Hello,

I don’t really know why, but I am very fascinating at Ford Bronco’s and I will buy one. I have found one ( ’89, 5,0 liters (302) ) in good shape, but the engine has a ticking sound. So before a buy it, perhaps someone can tell me if this ticking should keep me away from the buying this truck.

<>Some samples:
http://www.wallmark.se/MOV00011.MPG
</>http://www.wallmark.se/MOV00013.MPG <><o>

</o>Per </>

 

Does it seem to come from the top center of the engine? A ticking sound from there on an '89 is normal. It is the fuel injection, working properly.

It is hard to diagnose from my chair here though; you could also be hearing a valve or an exhaust leak. The ticking from the injectors would be more regular and faster than either of the others, and would sound more precise (like a watch ticking).

 

Ahh, I just noticed the mpegs. I listened to the forst one, that is not the fuel injectors. Too loud and irregular. It is still hard to tell from here; but it sounds most like an exhaust leak. These trucks are famous for craked exhaust manifolds. I will listen to number 2 now and let you know if it sheds any more light.

 

OK I listened to the second one. That is pretty loud. It sounds like metal. An exhaust leak at idle would not be that loud, especially from the back of the truck. It could still be an exhaust leak, but it sounds more like something internal. It sounds almost like a knock, like a rod; it is just a little bit too high pitched. Check the oil; it may be noisy lifters from low oil but I don't think so because if it was. all the lifters would be tapping and yours sounds like a single "note."

It could also be one of the accessories like the alternator, check them for obstructions (alternator fam rubbing something, etc.).

Also check the AIR (smog) pump outlets. If there is a hole in the outlet then it makes a very noisy exhaust leak that can be heard over the engine, since the air is being forced out by the pump in addition the the engine so it is louder.

Pressing a long screwdriver against parts of the engine and putting the handle to your ear can work like a stethoscope. Sometimes it is confusing though, because the sounds travel. But you can move it around to try and locate the approximate area where the sound is loudest, and that can give you a clue.

I would not buy it like that until I knew what the noise was, unless you are getting it very cheap.

Good luck!

 

PERW, i would stay clear of it personally. Find one with a 351w to start with and go from there. if your not sure about the condition of the motor but other things look good take it into any shop and for 1hrs time they can diag the motor and tell ya whats going on if there is anything at all. i had a 302 in my bronco and it was a dog and used more gas then the 351w i swapped in last summer.

good luck

 

Thanks for the answers.
I had some more people listen to the sound, some says it a valve and some says it is a lose piston bolt and I don’t know :-). What I will do, is to ask the seller to fix the problem and if he is willing to do that, the Bronco is mine. Here in Sweden we don't have that many Big Broncos to choose between, not more than 10 new Broncos / month and lots of them are very rusty. And this one has no rust.






Per

 

my guess is that it has a bad wristpin or bad cam. how much US dollars is the seller asking. if the price is right a new engine is about 1200 dollars.

 

well, ive said it once, ive said it a thousand times. every ford ive owned has made a similar noise. my 95 makes that noise(although not quite as loud). I have checked the lifters twice now, and their fine, so yours is most likely not a lifter problem. as stated above, it might be injectors or a loose bolt. I personally wouldnt worry about it (that much). just check and chainge your oils/fluids regularly and when needed, and you should be fine. As for the 302 engine, I love mine. It has a lot of power(contrary to popular belief). my engine has 200,000 miles on it, and she never skips a beat. yes the 351 is better (barely) but a 302 will do ya fine. and as said above, you can always swap it later.

 

No way. Not this noise. Did you watch the videos? It is loud. That is not the injectors clicking.

 

Hehe, you pay 1200 $ for a engine I think I had to pay over 3000 $ (probably more). The seller wants 6000$ for it. Cheap isn't it :-).

 

1200 for a motor is about right , your 3k was probably to get it installed to right perw? i for one prefer to install the motor myself save that extra 1500 for other goodies lol

 

6000 $ FOR AN 89 that cant be american dollars, that would be outrageously high. i paid 4200 for my 1991 and that was 3 years ago and it only had 88,000 miles on it. fully loaded and no rust.