I'm looking at a Full size 1991 Bronco with a 5 liter engine, automatic and very little rust. It has 139,000 miles and he is selling it for $1,500.00. The paint looks very good and seems to have some new parts in the engine. I was wondering if there are potential problems with an engine that has that many miles on it or other things like the transmission or the 4WD system. There seems to be some oil near the bottom left side of the engine bay coming from the oil filer perhaps, it's covered the shock in oil and the left front underside. Anyone have any experience with this truck? Any thoughts appreciated!




John

 

I have a 91, 5.0, auto, Eddie Bauer, T-Lok axles that I bought new. It has 107,000 miles on it. I had major trouble at first because it had the wrong tranny in it but after Ford got it straight it has been real reliable. I have had the A/C changed over to the newer 134 type. I had the injectors changed at 100,000. The only gremlin is the usual Ford electric windows that screwup every 3 years. Cost me 40 bucks a window for that rinky-dink plastic gear. Otherwise, I would leave tomorrow to anywhere USA- it's that good.

 

I'm probably going to get a lot of flack for this, but you know how they say that a boat is a hole in the water where you pour money? Well, a used Bronco is the automotive equivalent. Mine has never left me stranded (knock on wood) but don't say I didn't warn you...

 

It sounds like a nice truck,but why do they only want $1,500 for it then?You know that saying,"if it sounds too good to be true,it probably is..."That said,it wouldn't hurt to take it for a testdrive to see how it runs.We've had four Broncos(we like them a lot),but you might try looking at other Broncos for sale,too.Don't just make a quick decision because of this truck's price.You should be able to find one with less than 139,000 miles on it for a good price,and in decent shape.Good luck.

 

Thanks for the opposing views.;-) I guess that there are always 2 sides to every coin. I'm going to pay a "Lemon Detector" to come down and evaluate it. Thanks very much for the responses! It is too good be true. I just hope the old Ford 5.0 has is as bullet proof as they say!

 

Oh I almost forgot- I think the price is a bit down because the windshield is cracked, what will that cost to have replaced? It also needs new tires badly!

 

I don't know about the windows but the tires if you are of a 4 wheelin' mind can get spendy. I would recomend BFG MTs or the new KO 32/11.50 tire. I'm guestimating that they will run over $100 a tire. You will here some say that 32s will rub but I have run mine offroad hard and have only heard it happen 3 times. If this bothers you too much go down to the 31" tire but I have been nothing but happy with my 32s. I have an 86 Bronco btw on stock suspension. I don't think it would make a difference though. NORM

 

>Oh I almost forgot- I think the price is a bit down because
>the windshield is cracked, what will that cost to have
>replaced? It also needs new tires badly!

In my area, a windshield plus installation costs $185.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 02-Apr-02 AT 06:10 PM (EST)]I went back there agin today for a test drive, and everything seemed ok, but the motor wasn't as smooth as I thought a V-8 should be, it was more stacatto in the firing pulses, should I be a little suspect?

Thanks Bull, that seems reasonable for a windshield and installation. Good ammo to have when I go shopping.

Big Norm, It's sad to admit that the only 4-wheeling I will be doing will be over potholes in NYC I have friends who live in upstate NY and some of them live off some dirt roads, but that will be only a handfull of times a year, so I think the tires I would buy will be all-season type.

I'm hoping that the engine, after 139,00 miles will be all :-) as we all know that a Ford 302 that has been treated well will be good to go! I'm excited at the propect of a good ole' Ford V-8 truck. I always prefered Ford to Chevy, don't know why, I never had either
My dad always bought Oldmobiles growing up and I drove some little foriegn 4 bangers for a while. I chose to spend my fun money on bikes instead of cars!

 

"Stacatto" firing and rough running sounds like it needs a tune-up. Maybe more. The 302 should last a while, it's the other stuff that keeps breaking on these trucks that nickel and dimes you to death. Like brake pads that last 15,000 miles tops (and I am not hard on brakes). Power window motors and door lock actuators failing every couple of years. The power steering pumps are weak and prone to leaking and whining. The rear window motors are notoriously problematic. Auto-hubs are another common problem. Small coolant leaks seem to be a problem on these trucks, once you fix one, another one pops up. And, transmissions, if they fail, are around $2,000 if you have it done, so don't buy one with a suspect transmission because it ain't a $350 exchange rebuild. However, $1,500 is a low price for a 91. I paid $4,000 for my '90 but it only had 89k, absolutely no rust, new tires, and everything more or less worked. It has been generally reliable, hasn't left me anywhere, or not started, and pulled a trailer cross country. But it has had a tendency to keep drawing money out of my wallet for this and that.

 

I bought a 1991 Bronco with 33" BFG MT's for $1,000. It needed a $15 passenger side window, a $23 ignition switch, a good cleaning, and TLC. I am handy, and I hope you are too. The projects never stop. battery, tune-up, bushings, locking hubs, lift, locker, tierod ends, camber bushings, exhaust, radiator etc., etc. I don't mind - it's my project truck and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Keep in mind that parts are cheap but labor is expensive - get ready to roll up your sleeves! My 5.0 runs like a gem after 242,000 miles. The emissions dude said "it's just like new" as I passed with flying colors. BUT, my e4od transmission is about to get a soft overhaul :-X23 and oil cooler to the tune of what I paid for the truck -$1,000. The good news is this - before the tranny - the truck WITH ALL the parts I bought, I still have less than $3,000 invested. In my humble opinion it is the best truck ever built!!

 

Beware cheap windshields. You get what you pay for. The cheap ones will not necessarily crack more easily (they may), but they're softer and will pit more easily. My gf worked in a glass shop for a while and all they'd use is PPG. I had a PPG put in my '90 when I bought it in '98 and it's still sweet - in fact, it's the only part of the exterior of the truck that I care about - seriously! IIRC cost was closer to $400 incl labor.