Apparently, Ford advertised the 1997 Bronco with an availble Diesel engine. A friend of mine built one, an 89 I think with a 6.9 natural. Looked like a drop in install and it drove well.

Brad

'96 w/'95 Eddie Bauer Int.,351 E4OD, ex Canadian National Railways Foremans Truck

 

Ok you ask if anyone had, I personally have never heard of the Bronco having a diesel as an option. Theres a guy lives close to here (Lower Alabama) I've seen his 78 he put a diesel in, he said he'd never try it again tho. Whit

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 24-Jan-02 AT 11:13 AM (EST)]here you go

http://4wheeldrive.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.angelfire.com%2F wv%2Ffordbroncos%2FHistory.html

Hope this helps, I have only read it about 5 times.

 

no, there never was a factory diesel bronco

 

Quote from site above:
"In 1980 Ford upgraded the Bronco to the new Twin Traction Beam IFS front suspension and restyled the body. This new suspension offered a better ride and more terrain compliance on rough terrain."



Ok, if I can stop laughing.... oh... so, anyway, the Bronco was never offered in a '97 model year, and never offered w/a diesel. It's anything but a bolt-in swap, but people have done it.

 

 

Well the question is "seen or heard of one". Yea, I have. Drove one in 1986. It had the 6.9 in it. My bro-in-law was the sales manager for the big Ford dealer here and they had 2. One was 2 tone beige and the other was grey. Neither truck was sold but returned back to Ford. Reliability problems with the running gear as I remember.

 

I've never heard of/ seen one, but I think it'd be darn neat to have. I mean the "drool factor" would definately be up there...

Let's see...my '95 Bronco + psd, e4od, computer, wiring harness, and radiator from '97 or later F-250, F-350 = ultimate stump puller

And you'd have to weld your own motor mounts and move the trans cross member...

The only thing I'd be wary of is to use current gas tank & lines or not, and I'd get tired of replacing 8.8" axles


Jon
1989 F-150 XL- 4x4, 302, M50D
1995 Bronco Eddie Bauer- 351W, E40D

 

In 1980 Ford upgraded the Bronco to the new Twin Traction Beam IFS front suspension and restyled the body. This new suspension offered a better ride and more terrain compliance on rough terrain. With an eye on the off-road use the Bronco was built for, Ford upgraded the transfer case to a New Process 208 with a 2.61:1 low range. This new transfer case was also better sealed against the elements. The standard motor for the Bronco was now the venerable 300 cid I-6 in all states except California where the 302 cid V-8 was standard. Optional engines were the 302 cid and 351 cid V-8s. All engines featured 2-bbl carburetion. 1980 also saw the introduction of 3.00:1 as well as the 3.50:1 gearing. Automatic locking hubs were now optional on the Bronco. The restyling increased front leg room by one inch while decreasing the Bronco's exterior dimensions. The 1980 Bronco was 2.7 inches shorter in the front end and 1.1 inches narrower than the previous year. Wind drag was reduced by 25% and a new grille featured rectangular headlamps.




I think that whole thing is pretty much full of crapola. the 300 I-6 a vernerable motor? Never. also all motors had 2bbl carbs. not the I-6.

There are other errors on that site. Ford used the Mblock's up in the broncos around mid 82.

 

I knew a guy in Jersey who had a diesel powered Bronco, it was a '94 with a 5sp. I wouldn't doubt that he put it in himself (he is a bus mechanic) but the rest of the truck was bone stock, even the wheels (factory aluminum wheels). I never asked him if he did it or got it that way, it never occurred to me to ask. He spent most of his energy tinkering with Mustangs.

 

This is the answer. Period. there are lots more threads in this forum asking and answering the same question.

 

The FS Bronco ceased production in 1996.
No diesel version ever left the factory after 1991

To retrofit one would require a lot more than an easy drop-in,
due to OBD I, E4OD controlled by the ECU, fuel system, wiring
harness etc

 

Brad,

The most recent issue of Road and Track has a story written by one of their staff writers who took a '95 or '96 Bronco (can't remember) and had a 7.3L w 5 speed installed and really loves it.

When i can finally post pics i will scan the article out of this recent issue.

 

Only Diesel Broncos i've ever seen, and i've seen a couple in person, were Centurion Conversions. Witch are 4dr on an F350 chassis.