Ford Bronco II
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ford Bronco II | |
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| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | 1984-1990 |
| Assembly | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Successor | Ford Explorer |
| Class | Compact SUV |
| Layout | FR layout/All wheel drive |
| Engine | 2.8 L Cologne V6 2.9 L Cologne V6 |
| Transmission | Manual 4-speed Mazda TK4 5-speed Mazda TK5 5-speed Mazda M5OD-R1 5-speed Mitsubishi FM145 5-speed Mitsubishi FM146 Automatic 3-speed C5 4-speed A4LD |
| Wheelbase | 94.0 in. |
| Width | 68.0 in |
| Fuel capacity | 23 gal. |
| Related | Ford Ranger |
| Similar | Chevrolet S-10 Blazer Jeep Cherokee Toyota 4Runner |
| First generation | |
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| Production | 1984–1988 |
| Length | 158.3 in |
| Height | 68.2 in |
| Second generation | |
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| Production | 1989–1990 |
| Length | 161.9 in. |
| Height | 69.9 in. |
The Ford Bronco II was a compact SUV sold between 1984 and 1990. It was commissioned as a smaller complement to the full-size Bronco as well as to offer a Ford alternative to the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer, Jeep Cherokee and Toyota 4Runner. The Bronco II was Ford's first compact SUV since the original Bronco sold from 1966 to 1977. It is mechanically and (except in detail) structurally identical to the Ford Ranger. It had a 94 inch (2,388 mm) wheelbase (similar to a Volkswagen Beetle) and was enclosed in the rear.
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[edit] Engines
The 1984 and 1985 models were equipped with the 115 hp carbureted Cologne 2.8 L V6 engine which was also used in the Ranger from 1984 to 1985. The 1986 model year introduced the 140 hp fuel injected 2.9 L Cologne V6. This engine was plagued with internal design flaws in the cylinder heads and oil passages in the block. Overheating the engine usually leads to cracks in the cylinder head between the valve springs or at the base of the rocker shaft pedestals. This results in internal coolant leaks causing contamination of the oil which, if not caught in time, causes severe internal engine damage. High-mileage engines also tend to have excessive wear on the camshaft bearings, causing a loss of oil pressure to both the cam and main bearings, this coupled with faults in the design of the valve lifters creates annoying lifter ticking which plagues some engines from very early in their service life. Although there were slight improvements to the head castings in late-1989, these heads were not installed on production engines before the production of the Bronco II ceased. Bronco II s that were still under warranty or at the owner’s desire were retrofitted with the improved heads.
The problems haunted many examples of this engine until it was discontinued in 1992, though perversely many 2.9 L engines exhibit no symptoms of these problems. The problems which plagued the 2.9 inspired many of the design features of the 4.0 L engine which replaced it in the Explorer which replaced the Bronco II.
A small 86 hp 2.3 Diesel engine was also offered through 1987, this engine was rarely used and not marketed well for being a poor performer.
[edit] Demise
The first Bronco II was in parallel with the Ranger, being from 1984 to 1988. The restyle of the Bronco II and Ranger started in 1989, but ended for the Bronco II with the cancellation of its production in February 1990, replaced by the larger Explorer. The restyle is marked not only difference in physical appearance, but also improved structural support. 1990 models produced after November 1989 with four-wheel drive came equipped with the Dana 35 front axle, as opposed to the Dana 28 front axle used in earlier production.
The Explorer started where the Bronco II left off. It started with a similar Ranger Based Platform, and shared essentially the same front end. The Explorer started off as a 4 door model with a 2dr sport option. It offered the same transmissions, and axles as the previous years Bronco II, but replaced the 2.9L with Ford's 4.0L OHV V6. The Explorer kept to the Ranger based tradition until 1995 when it was overhauled with a major exterior restyling, and chassis modifications to allow the new addition of Ford's 5.0L V8, and that was the end of the line for any reminisce of the Bronco II.
Ford would not market another compact SUV until the release of the Escape in 2001.
[edit] Modifications
There are many common and popular modifications that are done with the Bronco II. One bolt-on modification is on four-wheel drive vehicles to replace the earlier Dana 28 front axle with the later production Dana 35s from Rangers. Retrofitting a Ford 8.8 rear axle is not quite as easy, though it is still a very popular modification. Lift kits are also one of the most popular modifications by flipping the rear shackles or using drop shackles in the back and larger coils in the front with or w/o radius arm drops. With both the Bronco II and Ranger there are many possibilities for engine swaps, the most common being being either the 302 or 351W Ford Windsor engines or the 4.0 L Cologne V6 from a Ranger or Explorer.
[edit] Safety
The Bronco II was dogged by reports that it was prone to rollovers. [1] Some of the headlines in 1989-90 included "NHTSA Investigates Bronco II Rollovers," Automotive News (3/20/89) "Magazine Gives Ford's Bronco II 'Avoid' Rating," Wall Street Journa (5/8/89), and "Consumer Reports Criticizes Ford Bronco II's Handling," Washington Post (5/18/89)
According to the Environmental Working Group, 3,826 people have died in Bronco II and Explorer rollovers between 1983 and 2001. Films show the vehicle being tested with anti-rollover assemblies mounted. The redesigned Explorer also uses the Ranger platform, but it is longer. It also had problems with rollovers combined with tire failures. [2]
After analysis of SUV crashes of the Suzuki Samurai, the NHTSA opened a formal study of the Ford Bronco II in 1989. There were 43 Bronco II rollover fatalities in 1987, compared with eight for the Samurai, but accident data in four states showed the Bronco II’s rollover rate was similar to that of other SUVs, so the investigation was closed. NHTSA declined to reopen the investigation in 1997 after more Bronco II crashes.[3] SUVs in general tend to higher higher centers of gravity compared with passenger cars, and most come with owner warnings today, but there is little conclusive evidence that the Bronco II is much different from other SUVs in this respect.
[edit] Notes
- ^ [1]Safety Research Report Index - Ford Bronco II Rollover
- ^ [2] SUVs: Suddenly Upside-down Vehicles by Environmental Working Group.
- ^ [3] "Rollover complaints dismissed" Jeff Plungis Detroit News Washington 2002
[edit] External links
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