Hi gang, got a question. Is my 85 fsb considered an early or late model? The build date was september of 84 and is carbureted.
The reason I ask is, I need to tighten the left wheel bearing before they can align the front end. In the Haynes manual the bearing adjusting proceedure is slightly different for early and late model bronco's. I need to know which procedure to use.
I was told by someone on another bronco forum that 85 is the split point between early and late model but could not tell me what mine is.
Thanks in advance.
Bill

 

I'm not sure there was ever a distinction made by Ford on that.

What are the two different procedues?

 

If it is an 85 and the build date is Sept 84, I would guess it's an early model. Anything before 7/85 would be early.

 

Andym, This is what the manual says:
early model:Torque adjusting nut to 50 ft lbs, back off 45 degrees, turn nut till it lines up with the pin on the lock washer, tighten outer nut to 150 ft lbs

late model: use inward pressure to unlock adjusting nut locking splines, torque to 70 ft lbs, back off 90 degrees, re tighten to 15 - 20 ft lbs.

early has a lock nut, late has its own locking setup with out a lock nut.
Now that I reread the manual, the only way I will know for sure is when I actually do the adjustment. I'll find out on saturday, thats when I plan on adjusting the bearing.
Thanks for the help.
Bill

 

The 1985 is an early model. In 1986 the body style changed and both motors where EFI, that is considered the break point for the full size broncos

 

your 85 will have two nuts and a washer between them that lines up with a pin on the first nut. make sure they line up or you will destroy the pin when you torque the outter one down.

 

Says who? The 351 didn't get EFI until 1988 anyway.

 

My 89 has the two nut method and so did my 88. However, I've taken apart an 87 that had the ratchetting setup..... So the only answer I got is that you are gonna have to do a visual on it yourself.

 

87 was the new body style and 302 was the only motor to get EFI

Theres a couple of 86 f-150s running around here that have the 302 EFI and OD tranny.
Its cool EFI and the old body style.

 

an early model in the 80-96 Big Bronco haynes manual is an 80-86

 

my 86 f150 302 was efi. my 85 300 is carb, fi depended on the motor and year, there wasnt one switch year for all motors.

dwoodler, do you think maybe the auto hubs vs the manual hubs maybe had different setup?

im not sure which my trucks had factory, they all have had manual hubs before i got to them.

 

Now that I re-read the original description I realize what locking nuts he's talking about.

My 89 F-150 has the two locking nuts with the washer setup.

My 90 Bronco has the ratcheting single locknut.

So there you go - take it apart and deal with it from there.

 

I’m sorry, my friend's 86 had a 351 with EFI so I thought that is when they changed. But he did build his motor so the truck was probably a 302 to start with

 

My 88 had the factory auto hubs with the double nut system - it also had over 200,000kms when I got it so I can't tell you if that was oem or a change over. The 87 had the two piece hub (crap) system and the one nut ratchet. My 89 had factory manual hubs with the two piece nut system, once again over 200,000 kms.

6 of one; 1/2 dozen of the other.....

Sorry I'm not more help.