolen because almost no one can drive a clutch any more.

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

After the blue paint that Bronco looks identical to the 87 I had.

As for your transmission question, the 2.8, 2.9 and 4.0 share the same block. Any transmission will bolt up as long as its from a 2.8, 2.9 or 4.0. I've read that if you do the 4.0 swap you want to use the transmission from the donor. I've also read that if you nurse the transmission you can get away with just running your old transmission. If you want to do the automatic conversion you'll want to steer clear of the A4LD. I've had bad luck with RBV automatics. I stick with the manual transmissions. They are more fun to drive and I feel they are less likely to be stolen because almost no one can drive a clutch any more.

Thanks I really like the blue paint.
If I do a 4.0 swap I will use the donor trans but we have pretty much decided to stay the same (minus I would like to fab up a brush guard) and such.



On a side note couple of updates:
We have tried selling and trading the B2 since painting it for something different with no luck. Everybody whom comes out and looks at it sounds like they love it and act like (I am sure they do) then right at the end they back out. So unless somebody actually wants to trade it for what we want or need looks like it is staying with us. I kept thinking man this truck is like the movie Christine never wants to leave us.

Also when we had a guy over looking at it we threw my battery from my F150 in there and tried starting it. I start smelling smoke got out turns out my brother (the one whos the Bronco 2 belongs to) hooked the battery up backwards
I get out of the truck and we hook it up correctly and then she tries starting itself. My dad automatically found the problem (wire melted jumping the starter solenoid making it start). So we electrical taped that off so it won't do it again and threw a little gas in the carb and cranked it over tried to start but didn't. I have to wait till I get gas to start it back up.
Decided since I have a used clutch for the B2 (that is in really good shape) I am going to throw it in and run it till it goes then put a brand new one in. I know it sounds stupid and pointless but being my truck is down right now I need something to get us by then when my truck is up again I can fix things correctly (beater redneck style since this is our beater truck.)
Good news is we cleaned it up a bit (need to do it much better as it looks like a damn trash truck and I hate that.)
I am hoping to get it up soon I am missing beating it to death.
Trav

 

[wizkid00104]

Its nice looking rust free B2. I wish I had all the wide open space you have!

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

rust free are we looking at the same Bronco 2? LOL
Behind the doors are tons of rust and bondo. I guess that is my fault since I haven't taken a good photo of the rust. I love all the wide open space it makes wheeling some much funner.
The truck has 326K miles on the body and is from back east. The truck was only in AZ for about a year before we got it and was never washed of the salt. It is from Ohio originally. 146 on the engine, trans and t-case. This is the main reason I want to get something different I don't feel like dealing with rust on it even though I know after I do it, it won't rust out again. Hence why I just use it as a beater truck to beat the crap out of.

this is the passenger side obviously not as bad

 

[wizkid00104]

I stand corrected. From further back, nothing caught my eye. And you told me no watching for rust out there lol

I bet the wide open spaces are great. I want to be further out of town, but work keeps me in suburban areas.

Well if the B2 is just for wheeling, might as well pull the front swaybar and rear if it has. My Ranger doesn't have either of them now

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

Ya I know I usually try to hide the rust in my pics. LOL.
That is one thing hard out here is finding a job of course I am only 18 though.
I thought about pulling the sway bars but I drive it on the road and Bronco 2s have very little road manners without sway bars (ask me how I know (use to have another b2 before this one).
Trav

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Is the cinder block and 2x4 to hold the door closed of just holding it level for the pics
Sorry just had to.

 

[armadillon]

I've gotta say, this is awesome. Two brothers working on an old Bronco 2 with whatever they can find. I remember how proud I was when I did little things like changing the window lock knobs.

You have the most awesome white trash Bronco 2 you could ever learn to work on. I don't think anyone is going to offer you enough for it, as only you and your brother will know the true value of it.

 

[redneckfordf2502002]

Is the cinder block and 2x4 to hold the door closed of just holding it level for the pics
Sorry just had to.

LOL believe it or not it does push the truck level somewhat but no it does actually hold the door closed. Which look below for the update.

I've gotta say, this is awesome. Two brothers working on an old Bronco 2 with whatever they can find. I remember how proud I was when I did little things like changing the window lock knobs.

You have the most awesome white trash Bronco 2 you could ever learn to work on. I don't think anyone is going to offer you enough for it, as only you and your brother will know the true value of it.

Well it isn't just me and my brother it is also my other brother and dad but yes we are the main ones whom work on it (not that I like it) LOL. I remember when I started working on cars it was suck a big deal about the lock knobs but now it is nothing to me since I have done so much bigger things.
I am beginning to believe what you posted above is true. I am going to keep trying to sell or trade it since my brother really wants a ranger but this little truck as grown on me since we first bought it with most of the front clip gone, just the exhaust manifolds on it, beat to death body, and shifted like a tank. One day if I don't get rid of this thing I hope to completely fix it up because trucks that have even small problems start to drive me nuts fast while I am driving them. LOL


A few updates: my dad got tired of the 2x4 and cinder block holding the door shut so he took out the door latch and fixed it then threw it back in now no problems at all closing and opening the door minus the handle is pushed up a bit (not worried about it at all it works and I don't care I don't want to mess with it then it stops working again). LOL
Then we started pulling the transmission I got everything disconnected minus the cross member for the transmission. I thought I had all the tools to do it but I don't have a damn 18mm and 21MM deap socket in 1/2" drive for my breaker bar
I called all the neighbors (one only LOL) and asked if he had one he says he has no metrics bigger then a 15mm
So we wrapped it up for the day and going to get the tools when we can.
Here are some of the things I saw yesterday while pulling the trans:
slave cylinder for clutch worked but had part of the plastic where it goes through broken and the top bolt for the slave was an all thread stuck in their with 2 nuts and a lockwasher
Then the rear drive shaft had only three bolts holding it and it looks like somebody tried stealing the rear drive shaft
Then I tried disconnecting the front part of the drive shaft they have two allen head screws and 2 hex head screws 12pt (which the 12pts are what they are suppose to be. Trying to get the allen screws off I started to bend my allen wrench so I stopped (I can't afford to break it as that is the same size for most of my Harley parts). Then I looked at the driveshaft and said to myself why in the hell am I trying to disconnect it completely when I can just leave it hanging

So I pulled the front drive shaft which had all 4 bolts but one was a different sized head.

By now you would figure all the pieced together stuff would be done but:
the starter had a bolt longer then stock that had been drilled completely through the transmission bell housing and a nut and lock washer on the bottom
The top had a piece off all thread all the way through and a nut on both sides.
What confused me is the starter doesn't grind or anything like that like most B2 and rangers I have seen.


Anyways the part that was somewhat good to find:
while pulling stuff off the transmission I found clutch disk fibers everywhere and tons of it so I now know exactly what is wrong CLUTCH like we figured (thank god for that one (sorry if that offends anyone)).
For now I have everything wrapped up with rags and such so no dirt can get into it.

What I thought was weird in this truck is it is completely pieced together yet has Bosch plugs and wires, a newer looking dizzy and cap and rotor, and some more really expensive things yet everything else is pieced together.


now for my questions:
I had the truck up on jack stands and really like the height I gained. I have access to 89 F150 rear blocks and 88 F150 front coils and that will give me the height we want (I measured it out). Will the F150 blocks and coils fit? I have no blocks in the rear of our B2.

Which transfer case do we have (the transmission is a TK5 if that matters)?
What fluids do I use in the transmission and T-case I just want to do a bit of servicing.
Trav