On my 84 Bronco II there is no way to lock the liftgate I am wondering if this is factory or if there is a special handle I can buy. I can get a liftgate from a 87 that is the same color with a lock will this fit my truck?

 

If I remember correctly, the 84 had the lock as part of the handle. You would insert the key then turn the handle. If you only have the one hole in your liftgate for the
handle with no lock cylinder below, that is the case. It might be easier to find a junk
84 handle with the key, and use that. I don't know about the fit on a newer liftgate,
though. Someone probably put the newer handle on yours. It fits, but has no lock.

 

Whoops, just read the previous post in this thread. MY mistake. Yep, I do believe that the 84's had an integral lock (with no locking device on the inside, either?) with the handle. Only places I know of are junkyards and -maybe- dealerships, unless LMC Truck has 'em.... and just looked, they DON'T. Guess you'll have to check the junkards and dealerships, etc.

 

Would the liftgate off the 87 fit since this would be a cheap solution to my problem?

 

Kernel and fl1a, you're correct: the '84 had the lock cylinder integrated into the latch handle. These are very hard to find and then you have to get it rekeyed if you find one. I found one at the boneyard today but I couldn't get it out because it was locked and I couldn't get the hatch open. FWIW, this was the first time I've found one in the 18 months I've been visiting yards for BII stuff.

You can swap any hatch from any year BII onto yours; that's what most people do to solve the lock issue. This also allows you to upgrade to things such as opening glass/rear defroster/rear wiper (if inclinded), as well as tire carrier or no tire carrier capable. Plus then you have the opportunity to re-weatherproof the leake prone areas around the hinges and upper 1/4-panel/roof joints. This is what I did and I don't have any more leaks back there.