What did I get myself into???

[Blt791]

My number of post may not show it but ive been around this forum for a long time, usually as a guest just digging for information. I owned an 87 bronco 2 several years ago and had to let go of it on one of my moves. Never thought I would miss it as much as I did. Anyway, I recently purchased an 87 bronco 2 for my stepson and it was a gem of a find, great interior condition, mechanically sound, all I had to do was paint it and throw some wheels on it and he was the happiest 17 yr old Ive ever seen. So when I was doing all this work on his it made me miss mine even more. So I decided to get one for myself. I found a guy that lived a little over an hour away that had an 85 that he used for a hunting rig. I figure for the price of $600 and it was running that it was a great deal, so I took it. Oh boy, I expected problems but not as many as I got. I can deal with the exterior, Im not really caring at this point in time because I have friends that can help with that. The transmission is barely driveable. It grinds hard into second and sometimes it wont go into second so I usually just skip it and go to third. And the fifth/overdrive will not go into gear at all. If I didnt mention it the truck is manual transmission. Then there is the interior. He removed the rear seats, cut the carpet behind the drivers seat, and installed some kind of wooden deck all the way to the hatch. This was a p.i.t.a. to remove. Ive never seen so many nails and screws installed in one vehicle before. Well when I removed that, the seats, and carpet I got the best surprise of all. Holes all over the floorboard!!! I may be over dramatic by saying all overbut two pretty large ones in the back and one under the drivers side under the pedals along the crease. That one scares me the most. And all the little holes from where the screws were holding down the wood fortress. There is a few other things like the dash being jacked up and stereo wiring missing, etc. Sorry to type a novel but I justwanted to vent to people that would understand.

 

[BlackBII]

That '85 probably has the carb'd 2.8 and either the TK5 or the FM145, all sub par to what was used in the later years.

If the trans is grinding, It could be the trans itself, or perhaps the clutch isn't releasing all the way.

How's the motor? A 4.0 and M5OD trans would be a great swap for your bronco, I know, I've done 3 of them. Good luck

 

[wildbill23c]

Geez did you get a copy of my 84 B2. Sounds about as bad as mine. I've got rust issues galore, holes in everything, dents, maybe some scratches but can't tell with all the damage, missing emblems, stereo I think was literally just cut out of the dash along with cutting the end of the radio antenna off. When I got it, it was pouring gas all over the top of the engine, PO didn't think it was necessary to tighten up the fuel line fittings. Then came the engine bay, which I still haven't figured out the reasoning for having 2 wiring harnesses but it has 2 complete wiring harnesses half ass installed, one I think goes to the computer the other one I think is the harness that is actually running everything as the computer doesn't work and all. Overall its a nightmare, not to mention the 1 quart every 2 days oil leak problem.

I paid $975 for mine, but mine doesn't have any transmission issues, and the engine is strong just happens to be covered in excessive wiring, and I just put a different carburetor on it last week so it definitely runs a lot better.

Stick with it, if you get rid of it now you will regret it. Most likely you have the TK5 transmission.

 

[Blt791]

The engine runs strong so no potential problems there. I do have a line on a transmission from a 90 4x4 ranger and transfer case, so that looks promising.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

One of the nice things about fixing a rust bucket is that you don't have to worry as much about screwing up the body when off-road. I "fixed" my b-2 with whatever I had handy using screws. It's still hanging together....it doesn't look at all good but it gets from A to B.
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98389
I still use it mainly as a plow. I jury-rigged a three point hitch snowplow onto the front receiver.

Richard

 

[70roadrunner]

where are you at? i have the drivetrains from an 84 and a 90 that need to go! the 84 ran great, the 90 sat too long, no compression. both 5-speeds

 

[Blt791]

Im in tennessee. What price do you have in mind?

 

[bigmelton]

Where at in tennessee? I live in louisville, tn and have a 84 bronco 2 that is my daily driver.

 

[martin45]

70 Roadrunner do you still have the 90 5 speed I need a tranny have been around the block with what I didn't know about the trannys in these things bought a 87 then found out it would not fit mine this site has really educated me on my Bll.