Looking to join the club

[Yowakawaka]

Hi everyone,

I am looking at this 86 bronco with about 100k but wanted to know what I’m getting in to be for I consider buying it. It’s an 86 v8 5.8 4x4 automatic. It’s really nice inside and out. Only problem is that it doesn’t go in reverse. I figure I’d take this opportunity to get it cheaper and upgrade the tranny. We’ll see!

I was wondering how much I should be looking at for price? I don’t want to overpay. Also, what mpg am I looking at? Im mainly a city driver. I was peaking around and saw some of you guys get like 8mpg. That’s scary!? Also, I’m pretty sure that is a Bronco 2. I don’t think that year came in a v8 5.8. I’m seeing 2.8 and a 2.9 both v6. Can someone elaborate?

I guess that’s all the questions for now. I posted a photo for you guys down low.

I’m graduating from college soon and this is kind of a gift to myself. Anyway, I look forward to hearing and learning from you guys. I’m not a great mechanic but always like to pick the brains on knowledgeable people.

if I decide not to buy it, I’ll pass on the info so one of you guys can grab it.

Thanks in advance,
Yowakawaka

 

[Uncle Gump]

Definitely a Bronco II... and that picture says it looks pretty clean. The price on these has gone up lately so I'm not exactly sure of their worth. I will say they're getting harder to find in good shape. I believe it would have come from the factory with a 2.9L V6... But I'm not exactly sure when they changed from the 2.8L. Typically if someone were to do a V8 swap... the rest of the truck would show other modifications. This one looks bone stock to me. Only one way to know for sure... go look at it... and pop the hood. Even with a smallish V6... they were never fuel misers... You should expect probably between 16 and 20 mpg if running properly and reasonable driving.

As for the transmission... you should figure about $2000 to replace it... so let that figure into you offer price.

Good luck and let us know what you find... and if you don't buy... let us know that too. Someone here may be interested.

Welcome to TRS...

 

[Ranger850]

Welcome to TRS. That's a nice looking Bromco2. Like Gump said, best to just go look at it to see if they did a motor swap.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Definitely a Bronco II... and that picture says it looks pretty clean. The price on these has gone up lately so I'm not exactly sure of their worth. I will say they're getting harder to find in good shape. I believe it would have come from the factory with a 2.9L V6... But I'm not exactly sure when they changed from the 2.8L. Typically if someone were to do a V8 swap... the rest of the truck would show other modifications. This one looks bone stock to me. Only one way to know for sure... go look at it... and pop the hood. Even with a smallish V6... they were never fuel misers... You should expect probably between 16 and 20 mpg if running properly and reasonable driving.

As for the transmission... you should figure about $2000 to replace it... so let that figure into you offer price.

Good luck and let us know what you find... and if you don't buy... let us know that too. Someone here may be interested.

Welcome to TRS...

86+ is 2.9.

 

[91stranger]

What's the asking price? That would be a $5k truck around here just because of how clean it is.... But drive train would make a huge difference in price especially if you have to have a friend push you backwards everywhere you went.

 

[sheep herder]

@Yowakawaka Have you actually seen this Bronco? Your description smells like Dirtman's sushi. Lots of scam craigslist ads out there.

 

[Yowakawaka]

Wow $2000 to fix the transmission?!? Even if I buy the parts and fix it myself?

@sheep herder i just found the posting. I messaged the guy and he said there’s a pending sale on it. He’ll get back to me if the guy doesn’t buy it.

He was only asking $1200 so sounds like it’s sold. We’ll see tho!

 

[91stranger]

Sounds like a SCAM.... If it seems too good to be true it probably is. I see the grass is pretty green in the picture. Is the grass green around you at this time of year? Do the license plates on the other car match where he says it is? Scammers normally don't do a good job hiding the fact its a scammer....

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I highly doubt thats got a 351.

Someones pulling a fast one on you. Did you find this on craigslist? Im also guessing its only got one picture and its also email only contact?

 

[Yowakawaka]

It’s on Facebook and the grass should be green. I’m guessing this person doesn’t know what they have. I didn’t know till now. There’s more then one photo but there all of the outside. This is all of them below

would it really cost $2000 to rebuild the transmission if I did it myself?
th

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Rebuilding an auto trans isnt for the faint of heart.

Other then that maybe it is legit. Even if you got it for 1200 bucks and had to spend another 2 or 2500 on a trans rebuild (which, i do think is pretty lofty on price, last one i had done was 1500, but that was in like 07, but it was a more expensive trans), youd still be under 4000, which i think is fair for a clean BII if it runs good.

Assuming its a 2.9L look for any signs of coolant in the oil (yellow snot on oil cap, on dipstick, etc), the 2.9L is actually a damn solid little motor as long as you dont overheat them, one or two slight overheats and youll almost for sure crack a head.

 

[Blmpkn]

2500 seems like a straight up bend you over price to get an automatic rebuilt.

Christ, once my paycheck hits my bank account at midnight I'm buying.. With no core mind you.. A brand new 900hp rated th400 with billet parts and a transbrake for just over 2k. SHIPPED!

 

[91stranger]

Yeah 2500 seems a little high to me too. It's a nice truck but if it needs transmission work then that means you probably cant drive it which it could have more issues than just the transmission if you couldn't drive it. I wouldn't buy anything that I cant test drive unless it was dirt cheap. Decent vehicles are out there if you look hard enough. I just scored an 03 gmc envoy with a million bells and whistles for $1000... It's the SLT package, tv with dvd player, 6 disc changer in the dash, 3rd row seating. No real issues other than some body damage (light dent/scraping on passenger front fender and door but not affecting anything.) It's got high miles but the way I see it with high mileage vehicles is that someone had to take enough care of it to get high miles lol. You don't get high miles when its sitting in the garage torn apart, you get high miles by driving. Plain and simple.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

If its just reverse thats out theres no reason he cant drive it

Just checked...

An A4LD rebuild kit is 325 (pricest i found in a quick google search).

I have no idea how much shop labor is, but im guessing 110/hr.

How many hours for a tech to yank, rebuild, and reinatall an A4LD?

10 hrs? (maybe generous, im not sure)

So you would probably be in the 1500 dollar neighboorhood.

 

[Uncle Gump]

My $2000 dollar swag was assuming you would take it in to have the transmission removed, overhauled and replaced.

You can save some money if you were to remove and replace the transmission yourself and buy a good used transmission. But honestly... it's a crap shoot on what you will get.