New Bronco 50th article by Jim Allen

[toddz69]

By the way, I love the corrections. I don't wing it on stuff, but sometimes get it wrong for various reasons (mostly my own human errors) but I strive to be correct. Don't be offended if I come back and vigorously defend my position (or attempt to) because the end result of that is that I either get the true facts, or someone else does.

Occasionally, I have run into two pieces of factory documentation that directly contradict. That's the worst if you can't connect the dots in some way.

Contradictory factory documentation is not surprising - we've seen some crazy things in research over the years. The photos in some of the factory brochures have been a source of frustration and amusement over the years, in particular.

No offense ever taken - I've been reading your articles and books for many years and appreciate your thoroughness and accuracy.

Todd Z.

 

[BajaBronco]

Contradictory factory documentation is not surprising - we've seen some crazy things in research over the years. The photos in some of the factory brochures have been a source of frustration and amusement over the years, in particular.

No offense ever taken - I've been reading your articles and books for many years and appreciate your thoroughness and accuracy.

Todd Z.

YEah, what he said x2. I've even come across part numbers that dont add up to anyone either.

Great article. I love the thorough captions and "owner swears this" "owner thinks this" gives a nice personal touch.

Andrew

 

[sprdv1]

Mines in there!!! Its parked next to the green '67 at Super Cel!

Nice


Great article for sure

 

[sprdv1]

Just got to Okie's pics, have to show him the link.

Hope the camera guy finally got his lens fixed that got ran over, whoops LOL

 

[sykanr0ng]

The ’88 model year brought many improvements, namely an EFI 5.8L engine (still 210 hp) and a five-speed transmission (Mazda M50DR2 for the 4.9L and ZF M50D-HD for the V-8s).

There may have been a few made with a ZF 5 speed, but most were built with the Mazda M5ODR2 5 speed.

The ZF was used in the F250 and up, while the M5ODR2 was used in the F150 which shares parts with the big Bronco.

 

[Bukin 67]

Nice info on the history. Thanks for posting TZ. I probably wouldn't have seen it otherwise.

 

[Classic 4x4]

There may have been a few made with a ZF 5 speed, but most were built with the Mazda M5ODR2 5 speed.

The ZF was used in the F250 and up, while the M5ODR2 was used in the F150 which shares parts with the big Bronco.

Where I got the Info- 1988 Data Book, Bronco Section:

How I read it is that the 4.9L six had the R2 with the ZF OD-HD optional, but the 5.0 had the ZF. Trying to save words, I just opted to list the ZF as the preponderance of production was the V8.

 

[toddz69]

One of those cases where it was probably technically an option but I've never seen one so equipped.

One other item I noted:

As in previous years, the Ranger XLT was the upper line model. In ’81 and ’82, the “F-O-R-D” was on the leading edge of the hood, not in a blue oval in the center of the grille.

The letters were on the hood in 80-81, the Ford oval in the grille started in '82.

Todd Z.

 

[Classic 4x4]

Amazingly, I have.

When I blew the head gaskets out on my aftermarket turbo'ed 6.9L diesel, it looked as though there was also a lot of engine damage and I contemplated a swap to a 300 six (an engine I like and the slow lane is OK by me). Guy near here was selling an '88 Bronco with a 300 six with a ZF (I checked) 5-speed really cheap (rust bucket). I toyed with the idea of buying it, but didn't and the 6.9L was basically OK so I didn't need it in the end. Don't know how common they were but, again, the ZF was listed as "new" for '88.

If you look to '89 and '90, you don't see the ZF listed at all in the Bronco section, only the R2.

 

[gnpenning]

Great article. Nice to see the effort in keeping everything correct and doing the research. Clearly alot of conflicting information even from Ford. The way the grills where painted on the eyebrow grills discussion that just came up is a good example. The P and Q thread is another.

That's correct. They changed in mid '69 and eliminated the hardware and bracket and fancy chromed knobs. You had to get out a wrench and take bolts out if you wanted to fold them after that.

Todd Z.

Didn't they change the hood bracing as well??

 

[Classic 4x4]

The letters were on the hood in 80-81, the Ford oval in the grille started in '82.

Todd Z.

Irritating since that wasn't my error. My manuscript doesn't have it!

 

[MarsChariot]

This article should see wider print in honor of the 50th.* There is some information in there about the development of the Bronco that I have not seen elsewhere. In my opinion the model year schedule of options and things is standard variation stuff and almost impossible to get to everyone's satisfaction. But the history stuff, that is valuable material. Thanks for posting this. Now can we get one of the big print media magazines to re-publish this?

*I notice that suddenly the media is all about the 50th finally.....of the Camaro!

 

[okie4570]

This article should see wider print in honor of the 50th.* There is some information in there about the development of the Bronco that I have not seen elsewhere. In my opinion the model year schedule of options and things is standard variation stuff and almost impossible to get to everyone's satisfaction. But the history stuff, that is valuable material. Thanks for posting this. Now can we get one of the big print media magazines to re-publish this?

*I notice that suddenly the media is all about the 50th finally.....of the Camaro!

Post 8, he says the article will be in print.

 

[toddz69]

I'm guessing it will be in Four Wheeler as they do more of the 'long form' articles like this and most of Jim's historical articles appear there.

Todd Z.

 

[Viperwolf1]

I think the confusion lies in the naming. What folks traditionally consider "Duraspark" ignition including the larger distributor cap and ignition module with the blue grommet was introduced in '77 on the Broncos and is technically "Duraspark II". The Bronco got solid state ignition in '74 (iirc) and it is sometimes called "Duraspark I".

Todd Z.

Ok, thanks . I don't see the Duraspark name, at least in the Bronco materials I have at hand, until '77. But I haven't seen everything. Yet!

Don't have a '75 Data book but I have a '74 and in it, solid state ignition or Duraspark is not mentioned. Doesn't mean it didn't come later, but in the data book produced late in '73 prior to '74 for the '74 MY, it isn't listed. I do see a "Perma-Tuned" transistorized ignition system optional for 600 series trucks.

In '74 it was called Breakerless Ignition or Breakerless Solid State Ignition. This was used in all of CA and certain other DSOs across the country. '75 had Solid State Ignition that was nationwide. Duraspark II and Duraspark I came out at the same time.

 

[Classic 4x4]

This article should see wider print in honor of the 50th.* There is some information in there about the development of the Bronco that I have not seen elsewhere. In my opinion the model year schedule of options and things is standard variation stuff and almost impossible to get to everyone's satisfaction. But the history stuff, that is valuable material. Thanks for posting this. Now can we get one of the big print media magazines to re-publish this?

*I notice that suddenly the media is all about the 50th finally.....of the Camaro!

The article will be in the December print issue of Four Wheeler. The November will be out very soon so December will be roughly a month hence. TEN Media is going to a "Web First" program, whereby the material goes on their website first. After 25 years of writing for print, it's a little tough to wrap my brain around that but... OK.... I'm not too far into Buzzardhood that I can't adapt. Look for the Bronco piece to be very well layed out on paper.

I agree that the Bronco 50th should have gotten more play in the historical context. It's a more pivotal evolution than many people realize. Even Bronco owners. But I am preaching to the Pastors here. I am a bit gobsmacked about that lack of media play given it's general popularity... as indicated by the high prices and high level of owner enthusiasm. You guys don't quite foam at the mouth! ( : < ) But I have a theory:

Compare it to the Jeep's 75 Year celebration this year, which got lots of play (and I contributed to it, he said ducking for cover ( : < ). The problem may partly be that the Jeep celebrations partly overwhelmed Bronco. I can tell you from the inside, the mags will only devote a certain percentage of editorial to history and they are going to go with the rigs they think rate higher on the icon-meter, or whose manufacturer play it up with advertising dollars. That plays into theory two:

I think Ford is a bit "MEH!"on the Bronco history thing. It doesn't rate as high on their icon-meter as other historic Ford vehicles (and there are many). There was very little push from Ford over the Bronco milestone that I saw compared to the push I saw from Jeep. Corporate decision on both sides and perhaps Jeep history is a more important part of the marketing game for Jeep than Bronco is for Ford right now. Regardless of what you or I feel or think about it, they look at the big picture and spend their time and money to get the biggest bang in the spots where they think they need it. Cut and dried, history be damned.

As to material not before seen, I'm glad somebody noticed. I have been collecting info and interviewing the few people who are still around for project ahead. As with the Scout Book I just finished (https://www.amazon.com/International-Scout-Encyclopedia-Jim-Allen/dp/1937747514/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452362545&sr=1-1&keywords=Scout+encyclopedia International Scout Encyclopedia), research yielded some challenges to "common knowledge."

 

[Classic 4x4]

In '74 it was called Breakerless Ignition or Breakerless Solid State Ignition. This was used in all of CA and certain other DSOs across the country. '75 had Solid State Ignition that was nationwide. Duraspark II and Duraspark I came out at the same time.

Viper- Good clues, thanks! Can you give me a hint where I might documentation on this in '74 materials? I have a '74 Data Book but not a '74 Truck Facts Book. Don't have either for '75. I'll look more closely in the '74 Data Book in the meantime. There is a note about a "California Emissions Package" but I haven't found a list yet of what is include in that.

I'll say this to everyone: Please, PLEASE don't be offended if I don't "take your word" for everything and ask for documentary links. Perhaps not everything I write is 100 percent correct in the broad sense (barring my mistakes) but I can usually present documentation to back up my assertions. Perhaps I demonstrated that a little in this thread. Documentation is important if you are going to write about history that will someday be held up as a "fact" It's not so much if you are just a poster on an intent forum. I have been bitten in the butt too many times by not fact checking little details like this. More than that, I have learned the timeless value of getting things as right as possible. As a writer historian I have learned that among the hardest things to overcome are the incorrect facts laid down by a previous writer and now considered gospel by people who don't have access to the primary information.

Anyway, bottom line, I LOVE to be PROVEN wrong but I prefer to have that done BEFORE I put it on paper. That's why I like to find a good board like this and get my ass whipped a little.

 

[Classic 4x4]

Did I miss where the Bronco 170 six is a solid lifter engine where Falcon and Mustang were hydraulic? Or, am I mistaken?

You are not mistaken, I just looked it up, but that fact had not yet streamed into my consciousness. I didn't mention it in the story, and probably wouldn't have, but I am glad to know it now. Apparently the Econoline and Falcon Club Wagon (Econoline passenger van, no relation to the Falcon car), as well has the first Bronco had a mechanical lifter cam.

 

[toddz69]

In '74 it was called Breakerless Ignition or Breakerless Solid State Ignition. This was used in all of CA and certain other DSOs across the country. '75 had Solid State Ignition that was nationwide. Duraspark II and Duraspark I came out at the same time.

Thanks for the additional info and corrections, Viper.

Todd Z.

 

[toddz69]

Compare it to the Jeep's 75 Year celebration this year, which got lots of play (and I contributed to it, he said ducking for cover ( : < ). The problem may partly be that the Jeep celebrations partly overwhelmed Bronco. I can tell you from the inside, the mags will only devote a certain percentage of editorial to history and they are going to go with the rigs they think rate higher on the icon-meter, or whose manufacturer play it up with advertising dollars. That plays into theory two:

I think Ford is a bit "MEH!"on the Bronco history thing. It doesn't rate as high on their icon-meter as other historic Ford vehicles (and there are many). There was very little push from Ford over the Bronco milestone that I saw compared to the push I saw from Jeep. Corporate decision on both sides and perhaps Jeep history is a more important part of the marketing game for Jeep than Bronco is for Ford right now. Regardless of what you or I feel or think about it, they look at the big picture and spend their time and money to get the biggest bang in the spots where they think they need it. Cut and dried, history be damned.

As to material not before seen, I'm glad somebody noticed. I have been collecting info and interviewing the few people who are still around for project ahead. As with the Scout Book I just finished (https://www.amazon.com/International-Scout-Encyclopedia-Jim-Allen/dp/1937747514/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452362545&sr=1-1&keywords=Scout+encyclopedia International Scout Encyclopedia), research yielded some challenges to "common knowledge."

I think you're exactly right on the reasons for Ford not pushing a lot behind the Bronco anniversary. They had a little bit of involvement in the Early Bronco Registry's 25th Anniversary celebration back in '91 but by the 30th in '96 (and when Bronco production was ending), they were no longer interested and were pushing the introduction of the Expedition pretty hard. Contrast that to the Mustang which is a huge seller for them and it's pretty obvious where their priorities are. Perhaps they'll come calling when the new Bronco is introduced.

I haven't purchased the Scout book yet but as soon as I saw it, I figured I knew what your next project was . I had the opportunity to meet one of the original Bronco project engineers a number of years ago here in AZ and heard some interesting stories from him. I was surprised how small the team was - he claimed there were about 5-6 people as I recall. I'm not sure if he's still living or not - he's a snowbird so I'll have to look for him this fall at the car shows.

Todd Z.