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1984 Bronco II XLS side project


Jim Oaks

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I've read where these 2.8 manuals had a 10 tooth starter and the automatics had 9, and that all the 2.8 starters you find now are for the autos, but I don't know if there's any truth to it.

20221109_143505.jpg

20221109_143657.jpg

20221109_143857.jpg
I changed out the struts that hold the rear window open, so I at least accomplished that today.
 


RumPunch

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Location
Walkerton Va 23177
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford Bronco II
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
3"
Tire Size
31x10.50R15
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
Will send pics when I get home spare truck has a tan interior but it's an 88 not sure they are the same? I'll get you some pics.
 

Shran

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I just pulled these pics off RockAuto, there are two 4.0 starter variants depending on if you have an auto or a manual. Note how the drive gear snout sticks out further on the auto and the gear itself is recessed into the starter housing on the manual. So what I am saying is, the 4.0 starter will work as long as the snout length matches what came with the truck in question.

4.0 starters that I have seen all have 10 tooth gears.

starters.jpg
 

RumPunch

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Location
Walkerton Va 23177
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford Bronco II
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
3"
Tire Size
31x10.50R15
This is what I got, has XLT emblems.

IMG_20221110_174251427.jpg


IMG_20221110_174259882.jpg
 

Jim Oaks

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Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0 / 2.3 Ecoboost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6-inches
Tire Size
33x12.50x15

RumPunch

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Location
Walkerton Va 23177
Vehicle Year
1988
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Ford Bronco II
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2.9 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
3"
Tire Size
31x10.50R15
Is your dash pad cracked? Looks solid.

Can you send me a message with how much you want for that trim piece shipped to Nocona, Texas 76255?
So dash panel is in my truck DM on shipping tomorrow we can work that out. As far as dash pad. A few cracks nothing major not perfect.
70742771-4934-441A-94DE-288E146EC31C.jpeg
71668CDE-97A7-444F-82E1-B3C62523DEA5.jpeg
210E39D3-550A-4635-9C21-BD0960E29851.jpeg
8D93BA1C-8DF5-4F87-8BB7-3C5A68A88D1B.jpeg
 

Jim Oaks

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Ford Ranger
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4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0 / 2.3 Ecoboost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6-inches
Tire Size
33x12.50x15

wildbill23c

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1987
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0
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215/70-R14
My credo
19K, 19D, 92Y, 88M, 91F....OIF-III (2004-2005)
Had the same starter issues with my 84 Bronco 2 XLT....the spacer plate on mine was broken, but that didn't really seem to be the issue. The starter itself just would never stay in position no matter how tight I ran the bolts in. I finally drilled a through hole on I think its the top hole and put a washer, lock washer, and lock nut on it and it helped a little, but after about 6-7 starting sequences it was right back to grinding away and not engaging again. Tried a couple different starters from the 4L, and other 2.8L engines and still had the same problems. Finally removed the spacer plate around the starter area and it seemed to work a little better, but still had the starter sliding out of position just enough to have the thing grinding most of the time. I finally had enough of it and scrapped the thing, but it had a lot of body rot around the floor pans, door sills, etc....it had been driven through a lot of the salt belt in Utah during the winter so it pretty much rotted to pieces, and I don't think that had anything to do with the starter issues as it seems to be quite the common problem.

I've heard others mention different starter gears 9 VS 10 teeth, never got around to trying to find a different starter with 9 teeth, and given my situation where the starter kept sliding out of position there was more of an issue somewhere else than gear teeth...I think the bolt holes for the starter bolts on the transmission housing were wallered out, so with the torque from the starter even cranking the bolts down as much as I could wasn't enough to keep the starter from backing away over a few starting sequences.

Sadly that thing ran and drove great, just the body was rotting away around the engine.

My 88 B2 was an automatic, and luckily didn't have starter issues with it other than when I initially bought it, the starter was kind of hit and miss so it was replaced during the transmission rebuild process and never had a problem with it afterwards.
 

Shran

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I think the bracket on the left is the Ranger single cab version but I'm sure you could make it work with a B2.

KIMG1611.JPG
KIMG1613.JPG
 

85_Ranger4x4

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Jim Oaks

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Location
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Ford Ranger
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4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0 / 2.3 Ecoboost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6-inches
Tire Size
33x12.50x15
hmmmm.....

I'm trying to remember what the roof looks like under the headliner. Seems to me there's cross supports. wonder if I can just bend a flat bar to work?
 

85_Ranger4x4

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For the first time ever I will go ahead an day it for ya: "too bad it says Ranger on it"

 

Jim Oaks

Just some guy with a website
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Location
Nocona, Texas
Vehicle Year
1996 / 2021
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0 / 2.3 Ecoboost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6-inches
Tire Size
33x12.50x15

Jim Oaks

Just some guy with a website
Administrator
Founder / Site Owner
Supporting Vendor
Article Contributor
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
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Joined
Aug 2, 2000
Messages
13,416
Reaction score
8,535
Points
113
Location
Nocona, Texas
Vehicle Year
1996 / 2021
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0 / 2.3 Ecoboost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6-inches
Tire Size
33x12.50x15
20221119_152223.jpg

20221119_152152.jpg
Test fitting a hoodscoop I got made for a 2010 Mustang for $26.00.

I swapped in the 4.0 starter I had. It starts but seems noisy when I crank it. Not sure if it's the flywheel or I just forgot what a 2.8 sounds like.

20221121_202050.jpg
Strangly enough the first vehicle to get worked on in the TRS garage is not a Ranger.

So tonight my GF and I were removing the interior and I realized that there isn't any sunvisors! Someone stapled up a new headliner and apparently decided to not reinstall the sunvisors.

Now I have to find a pair of sunvisors. :annoyed:
 

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