Hey all. Im looking for some advice on buying a 92-96 Bronco. The local gas station has a 96 XLT. 5.8, 4X4, Auto one owner truck with 150k. The shop has replaced the timing chain, water pump and auto hubs within the last year. The truck fires right up and runs smooth and quiet. They have no history on the tranny which concerns me. Haven't driven it yet but the tranny pan is wet. Everything else underneath looks good. Tires are ok but dont match. Truck is completely stock with the exception of a bug shield.

The body has rot over the rear wheels. I didn't see any other rust anywhere. Over all it looks like the exterior was never waxed and the interior never saw armorall. Some time with a polishing wheel may bring the exterior back but it needs new carpet, seat covers, and a heavy cleaning inside.

The shop owner started at $3600 a few weeks ago. He's now down to $2000. I'm thinking of offering $1700 and if he says no I keep shopping. I'm in no rush. What does the FTE collective think?

 

Get the truck, you'll get a MAF 5.8 with the problematic auto hubs replaced already, if the body has no rust that truck is actually worth the initial asking price minus the cost of repairing the wheel wells. Even if that E4OD fails you can replace it for a manual and you'll be ahead on the game, quite a good catch if there are no hidden issues.

 

Most FSB owners do not buy for value, it is about owning a Bronco.

1700.00 dollars is a fair price to enter the Bronco arena.

Most of us put sooooooo much money in our Broncos, never expecting

To get what we spent back.


Keep in mind, there may be other trucks out there in better shape.

 

Tranny rebuild for the E4OD ranges $1800-$3500 depending on shop and upgrades. you need to drive the bronco and asses how its shifting and such. if it slams in to gear that isnt good and could be a minor fix or a major fix. if your concerned take it into ford and pay the hours labor cost to have it inspected.

 

Holy smokes! I had no idea the tranny could run that much. I'm not looking to get in cheap and turn a profit on a flip. I want a full size SUV I can get the family into, I can wrench on myself, and not be a monthly payment. I got plenty into my F150 and know I'm never gonna see that money again.

Thanks for the tips. I'm waiting on a friend to get me some details on a '94 that his buddy is selling. Supposedly has a rebuilt engine, tranny, and rear, all at different times in the last 5 years. It has sat for a few years and has more rust and I would have a harder time getting it home but I wanna talk to the guy before I write it off.

 

Anyway, you can find those transmissions for far less: E4OD FORD PERFORMANCE REBUILT TRANSMISSION V8 | eBay

 

For $1700 to $2000 I would buy it and just start putting money away for the day the tranny craps out on you. I would love a 96 but I have to get the 78 done before I buy another project cause I'm never giving up my Excursion!!

 

I ended up getting it for $1500. She's ugly but she runs great. Engine is smooth and quiet. Tranny shifts smooth. I got in touch with the original owner so I have entire maintenance history. The tranny is original but he kept up the fluid changes and it has the factory tow package with a cooler. Interior and exterior have been flat out neglected. Filthy, filthy, and filthy. Worst thing about the entire truck is the armrests are missing from the seats. It also needs the shift cable/linkage adjusted.



I think with some polishing wheel time I'll be able to salvage the paint. This was just a quick hand job... with rubbing compound. Dont knock it till you try it.


No big plans for it immediately. A good cleaning for sure then just see what works and what doesn't. It's not going on the road till late fall. Next spring it will get new quarters and paint. Probably a 2.5" lift and some nice matching rubber.

 

I would cut the fender well to remove the current rust and install some sort of fender flair which will really make it look nice.

there are a number of seats from various rigs that will bolt in place of what you currently have in there so scour the junkyards. Explorer, F150-F350 and Mustang seats will bolt up to the mounting brackets.

 

Sweet! I had no idea there were so many options. Thought it was just broncos and F series.

I thought about going with flares but I hate how it looks with stock wheels and tires. I have a set of 265ish something 16's BFG's sitting behind the garage. Maybe I'll test fit those and see if the backspace is different than stock.

 

Hey that truck looks perfect! I'm glad I got a 96 out of any year I did too, makes passing emissions easier and in my opinion, reading engine codes etc.

Mine was 5000 but it only had 100k on it with a new manual transmission. It did have a nice new 4" lift with bigger tires though. The paint was okay but fading and the interior was good-fair but it was all xl bar-bones stuff.

I've replaced my entire interior with eddie bauer/xlt stuff so its pretty nice now, and I have repainted my hood/top and some other parts (myself but it turned out good) that were fading and now it looks great again. To me, for 1.5k that's a steal. I now have 203K on it but as long as you maintain it, it should run great! I only have the 5.0, but I'm glad I have a manual.

Like khdama said, most of us put tons of money into our broncos because we love them. Let see.. my leather seats, got them for 250, reupholstered part of them for 600... then I put full exhaust on myself for 1k... the list goes on for a long time but its worth it!

Edit: Oh and the armrets.. well my bracket for the passanger side broke so I have been without one for a while! I need to get one of those because that does bother me.. junk yards will be your friend!

 

Unless you live in a state that has dropped emissions inspections for anything that pre-dates OBD-II (which is anything prior to 196 model year everywhere but CA). Then a 96 still has to pass while anything older is exempt.

"Factory Tow Package" should give you quad front shocks, what Ford called the "Supercooling" radiator and sway bars front and rear. Cosmetics are easy enough to deal with if she runs well.

 

Oh well I didn't know that pre 96 vehicles were exempt from emissions in a lot of states. I know here is AZ they aren't, and I see how long it takes people to pass while I get to go right through.

I'm not saying 96 is better because of OBDII at all, I just like find different excuses why I like my bronco better than others!

 

It has quad shocks and front sway bar. I don't remember if there was one in the rear. Radiator is HUGE. I was pleased to read H9 as an axle code (3.55 limited slip). Finally bought a truck I wont have to regear.

 

NICE SCORE!! Check out my newb thread in the introductions forum. The pics of my bronco were after a complete detail, so I know the power of a cutting compund . Yours will be gleaming when your done. Also were the auto hubs replaced or were they swapped for manuals?

Late 95 and 96 broncos have a couple things different from the other years so just keep that in mind when selecting parts. Off the top of my head they have different hubs and crank dampeners from the 92-95's, also if you were to buy a bassani y-pipe, which will bolt up, provisions need to be welded in for more O2 bungs due to the ODBII.

Good luck and good find!
Shane