Ford Bronco II

Infobox Automobile


name=Ford Bronco II
manufacturer=Ford Motor Company
production=1984-1990
class=Compact SUV
related=Ford Ranger
successor=Ford Explorer
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"
engine= 2.8 L "Cologne" V6
2.9 L "Cologne" V6
wheelbase= Auto in|94.0|0.
width= Auto in|68.0|0
assembly=Louisville, Kentucky, USA
fuel_capacity=Convert|23|usgal|L impgal|1
layout=Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel driveInfobox Automobile generation
name=First generation


production=1984–1988
length= Auto in|158.3|0
height= Auto in|68.2|0Infobox Automobile generation
name=Second generation


production=1989–1990
length= Auto in|161.9|0.
height= Auto in|69.9|0.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 and was enclosed in the rear.The Bronco II, unlike its larger brother the Bronco, had four wheel drive optional. (All full sized Broncos were four wheel drive.)

Engines

The 1984 and 1985 models were equipped with the Convert|115|hp|kW|0|abbr=on carbureted Cologne 2.8 L V6 engine which was also used in the Ranger from 1984 to 1985. The 1986 model year introduced the Convert|140|hp|kW|0|abbr=on fuel injected 2.9 L "Cologne" V6. 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. 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 IIs that were still under warranty or at the owner’s desire were retrofitted with the improved heads.

A small Convert|86|hp|kW|0|abbr=on 2.3 Diesel engine was also offered through 1987, but this engine was rarely used as it offered poor performance.

Demise

The first Bronco II was developed in parallel with the Ranger from 1984 to 1988. The restyling of the Bronco II and Ranger started in 1989, but ended for the Bronco II with the end of production in February 1990, replaced by the larger Explorer. The restyling is marked not only by 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 with a similar Ranger-based platform, sharing essentially the same front end, but with Ford's new 4.0L OHV "Cologne" Convert|155|hp|kW|0|abbr=on V6 and a four door model with a two door Sport option.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.

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 (Note: BroncoII with production dates after November of the 1990 model year are already equipped with the more durable Dana 35 front axle). 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, either by using drop shackles in the back and larger coils in the front with or w/o radius arm drop brackets and axle pivot drop brackets, and/or a body lift. With both the Bronco II and Ranger there are many possibilities for engine swaps, the most common being either the 302 or 351W Ford Windsor engines or the 4.0 L Cologne V6 from a Ranger or Explorer.

afety

The Bronco II, being a popular SUV choice was dogged by targeted reports that it was prone to rollovers. [ [http://www.autosafety.org/srr/ROLLFBRO.pdf] Safety Research Report Index - Ford Bronco II Rollover] Some of the headlines in 1989-90 included "NHTSA Investigates Bronco II Rollovers," Automotive News (March 20, 1989) "Magazine Gives Ford's Bronco II 'Avoid' Rating," Wall Street Journal (May 8, 1989), and "Consumer Reports Criticizes Ford Bronco II's Handling," Washington Post (May 18, 1989)

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. [ [http://www.detnews.com/specialreports/2002/nhtsa/monrollover/monrollover.htm] "Rollover complaints dismissed" Jeff Plungis Detroit News Washington 2002] SUVs in general tend to have 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.

Among the people injured in rollover accidents in Bronco II's included former jockey Bill Shoemaker.

The successor, the Ford Explorer would suffer a similar fate with the Firestone tire controversy.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.BroncoII4x4.com BroncoII4x4.com]
* [http://www.BroncoII-Ranger.com BroncoII-Ranger.com]
* [http://www.broncoII.org BroncoII.org]
* [http://www.therangerstation.com TheRangerStation.com]
*imcdb vehicle|make=Ford|model=Bronco II|Broncho II