I am very new to the truck community (including the mechanics of trucks) so please be patient. I have a stock '86 Ford Bronco(full size) and I want better gas milage out of it. It has a 351w with I think a 3 speed automatic (don't know the type). I want to get an overdrive tranny or an aftermarket kit but I don't know anything about this. What kind of overdrive should I get, what do I need to do (generally) to complete the job, and what not. Any other sujestions on improving gas milage would be appretiated.

 

What is your current gas milage?

Your Bronco is around 5600 lbs. and has the aerodynamics of a brick wall. If you are getting anything over 12 mpg right now you are probably doing better than most.

I don't mean to sound negative, I just don't think it's realistic to try to get decent gas milage from a big Bronco.

 

I am getting about 10mpg right now. I understand that it seems stupid to try and make a truck gas efficient, but I am going to college and have very little left over money to pay for a lot of gas. I enjoy my truck and I would rather keep it than get something like a Ranger and this is why I am trying to do this.

 

I say take the cash it would cost to upgrade your tranny with an overdrive or swaping it. and just buy a geo metro or somthing to drive during the week. because putting an extra gear in a C6 tranny which is what you have will cost 1000+ easy. and a rebuilt AOD tranny that isnt as strong will cost around 800. Im sure you could find and ok car for that amount of cash.

later

 

did ford make broncos with an AOD? Or maybe even a F-series truck? I do not want to buy a geo or similar car, I just wouldn't feel right driving one.

 

Hey mbd2-

Stick with the C-6. It is the strongest tranny you can have on the Bronco, and the cheapest to fix or replace.

Especially if you are on a college budget, leave it alone.

I had a 92 4x4 F150, burned up the EOD4, and spent $1,800 replacing it. A rebuilt C-6 costs around $400, and won't tear up to start with.

That extra $1,400 would have bought a lot of gas....

 

You can try to find an AOD at a junkyard, around here I have found quite a few its the C6'S that are hard to come by. You can pick one up below $250 and swap it out yourself. I also read an article, I think here, about modifying a C6 for overdrive. Also alot of engine modications claim to add gas mialage. Or I guess you can just try to lay off the gas pedal.