I had a BII way back in high school. That was 20 some years ago. It was an 85 and the only reason I got it was, I needed something ASAP. I sold my car and the dealer sold the 88 STX Ranger out from under me with money down on it. So I wound up and got this little Bronco. I beat the hell out of it. It took it and kept coming back for more. One of the top fun vehicles I ever owned. I had fun with it.
Now years have passed and I'm commuting back and forth to college. My V10
F-250 isn't a commuter car, by any means. I probably should have something a little more efficient. Lurking around I spotted a clean looking 88 advertised. I really would like a 90, but this 88 is nice looking. Red and silver graphics, BFGs, roof rack, tire carrier, PL/PW, cruise, air, tilt, lund visor, a 60/40 split bench and a 5speed. Listed with a 289. It might be? or maybe it is a miss print and the meant 2.9. Either way the engine is claimed to be fairly recent with 65,000 miles on it. Price is up there, but not unreasonable compared to the junk people list. It just needs a slave cylinder according to the ad. I'm so poor, but I find myself intrigued by this little BII.
Now I have some student loan money coming and I have some plow money coming so the wheels are a turning. I might just pull my trailer up state to have a look at it after the first of the year.
What am I looking for if in fact the Bronco has 8 plugs under the hood? I almost wish it does. I had two EB 302s and they were a riot, but they also had the right stuff. Does the 5speed even work with a V8? I'm almost sure it is a misprint, being it is a gal that is selling it. Still I better know a little something about what I might see, from those a little more knowledgeable than me.

 

Are you asking if the 2.9 is a V8?? I mean a 302 can be put in one, but its a swap with several mods that have to be done. The 5 speed from the 2.9 will not work with the 302.

 

I know the 2.9 isn't a V8. The add listed the truck with a 289 which is a V8. I believe it to be a misprint, but in case it isn't I was wondering what I might need to know about such a conversion. One of my thoughts was, and I asked, If the original 5 speed would even work with a 289, since it appears to be in place from the photos of the BII in question.

Sorry, I thought I was clear enough.

 

289 or 302, same thing. So no that stock 5 speed doesn't work with the V8.

 

Yes it will, with an adapter from advance adapters

Advance Adapters 712541 - Advance Adapters Ford Ranger 4WD Transmission to Ford V8 Bellhousing Adapters - Overview - SummitRacing.com

So it very well could be.

 

If you do not beat the snot out of it, the Toyo Kyogo 4 and 5 speed manuals will hold up well behind the V8 with the Advanced Adapters bellhousing. If you drive hard and thrash on it, all bets are off.

 

I figure since the 88 was efi and a V-8 conversion, if it has one, i would probably be carbed. Then there is also the cooling system, engine mounts, accessories brackets to name a few issues I know of with a V-8. It probably is a back woods mess under the hood if a conversion has been done. Though she claimed it wasn't. As money gets closer I think I'll ask if I could get a couple shots under the hood. Might save me a drive.

 

Well as the money starts coming in I've been looking around. I spotted a 94 Explorer Sport. Higher miles, but excellent shape for less than this BII I was looking at. I know the Explorer has the BII beat in about everything, but I still like the BII. Decisions,,,decisions.

Explorer sold. I looked at some other BII's, all junk. Back to to this clean looking 88. I have requested some more info on it. Hope to have it soon so I might make the New Years a little brighter.

 

I normally shy away from the "all it needs is" vehicles. I figure if all it needs is x, they would have replaced x, and got a better price. Unless it is an internal slave cylinder, I can't imagine them not fixing it. I guess it is just one of my pet peeves. Merry Christmas...

TommyJ

 

I think in this case it is more work than someone is willing to do in a snowbank. I hear you though. As far as the price they are not shy in asking a premium, but from what I can tell so far, it could very well be worth it to me. Looking at others a little more affordable and finding junk is becoming routine. I emailed a list of things I wanted to know, and I should know all the facts on it this one come the weekend.

 

Copy that, it is getting very hard to find one in decent shape.

 

Keep your eyes on craigslist, every once and a while a really nice B2 will show up.
There was a REALLY nice 88 B2 on CL here, that had been towed behind a motorhome or stored in a garage when not towed. The old guy was giving up on RVing, selling motorhome and his "toad" as they call small tow behind rigs.
The B2 was pristine, it had NEVER been abused or even gone off-road, looked brand new.

 

Let me tell you, I'm shopping. My very first BII was bought out of desperation. I wanted that STX Ranger the dealership sold out from under a signed contract. So by having the BII then, I wasn't too overly happy about it. Having said that, that little BII was a stout little vehicle and with all do respect, it was fun. When I buy myself another one, it will be on my own terms, the options I want, and it needs to be at least as clean as my 85 was nearly 20years ago. I'll find one.

 

My wife had a really nice 85 B2, we outgrew it, but I wish I had it back in the condition it was in when we sold it!
IMO B2s are more capable than any Explorer off-road.......just not as comfortable, and thats what its all about these days, driving your recliner down the interstate.

 

I've never been offroad with an Explorer so I couldn't comment. It would have to a two door sport w/ttb to be anything reasonably close. I'm not so sure about any of them being anymore comfortable. Even brand new ones suck compared to my F250. That F250 is more comfortable than the airchair I'm sitting right now. Extreme driving comfort isn't the reason I'm looking for a BII anyway. First and foremost it is a second vehicle that will make better fuel mileage, second it is an extremely easy vehicle to maintain, lastly it would be kind of like a blast from the past having one, a nice one, to have a little adventure without breaking the bank.