Another New Guy - '95 Bronco

[kjp1969]

Well, here she is: a new-to-me 1995 XLT with 114,000 miles, 351w, manual shift 4x4, Warn manual locking hubs. Yakima roof rails, Suspension, drivetrain, body, wheels, and interior are all stock. Tires are BFG A/T 31x10.5, shocks are Rancho 9000.

For the time being I'm going to focus on baselining everything- the cooling system was first due to a weeping radiator, but that and all hoses and belts are new, now.

This past weekend I replaced the carpet, and new seat upholstery is on its way. Next on the list is a full tuneup and fluid change, axles, transfer case, engine and brake fluid.

I'll probably keep everything stock-ish for the time being, at least until I'm confident of the reliability. When the tires go away, I'll probably replace them with 32" or 33" - either will work without a lift, or so they say.

 

[alaskantinbender]

Hello,
Welcome to the forum. Thats a nice looking truck, I have always liked the utility style of the bronco. I had a 1978 with the 351M that was great off road.


regards,

Jim

 

[rhodos]

Hi,

nice to see an other fullsize Bronco - ours is a 95 too, see :

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9280

bye, Werner

 

[kjp1969]

Work continues

I'm making this one reliable first and good looking second. I'll see about modifications next. Still, I just picked up a remote mount CB radio which I'll mount in the center console, along with a few other goodies that are knocking around.

I'm got gear envy what with all the lifts, tents and lockers on this site. My plans are to stay on rough dirt roads at worst, and basicly use the 4wd to get myself out of trouble rather than into it. On my short list of trips are:

Death Valley,
Lone Pine mines and things,
Joshua tree

But first I think I'll break it in on a couple of local trips like Santiago Peak in Orange County, the Holy Jim area trails. With any vehicle this old, I want to make sure it starts each and every time.
Kevin

 

[kjp1969]

Trouble spots?

Werner, or anyone else,
Any particular trouble spots I should know about? The auto parts store guy said that the fuel pumps start to go at 100k, ditto the front suspension components. Dunno if that's true, but I may dive into those on the theory of "I'd rather replace it here than fix it there." Anything else you guys have found?
Kevin

 

[rhodos]

Hi Kevin,

our Bronco has around 220k mls and runs strong, a good source for technical infos and help on Broncos is the :

http://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum/

hth, Werner

 

[4Rescue]

Welcome...

Nice bronco, I always liked those trucks, and it's the official unofficial color of this here board.

Cheers

Dave

 

[ujoint]

How many OJ jokes have you heard already? I too am a big fan of the Bronco's. I agree with swapping out the axles, since I'm a suspension junkie. I'd throw a D60 in the back, and SAS the front with at least a D44. Keep it low, cut the sheet metal, 35's, and that's one BAD rig!!

 

[calamaridog]

I love that tuck too. I've always had a soft spot for Broncos. The 351W is a great motor.

I almost bought a 1996...

 

[kjp1969]

Operation: Shakedown

We took the Bronco out to some dirt and mud on Saturday to see if anything would break and fall off. The answer was "no" on both counts. The daughters had fun too:

 

[ntsqd]

There is one local to me which has the vanity plate "OJS REPO". Cracks me up every time I see the truck.
I was VERY tempted to get a Bronco of that vintage when the Suburban I have came along at too good a price.

 

[kjp1969]

There is one local to me which has the vanity plate "OJS REPO". Cracks me up every time I see the truck.
I was VERY tempted to get a Bronco of that vintage when the Suburban I have came along at too good a price.

My favorite for a white Bronco is "NOT OJ"

 

[kjp1969]

More

The Wife went to bunko last Thursday, so I wielded some power tools and installed my Craigslist Cobra 75 WXST CB radio and Wilson 1000 antenna. The Bronco also got a new carpet set and seat covers. All I have left to do for the PM is brake inspection and fluid change and all the oils. Writeup: http://mandamus.typepad.com/onefullplate/

Kevin

 

[david despain]

ahh feel the love.

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=917

welcome here is some good info from my truck, granted its a pickup but i think it all applies here. long story short is I needed a relieable truck and my wife wouldnt put up w/ months of me doing work on it in my spare time while i bought a junker daily car when i could just get a new truck for the time being, so i got a new nissan frontier instead of putting a new engine/transfer case/tranny in to mine. i keep coming back to a pickup or bronco like i had for when my lease is up in a year.
i just keep loving the fact you can fix anything on it for a few hundred dollars and parts a quite plentiful. just squirel away a few dollars a day and then you have enough to buy parts by the end of the month and no one is the wiser where they came from. love your blog, have fun with the kids mine are about the same size, i hope to get them out again more this year.

 

[david despain]

Werner, or anyone else,
Any particular trouble spots I should know about? The auto parts store guy said that the fuel pumps start to go at 100k, ditto the front suspension components. Dunno if that's true, but I may dive into those on the theory of "I'd rather replace it here than fix it there." Anything else you guys have found?
Kevin

front suspension bushings and components would be my #1 pirority, due to the way everything works and the geometry of the suspension when it starts to wear out it just makes everything wear out faster. i replaced just about every bushing w/ urethane on mine. i dont know if thats any better than oem rubber or not. but it did make a HUGE difference in handling and on road manners. i put in replacement springs in the front, no lift same height, and they brought the truck back up to level and gave me about an inch that the old ones had sagged. in the same area as front suspension are brakes and wheel bearing/ hubs. looks like you already have warns on there. bronco and pickup rotors may be slightly different, i think broncos had 4 wheel abs? but regardless i would look at them for wear, mine were turned at about 60k when they should have been replaced and by 115k they were beyond toasted.

i never had any fuel pump problems but since i had two tanks and pumps i didnt worry about it too much. in the bronco i would give it more weighty importance.

i was going to say cooling system but it sounds like you are already into replacing all that. mine went about the same time, a replacement raditaor made things much better. on my truck if any thing broke i tried to replace everything in that system; new rad also meant all new hoses, t-stat, etc. i found it easier to only have to explain one purchase to the CFO than lots of little ones.

i would say to look at the u-joints closely as well. much easier to change them in the garage then on the side of a road w/ a hammer and a rock.

i would get a spare starter solenoid. i never needed one but they are less than 10 bucks and will fit in a space smaller than a soda can. if nothing else you can rest assured you wont need it because you do have it.

a haynes manual is always a good thing to have. sounds like you plan on all the normal tune up items, plugs, wires, filters etc. the fuel filter takes a fuel line disconect tool that you can get at napa sears etc. well at least mine did, i assume yours should be the same. let me know if there is any of this you have more specific questions about. i'm off to peruse autotrader to look for a clean pick up now.