The Bronco II is definitely a Bronco. The new Bronco sport is a joke. But I really have to question your knowledge for lumping the Bronco ii and Cherokee together. I’m guessing you guys have soft hands and live in a city.
My dad had 2, an 85 and a 89. Learned to drive on the 85 and went college with the 89. it has a special place in my heart on top of being a very capable truck. It never left me out in the cold during the worse of Canadian winters. Now I am actively looking for one to restore as a tribute to my late father which we were supposed to do together ❤ To me, the Bronco 2 is a Bronco. What is a Bronco? Truck frame 4wd Two doors Meant to go off road (and does very well) Did the B2 have issues? Yeah. Every car has. Did it have roll over issues? Only when driving like an idiot. Seriously, you needed to jerk the steering wheel hard one side while driving at like 50mph to RISK roll over. I have NEVER felt unsafe driving it.
I have gained a soft spot for the Bronco II, with the original and other gen big broncos being worth an insane amount now the Bronco II offers entry into the club. You can still buy a really nice B2 for not a lot of money vs buying a big bronco that is clapped out with 300k miles for 10 grand plus. I run the Ontario Bronco Club and we don't care what version it is, if it has the 6 letters on it then its welcome.
I've owned a 1975 Bronco and ,later, a Bronco 2 XLT 1989 which I still have; the Bronco 2 is much more driver friendly; I'm in the process of up grading my Bronco 2 ,5L HO ,5spd Temac, altas transfer case, and Abit more! I think Bronco 2 s will be much more desirable in the not to distant future!
I have a 1985 Bronco 2 with duraspark conversion and MC 2150 carb. with 1.08 venturis, I installed 235 75 15 coopers, and KYB gas shocks. I also swapped out axles ratios for the 4.10 . The stock TTB with stock springs absorbs the road defects in superior fashion. In 4 wheel low, even with an under powered engine, the vehicle is a beast on steep terrain. I could rebuild the engine and ad .75 more compression. As it is, however, the stock version of the Bronco 2 is extremely well suited for mild trails and trips to the fishing hole. I take it on trails in the Tushar mountains next to Beaver Utah. The TTB is many ways is superior to a solid axle. The simplicity of the vehicle with a carb is refreshing. Over all, the braking, power steering, and suspension are superior to the original Bronco. As far as travelling on the highway, we just dont. Yupp, the Bronco 2 is a Bronco. The ttb spring front end is a game changer from stiff leaf springs and the solid axle. Then again, my 2000 WJ Grand Cherokee with solid Dana 35 front Dana 44 back, 2 inch lift with up country springs is a thing of beauty. I can do 85 on the highway in superior comfort and then take it on mountain roads at a really good clip. But, there is something about a 1985 Bronco 2 in 4 wheel low on narrow mountain trails that is simply badass.
I had a 1984 Bronco 2 in college up in Fairbanks Alaska during the mid-90s. It was a fun vehicle and sort-of felt like a real bronco. I preferred my 1980 Bronco XLT but I liked the small size of the Bronco 2. I never rolled it, but a couple of times at icy intersections I spun around and ended up facing the cars behind me. I got all ambitious one summer and swapped the dash and front seats out of a 1990 Ranger. the 1990 heater controls mostly worked but the gas gauge was backwards. In the college electronics lab I built a circuit to reverse the signal to make the fuel gauge work. It had no power but got better mileage than a full size Bronco. Everything started to break down so I sold it. 10 years later I saw it in Anchorage in a Walmart parking lot. Someone must've liked it enough to keep fixing it.
The TTB for most off road applications is way superior to a solid axle with leaf springs. One wheel can be up in the wheel well while the other is perfectly level. No track arm to contend with. Both the radius arms and the lower control arms articulate and minimize camber issues. The stock wheel travel on a bronco 2 is also quite impressive. The suspension technology of the Bronco 2 is superior to the old school Bronco. The ride comfort of the TTB with coil springs cannot be duplicated with a solid axle and leaf springs. However, driving the Bronco 2 on the highway is a different story. It is very apparent that the dynamics of the short wheel base and high center of gravity is somewhat unsafe. It is , however, well suited for kicking around rough dirt roads and mountain trails.
I just got done with a two year restoration on my 1989 BII 4x4 back to original , but with a 4.0. I’m rebuilding a 5.0 to go in a Foxbody mustang now. I’m in Tupelo, MS BTW
great video....I had a "89 B2 and love it, I was in my early twenties at the time, and I love the turning radius. I could turn it around with one loop on a single lane highway. My friends and I drove back in the mountains in WNC and the B2 outperformed all the large trucks and jeeps.
I’m 6’2 and have a 88 B2 I can get in and out just fine it’s really comfortable for me and yes I do think that the B2 is a Real Bronco this thing is awesome for off-road and is true to the name, I love this little suv it’s great.
With a few design changes, that Ford could have easily made, the Bronco II would have been a far more legitimate successor to the early(66-77) Bronco than the full sized models ever were. The track width and wheelbase were nearly identical. That means a Bronco II can squeeze through spots a 78+ Bronco has no choice but to go around or plow over. What the Bronco II really needed were higher cut/larger wheel arches, an 8.8 which came out the year prior, and a Dana 35 with a bit more travel from the start. With its extra 35lb/ft of torque(45lb/ft by '88) the 3.8 Essex V6 would have been a better engine choice than the 2.8/2.9. Aside from the Jeep XJ with it's front coil sprung 4 link live axle, none of the other domestic SUV's on the market in that class would touch a Bronco II built as I described. The stock A-arm suspension of GM's S10/S15 is weak and next to useless off road compared to a Dana 35 TTB. Yeah a removable top would have been nice, but there were a string of lawsuits over ejected passengers and a lot of hub-bub about the fed possibly banning convertibles.
So I Own an 88 Bronco II, I do dare say its an actual Bronco. During the time full sized truck based SUV's dominated the market but people wanted something smaller, similarly capable, and more fuel efficient. It sold really well as it hit all those marks, its comfortable for its size, has a tow rating of 4700LBS and had standard V6 power and 4 wheel drive. It was smaller and more fuel efficient than the Gen 3 plus as the Bronco II does retain the "Truck Based SUV" mentality and brought people back to the roots of an SUV a small multipurpose vehicle that can do pretty much anything and go anywhere. on a personal note, I love my Bronco II, even if it needs some work.
Sounds like a similar debate whether the Mustang II was really a Mustang. Ford called 'em both what they did and I'll accept it. Some like 'em, some don't. I owned an '87 XLT 4x4 (manual shift TC, manual hubs), 5 sp manual. It was good for what it was. I never had ideas about it being a hard core offroader, but in snow or rough roads the 4WD got it through just fine. The turning radius on that thing was crazy good - incredibly maneuverable. It was gutless - IDK what the 0-60 time was, but it was a lengthy affair. At least they were on a truck chassis vs a unibody SUV. At about 100,000 miles, the transmission had developed a whine in 5th gear and it would jump out of 2nd gear going down hill - and I was easy on the trans. Other than that the only significant thing that failed was the stupid TFI ignition module. Of course it couldn't do that in a parking lot - it had to wait until I was on a narrow freeway bridge. That was a dangerous situation. That was the end of my ownership - a sudden and complete failure like that could be life threatening and I wasn't in to risking that again - it was time for me to move on. I used to see them everywhere - now maybe once or twice a year I'll spot one.
I had a buddy after high school who removed his v6 Bronco II body and swapped it on an early Bronco frame. He gained V8, solid front axle, and a wider track width. The original Bronco body had rusted away and this was before replacement body’s were available. Sadly, he still rolled it 😂. I can 😂 about it now because he survived the rollover
If we're gonna call those new uni-body crossovers a Bronco, I think we gotta call the Bronco II a Bronco as well. So I'd say, yes with an asterisk. They share a lot in common with the size and shape of the first gen, but wander far from the original off-road in luxury vision the Bronco originally inspired. I think the Bronco II would have had a much better legacy if Ford had done a removable hardtop and 302 v8 option.
Get yourself a non running b2 for 500 get yourself a bad paint explorer with 4.0 for under 2000. Swap over all the running gear and you now have a little ripper with wider stance and disc brakes all around. Enjoy cheap bronco ownership my friend.
So they sold 100k of them.. rolled 42.. and you still talking shit about it.. people in the 80’s wouldn’t even wear seatbelts and you could drink and drive… but ok
Correction, the bronco II DOES NOT weigh 4200 pounds, it weighs in at around 3500. I dunno where you got your number for that weight but that's wrong and you should've done a bit more research on that
If a b2 is not a bronco and more of a ranger wouldn’t that make the 2nd and 3rd Gen Broncos more of a F150? Should we call these F150 and Ranger Wagons?
Suggestions on who could help me restore my 1988 Bronco II. It’s been sitting for 13 years. I am the original owner. Would like to change to 4x4 and lift. Not sure about motor.
I was going to let this one go but you are way off on the Bronco II specs. The Bronco II never came with a 9 inch rear. It came with a 7.5 rear. The weight was 3385 lbs. The width was 68 inches ( only a half inch narrower than the first gen Bronco ) and the height was 68.2 where the first gen was 71.6 so it was almost three and a half inches lower. Check out this B2 th-cam.com/video/jvVGLKmim6M/w-d-xo.html
I always thought the bronco 2 was the stepchild of the bronco family . I kind of think it’s not really a bronco once again sure enjoy your broadcast.❤❤
Bronco 2's are a Bronco. I have a 1st, 2nd, 4th gen and a Bronco 2. You might want to double check wherever you got your Bronco 2 info from. There's bout a 1000lb difference and they never offered a 9in in a B2.
It’s a bronco. Just mini. We don’t need to be snobs and act like it’s the same as the mustang mach e. That would be a lot easier to argue that it’s not a mustang. The bronco 2 is a 4x4 rugged body on frame suv just like every other bronco. The new baby bronco idk about that one. Seems more like a crossover that ford slapped a bronco badge on to make more money
Bronco II production numbers sounds similar to 3rd gen Nova numbers. Lots of love for the 68-72. 73 and 74 gets alot of hate and values are low. Yet the 73 and 74 years sold 4x the prior "cherished" years.
Good luck finding that diesel option it’s rare if not more rare then the removable back windows. Also there’s a bronco II in trailer park boys where they are pulling a camper and it gets wrecked because there’s a cat in the road 😂🤣
I get you guys, don't like the Bronco II, but look at the numbers sold it is only one % of sales. The lawsuit was because of how many Bronco II they sold. You are right they safety broad when after the CJ, and all small 4x4 during that time frame.
really wanted to leave a podcast review but man they don't make it easy if you done have or use itunes! I use TH-cam and Spotify and neither have a rating system womp womp
The Bronco II is definitely a Bronco. The new Bronco sport is a joke. But I really have to question your knowledge for lumping the Bronco ii and Cherokee together. I’m guessing you guys have soft hands and live in a city.
My dad had 2, an 85 and a 89.
Learned to drive on the 85 and went college with the 89. it has a special place in my heart on top of being a very capable truck. It never left me out in the cold during the worse of Canadian winters.
Now I am actively looking for one to restore as a tribute to my late father which we were supposed to do together ❤
To me, the Bronco 2 is a Bronco. What is a Bronco?
Truck frame
4wd
Two doors
Meant to go off road (and does very well)
Did the B2 have issues? Yeah. Every car has.
Did it have roll over issues? Only when driving like an idiot.
Seriously, you needed to jerk the steering wheel hard one side while driving at like 50mph to RISK roll over.
I have NEVER felt unsafe driving it.
That’s awesome! I hope you find a good one
I have gained a soft spot for the Bronco II, with the original and other gen big broncos being worth an insane amount now the Bronco II offers entry into the club. You can still buy a really nice B2 for not a lot of money vs buying a big bronco that is clapped out with 300k miles for 10 grand plus. I run the Ontario Bronco Club and we don't care what version it is, if it has the 6 letters on it then its welcome.
That’s a great way to look at it. All Broncos welcome
I've owned a 1975 Bronco and ,later, a Bronco 2 XLT 1989 which I still have; the Bronco 2 is much more driver friendly; I'm in the process of up grading my Bronco 2 ,5L HO ,5spd Temac, altas transfer case, and Abit more! I think Bronco 2 s will be much more desirable in the not to distant future!
Yes it’s a real Bronco!! I finally got the Bronco II license plate.
I have a 1985 Bronco 2 with duraspark conversion and MC 2150 carb. with 1.08 venturis, I installed 235 75 15 coopers, and KYB gas shocks. I also swapped out axles ratios for the 4.10 . The stock TTB with stock springs absorbs the road defects in superior fashion. In 4 wheel low, even with an under powered engine, the vehicle is a beast on steep terrain. I could rebuild the engine and ad .75 more compression. As it is, however, the stock version of the Bronco 2 is extremely well suited for mild trails and trips to the fishing hole. I take it on trails in the Tushar mountains next to Beaver Utah. The TTB is many ways is superior to a solid axle. The simplicity of the vehicle with a carb is refreshing. Over all, the braking, power steering, and suspension are superior to the original Bronco. As far as travelling on the highway, we just dont. Yupp, the Bronco 2 is a Bronco. The ttb spring front end is a game changer from stiff leaf springs and the solid axle. Then again, my 2000 WJ Grand Cherokee with solid Dana 35 front Dana 44 back, 2 inch lift with up country springs is a thing of beauty. I can do 85 on the highway in superior comfort and then take it on mountain roads at a really good clip. But, there is something about a 1985 Bronco 2 in 4 wheel low on narrow mountain trails that is simply badass.
B2 never had a 9” for the rear axle. The front axle was also a Dana 28 ttb not the 44.
What rear end did it have?
@@NashvilleEarlyBronco According to Yukon Gear’s website, it was a Ford 7.5” 🤷🏼♂️
There you go! I was wrong
I had a 1984 Bronco 2 in college up in Fairbanks Alaska during the mid-90s. It was a fun vehicle and sort-of felt like a real bronco. I preferred my 1980 Bronco XLT but I liked the small size of the Bronco 2. I never rolled it, but a couple of times at icy intersections I spun around and ended up facing the cars behind me. I got all ambitious one summer and swapped the dash and front seats out of a 1990 Ranger. the 1990 heater controls mostly worked but the gas gauge was backwards. In the college electronics lab I built a circuit to reverse the signal to make the fuel gauge work. It had no power but got better mileage than a full size Bronco. Everything started to break down so I sold it. 10 years later I saw it in Anchorage in a Walmart parking lot. Someone must've liked it enough to keep fixing it.
I love my b2, always want one when I was a kid, now I have it.
The TTB for most off road applications is way superior to a solid axle with leaf springs. One wheel can be up in the wheel well while the other is perfectly level. No track arm to contend with. Both the radius arms and the lower control arms articulate and minimize camber issues. The stock wheel travel on a bronco 2 is also quite impressive. The suspension technology of the Bronco 2 is superior to the old school Bronco. The ride comfort of the TTB with coil springs cannot be duplicated with a solid axle and leaf springs. However, driving the Bronco 2 on the highway is a different story. It is very apparent that the dynamics of the short wheel base and high center of gravity is somewhat unsafe. It is , however, well suited for kicking around rough dirt roads and mountain trails.
I LOVE mine so much love the way it turns
Nice
I just got done with a two year restoration on my 1989 BII 4x4 back to original , but with a 4.0. I’m rebuilding a 5.0 to go in a Foxbody mustang now. I’m in Tupelo, MS BTW
great video....I had a "89 B2 and love it, I was in my early twenties at the time, and I love the turning radius. I could turn it around with one loop on a single lane highway. My friends and I drove back in the mountains in WNC and the B2 outperformed all the large trucks and jeeps.
That’s awesome!
I’m 6’2 and have a 88 B2 I can get in and out just fine it’s really comfortable for me and yes I do think that the B2 is a Real Bronco this thing is awesome for off-road and is true to the name, I love this little suv it’s great.
With a few design changes, that Ford could have easily made, the Bronco II would have been a far more legitimate successor to the early(66-77) Bronco than the full sized models ever were.
The track width and wheelbase were nearly identical. That means a Bronco II can squeeze through spots a 78+ Bronco has no choice but to go around or plow over. What the Bronco II really needed were higher cut/larger wheel arches, an 8.8 which came out the year prior, and a Dana 35 with a bit more travel from the start. With its extra 35lb/ft of torque(45lb/ft by '88) the 3.8 Essex V6 would have been a better engine choice than the 2.8/2.9.
Aside from the Jeep XJ with it's front coil sprung 4 link live axle, none of the other domestic SUV's on the market in that class would touch a Bronco II built as I described. The stock A-arm suspension of GM's S10/S15 is weak and next to useless off road compared to a Dana 35 TTB.
Yeah a removable top would have been nice, but there were a string of lawsuits over ejected passengers and a lot of hub-bub about the fed possibly banning convertibles.
That’s so true
So I Own an 88 Bronco II, I do dare say its an actual Bronco. During the time full sized truck based SUV's dominated the market but people wanted something smaller, similarly capable, and more fuel efficient. It sold really well as it hit all those marks, its comfortable for its size, has a tow rating of 4700LBS and had standard V6 power and 4 wheel drive. It was smaller and more fuel efficient than the Gen 3 plus as the Bronco II does retain the "Truck Based SUV" mentality and brought people back to the roots of an SUV a small multipurpose vehicle that can do pretty much anything and go anywhere. on a personal note, I love my Bronco II, even if it needs some work.
They are great. Just fun to poke fun at.
Sounds like a similar debate whether the Mustang II was really a Mustang. Ford called 'em both what they did and I'll accept it. Some like 'em, some don't. I owned an '87 XLT 4x4 (manual shift TC, manual hubs), 5 sp manual. It was good for what it was. I never had ideas about it being a hard core offroader, but in snow or rough roads the 4WD got it through just fine. The turning radius on that thing was crazy good - incredibly maneuverable. It was gutless - IDK what the 0-60 time was, but it was a lengthy affair. At least they were on a truck chassis vs a unibody SUV. At about 100,000 miles, the transmission had developed a whine in 5th gear and it would jump out of 2nd gear going down hill - and I was easy on the trans. Other than that the only significant thing that failed was the stupid TFI ignition module. Of course it couldn't do that in a parking lot - it had to wait until I was on a narrow freeway bridge. That was a dangerous situation. That was the end of my ownership - a sudden and complete failure like that could be life threatening and I wasn't in to risking that again - it was time for me to move on. I used to see them everywhere - now maybe once or twice a year I'll spot one.
I had a buddy after high school who removed his v6 Bronco II body and swapped it on an early Bronco frame. He gained V8, solid front axle, and a wider track width. The original Bronco body had rusted away and this was before replacement body’s were available. Sadly, he still rolled it 😂. I can 😂 about it now because he survived the rollover
Haha! Wow! That’s amazing
Man how can you not remember the B2 in Uncle Buck😂
Haha!
Bronco Sport is just a marketing SUV.. Great topic guys
The name Bronco Sport was already taken by a real Bronco. That’s ridiculous that they swiped it and caused more confusion.
@@hossbronco agreed
Agreed
The Bronco II was much closer in size to the original than the F-series-based Broncos were. The only problem was that it didn't have a removable top.
I have a lifted 85 me and my son built and an 89 me and my daughter put an engine in. Dogs for power, but fun little trucks
If we're gonna call those new uni-body crossovers a Bronco, I think we gotta call the Bronco II a Bronco as well. So I'd say, yes with an asterisk. They share a lot in common with the size and shape of the first gen, but wander far from the original off-road in luxury vision the Bronco originally inspired. I think the Bronco II would have had a much better legacy if Ford had done a removable hardtop and 302 v8 option.
Get yourself a non running b2 for 500 get yourself a bad paint explorer with 4.0 for under 2000. Swap over all the running gear and you now have a little ripper with wider stance and disc brakes all around. Enjoy cheap bronco ownership my friend.
That would be fun
It would be cooler if you had a third guest who was a B2 owner/builder
Oooo! Maybe we should do that some day
Man, just checked in with your channel for the first time since you installed fitech... You have come a long way. Well done
Thank you!
weight y'all quote for the bronco ii is off by about 1000 pounds, theres no way that thing was as heavy as the full size one
Could be, I found that number off the internet...
There's a nice one in the movie "Uncle Buck".
I like my BII, haven't rolled mine yet.
Nice!
Not sure why we're counting the jimmy and blazer as separate vehicles. They were the same vehicle with different badges and grilles.
So they sold 100k of them.. rolled 42.. and you still talking shit about it.. people in the 80’s wouldn’t even wear seatbelts and you could drink and drive… but ok
Hahaha! So true
No known diesel Bronco 2’s known to exist. Gillagan’s garage is building one on TH-cam
Bronco II was also in The Breakfast Club :)
Nice!
Correction, the bronco II DOES NOT weigh 4200 pounds, it weighs in at around 3500. I dunno where you got your number for that weight but that's wrong and you should've done a bit more research on that
Bronco2 never had a 9" and it weighs 3400lbs....
What rear did it have?
@@NashvilleEarlyBronco it came with a 7.5 and is often swapped to 8.8. Is your Google broken or what?
Apparently! Where are my numbers from
I have a stock 1988 Eddie Bauer bronco ii, def scary on highways , but super fun on trails
You ain't kidding I raised mine 4 inches and the highway is a nightmare 😂
@@alejandrososa3168 haha yeah I can imagine, just ordered my 3” lift, and am curious to how handles freeway speeds
@dankneedeee Get ready for an adrenaline ride. As long as you stay safe there is nothing to worry about.
@@alejandrososa3168 true, I don’t drive it like a car , I def baby it on turns
If a b2 is not a bronco and more of a ranger wouldn’t that make the 2nd and 3rd Gen Broncos more of a F150? Should we call these F150 and Ranger Wagons?
The 2nd Gen Bronco was almost named the “F-wagon” by Ford 😬
I had an 88b2 and an 89b1. I actually liked the b2 better but I needed a bigger one due to towing issues. The paint on both of them was garbage
I feel like the new bronco sport is just a modern day bronco 2
Suggestions on who could help me restore my 1988 Bronco II. It’s been sitting for 13 years. I am the original owner. Would like to change to 4x4 and lift. Not sure about motor.
I was going to let this one go but you are way off on the Bronco II specs. The Bronco II never came with a 9 inch rear. It came with a 7.5 rear. The weight was 3385 lbs. The width was 68 inches ( only a half inch narrower than the first gen Bronco ) and the height was 68.2 where the first gen was 71.6 so it was almost three and a half inches lower. Check out this B2 th-cam.com/video/jvVGLKmim6M/w-d-xo.html
Interesting. I’m sure you are right, not sure why there’s so much conflicting info online 🤷♂️
I always thought the bronco 2 was the stepchild of the bronco family . I kind of think it’s not really a bronco once again sure enjoy your broadcast.❤❤
Haha! Appreciate it!
Bronco 2's are a Bronco. I have a 1st, 2nd, 4th gen and a Bronco 2. You might want to double check wherever you got your Bronco 2 info from. There's bout a 1000lb difference and they never offered a 9in in a B2.
I'm not a b2 guy, but I almost bought one that had four bucket seats. It was pretty cool for a half breed hahaha
“Half breed” haha!
It’s a bronco. Just mini. We don’t need to be snobs and act like it’s the same as the mustang mach e. That would be a lot easier to argue that it’s not a mustang. The bronco 2 is a 4x4 rugged body on frame suv just like every other bronco. The new baby bronco idk about that one. Seems more like a crossover that ford slapped a bronco badge on to make more money
Look at Gillagan’s Garage. He has the only known one with removable glass
14:14 actually starts the discussion you clicked to watch.
Man thank goodness for people like you. Dont have to hear none of that mumbo jumbo
Bronco II production numbers sounds similar to 3rd gen Nova numbers. Lots of love for the 68-72. 73 and 74 gets alot of hate and values are low. Yet the 73 and 74 years sold 4x the prior "cherished" years.
Interesting!
Just as much as the current one
Good luck finding that diesel option it’s rare if not more rare then the removable back windows. Also there’s a bronco II in trailer park boys where they are pulling a camper and it gets wrecked because there’s a cat in the road 😂🤣
Haha! I would love to find one of those.
Look at market place lots of high quality ones at enormous prices
I get you guys, don't like the Bronco II, but look at the numbers sold it is only one % of sales. The lawsuit was because of how many Bronco II they sold. You are right they safety broad when after the CJ, and all small 4x4 during that time frame.
What about the Sherrod Bronco 2?
Big Bronco a real Bronco ?
I think so
really wanted to leave a podcast review but man they don't make it easy if you done have or use itunes! I use TH-cam and Spotify and neither have a rating system womp womp
600,000 units? Probably more than the early Bronco
That was the most obnoxious video I’ve ever seen in my life
Suzuki samurai? Oh hell no
Crash dummy