Bad Engine, need help

[half cab]

In the cylinders....ton's of anti-freeze came out when we drained the oil.

Imma say blown head gasket or cracked block.

 

[AK-47]

Place your bets...

 

[Nightstick]

I vote head gasket. Intake gasket is a possibility, but when mine was improperly torqued and leaking I was getting fluid dripping off the backside of the motor, not internally. It's certainly possible it's an intake gasket, but I would think you'd get some leaking outside of the motor as well.

 

[Skiddy]

my bet is on head gasket as well. question, did it ever overheat? don't have to answer that if you don't want to

 

[sprdv1]

Thanks all, the 80MPH spec was probably too aggressive for highway driving but I want the power if I need it, let's revise to 65-70...running 33x12.5x15's w/ a 3.5" lift, regular steel hood.

I think Nightstick's on the right path...gonna pull the head and check the gasket..fingers crossed that's all it is.

p.s. all paid up on my life insurance.

Good idea.. haha

 

[sprdv1]

I vote head gasket. Intake gasket is a possibility, but when mine was improperly torqued and leaking I was getting fluid dripping off the backside of the motor, not internally. It's certainly possible it's an intake gasket, but I would think you'd get some leaking outside of the motor as well.

troubleshoot, troubleshoot..........

 

[jw0747]

Regarding the engine builder consider looking into mediation in your area before using an attorney and going to court. I'm a volunteer mediator for our county and our success rate in settling cases is about 75-80%. It is no cost and voluntary but lots of people use our services to avoid hiring attorneys and incurring expenses. You can find out if it's used in your area by looking up dispute resolution or mediation services.

 

[No Hay]

Regarding the engine builder consider looking into mediation in your area before using an attorney and going to court. I'm a volunteer mediator for our county and our success rate in settling cases is about 75-80%. It is no cost and voluntary but lots of people use our services to avoid hiring attorneys and incurring expenses. You can find out if it's used in your area by looking up dispute resolution or mediation services.

I agree with this. It's been very effective for me. I highly recommend if you are sure you're in the right.

BTW, 302 is plenty. Mine is a later model, will go 80 all day long, but I won't, and sounds like a small beast compared to most. ;D

 

[Ranchtruck]

80mph is easy. A rebuilt mostly stock 302 will push a bronco past 110 no problem in my experience.

Getting an explorer 5.0l longblock from a junkyard would be the cheapest. Put your intake on, replace the distributor gear with a brass one to match the roller cam, and potentially have it back running in a weekend.

 

[sykanr0ng]

80mph is easy. A rebuilt mostly stock 302 will push a bronco past 110 no problem in my experience.

Getting an explorer 5.0l longblock from a junkyard would be the cheapest. Put your intake on, replace the distributor gear with a brass one to match the roller cam, and potentially have it back running in a weekend.

Use a steel distributor gear, the brass ones wear out too fast.

What you don't want is cast iron.

 

[jdbronco]

To answer your original question on where to get a crate motor, I put in an ATK crate engine I bought from Summit. Basically stock 80's 302 but decent power. I luckily (knock on wood) have not had to test out their warranty, but their reviews on Summit were positive and I feel like a big company like them would drop a shady builder pretty quick if they weren't living up to their end of the deal.

 

[Tucknkitty]

Engine Opinion

Hello -

Don't post often but if you're asking about engine combos - here's my .02

I run an ATK 408 with a first gen EZ EFI set up, nv3550 and 4.56 (arb'd) with 35" tires - it will run 80 all day long, with an m416 trailer like its not even breaking a sweat. But it's a bronco and wind noise and those big tires can make any highway drive at those speeds tiring - 70 with the soft top is bearable (and I'm sound proofed too). It'll act like it wants to stop light race but those soft springs make the nose come up... it's hard to get an all around on-road - off road - daily driver type rig but that doesn't mean we all aren't trying!!

Cons - it drinks gas like a beast and it was spendy and that means it's cost more to drive per mile.

I'll say a lot of it is probably the throttle body efi - giving it good street and driving manners. Any TBI set up is a game changer bc when it's really cold outside and she fires right up - it changes how you see the Bronco and reliability. .

I agree with the others here you could get the same Driving manners out of 5.0 or 351 with a good TBI - the rest completely depends on how you set up the rig. Do you want to run cross country, or street light romp, or crawl, or car show or daily? I can't emphasize that enough - 80mph, sounds good and ....? Complete the sentence and that's your blue print!

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles - buddy of mine had a built motor for his bronco and it just got shipped back too. I hope it works out and doesn't cause too much stress.

 

[AK-47]

my bet is on head gasket as well. question, did it ever overheat? don't have to answer that if you don't want to

It was constantly running hot.

 

[half cab]

Just to clarify the builder built the complete Bronco or built just the engine?

 

[Timmy390]

It was constantly running hot.

Points to maybe head gaskets on backwards. You should see a tab sticking out on both sides in the front between the head and block.

Like this

Tim

 

[bronco loco]

My Luber with 98explorer engine/tranny 4.10's and 30'' tires reaches 80 mph without feeling it. I drove to Pa 3 weeks ago without my speedometer and my friend reminded me by phone I was going 80 most of the time. 2100rpms at 80mph. I'm glad I went with the 1998 explorer engine/tranny combo.

 

[Rustytruck]

Hello -

But it's a bronco and wind noise and those big tires can make any highway drive at those speeds tiring - 70 with the soft top is bearable (and I'm sound proofed too).

If you want your sanity back while highway driving a Bronco put in a set of foam ear plugs when you travel highway speeds. You will suddenly be able to have conversations with your passengers, the drive will be so much better and you wont be so tired when you get to your destination. And you will be able to actually hear the radio or CB.

 

[Teal68]

Just to clarify the builder built the complete Bronco or built just the engine?

If you look a couple post back by the op you may notice he may be insinuating it came from World Wide.....without coming right out and saying it.

 

[blubuckaroo]

Hey guys,

So I got burned REAL BAD by a "bronco builder" and after only 300 miles I've got a heap of problems and the biggest to date is water in the engine. The builder is radio silent and won't return any of my calls so his 3-year / 30,000 mile warranty is worthless. So...I'm considering biting the bullet and purchasing a new crate engine that comes w/ a real warranty vs burning money on tearing the engine apart to find the issue only to find more issues down the road (mom & pop build).

Can anyone suggest a good long block crate motor that's reasonably priced? this is a weekend fun car that's mostly being used on regular roads plus a some highway driving. Needs to be able to do 80MPH and sound like a beast. The POS is a 302 so whatever will swap easiest preferable. Thanks in advance for all your advice.

That's not asking as much as you might think.
When my '77 was totally stock it pegged the speedo a number of times. Once for a celebration when the odometer was hitting 100,000 miles. That's right, 100 at 100K.

 

[Tucknkitty]

Good tip!

​

If you want your sanity back while highway driving a Bronco put in a set of foam ear plugs when you travel highway speeds. You will suddenly be able to have conversations with your passengers, the drive will be so much better and you wont be so tired when you get to your destination. And you will be able to actually hear the radio or CB.

Rusty - I'll definitely try that - last year my lady and I drove from Virginia Beach to the super celebration - normal driving speeds were fine but man that 6 hr freeway run might as well have been in a c130. We actually went to the NASCAR race in Bristol and decided our next trip would have those crew head phones/intercoms.

I have a quiet muffler (2-1) and dynamat layers inside - but these things aren't meant to push 70 quietly. Please don't say hardtop...

Thanks again - TnK