I'm looking at purchasing an 89 Bronco II xlt 4x4 I'd like to get your guys opinion on what i'm looking at.

The situation

Needing a 4x4 for snowy mountain roads as well as the occational deeply rutted roads found around these parts. No significant off roading planned, aside from that needed to get around the mountains around here. Nothing for sport, except as needed to get to places to rock climb, kayak, and mountain bike.

The Features:

2.9 v6, 5 speed manual, manual transfer case, manual hubs, 107k, and bone stock.

The Good:

Engine holds 100 psi evenly in compression check, the tranny is decent, cluch works well, and the transfer case checks out alright.

The bad:

Needs new hubs, needs alignment to fix dog tracking, feels pretty slugish especially pulling up hill. Can't go much more than 25 on steep mountain roads, and takes significant effort to pull past 55 on 2 lane high way hills. I'm thinking the cats maybe clogged because there is a strong exaust smell as well, with no apparent holes...

The ugly:

Fairly free of rust, considering it's a wv car and the salt, but some is apparent around the rear wheel wells. It's been hit and repaired twice, tho nothing more than fender benders, and looks quite good considering. The rear springs are sagging about 1 inch from the front, and the windshield has some star chips...

The Question:

Would you buy it, and for how much?

 

i would give about 400 for it not more than that needs alot of work done to make that boy climb past 25 and go more than 55 on highway

400 final offer

 

$1700 is a little high.. i have a 86 BII and paid $700 for mine..it had 4inch suspension and bigger tires..it was clean but i had to pull the trans an replace it and i had to pull the motor and put new heads and oil pump on it to get it to run like new. anywhere between $400-800 depending on shape, condition and amount of work that needs to be done seems fair in my opinion.

 

If no leaks, no "weird" motor or trivetrain sounds, and if you really like it...then I say "Buy It". If it's from an individual, pull the codes and see how things are doing. If at a lot, ask to see the repair history since they have had it. You can also check with Carfax.com to check the history.

 

Thats a little high.The hubs are the easyest and cheapest to fix.The dog tracking sounds like more the an alignment problem also a good alignment is not cheap on TTBs.Rust can hide in a lot of places ,and all the othet stuff you said I would pass at $1700 I agree with monty06 $400 at the most and then you can use the rest to fix yourself a nice rig. I would do some more looking. That one sounds like its been rode hard and put up wet.JMO

 

Where do you all live that you can pick up decent 4x4's for 400 bucks? I might come visit ya I did get my previous car for that price, but it was an ex-rental with many more problems that this truck, has 70,000 more miles and no 4 wheel. As far as being rode hard, the guy that has it now doesn't go off road at all, and even prefers not to drive in the snow...

Did i mention that this is to be a daily driver, not a toy for the weekends? round here you can find 4x4's for 8-900, but they need a lot of work and i'm 6 hours from my garage. perhaps 4x's just go for more in the eastern mountains... else i'm lookin' in the wrong places...

 

Ok I reread your first post and still think $1700 is a bit much for the truck descreibed.Why,because of the problems it has.I may have be off on the $400 but I would not give more then $900 for it and spent the rest on getting things fixed. Do a web search on used car prices and you will see why we are telling you this.If you have MSN the car pages will give you this info and I'm sure there maney others.
My 89 4x4 which has a new engine,clutch.and no rust new tires ,list for around $1800.You asked what we thought so I tould you.
If you think that the BII you found is worth $1700 and you will be happy with it by all means buy it,and enjoy it they are good veh and are fun to drive. Good Luck and Keep us posted on what you deside and how it goes with your new to you BII. Jeff

 

i got mine off Ebay for $700. I was watching one that ended yesterday evening..nice clean good running condition. Sold for under $800. They are out there..just have look. when getting one off ebay don't bid till the last couple minutes..no need to keep upping the price just so you can see your name as current high bidder.

 

I agree that 1700 is steep for a 15 year old truck...just trying to get some opinions...I'm a bit skeptical of ebay and buying site unseen for things like vehicles, but i'd love to get a decent truck for 400 bucks

 

Offer $800 or $900 and see if he bites. I doubt he has people lining up to buy it and that would give you another $700 or $800 to fix it up with.

 

i paid $1200 for my little medium blue 1986 4x4 with 2.9v6, 5 speed, manual shift 4x4 ,manual lockouts, power window, ac, bone stock, no rust, no dents no obvious mechanical problems, perfect interior,and a crappy stereo for mine 4 or 5 years ago and im happy...

i had to replace drag link and get front end aligned right of the bat that cost around $200

my exhaust broke fell down and got twisted around rear axle so i chopped it of right behind the crossover an ran into glass packs $150

i lifted my b2 4inches less than $200 and put some phatty 33x12.50 on chrome rims on her ( that was expensive like $175 per tire like $75 per wheel) trimmed the fenders a little and im happy as could be

i have broke several lock out hubs in tenneesee you can get em for $25 -$35 used warn sells good replacements for around $150 + or -

i have broke several drive shats new those are expensive like $250
used $10 - $100

something in the rear end broke and knocked a hole in the rear dif cover so we put a 410 posi in f(ront and rear) i love the lower gears that was just what my b2 needed...

i really love my truck but there are some probs still .also i am real rough on her too but i like to work on my trucks so like i said $1200 a little here and there to fix the stuff i broke clowning around and i am still happy.

most things that have happened i have caused in one way or the other... i have a tough little truck that looks and runs great

these are not race cars but you should be able to down shift your gears and get some power....i think these v6s put out like 140 or so hp at best. mine runs good and is plenty fast (except for that 30 min drive on the interstate gremlin im still working on) i can get up to 80 and faster on level road real easy. i dont like to drive that fast on big tires.. aand driving fast on curvey hilly roads will put you on your roof. this b2 may have glogged air filter bad weak spark plug be out of time or any nimber of tune up related things.

the springs are a cheap fix put explore springs all the way round it'll lift ya a inch or two and give a stiffer ride... easy and cheap

low ball em and see if they bite i wish i could find a running driving 4x4 for $400 i would buy for the windows and parts and experment with my choppping the roof all the way off and modifying the doors idea

a 4x4 that is easy to make right for close $1000 is a steal round here..




good luck