MY build thread...'88 Bronco II Desert Rat Patrol Edition: MAJOR update 2/23/2025

[Peter Griffin]

Glad you’re finally enjoying your toy, lol!

I’m tempted to take you up on the radiator and e-fan…

It's yours Sir! PM incoming...

 

[Peter Griffin]

*Updated: the one radiator/e-fan combo is spoken for, I still have another new-ish radiator if anyone needs it!

I do have a couple of items laying around that if anyone here needs just let me know. I figured I'd post it here first since y'all helped me out and encouraged me so if you need a new/new-ish radiator, 3-inch lift blocks (which could also be used on a Ranger if I'm not mistaken) and leaf spring U-bolts, and a JVC KD-R210 (single CD/single DIN chassis) head unit (which could be used on any vehicle with a single DIN chassis), just let me know, all I need for payment is the shipping cost...

 

[Peter Griffin]

I finally got my act together yesterday and got some pictures of my BII in its natural environment, the extreme SW AZ desert!

I had an issue where the driver's side (power) window didn't want to work (which isn't the first time) and I was on my own so no "action" photos, but it was fun none the less to get out and about...

 

[Peter Griffin]

...and I got the (power) window fixed! Fortunately the previous owner (one of them) drilled access holes to get to the 3-bolts that hold the motor is place and once it's out it's easy to raise the window completely up and pull the motor out. Both wires were rubbed/frayed in the same place and for whatever reason the wiring harness is at least a foot longer than it has to be. I fixed the wire and tested the motor to make sure it wasn't bad, it spun up when powered, I threw it back in and done. Because of all the time I spent futzing with the doors with the new glass, soundproofing, new door panels in addition to the access holes, it was barely an hour repair job, and I gotta be honest, it was actually kind of fun to diagnose and fix it...it gave me something to do!

At this point I am seriously considering a new/rebuilt long block with some of the "performance" mods I was considering before but thought twice about doing on a 35+ year old motor. High(er) flow heads, cam, throttle body, etc. to freshen things up and get a very modest increase in power...won't be cheap but not a break the bank move either. We'll see, I gotta re-research all of that since I was pretty content but at this point the OG motor is the only thing left, and I really don't want to go through the wiring harness and dash swap ordeal required with a 3.0...

 

[Peter Griffin]

...someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse and I sold my truck!

While I was comfortable and moving forward with my engine/build project, with nearly $25K in it without any consideration for my labor, and another likely $5K planned for the engine build, having $30K tied up really was starting to exceed my comfort level. I didn't do this project to make money and have lost, literally, 100s of thousands of dollars in negative equity in vehicles over the years, it's the cost of doing business when you're a gearhead. I've bought, sold, traded, flipped well over 60 vehicles (cars, UTVs, motorcycles) and will continue to do so, I just had an opportunity to sell this one to an older gentleman who was quite impressed with the build and work I did, and while I would have liked to have gotten a few thousand more, I took the offer and already working on another project(s).

I'm profoundly grateful for all the help I received from folks here, and will definitely hang around as a potential project would have me right back here, so I'm not going away mad or otherwise!

Thanks again y'all!

 

[Uncle Gump]

Honestly... I think that's better then pouring thousands more into a 2.9L.

The new owner will enjoy it and turn some heads while having fun with it.

Thanks for sharing your journey with us.

Good luck with the next one....

 

[RobbieD]

View attachment 123894
...someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse and I sold my truck!

While I was comfortable and moving forward with my engine/build project, with nearly $25K in it without any consideration for my labor, and another likely $5K planned for the engine build, having $30K tied up really was starting to exceed my comfort level. I didn't do this project to make money and have lost, literally, 100s of thousands of dollars in negative equity in vehicles over the years, it's the cost of doing business when you're a gearhead. I've bought, sold, traded, flipped well over 60 vehicles (cars, UTVs, motorcycles) and will continue to do so, I just had an opportunity to sell this one to an older gentleman who was quite impressed with the build and work I did, and while I would have liked to have gotten a few thousand more, I took the offer and already working on another project(s).

I'm profoundly grateful for all the help I received from folks here, and will definitely hang around as a potential project would have me right back here, so I'm not going away mad or otherwise!

Thanks again y'all!

Wow; that's a bolt out of the blue.

The important things are first, you sound like you're good with moving it on to a new home; and second, somebody that appreciates it is getting themselves a damn nice truck. If I may say so, "older gentlemen" often have a lot of good common sense, and it sounds like the truck will be loved.

The best thing is, is that you're not going anywhere. I've enjoyed your posts, and getting to ride along on your journey with the B2. It was fun.

I'm hoping that your "potential project" is along the same lines.

Please do keep us posted.

 

[Blmpkn]

Boooooooooo

 

[Uncle Gump]

@Peter Griffin

Be sure to tell the new owner about us. Your build thread might be of value to him also.

 

[Uncle Gump]

And yeah...


BOOOOOOOO!!!!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

And yeah...


BOOOOOOOO!!!!