Hey all. Just peekin around..Been workin on the 85 in my sig , and with all the research and thanks to my broncograveyard catolog, I have started eyeballing Broncos.

I think if I had to pick I would go 80-86 first. then 87-91...not really big on the 92-96 front end on the Bronco.
I am guessing these years were all small block motors? I know my old mans 78, 79? had a 460 in it way back when..
A bud told me to look out for body mounts, tailgate and quarters in the rot dept..
havnt decided to jump over yet, but day dreaming of a slightly lifted daily driver
anyhting to consider while picking a donor for a project? fixer uppper level...seem to be plenty of later models to be had, not so much in the early 80's
302 vs 351, then i hear many brag about the straight six..
just a conversation post
thanks

 

351 would be my top choice. A little better grunt. The 302 doesnt have the mpg advantage to beat that. The 300-6 is as bulletbroof as they come and with a granny gear trans it'll pull a house. But its a low rpm engine that'll never be a champ on the highway or slingin mud. You can get pretty good mpg out of it though, unlike the 8s.

check the floorpans for rust as well in case the top was off in the rain. And the power steering is a common issue as well.

Dont beleive the 460 was ever an option in the bronco, but its a popular swap, and for good reason.

 

Obviously carbed vs fuel injected is going to be a big deciding factor, as the switch was made in the mid 80s. My advice is go with whichever you feel more comfortable working on (carbs are much simple with less to go wrong, easier to upgrade, but if you prefer working with electronics, EFI).

 

maybe I am mistaken on the 460, maybe that was the old Lincoln..
so 351 over 302,and six..sounds good..you mention the steering, we talking gear or rotted lines?

that would be a good thing to figure out, what year they strated in with the fuel injection..
thanks a bunch 92NCBronco

 

The power steering pump goes bad, and often times takes the box with it. alot of times it can leak in the lines or fittings near the pump or just overheat/lock up. The E4OD trans can overheat in extreme situations as well blowing out the seal. Oil coolers can be used for either or both.

If I'm not mistaken some of the mid to late 80s trucks came with either/or carb/EFI.

 

The 460 was NOT and option in the bronco, but it's a popular mod as mentioned. The PS pumps tend to go bad, they start by whining and grinding like it's low on fluid. If it isn't that, the lines will leak but that happens on any car or truck.

All the Broncos had small blocks unless someone dropped a big block in it. The 78-79 had the 351m which is sometimes thought of as a big block, but it isn't. They started doing EFI around 86, there are some models with a carbed motor and some efi. If comes down to your own preference, I prefer the simplicity of a carb but others like the efi systems. The I-6 does have torque and some people would trade a 302/351 to have them it kind of comes down to what you like.

Another thing to look out for is the seals around the windows, doors, and tailgate. The seals on the fiberglass top tend to rot out from age so its a good idea to replace those when you tale the top off. Watch out for already lifted Broncos, some people don't know what they are doing and it can get costly. Hmm what else... If you get one, male sure you check all the steering bushings really well, they can look fine but be in bad condition.

Otherwise, enjoy it and post lots of pictures they are great trucks and always are fun to drive.

 

sounds like some good advice about the seals, and the lifted trucks.
Not there yet, but its workin on me ..
Trying to figure out a way to some how let a Bronco become my new daily ride in place of my 97 F150...too bad have a low mileage 4.6 , not exactly a simple swap..

 

A bronco as a DD isn't a bad idea. I use my 78 as a DD though I don't drive much these days. I generally putter around the house till I get bored. Lately we have been doing this bathroom renovation...

Anyways, I have learned most of what I know from here for my own experiences. My Brother had a 79 and the 6" lift on it was badly done which was why I warned about it. I also have my fair share of issues with my 78 that I wasn't told about.

 

Broncos work well and last long. My buddy has a 79 (rotted to the ground almost) but it has lasted him and he loves it because its simple and he knows it inside and out. I personally have a 96 351W with 300k on it and an E4OD w/ tranny cooler (rebuilt) its my DD and although I tried to sell it, I still love the thing to death.

 

If you are looking for a daily driver, give some serious thought to finding one with a 300 (that's the 4.9L for you youngsters). A 300 won't exactly launch you into next Tuesday when you stomp on it but it will pull, tow, haul anything you throw at it and still not be as thirsty at the pump as either of the V8's. 300's that fail prematurely only last about 250,000 miles. (Think about that number before you assume that is a negative).

As for which body style you choose, that is purely a matter of personal taste. If you don't care for the 92-96 front clip styling, you are in luck. Ford ceased production of the 300 in the Bronco in 1992.

78-79's are fuel guzzling monsters that are aesthetically very nice. However, their early emissions, large displacement mills are extremely thirsty and the only drop-in modern replacement is an even bigger 460 (7.5L) albeit the 460 can be had with factory EFI which has marginal MPG improvement.

Speaking of EFI, if you want the mileage improvements and reliability, then you will need to look at 86-96 models with the 302 or 87-96 models with the 351 or 87-92 models with the 300.

 

What GS says is true. these 78's really like their gas. I will probably use around 1 quarter tank round trip to my new job. That's 34.4 miles. Not including traffic and stop light fuel burning. On top of that I have 35 inch tires and weird diff gearing AND a motor that doesn't run perfect.

For a DD, a 300 would be the better choice unless you drive a short distance.

 

Thanks Fordman
very interesting, what tranny was usaully paired with the 300?
Thanks

I do have a short ride to work for the time being..plenty of food for thought..

Here is a new question, ..a bud mentioned to me that his 82,85's had lap belts on the rear bench seat..Now , I thought I read something about unbolting shoulder belt on a top removal how-to article..
Was there some sort of top or body change that allowed the use of a shoulder belt in the rear?
anyone know what year that changed if so?

Thanks a bunch, great info

 

300 would be a good idea in our 78-79 Broncos but they weight 6,000+ lbs. They would work better for the 80+ YEAR MODEL BRONCOS.


My plans are to put my 460 in mine, get some fenderwell exit headers, 750 double pumper (will keep out of the 4 barrel when I can), drive like I usually do 55-60mph, and install a ZF5 and do some other mods. I hope to get 15 MPH. I HOPE. If I get that I will be happy.

I travel 36 miles to work (round trip) a day. If I get 15 mpg..I would use a little over 2 gallons a day to go to work unless I travel somewhere else.

If I use 2.5 gallons a day at $3.58..that would mean I would spend about $8.95/day on gas which would be around $44.75/week (5 days unless I have to work 6-7 days).

 

The same transmissions that were available behind the 302 and 351W also came behind the 300. Depending on model year, the manuals were primarily the Dana T-18, New Process 435 and the M5OD-R2 (Mazda-built 5-speed). (There are several variants of the M5OD but the R2 designation was the unit employed in the Bronco and 1/2-ton trucks). Automatics were primarily the C6, AOD and E4OD.

The T-18 and NP 435 were phased out in favor of the M5OD in the mid 80's. The C6 stayed the course when the AOD was added but when the E4OD came along in 1990, it was only another year before it was the ONLY automatic available in the Bronco.

There are other variants and popular swaps as well. The ZF S5-42 is a popular swap for a bullet-proof 5-speed manual and is a direct replacement for the M5. The 435 is probably the smallest and toughest unit while the E4OD is easily the largest, most complex unit. There are mixed emotions about the E4OD and it MUST have the computer to control it. The M5, AOD and E4OD are all true overdrive units with the highest OD ratio in the AOD at 0.67:1. The NP 435 boasts the lowest first gear with a 6.69:1 ratio.

It should also be noted that the ZF S5-42 was standard behind the 300 in the 3/4-ton truck line. Yes, the 300 was strong enough to be the baseline power plant for the F-250's as well as the F-150 and Bronco line.

 

Great info.on the tranny stuff...hmm...anyone ever hear of an idi swap? I may have a line on a an 87 6.9/c6 combo???? Thinking might be something.to put.aside.in case a.bronco.falls in my lap. Just thinking outloud lol
That 300 is catching my attention ...hmm