tail gate fit question
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 65
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tail gate fit question
Are the tail gates from all years of Bronco II production interchangeable? From different photos in the gallery it looks the rear of the trucks didn't change when the front end was restyled around 1990.
I borrowed my neighbours trailer to haul some gravel (I think it's a 1&7/8" ball) turns out it needed a two inch ball... so the trailer pops off the ball, bounces up, the safetly chain yanks it down about the same time I brake and the trailer blows out the back window and slices the tail gate in halves.
Good thing the gravel was free!!
I borrowed my neighbours trailer to haul some gravel (I think it's a 1&7/8" ball) turns out it needed a two inch ball... so the trailer pops off the ball, bounces up, the safetly chain yanks it down about the same time I brake and the trailer blows out the back window and slices the tail gate in halves.
Good thing the gravel was free!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
Likes: 13
From: Sand Lake, MI
They changed more then the front end in 89, the body is also longer and shorter.
I can post the dimensions for the 89 hatch when my son gets back for ya if that will help, late tonight or in the morning.
I think it will be the same width but somewhat shorter then the earlier models.
IIRC when I measured a 88 and the 89 bodies side by side the 89 was 5 odd inches longer and some 3 inches shorter then the 88.
I can post the dimensions for the 89 hatch when my son gets back for ya if that will help, late tonight or in the morning.
I think it will be the same width but somewhat shorter then the earlier models.
IIRC when I measured a 88 and the 89 bodies side by side the 89 was 5 odd inches longer and some 3 inches shorter then the 88.
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2006
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Thanks dimensions would be great. The local wreckers seem to think they are all the same size.
Do you mean the overal height of the truck is 3 inches shorter when they redesigned? And the overall length from bow to stern is 5 inches longer?
Just to clarify, when I mention the redesign I'm not talking about the Explorer Sport - the two door version of the Explorer.
Thanks
Bull.
Do you mean the overal height of the truck is 3 inches shorter when they redesigned? And the overall length from bow to stern is 5 inches longer?
Just to clarify, when I mention the redesign I'm not talking about the Explorer Sport - the two door version of the Explorer.
Thanks
Bull.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
Likes: 13
From: Sand Lake, MI
The body only, not from the ground up but only the body's over all height and length was different.
I had both in the driveway, wanted to use the front fender and hood from the 88 on the 89 even thought the style was "older", dead and stripping it for parts. The 88 was dead but had a mint condition front clip on it. I took some measurement to find it would not work. 89 hood longer, fenders longer. My son said "yea, this is a "second generation" and its shorter and longer then the older model" So I too a tape and held it up to it, sure enough it was longer and shorter by about the numbers I posted. Been a while so I may not have the exact right numbers but should be close.
The 89 is lower to the ground as well but the body itself is shorter. They did it in part as an attempt to make it harder to roll over from what I hear. Longer to make for a little better ride.
And yes I'm talking bronco II's "Second generation" 89 and 90, not explorers.
I'll post the measurement of the gate, outside overall height and width when the thing is here again. Not often these days! lol
I had both in the driveway, wanted to use the front fender and hood from the 88 on the 89 even thought the style was "older", dead and stripping it for parts. The 88 was dead but had a mint condition front clip on it. I took some measurement to find it would not work. 89 hood longer, fenders longer. My son said "yea, this is a "second generation" and its shorter and longer then the older model" So I too a tape and held it up to it, sure enough it was longer and shorter by about the numbers I posted. Been a while so I may not have the exact right numbers but should be close.
The 89 is lower to the ground as well but the body itself is shorter. They did it in part as an attempt to make it harder to roll over from what I hear. Longer to make for a little better ride.
And yes I'm talking bronco II's "Second generation" 89 and 90, not explorers.
I'll post the measurement of the gate, outside overall height and width when the thing is here again. Not often these days! lol
Postmaster
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,310
Likes: 9
From: E.Lincoln County, NC
The front end changed in 89 on the Bronco II. The '84-'88 fronts are the same, the '89-'90 front is the same. The rest of the body did not change, dimensionally. The doors will fit from '84-'90. The 1/4 glasses glued in from '84-'85 and were bolt in from '86-'90 but can be interchanged by drilling bolt holes in the '84-'85 bodies. The hatches will fit from '84-'90. I've repaired a dozen or more BR II's from roll overs to rear enders and swapped parts between all years. The '89-'90's look longer due to the front end, which actually has common parts with the '91-'94 Explorer. When it comes to the hatches there were several variations but dimensionally they're the same. 
See below:
heated, w/wiper, w/spare carrier
heated, w/o wiper; w/spare carrier
non-heated, movable glass, w/spare carrier
non-heated, fixed glass, w/spare carrier
heated, w/wiper, w/o spare carrier
heated, w/o wiper; w/o spare carrier
non-heated, movable glass, w/o spare carrier
non-heated, fixed glass, w/o spare carrier
See below:
heated, w/wiper, w/spare carrier
heated, w/o wiper; w/spare carrier
non-heated, movable glass, w/spare carrier
non-heated, fixed glass, w/spare carrier
heated, w/wiper, w/o spare carrier
heated, w/o wiper; w/o spare carrier
non-heated, movable glass, w/o spare carrier
non-heated, fixed glass, w/o spare carrier
Postmaster
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,310
Likes: 9
From: E.Lincoln County, NC
The BR II got a face lift at the same time the Ranger did since the parts there are the same also, including windshield, doors, etc.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
Likes: 13
From: Sand Lake, MI
64wx40.5"H, (64" being widest point just over the tail lights)
Now I don't have any older models here to measure again, scrapped. I thought there was some differences in over all body size but as I said its been a while and it could be I just don't remember right.
Post your year/size if you would please.
This page actually lists the second generation taller, no mention of where the differences are. The difference could very well be all in the front end/suspension.
Ford Bronco II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anyway if they are all the same in that respect, all the better.
Now I don't have any older models here to measure again, scrapped. I thought there was some differences in over all body size but as I said its been a while and it could be I just don't remember right.
Post your year/size if you would please.
This page actually lists the second generation taller, no mention of where the differences are. The difference could very well be all in the front end/suspension.
Ford Bronco II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anyway if they are all the same in that respect, all the better.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
Post #5 is correct.
FWIW: Frames are the same except the front frame horns are different on the 1989-1990 for the different style bumpers.
I am "currently" driving a 1988 and have a 1990 that I am scraping. Tailgates are interchangeable as is all the hardware (example glass listed for both years e4Tz-##). Hinges are the same too.
Even though the interior is different in regards to the steering column and dash, all you have to do is unscrew it and it will bolt right into a 1984-1988.
Only question I have about the doors is the window glass looks like it attaches different, but, I should know that in a few more days as I strip it more. Mirror hardware and all that is interchangeable.
Rear quarter windows are the same, seats are the same except the 1990 EB I have, the pass. front slides forward way more then the <- = 1988.
FWIW: Frames are the same except the front frame horns are different on the 1989-1990 for the different style bumpers.
I am "currently" driving a 1988 and have a 1990 that I am scraping. Tailgates are interchangeable as is all the hardware (example glass listed for both years e4Tz-##). Hinges are the same too.
Even though the interior is different in regards to the steering column and dash, all you have to do is unscrew it and it will bolt right into a 1984-1988.
Only question I have about the doors is the window glass looks like it attaches different, but, I should know that in a few more days as I strip it more. Mirror hardware and all that is interchangeable.
Rear quarter windows are the same, seats are the same except the 1990 EB I have, the pass. front slides forward way more then the <- = 1988.
