I spent $6200 on a mint condition 1990 Eddie Bauer Ed. Bronco. this thing was nicely loaded and had a 1 year warrenty to boot. The warrenty company is giving me some crap about having the truck fixed AGAIN by a mechanic they didn't recomend (the one they sent me to f'd the truck up more than they helped it). This time the shop is telling me I have almost $5,000 in repairs, most of which can be traced to work that was NOT done, yet paid for, or a direct result of poor workmanship at the first garage.

I'm taking the first garage to court over this mess. BUT here's the question: Is it worth the $5,000 or so to have the work done? Or do I sell the truck as scrap (body is in great shape after I got the door fixed (also a result of taking it to the first place)), and buy an explorer sport, sport trac, or F150?

 

What is costing $5000? Heck, you can get an entire engine swapped out for a newly rebuilt engine for $2000. What's the problem its having?

Ken Payne
Ford Truck Enthusiasts Admin

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 23-Apr-01 AT 06:36 PM (EST)[/font][p]yes, as Ken asked, what will cost 5k to repair?
and to answer your Q; if you put 5k into it, then you're approaching the trade-in/retail average of my 96 Bronco which is in excellent condition and has lesser mileage...so, get compensated, keep all repair records, and keep on battling the warranty and 1st garage companies.
Then if they pay for the repairs (either/or) then just keep it! I figure any new vehicle costs so much money, why not try and get at least 2 years out of the bronco and try and save some money

 

about all that's left unharmed under the hood is the transmission.

I need: engine block, intake/exhaust manifolds, cam, heads, pistons, oil pump, oil pan, belts, fan, (don't need, but it's messed up too), and water pump.

 

They want too much for that. What you're basically in need of is a "long block". Call a few machine shops and ask how much you can get a long block swap done for. You'll be surprised. Many will come in under $2000, some over. Most will include a 2-3 year engine warranty with the work. Depending on how complicated your engine electronics are, it will probably be more than 2K for the job but certainly not 5K! If the vehicle is worth 2-3 thousand to you then its certainly worth looking into.

Ken Payne
Ford Truck Enthusiasts Admin

 

First things first--IN MY OPINION you got bent over the minute u payed over $6k for it!! How in the world is one worth that much??I buy and sell them all the time for alot less--about half. And yes--in very good condition. And no--its not worth $5k in repairs. If that is the best price u can FIND --then dont dink with it.

 

Okay, if I was going to mess with "patching up" my engine, I'd be spending that much. I've got a price on a new block which would only be $1700, and a rebuilt for $1400.

Not to mention I have my warrenty company involved, along with thier lawyers to make the first place pay for the WHOLE thing... leaving me with a total bill of $0.

 

Well that sounds about right if you have taken it to a dealer.

Sounds like that just want to swap out a complete engine and save themselvs alot of labor.

I do not know if your exaust manafolds are cracked, if not there is no need to replace them. As for the intake manafold again, what is the reason to replace that?

As for what others have said, you can get a remanufactured engine with a very good warrentee pretty cheap.

And what ever you do. Do not let them put in a Junkyard pull!

Let us know what happens with it!

 

Hey biohazard,
I just bought a 1990 Eddie Bauer Ed. Bronco for $5,000. Came with complete rebuilt tranny w/shift kit and a rebuilt rear-end, both were stock except for shift kit. The only problem I had was bad oil leak from faulty oil pan gasket. Replaced pan gasket which fixed the problem. Also, I replaced the valve cover, upper intake, throttle body Gaskets while I was at it. in the procces of this, The EGR valve was bad, came off in two pieces, had to replace. All for around A $100. I tryed to get smoged(CA), but they didn't want to pass it because of too much exhaust leakage in muffler & tail pipes. So another $370 for flowmaster w/dual outs routed to both sides just rear of tires, and polished stainless steal tips. looks and sounds great. So, for just under $5,500 I have a Good rig.

As far as putting another 5 grand into your rig on top of what you paid for it, you could get a completely rebuilt engine plus a lift kit for that price. Shop around.

And like jopey says don't put a junk yard special in.
Unless it would be completely checked out & complete rebuild of it. no cracked block or heads of coarse
Hope this helps

 

Laugh, but I have had to replace the engine (long block), entire intake/exhaust system, fuel system includeing all lines tanks and pumps.

 

I am not laughing Bio....I have been there in the past...

Did you ever get them to cover your warrenty?


good luck
Greg

 

I am not laughing, either, biohazard. Was there myself, sort of, with an 89 Bronco XLT, Last year. after several months of owning it I started to have nothing but problems with it. After fixing one thing, something else crapped out, then driving home from the shop the brake system completely went out and ended up killing the 89 Bronco. but now have a 90 EB as a replacement, and have plenty of spare parts from the 89.

Did the warranty people pay for the new engine for you?

let us know how it all works out with shops and warrenty.
good luck.

 

my warrenty company and I are fighting it out still. they want me to take it back to the first shop that "fixed it". It turns out the first place billed me for BOTH head gasket kits, only did one, did it WRONG, and f'd up my engine. the warrenty company feels that it's THIER problem to fix it. I've hired a lawyer to get my $$$ back.

In the mean time I've found and great little shop that knows broncos (the owner drives a 78).

 

As it stands right now, the new engine in it is a Ford Racing 302 (designed for Baja racing trucks) and is usually not sold to the public. That engine was cheaper through a contact at Ford than any other engine replacement. It includes a 36,000 mile 36month warrenty, and is BRAND new. Of course I don't think it's exactly street legal either

The reason for replacing intake and exhaust manifolds was indeed cracks. I think they took em off at the first place with a hammer.

 

as far as my memory stands the exhaust manifolds are prone to cracking. I had a 302 and they came off in about 5 pieces.

Hope it all works out with trying to get your $$$ back. good luck