a few months ago I got my first car('88 Bronco II 2.9L) and I've heard a lot of bad stuff about that engine (oil pump,cracked heads, lifters) anything else I need to worry about?

 

hey welcome to FTE 2.9L are very strong engines if you keep them in good shape
cracked heads usually a result of a bad cooling system. lifters wear after time
. oil pump fails if oil is not changed right etc... fuel pumps another one.
sagging rear end , auto hubs , auto trans a4ld mostly if it's not kept well and used right you have a crappy trans, cv-type driveshaft, quite of ew things need to be dealt with in order to make your truck running good.

 

Well I beat the crap out of my '88 Bronco2 and it just keeps going. It has yet to leave me broken down in 4x4 country. I have replaced the radiator with a 4 core. I have had 3 drive shafts put in it but that was my fault. I had the air shocks put on it for towing heavy stuff around. But I never would let the air out and it was to much of an angle for the drive shaft to handle and the cv boots would rip apart and the lub would come out. But it was still drivable just really loud grinding sounds. The only real thing to go out was the clutch (mine is a stick) and the water pump. I change the oil about every 10k miles and drive it like I am in a race car. Sucker just won't die.
I had a compression check done and it was 110-120 psi per cylinder. I guess thats pretty good. I can spin the tires in 2 gears also.

I also have the manual hubs.