Newbie with 1990 Bronco II 2WD

[Cees Klumper]

Hi everyone,
Picked up my first-ever Bronco last Saturday, a well-preserved 1990 2WD automatic model in Colonial White, still original paint with about 126,000 miles, no rust or damage. I will use it mostly to tool around west Los Angeles as our other car is a 2-seater. Had two Fords before, a 1980-something Pinto and a 1985 Mustang. Spent a lot of time yesterday cleaning and polishing up the old paint, removing stickers and so on, but so far it's looking really nice, and it also runs pretty good. Seems the previous owner, a lady in very sunny and dry Palmdale, CA, took good care of it over the 18 years that she owned it and had it regularly maintained.
I like to do all my maintenance and repairs myself so I will be sure to do a lot of reading here and will probably have the occasional question.

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

Rusty will like you, another 2.9l engine on the site

You have a 2.9l OHV engine, as said, and an A4LD automatic, 4WD version with an empty transfer case, Ford did this to keep some weight lower down for a lower center of gravity.
Back in the day these smaller shorter wheel base utility vehicles got a reputation for rolling over on tight turning maneuvers

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Welcome to TRS.
Nice find. Looking forward to some pics.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Welcome to TRS

Rusty will like you, another 2.9l engine on the site

You have a 2.9l OHV engine, as said, and an A4LD automatic, 4WD version with an empty transfer case, Ford did this to keep some weight lower down for a lower center of gravity.
Back in the day these smaller shorter wheel base utility vehicles got a reputation for rolling over on tight turning maneuvers

Thats cause the 2.9 is the best engine ever engineered. A true marvel to rival the likes of swiss watches, the statue of liberty and the hoover dam.

They only get tippy when drove like a mustang. Enjoy it and we look forward to seeing pics!

Welcome to TRS!

 

[Oxxon]

Hello and welcome to TRS!!

 

[Cees Klumper]

Many thanks for the warm welcome! The tippy comments did not scare me off, in fact one of the cited media stories had it that Geico stopped insuring the II's due to this, but when I went to insure it this morning on my car policy with them, it ended up costing me only $58 a year more than my current 2 cars, so can't beat that. Will add photos soon!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

If you ever feel the need for 4x4 this b2 is the easiest to make into one. All the underpinnings are there. All you need is a transfer case, a front driveshaft, and the front drive axles with the correct gear ratio.
It isn't quite as easy as reading this, but is pretty straight forward.

 

[Cees Klumper]

Thanks. I had read somewhere that on the last of the line models (mine was manufactured December 1989) Ford had stopped installing the differential that made this possible? Either way, we're only going to be using it in and around LA, and it's probably better to keep it 2WD. But good to know there would be the option.

 

[Snoranger]

Thanks. I had read somewhere that on the last of the line models (mine was manufactured December 1989) Ford had stopped installing the differential that made this possible? Either way, we're only going to be using it in and around LA, and it's probably better to keep it 2WD. But good to know there would be the option.

Take a look underneath and let us know if you have the dummy transfer case... my 90 2wd BII didn't have one. It had a regular 2wd trans with a bolt on output flange.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Welcome to TRS!

 

[Cees Klumper]

Yes I know, pics pics. Today I chose to work on the fuel delivery system first. The PO jerry-rigged the system by putting a hose clamp on the incoming fuel hose right before the pressure regulator in order to increase the pressure (taking mcgyvering to a new level). I found out that if I removed the clamp the engine would bog and had no power above idle so I put it back. He said he installed a new fuel pump, but I suspect it's a low pressure, or otherwise incorrect one. So I picked up a new Delphi one at Autozone and a fuel pressure gauge. Will install over the weekend.
ANYWAY, will post photos soon, promise!

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The PO jerry-rigged the system by putting a hose clamp on the incoming fuel hose right before the pressure regulator in order to increase the pressure

Thats.....

Frickin genius.

I wish i would of thought of that.

 

[Cees Klumper]

I'll take a picture of that, too. It allows for pretty fine tuning of the pressure at idle, however I don't think it 'works' (just a wrong pump, or pressure regulator or?) during normal driving beacuse the car is much more sluggish when I 'set' the pressure at 40 psi at idle, than when it's set out of spec at idle but then pulls like a train driving.

 

[RonD]

No, it wouldn't work for performance

And the FPR(fuel pressure regulator) is connected to the OUT to gas tank line, the Return line, the IN line runs from fuel filter to fuel rail.

You can just unplug the Vacuum hose on the FPR to increase pressure at idle, but as said it won't do anything

The computer controls the air/fuel mix, so pressure changes are handled by increasing or decreasing injector open time to maintain the 14.7:1 ratio by monitoring the O2 sensor(s)