Pagoda SL Group
Off Topic => Other cars => Topic started by: Cees Klumper on November 07, 2019, 02:45:52
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Some may remember my Earl Camino that I had a few years back. Well last week I decided I needed another car to supplement our 2011 Z4, and I felt like getting an olded car again, which became a 1990 Ford Bronco II with 126,000 miles and a 140 hp german 2.9 liter V6 with EFI:
https://www.therangerstation.com/forums/index.php?threads/newbie-with-1990-bronco-ii-2wd.183994/post-1699538
Drives really nice. Parts are not so expensive: how about a new fuel pump for $50, a new fuel tank for $85 or a new windshield for $250 installed.
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Hi Cees, so the "Earl El Camino" is gone, I am curious where and what kind of buyer you found for it. Did you include your collection of "Earl Videos" with it also?
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The Camino went to another fan of the TV show in Canada. I think he already had the videos! He's been looking for Joy and Darnell's Bratt but no luck so far.
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Hopefully a picture will show here. Have ordered all new lights front and back ($140 in total) and nos wheel caps ($40). Waiting for my spray paint cans to touch up a few areas, the original paint is still in great condition. Absolutely no rust anywhere, this car lived in Palmdale CA which I am told is close to one of those massive airplane graveyards, very dry climate.
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Memories.. I bought one of these, a 1986, in 1996 when I did not want to drive my Impala SS in the Winter. One of the worst cars, I ever owned... ::)
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Memories.. I bought one of these, a 1986, in 1996 when I did not want to drive my Impala SS in the Winter. One of the worst cars, I ever owned... ::)
The SS or the Bronco?
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Well I guess it looks cool and does have a cult following I suppose (for those with a death wish), but a Bronc II is one of the most dangerous vehicles ever made. Nobody will think you are cool driving an early Explorer (it's successor) but you will get the thumbs up in a Bronco II.
Now me? Not a chance. That vehicle was, and is dangerous. We've known that here for years. Cost Ford billions in settlements.
https://www.ewg.org/research/suvs-suddenly-upside-down-vehicles/too-dangerous-professional-test-drivers-safe-enough
https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/15/business/bronco-ii-accidents-pose-new-questions-for-ford-on-safety.html
https://www.autosafety.org/wp-content/uploads/import/ROLLFBRO.pdf
https://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/07/ford-explorer-rollover-settlement/
The more you look the more you'll find. One major insurer stopped writing policies on them. One in 500 Bronco IIs made were involved in fatal rollovers.
I think you can avoid issues by not insuring the vehicle, don't drive more than 20 miles an hour, and my guess is go in a straight line. Sorry to burst anyone's bubble here, but we want you safe. You are not safe in a Bronco II.
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Yeah, a guy commented today he rolled one 3 times. When I asked why, he just said "I was 16 and drunk". I don't take corners fast.
The insurer Mike writes about that stopped insuring the Bronco altogether was Geico. My insurer. They insured my Bronco this week for $58 per year. Don't believe everything you read folks.
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Be safe.
I know exactly how much Ford paid out on this. Makes a 1st generation Corvair look like an experimental safety vehicle.
Read the details and the history and don’t assume a $58 insurance bill today dismisses facts determined many years ago—the Ford Bronco II is a dangerous vehicle prone to rollovers at a rate higher than almost anything else. One in 500 made, resulted in fatal crashes. Raises my eyebrows. The facts are very clear.
But wow! No rust!
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The SS or the Bronco?
I think the latest posts answered that question. 8)
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And that almost EXACT grill, headlights, fascia, etc, became the gen 1 Explorer.
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Yes, still plenty of rangers and explorers from that era around. I keep getting compliments on the Bronco everywhere, the other day at a traffic light, guy my age in a nice shiny new Mercedes, "I had one of those!!" Really fun and practical car, surprisingly peppy too and ok on gas. Pulled the codes with my $25 new OBD1 code reader yesterday, came out squeeky clean. The previous owner did take good care of it: almost new brakes, tires, battery, exhaust, radiator, rebuilt transmission. All for $2,300. Should I finish the cosmetics and float it on Bring a trailer?
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Seen some good stuff on BaT like that.... We had a gen 1 explorer, the coolest part, had 3 pedals a V-6, slid in the snow really well, too bad the North East took it back to earth.
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Almost finished with the touch-ups on the Bronco. Yesterday swapped in six rebuilt and flow-matched Bosch fuel injectors and now the car drives even better than before (when it was already pretty good): lots of power, silky smooth idling. I enjoy driving, and tinkering with this 1990 little truck more every day. This is what I would like Pagoda ownership to be like (again): parts that don't break the bank, and a total investment of (much) less than $5K, smiling big when driving it. The 6 rebuilt injectors, warranteed, came home-delivered for $58 ... definitely a keeper.
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Interesting setup. Got any new updates about it? It's been a while since the last time I've seen a Bronco. A work colleague of mine owns one and I went with him when he tried and tested Nitto Ridge Grappler (https://4wheelonline.com/nitto-ridge-grappler-tires.305266.0) tires. It seems like a great way to get into off-road driving.
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This article was featured in Hagerty magazine this summer - https://www.hagerty.com/media/magazine-features/bronco-buster-a-booming-business-of-old-fords/ (https://www.hagerty.com/media/magazine-features/bronco-buster-a-booming-business-of-old-fords/)
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Well I have been thoroughly enjoying the Bronco II as my daily driver. Much prefer it over the 2011 BMW Z4 35i (sold for that reason) and even the 1986 Nissan 300ZX manual that is my son's daily driver. Can't quite describe why, but it's just a very satisfying feeling I get everytime I get into this little truck. It has a surprising amount of cargo space, considering how small its outside dimensions are. It's relatively slow, obviously, doesn't handle, doesn't get good mileage - but that's all not the point. I get compliments on it all the time (girls at traffic lights yelling "Love your truck!") and it seems the value has gone up since Ford released its new Bronco. I bought it for $2,300 a year ago.
Work I have done to it since the last update is adding a NOS blue stripe along the flank, repainted the driver's door with a perfect color match rattle can, and installed a new exhaust system including CA compliant catalytic converter, after the silencer blew a tear that made it LOUD. I also got a carfax report that revealed the true miles (the odometer on it, like on our Pagodas, only goes to 99K) and it is 240,000. Original engine, paint, no rust, great oil pressure, ample 'oomph' and it keeps on truckin'. I did have to address brake lights that stopped working two weeks ago, which turned out to be poor connections to the multifunction switch in the steering column. Just pressed them back in and voila. Also found that the kick-down linkage was disconnected so now, when I want it too, it will 'take off'. This has become one of my all-time favorite cars, next to the Pagoda, a 1969 Triumph Spitfire, and a 1982 Mercedes 300D that I used to own. May bring it back to France with me, together with the 1972 Lancia Fulvia, not sure yet.
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It has been suggested to me by my wife, that the Edge (whose lease is up in early 2021) may well be replaced with a new Bronco Sport. The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is a smaller sibling that is essentially a successor to the 1980s-era Bronco II.
She really wanted a car but aside from a Mustang, Ford abandoned the car business...
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Find what you love and let it kill you. Let it drain you of your all. Let it cling onto your back and weigh you down into eventual nothingness. Let it kill you and let it devour your remains. For all things will kill you, both slowly and fastly, but it's much better to be killed by a lover... Charles Bukowski
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Short update, the Bronco II still going strong as my daily driver. According to its carfax report it actually has 240,000 miles. I've done some more maintenance to it, most significantly replacing both cylinder heads due to a small internal coolant leak in one. Complete with valves (and springs etc) installed the two heads came to $500 delivered. An afternoon's work. Also sorted out the vacuum lines (which ones go before and after the throttle body etc) and the various maintenance and tweaks have gradually resulted in a very strong engine and silky-smooth auto trans shifts. I had to subject it to its first smog test (California strict) under my ownership a few weeks ago, and the test station owner said he had never seen such a clean and smooth running Ford 2.9 V6, and said he worked as a Ford mechanic for several years "back in the day". The thing is now 30 years old, which is as old as my Pagoda was when I bought that. Automotive technology sure progressed in those twenty years between them.
This car (excuse me: truck) has become my favorite all-time, just something about it. Keep getting thumbs up and it is a nice departure from all of the bland jelly beans and massive pickups that dot the road-scape.
Pick one up while you can!
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Hi Cees
I have really enjoyed reading your updates on the Bronco !
It is great to have a car like this that you enjoy driving, has readily available and reasonably priced parts, plus is easy enough to work on but has enough mod cons to keep you happy.
I've recently purchased a 1980s australian classic that I'll post on shortly. Gives me the same vibes as your Bronco and is now my favourite daily driver :)
Enjoy the motoring !
Franjo
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...may well be replaced with a new Bronco Sport. The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is a smaller sibling that is essentially a successor to the 1980s-era Bronco II...She really wanted a car...[but] Ford abandoned the car business...
Yes, it's ordered, and long delays in manufacturing. Unless you've been living under a rock, all kinds of supply chain issues. If it's not chips its something else. Looking to have it in July. Outer Banks edition, just appropriate for North Carolina...
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I think that is a pretty good looking car !!!
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I think that is a pretty good looking car !!!
In 30 years, there may be one in Cees' driveway...
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My wife has taken to driving the Bronco II now as well, so I've had to resort to my BMW C650 maxi-scooter for errands and what not.
Being the artist she is, she made a design that we executed today. Took 5 hours and a lot of 3M vinyl tape. I think it will blend into the Venice and Key West cityscapes this car (truck) will navigate over the coming years:
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Nice work!
I had a 1979 BMW 330i bought new and kept for ten years. It was white with red-orange and blue “Alpina” stripes. A noticeable but simple two stripes.
Looks like your wife continued the striping theme on the old Bronc. Did she run out of tape or car first? 😉
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Thanks Michael.
Actually it was neither - plenty of tape left (I still have to do the other side) and also as you can see there is still plenty of Colonial White left - the uncovered bands / parts of the car are part of the design, the spacing was quite important (also between the tripes, some are touching, others have just a mm or two, then others 5 or more mm).
I think all in all we bought about $200 worth of vinyl striping, that is guaranteed to last about 7 years depending on amount of UV etc. So it's not an expensive or very time-consuming way to spruce up a car, particularly when compared to applying stripes by spray painting.
She may decide to add stripes to the roof/hood/rear hatch later.
It is also easy to remove if so desired.