1987 Bronco II lift kit advice

[kcm94]

So i picked up this bronco 2 and got it running perfect just need some advice on the lift. Im a newbie with this! So it looks like the previous owner was trying to put a 6” lift. From what i can see from some research looking at different parts, it looks like they used the rough country 3” rear leaf springs with 3” rear blocks. The front im not sure exactly which size rough country shocks are used and the springs look like to me the 6” bds springs. All of the brackets look like tuff country and it says they are for 4”-6” lifts. The truck is on 30x9.5x15 and im looking to get bigger tires up to 33x12.5s if they will fit. I dont like the blocks in the rear and wanted to remove them and order new 4 inch coil springs for the front. The truck runs great and rides smooth so i feel like if i remove the blocks its smarter and would make it ride better. Just looking for advice if im not going in the right direction of this and if what im trying to do will work. Like i said im a newbie on lifts and rly just need someone to point me in the right direction. I dont have the funds for a duff lift or i would just swap it with one and this is going to be a daily driver strictly so i just want to make the lift correct before i drive it around and figure out what tires im going to put on it. Thank you anyone taking the time to read this and help me i really appreciate it.

 

[SenorNoob]

Unpopular opinion, and I don't practice it, but; if it's gonna be strictly a daily driver, why lift at all?

Also if what it has works, why change it? Tho, I do see some scary steering arm angles there. Looks like it needs a dropped pitman arm at least.

 

[Uncle Gump]

From the Tech Library...

https://www.therangerstation.com/how-to_pages/ford_ranger_tire_fitment.shtml

It appears 6 inches is the magical number to get 33 inch tires under a Bronco II. Results vary with wheel backspace and width.

Another consideration for moving up to 33 inch tires is gear ratio. They might just kill any performance you have now. They will hurt fuel economy and depending on tread pattern... noisy.

The pictures seem to show that you already have a drop pitman arm for lifting these trucks.

 

[kcm94]

It already had the lift on it when i bought it so I'm not going take if off and drop it to stock, i want it lifted for the same reason anyone else daily drives something with some lift and tires lol. I know i do need new brackets to fix the steering angle, the previous owner said that is one thing i am missing. I was only wanting to change it if there wasn't something right about what is on the lift now. What gears would you recommend for 33 tires? If the lift looks fine then i guess i will have to look into gears for 33s, or drop the lift lower to 4" and get some 31x10.5s?

 

[kcm94]

I also have checked my gear tags to see what gears it has since i have not before, it actually has the 4.10 gears. for 33s, isn't 4.10 and 4.56 gears ideal?

 

[fastpakr]

4.10 will get you by. If you do decide to switch, I'd consider going all the way to 4.88.

 

[kcm94]

so 4.10s with 33s just doing some daily driving around town, and back and forth to the beach would be fine? its not going to see the highway really. 33x12.5 would be the biggest id consider.

 

[fastpakr]

Should be okay. That said - I'd buy the biggest transmission cooler you can squeeze in and get that installed as soon as possible.

 

[kcm94]

ok cool ill will for sure look into that then thank you very much for the info

 

[19Walt93]

I probably shouldn't reply to this one because I detest lifted trucks, lifting raises the center of gravity, screws up pinion angles and causes vibrations, and forget about steering geometry. I always liked Bronco IIs but they aren't over powered to start with and increasing tire diameter has the same affect as higher(lower numerical) gears on power- kills it. The steeper pinion angle is apt to cause vibrations and eat up u joints much faster. If you're doing it for serious off roading, I'd install the deepest( lowest numerical) gears you can find so the 2.9 can turn those big mud tires but that's not going to be cheap.

 

[Shran]

I had a Bronco II with a 6" lift and 33's. It was set up very similar to yours - 2.9/auto. I did have 4.10 gears in it. While it was no race car, I was plenty pleased with it although I did not wheel it at all... I would have wanted lower gears for that. 4.10s was a good daily driver ratio I think. You are limited to 4.56 in the axles you have now anyway... if you wanted anything deeper than 4.10, you should be doing axle swaps too.

Like fastpakr said, get a much bigger trans cooler!

As far as the lift goes, I'd just leave it as is if you just want the lifted truck look. It appears that you already have a drop pitman arm, the steering linkage looks to match the axle beams fairly well... it's probably as good as it's gonna get. Ultimately if you wanted better ride quality and offroad performance I would suggest dumping that entire lift and starting over with a nice James Duff lift.

 

[kcm94]

Thanks shran that helps a lot hearing that you had something very similar. This is just gonna be a town cruiser and something for me to drive 20 minutes to the beach with my surfboards.
If I was going to go for lower gears I would for sure just swap axles. Im definitely going to get a bigger trans cooler if you guys are recommending to.

Just as long as everything looks right on the lift I'm satisfied. I drive it around the block a little and seems to ride smooth, just trying to figure out a good tire size for how much lift there is and my gear ratio. It looks a little goofy to me right now with 30x9.5x15s lol. I think ill go with a set of 32x11.5x15 or 33x12.5x15 a/t or m/t then.
Like I said thank you everyone for any tips or info since ive gotten it running well ive been stuck what to do next so this helps me get on the road finally!

 

[Shran]

32's will be your better bet for avoiding tire rubbing... my 33x12.50x15s on 15x8 wagon wheels rubbed in a few spots. Had 32s on it also and they did not rub anywhere.

The dude who eventually ended up with my B2 put Bushwacker flares on it and then 31x10.50's... it looked incredibly stupid. But to each his own.

 

[kcm94]

yea ive been looking at 32x11.5 i think thats what im gonna go with to be safe!

 

[Uncle Gump]

I'm kinda fond of the pizza cutter look... 33x10.50.15... they even fit well on a 7 inch wide wheel.