1984 Bronco II XLS side project

[Jim Oaks]

I'm helping a friend fix up a 1984 Ford Bronco II XLS as a side project. I've never seen one in person and this one has all of it's ground effects.

Two issues I have to deal with:

1) The starter isn't engaging the flywheel. It's a 2.8L manual 5-speed. Previous owner installed a new starter and it stopped engaging. I know there were issues with the starters on these 2.8's. I'm going to have to go back a refresh my memory on them.

I had to push start it to get it going.

2) The speedomer is 6 MPH off with what appears to be a stock tire size. I need to figure out why. I'm trying to figure out what someone could have changed to cause that. I doubt it had an axle gear change.

Like To Find:

I'd like to find a grill guard to fit this.

I'd also like to find an overhead console to fit a Bronco II.

 

[Ranger850]

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Speedo is probably off because either the gear in the trans is worn, or someone installed the wrong gear on the speedo cable

As for starter id pull it off and bench test it to verify its actually engaging under power with the way part quality has been lately.

 

[Blmpkn]

I really like the skirts on that. Awesome.

 

[Shran]

Cool rig. What color interior? Tan it looks like? I have a red XLS overhead console if you want it...have to paint the trim to match.

Speedo correction might be a simple matter of changing the little gear on the speedo cable. There is a calculator somewhere online that will tell you how to figure out which gear you need.

As for the starter, I would pull it and have it tested and inspect the flywheel...then inspect the mounting holes on the transmission. Pretty common for the starter to get loose, flop around and egg out the bolt holes, starter locating hole and chew teeth off the flywheel. There are a lot of things that can go wrong on these.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Cool rig. What color interior? Tan it looks like? I have a red XLS overhead console if you want it...have to paint the trim to match.

Speedo correction might be a simple matter of changing the little gear on the speedo cable. There is a calculator somewhere online that will tell you how to figure out which gear you need.

As for the starter, I would pull it and have it tested and inspect the flywheel...then inspect the mounting holes on the transmission. Pretty common for the starter to get loose, flop around and egg out the bolt holes, starter locating hole and chew teeth off the flywheel. There are a lot of things that can go wrong on these.

i looked at the tires and they're 225's and stock was 195's which is almost 2-inches taller. So that would affest the speedometer some.

@Shran can you send me a pic of the console? Thanks!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

BII's had bracketry above the headliner to support the OHC with a clock/maplight. Not sure on the touch drive consoles.

Rangers have a lower roof and don't need the framework.





More pics mostly on topic here:

Maplight Console

Explore this photo album by Justin Russell on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[Jim Oaks]

This is actually for my GF's son. His dad isn't in the picture. We're working on a low budget.

I also need a new dash cover and this piece of trim missing over the glove box. Anyone have an extra piece of this trim laying around? I can paint it

 

[Jim Oaks]

I took the starter out:

​

You can see where the starter has chewed up the edge of the flywheel teeth. The starter teeth look like the could be worn, but not much.

My question is why isn't the starter fully engaging the teeth? Not doing so seems to have damaged the flywheel, but there also looks to be plenty of teeth surface left on the flywheel that it should still be able to do it's job if the starter was engaging it.

Trying to figure out a fix for this. I have a 4.0 starter from my 1996 Ranger I could stick on there.

 

[Shran]

Teeth look fine. None missing is the main thing. Does the starter just spin or does it spin and grind? Crappy rebuild jobs is the main reason... some people suggest swapping in a 10 tooth drive gear on the starter too.

A 4.0 starter will work as long as it's from a manual (you have an auto, right?) but it's wired differently. Lot of work to fix that problem. Mainly you would need a 4.0 positive battery cable. Probably easier to use the right starter.

Speaking of battery cables, make sure yours are in good shape. If they look really crusty, might be worth replacing them. I guess I could see a situation where the starter is not getting enough power because of cables that corroded internally.

I'll try to remember to get up in the attic and pull out that console I have this evening.

 

[dvdswan]

A low battery voltage, defective solenoid, faulty starter wiring, or damaged flywheel

 

[Jim Oaks]

Teeth look fine. None missing is the main thing. Does the starter just spin or does it spin and grind? Crappy rebuild jobs is the main reason... some people suggest swapping in a 10 tooth drive gear on the starter too.

A 4.0 starter will work as long as it's from a manual (you have an auto, right?) but it's wired differently. Lot of work to fix that problem. Mainly you would need a 4.0 positive battery cable. Probably easier to use the right starter.

I thought you could use the 4.0 automatic starter on a 2.8. The spacing between the teeth are the same. I'm guessing I wire the solenoid on the 4.9 starter instead of the one on the inner fender.

 

[Jim Oaks]

​

The body of the 4.0 starter on the left is smaller and lighter.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Looks a lot like old vs newer sbf starters too.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I remember this post from a while back. Not sure it would work in this case.

Post 15...

Catching up: My Bronco II build thread

Spring 2017 I traded a .38 Spl for this 87 Bronco II. It had a small lift, 31” tires, and a bad engine. 90% rust free with previous mild rollover damage. Had sat for four years. I rebuilt another 2.9, replaced both fuel pumps, and put tires on it.

www.therangerstation.com