Why do people like you even reply to peoples posts, to make yourself feel better or something?

 

Yep....you got it!

 

mrshadetree if you can get your payoff and some extra in this time when the market is bad for big trucks, you are doing pretty good to.
If you have enjoyed the truck and think you can settle for a beater I say go for it. YOu may like an Explorer sport 4x4 with a 4.0 5 speed much better for the woods and they ride ok with some nice amenitys on the interior. Bronco II are junk IMO, besides it would be easier to put a sb chevy in that. If you go Ford you would need a front sump motor, which is bad news in a 4x4.

 

well after spending a few hours in my truck this evening, i think im a just gonna keep my heritage, and stay out of the woods atleast till next hunting season, maybe by then i can get me something else to beatup on in the woods instead of my beauty. besides damn my boat looks good behind my heritage. almost like they were made to be infront of one another. lolol i still like the idea of getting me a broncho II dropping a v-8 down in her, we'll see between now and then

 

Bronco II + V8 = Solid axle up front. That means cutting out all the "junk" Ford put under there. It's not rocket science but if geometry isnt your thing dont drive it on the road please..

 

If you were to put a v8 in a bronco 2, you then would have to swap a stronger t-case and transmission in. You would have to have a parts truck for that and be creative in making custom parts. THen you would have to swap to a stronger axle, say a solid axle off a 70s 4x4 and 9" rear.

It would be costly, and you would have to make alot of custom parts. You would also need to know how to setup everything, with both the bronco 2 and the parts truck.

It would just be easier to spend $1000-2500 and buy a 4x4 f150 or fullsize bronco. Get something fuel injected, the 302 (5.0) went fuel injected in late 1985. The 351 (5.8) and the inline 6 (4.9) went fuel injected in 1988.

www.fullsizebronco.com if you want to research them.

 

Bronco II definately a huge project not many have undertaken, there are some though.
I gotta say that several years ago I was working on a 2wd Bronco II and discovered that Ford put a "dummy" transfer case in those so they wouldn't have to redesign anything. The dummy part just blew me away and I have disrespected Bronco II ever since.... and they never put the 2.3 four banger in them for some reason.. big mistake in my view.
I still prefer the Explorer SPort, 2 door, better looking, nicer truck. They make supercharger bolt on kits for the 4.0 V6 or you could go turbo.I think if I was going to lift one I would go with the four door though.
For all the trouble of a V8 swap, you may as well just find an EB (early bronco) to restore and modifiy, those are "trail tested" lol, already set up with strong periphrials, just push play.

 

 

its confirmed i'm a gonna keep my 04 heritage, not sellit! but i am buying my meighbors 83 f150 4x4, 302 f/i frame rotted away, bed rotted away half cab rusted away, but fresh engine and transfer case. and the broncho II is a 88 w/2.9 ltr for the swap truck. but thatll be this spring or summer.. gotta have me a wood beater before winter!

 

Ford didn't start doing Fuel Injection until 1986, and the trucks didn't get any of that until 1988

if the frame on that F-150 isn't too bad, just buy a new cab and slap a lift kit on it. trust me. a F-150/Bronco can go almost anywhere a jeep can go with the proper setup and throttle...especially if you don't care about body damage

besides, the Bronco II is more prone to tip over. it sits fairly high and has a very narrow footprint. F-150/Bronco have about 2 ft more width so less likely to fall over

 

1993 Bronco with 4" Lift and 33" Tires

^ that is my old Bronco to give you some perspective. I think I had maybe $5,000 into it (purchase price + lift + tires) and it never failed me on the trail. great beater and the whole family could ride along also

 

I use to have a Bronco II, it was a 99 model, I loved that vehicle. I think I actually had it longer than anything I've ever owned. I certainly do NOT believe it's a good candidate for a V8 swap though. I would find an old Blazer and try the SB swap in it first, many have done this successfully......Glad to see your wife talked you into keeping the truck....the new will wear off eventually, then you'll be tearing up the trails with it like it was 20 years old!