Hello all! Long time reader, first time poster.

Before I begin I just have to say...WOW! What a wealth of information. This sight is as awesome as it is informative. You really know your stuff, and are pretty much the ones responsible for me wanting to buy a Bronco. I came from a Ford family, but became rebellious early on and went to the ways of the dark side, namely GM. I am now the prodigal son repenting and returning from the error of my ways. (I can hear my father and brother both laughing now with the "I told you so" mixed in. Live and learn, I say.)

So this is where I'm at, looking to your expertise. I have spent many hours looking over the many posts to try to come to a conclusion as to what would be the best Bronco combination for me. What I would like to do is let you know what I came up with, and get your input to either support me or dispute me. (I've been known to be wrong more than I'm right, but at least I'll admit it.)

The only 4-wheeling I might see is some snow on the roads in the foothills near where I live, as well as an occasional off-the-beaten-path trip down to a river near the same area. And these trips aren't often. In other words, nothing major. It will be a daily driver. I am more interested in reliability.

I like the 88 on up body style. From what I've gathered from your posts, the AOD (I definitely want an automatic) is more reliable than the E4OD, which started in 90. It also seems as though the 351 seems to last longer than the 302 before needing a rebuild, and isn't much different in the MPG area (or is it?).

This leads me to think that my best bet would be an 89 with a 351. But then again, I could be way off. (Nothing new.)

Also, I know the paint on these were weak due to the primer used in those years. But from what I've noticed on the Broncos in my area, I have yet to see an Eddie Bauer edition peeling. Does the paint or color make a difference on this?

Sorry to be so wordy, but trying to cover all my bases. Any input would be appreciated. Looking forward to becoming a more active member on this site (hopefully not over all the problems I might experience with my Bronco), and being able to give my input to the "newbies" when I become experienced.

Thanks again to those who support this site!

 

well you wont find the AOD behind a 351w in the broncos. the e40d was problemmatic up till 93 when it got some internal upgrades. its not a bad tranny if taken care of properly. if you get an 88-89 with a 351w it will have the C6 and suck mpg wise. if you get a 90-92 you may or maynot have possible tranny issues with the e4od but if its been maintained then i wouldnt worry about it.

the only reason i have an AOD behind my 5.8 is because my bronco originally had a 302.

 

Thanks for the quick response. That helps me with the tranny issue.

Am I right about the 5.8 being more reliable then? Or is it that people just prefer the power over the 5.0?

 

First off, welcome! I am a recovering GM and Jeep addict myself.

You say you like the "88 on up" body style. The body style underwent one more major facelift in 92 and remained that way through the end of production in 96. The AOD was still available as an optional transmission through 1991 as I recall. Improvements made in the shift pattern and valving of the E4OD saw an improvement in reliablility and drivability in 1993.

1990 saw the beginning of the single in-tank fuel pump rather than the low-pressure in-tank and the high-pressure frame rail. (I only menton it because its one LESS thing to break).

I personally prefer the 302 but would drop to a 300 I-6 if one dropped in my lap. The 300 is about as indestructable a power plant as I've ever encountered. The 351 is really no better or worse in the longevity dept. than the 302 in my opinion but then thats just an opinion. (I also contend that the E4OD doesn't last as long as other automatics but have been soundly rebutted by several in a recent thread). The MPG's are pretty much the same for either of the smallblock V8's thats true.

 

Besides maintenance, is there anything else to help with the reliability of the E40D tranny, i.e., bigger tranny cooler, additives, etc.? I know that with my, dare I say, Yukon (sorry), the exhaust was routed under the tranny. By putting on headers and an X-pipe, you re-routed the exhaust which kept the tranny cooler. Is this true for the Bronco?

Keep the info. coming...I can't get enough.

 

Ok, no offense here but what engineer came up with that hairbrained idea? I remember now why the nickname is General Mistake!

At any rate, the real help is the 1993 updates that improved the shift points. This helped it stay cooler by alleviating a lot of the mid-range "hunting" it did when cruising at speeds that were near the normal shift points. Units equipped with the factory tow package had an auxillary cooler mounted in front of the radiator. Exhaust routing doesn't really come into play and running dual exhaust on a Bronco is tricky but that's another topic for another day.

Aftermarket there are some software changes that can hlep with shifting but all in all being meticulous about the maintenance schedule for an E4OD is probably the best thing for it.

 

A larger aftermarket tranny cooler and regular (annual) tranny fluid flushes are the keys to long life. Some folks also install an external trans filter in theri trucks, but that's an option that I'm not sold on yet.

Some facts which led me to purchasing my '96;

'96 is the last year of production (read newer is better)
'96 is the only year that ABS brakes were standard on all models
'96 is also the only year that had an additional side impact beam in the doors

 

A trans shop warned me about these saying: "if they so much as think about clogging, the trans is toast." I have one on the beach I was going to install before I talked to him.

 

93 was the first year of 4WABS and thank GOD it was still an option! That'd be the first thing to turn me AWAY from buying a vehicle. There isn't a computer or software on the planet that can see the road ahead better than I can. Nor is there a mechanical system that can outwit mother nature when it comes to road conditions. I've had vehicles with RABS and 4WABS. The relay to the ABS computer is the second thing I pull. (The door-ajar "binger" is first). Oh yeah, ABS keep the wheels from locking up alright but, lemme tell you sometimes the extra drag of a tire being dragged across the pavement is just enough to mean the difference between a flat spot on the tire and calling the police, ambulance and tow truck. No thanks I know how to use the brakes. I dont' need the computer to decide when it "thinks" I'm pushin' the pedal too hard. You try stopping a fully loaded 91 E-350 in the rain when the RABS computer decides the rear wheels are slipping too much so its time to REDUCE the fluid pressure to the brakes. That little nightmare almost cost me the E-350 AND a 95 LeSabre!

Ok, stepping off my soapbox now.

The OEM auxillary tranny cooler is no different than an aftermarket unit and if there is enough crud in the fluid to clog the cooler you have worse problems than a clogged cooler on your hands.

 

Well, seems like a sore subject? I'd rather have the ABS there, especially up here with the BIG time snow and ice during the winters. I've had no bad luck with ABS with this vehicle. Now on my wife's old Neon, that was another story. I'll keep my ABS, since there has to be something to it for the factories and NHTSA to keep recommending it. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

Yep, if you can clog an external trans filter(BTW it's the same oil filter we use on BKO's), you've more problems than any extra measures can solve.

 

i like the v 8 302 or 351 ive had real good luck with the aod in my first bronco now i have another bronco with a 302 and the 5 speed and really like the v8 have the smaller one the 302 in this one but to each his own what it comes down to what your going to do with it. how you drive it. what you expect from it. you could always build what you want but for a daily driver that wont see much 4 wheelin its what you like.and can afford.I like workin on the stuff so no matter either way welcome back from the dark side
ps hense the name been there too haha

 

on the subject of ABS......
i know how Grey feels about the abs.....they cost me $400 when i couldnt stop on a highway entrence ramp, and the car infront of me stoped! i busted the bumper of a Buick grandpa-mobile. this was because i stomped on the brake and it activated the ABS and the pedal went almost to the floor!!!!!!!! it is a poor system, luckly its only RABS on my truck. if it was 4 way ABS.....well id be lookin for a differant truck.
the other problem with the ABS is that people with big feet like me...when that pedal goes to the floor....our big feet have a tendancy to tap the accelerator at the same time...causing the truck to lurch foward......

if i could...i would disconnect my abs....i dont not like my truck deciding when i stop or not!