Rebuilt 1986 2.9L 4x4 5 speed manual

[Old&Cranky]

Took my newly bought 1986 Bronco II that I found in Huntsville, AL to a mechanic here in Western KY, after only owning it for 2 weeks in February of this year. During that time I had new shocks put on, new pipes and new tires. Took it to him for oil pan leak. After pulling the engine and taking oil pan off, several things appeared to be wrong inside and outside of engine. I decided to have him replace engine. We could not find a rebuild anywhere in country so he started from scratch. He is a fantastic old school mechanic and we worked 6 months finding unicorns in haystacks to get it rebuilt. Incredible how hard it is to find parts for a 1986 2.9L. It's amazing how we found some parts around the country and a few that needed welding. I had a friend do that and another that teaches welding welded an aluminum piece. Anyway, last thing was the throttle body. I found new old stock in Detroit online. I still have the old one if anyone wants to try to rebuid or use it. Throttle body works but is a little loose and rusty. It runs great now and in the end there were 2 pages of parts replaced, but it needed them all! Now a satisfied customer in KY.
FYI: The reason I bought it is, I had a new one I bought in 86 and sold it in 2005. I was truly sorry I sold it and longed to get another one. I have been looking for several years and finally decided to go for it!

 

[Tiha]

That is awesome. Those things are like a go kart. LOL

I had an 89? maybe 90? Can't remember. Shocked at how much snow that thing would go through. Even back then the guys were hot to swap a 4.0 into it but the 2.9 did okay as long as you weren't in a hurry.

Sold it to a guy at work. He drove it a ton after that, towed his fishing boat with it. Finally it cracked the heads. After that he never trusted it again and sold it.

It was a fun vehicle to drive.

 

[Old&Cranky]

That is awesome. Those things are like a go kart. LOL

I had an 89? maybe 90? Can't remember. Shocked at how much snow that thing would go through. Even back then the guys were hot to swap a 4.0 into it but the 2.9 did okay as long as you weren't in a hurry.

Sold it to a guy at work. He drove it a ton after that, towed his fishing boat with it. Finally it cracked the heads. After that he never trusted it again and sold it.

It was a fun vehicle to drive.

I agree. I had my original in Georgia, North Dakota and Florida. It loved snow and sand in 4 wheels. Still miss the original, but hey, now I have a carbon copy with rebuilt engine.

 

[paul rondelli]

That is one sweet Ride.

I have done a ton of research on these. My plan was to get one and chop the top .. then do the Explorer 4.0L upgrade.


Glad you kept it all original.

 

[Old&Cranky]

That is one sweet Ride.

I have done a ton of research on these. My plan was to get one and chop the top .. then do the Explorer 4.0L upgrade.


Glad you kept it all original.

I had my 1986 that I bought new in 86 for 18.5 years with 2.9L 4x4 5 speed manual. Never had any real major problems other than faulty fuel tank gage and distributor. When the new Broncos came out, I thought the originals had more class and started longing for the old days. Entered my 2nd childhood and bought this one.

 

[paul rondelli]

Previous sweet rides and hot old girlfriends

You don't really appreciate them until they are gone.

At least you can get a sweet ride back to enjoy again!!

 

[Motech]

That is a tight looking lil Bronco you have there. Much regard to you, and to your mechanic too. It's a rare gem of an old school wrench who will take on a complete engine overhaul, and work so deep with you too. Stick with that one!

 

[Old&Cranky]

Unfortunately, he died 3 weeks after he finished the engine rebuild. It was a sad day!!!

 

[Motech]

 

[Old&Cranky]

It has been a while since I have posted. I decided this year to take my 1986 Bronco II 4X4 manual Eddie Bauer edition to a body shop. She is getting totally beautified, new original color paints and clearcoated, new windshield and all other maintenance issues checked and or fixed... when I get her back I will post a new pic of her. Should be showroom ready. Interior was already perfect. Should have her back in a few weeks. Can't wait to drive it again!

 

[Old&Cranky]

Hi everyone,
It took 5 months of a nice little mom and pop body shop called King Bros in Benton, KY. This is the end product. Rebuilt 2.9L last year (took forever). Most of the time looking for parts was like looking for a unicorn in a haystack. Had to find a couple of good welders for 3 parts. Anyway, surface rust gone, new paint job, partially undercoated, new windshield, side mirrors and a few other odds and ends. She's a beauty. Pretty soon a detailer will be putting on a ceramic coating... I'm a proud Bronco II papa. It was worth every penney!!

 

[Tiha]

It was worth every penny, that looks amazing.

 

[Old&Cranky]

It was worth every penny, that looks amazing.

Thanks, it was!!

 

[paul rondelli]

Absolutely gorgeous

I'm trying to get my daughter to learn to drive my 1996 Bronco with a 5 speed.

The kids now a days are terrified of a stick shift.

I told her that a 1996 Bronco with a 302 .. stick shift ... was probably the most reliable ride she could ever get ..... I told her that I'm 55 years old .... and that 1996 Bronco will be around on the road long after I'm gone.

Still rocking the original drive train with 215,000 miles

 

[Old&Cranky]

Hi Paul, I agree with you. Kids now-a-days don't know what they are missing. 1996 with a 5 speed... pretty awesome ride too! Tell your daughter that one day, after some crazy country sets off a. EMP over our country that old stick shifts may be the only thing computerless left to drive. Good luck with your daughter. And side note, my daughter is the same way Take care! P.S. This one has 80,000 original miles. Sat in a garage in Chicago for 13 years.

 

[Old&Cranky]

I am at my wits end. Here's a new one for everyone! My nice new 1986 Bronco II now looks good, runs great, but here is the weirdness:
If the temperature is below around 50F she will not start. Plenty of fire as it will crank and crank but not fire. Once it gets warmer, it starts and runs great and will drive all over creation and stopping and starting, shutting down and starting, until the next cool morning.
Replaced MAP sensor, Fuel Pressure Regulator, TFI module on distributor. Someone suggested the coolant switch (sensor), but it runs great and does not show the symptoms of that or a thermostat. Does not overheat. Everything works great but once temperature hits around 50 or less, it needs the sun or a heater. Most baffling thing I have had happen. It has been doing this for a while now, after the engine rebuild. I would ask the guy that rebuilt it but he passed away 2 weeks after he finished it. Any ideas? Anyone? Has anyone ever seen or heard of this before?

 

[Jimbo26]

No fire, sounds like a ignition system bug. You already eliminated one possibility with the TFI module swap.
I can't remember if that particular setup uses a crank trigger at the front/rear. Would have to dig into some tech manuals. As usual, check all the basics 1st.
If I run across any substantial info on this subject, will check back in.
Not too shabby there. Mighty sano.
Never understood why the Motor Co. let GMC get away with building the Typhoon and never answered back with one of these type units with a 302 under the hood & a suspension package with the label of Hurricane
The neutered corporate shirts of the post '73 government crackdown.
It took the Exploder era to finally get anything similar with a 302.

 

[Tiha]

That sucks.

I had a 96 bronco that I got talked into trying E3 spark plugs in. I mean if you read the literature it makes sense, but the thing would not start below 30 degrees outside. But I digress.

Need to start eliminating things. I like using a spark tester like pictured below. Get them at harbor freight. Then at least you would know if you have spark or not.

or spray the intake with starting fluid and see if it tries to start.

 

[Old&Cranky]

After thinking about it and reading more, it looks like it may have been the coolant temperature sensor after all... Replaced it yesterday (Ford didn't make it east to get to in 2.9L) and this morning she started up in cooler conditions, which is more than it did recently. Looking forward to it starting in cold temps but the jury is still out so we will see! Will let you know.

 

[Old&Cranky]

That sucks.

I had a 96 bronco that I got talked into trying E3 spark plugs in. I mean if you read the literature it makes sense, but the thing would not start below 30 degrees outside. But I digress.

Need to start eliminating things. I like using a spark tester like pictured below. Get them at harbor freight. Then at least you would know if you have spark or not.

or spray the intake with starting fluid and see if it tries to start.

View attachment 32407

Thanks, may try that if last fix doesn't work.