Need Help - finding rebuilt Bronco engine (to tow sled)

[Deleted User]

Found out this afternoon that my stranded Bronco, towed to Vancouver Ford, can't be 'band-aid' fixed any longer with 40 wt. oil and changing plugs to 2 bad cylinder's fouling the plugs (the rings have had it in cyl's # 8 & 5 - did a leak down test). It's time for a new or re-built engine. The Ford dealer is under contract to only provide a factory motor which will cost around $3500 installed. I've heard that this can' be done with a good re-built for about $1000 less. I recall in the Ford vs Chevy engine thread that there is a lot of knowledgable members here. HELP! If any of you know of a place to get this done well for less with a re-built, somewhere around the greater metro area, please post your suggestions here or e-mail me at reeltruth1@home.com (my old addy of reeltruth1@aol.com will be gone soon). Thanks a bunch guys. Also ....

.... since so many of you tow boats with Ford motored trucks you might have some towing help suggestions? I bought the '93 Bronco with the 5.0 liter (302 c.i.) engine to get better gas mileage. Wish I had gone with the 5.8 liter. Can't now, even with the engine change, because they use all the intake/injector system and electronic computer engine module for the re-built so it has to be another 5.0 liter - they won't work on the 5.8 . My boat towing help Q is this; would it be worth buying low restriction intake and exhaust systems and a Hyper-tech computer chip for more towing power in this engine? Or too little gain for the pain? images/icons/wink.gif Thanks a bunch guys! - Steve

[Pete]

Steve,
The computer chip upgrades typically give very little improvement for the money. With the chip you are locked in to premium fuel. There's a new "flip-chip" that's programmed for either 87 or 93 octane fuel ... reported improvement with 87 octane is a mere 3-5 horses, but on computer controlled automatic transmissions there are performance improvements.

Check out http://www.f150online.com
There may be some good resources for motors, but there certainly are some excellent discussions about chips, heck they have an entire discussion forum on chips with manufacturers responding to questions.

[ 08-16-2001: Message edited by: Pete ]

[Orca]

RT,

The dealers are certainly out to get your money, but $3500 actually isn't too bad for a dealer job.

Cruise through the Nickel Ads and you will find almost a whole page of engine rebuilders or suppliers. You should be able to find several that could supply a new or rebuilt 302 and install it.

Before you do the deal though, check with the BBB on the companies you are considering. Some folks in this business don't care about quality or customer service, and the BBB will have many complaints logged for the bad companies.

[Osprey]

First thing you do is yank that whole set-up,with all it's fancy schmancy electronic gizmos,and drop a big block in that bad boy,either a 390,429 or heck go for 460,stop messing around with them small blocks images/icons/rolleyes.gif
.But it sounds like you want to replace it with a stock engine,heck maybe one of those hot little 5 liters out of a mustang ummmmm not quite you're camaro but hey might improve you towing images/icons/wink.gif......remember there's no Ford like a old Ford........Os

[Norm]

Try www.cumminsnw.com (http://www.cumminsnw.com) in portland, their powermaster rebuilds have a 7/70 warrenty and are much better quality than most of your parts store pallet specials ( they do a real rebuild). You can probably get one for about a grand and most shops I know charge about $700-$800 for installing it. I now some shops on the westside of Portland if you want a reference. As far as chips go, unless your towing your sled above 4K rpm, you won't notice the difference (when's the last time you had your sled up to 120 images/icons/tongue.gif ). If you want more towing power, I would look into lower gears.

[Dogfish]

I just had a new engine put in my Explorer at the Ford dealership. $3529.00 was the total.

I wanted a 302 dropped into it, but ran into the same computer issue, so I had to stay with that little 4.0.

Updating your exhaust system with a CAT-Back kit will get you more horsepower than a chip, and you can still use the same fuel. While they have the engine out of your truck, you could also ask for a high performance cam.

I thought that it was better to have the job done right rather than buying a new truck. It's cheaper in the long run, as well. Mine's been paid off for 5 years, so I figure if I can get another 3 years use out of it, I'm ahead of the game. I tow my 18 foot Seaswirl with it, and a few other things.

Go for the Ford job, because if something bad happens, Ford will have to answer for it, and if the dealership goes out of business, you will still have some recourse.

Best of luck, Andy

[SureSet]

RT,

I've had two broncos one 5.0 and one 5.8, I know what your'e talking about. There is no way I'd spend the money on a dealer job. Mystic Sea and Norm are correct in that I'd go to a local ASE shop and use Cummins Northwest or Portland Engine rebuilders, or heck even check with "shucks" or Napa on a rebuilt long block. You just want to get it where you have a good chance of them being around for the warrenty. Shop price and Warrenty and have a ASE shop do the installation (usually either it has to be installed by an ASE shop or certified by one if you do the installation for the warrenty to be valid). Skip the power chips and such, the 5.0 liter is good in a mustang, but just too small to last that long in a 5000LB rig towing a boat. Bearing wear and rear main seals are typical failure for that kind of use. Be gentle with it (a bumer when your going up some cascade pass I know).


SureSet

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

I second the notion for the 460. A friend of mine put one in his older ford pickup and it freakin' roasts the 38" tires he has on it. images/icons/cool.gif Just look for the old lincoln towncars for your power my friend.

[WaterDog]

I will second Metalhead's suggestion:

POWERSTROKE

images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/cool.gif

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

BANKS POWER PACK

I got one on the 6.9L and it's great. When I get enough money saved up, I'm upgrading to the turbo charger. muh ha ha ha ha images/icons/cool.gif Right now, it spins the tires on the diesel.

[Big Willie]

Dog...Stroke what? With what lotion? JK images/icons/grin.gif

Steeeeeve...yer still screwing with that Bronco? I'll sell you my '78 if you want some power! images/icons/shocked.gif Question for you: How long do you want to keep your rig? It is nice, so you might as well. Where you are going to spend alot of money is the labor to do a full install. I would recommend the guy who built my 400 but he moved his shop. I've got about 90K on my rebuild and it still goes like a ***** ape. Gray's Machine in Tigard builds good engines, might be spendy though. If your going to have a dealer do it gimme a call, my good friend is a top tech at Landmark, and might be able to wing a 351W for your rig. He is the only one to do warranty work on my truck. Gimme a call anyway!
-Gary

[Deleted User]

After reading this stuff I have decided on a supercharged gas big block 460, blueprinted, .510 lift cam, Hooker headers (don't even think it - that's a real company), ported and polished heads/valves with roller bearing rocker arms and stiff valve springs, low restriction muffs (mufflers you nasty guys :eek images/icons/smile.gif, and K&N low restriction cold air intake system. Of course a ZF built hi-po auto trans with a 3500 rpm high-stall torque converter. And beefed up transfer case and low geared diffs'. Then I will rework the entire suspension, raising the whole thing up close to Monster truck demensions, and put giant car crushing monster tires on it. Can you say "Bigfoot II"? images/icons/grin.gif Then I will go up to the wind river next spring and drive right over all the rigs parked near the hot holes. images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif Yeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaw! .......

Not images/icons/rolleyes.gif ... But I now have some good leads to getting a much better deal on a rebuilt, thanks to you ifish brothas coming thru again. Thanks much guys! - Steve

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Hey Steve, where does a guy pick up one of those low restriction muffs? images/icons/wink.gif About how much does one cost? Sure would look good in the truck.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Hey! You can't say that! murmur murmur murmur emu murmur murmur emu clears throat, emu. images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/shocked.gif

[Big Willie]

Don't bother with the Hookers...well, maybe. Get the L & L fenderwell headers, don't forget about the Dana 70 rear and 60 front, built C6 auto, NP205 case for that fire breathing 460.

[WaterDog]

Hey yall,
Forget about those low restriction mufflers on that diesel. Get that turbo and straight pipe that baby! images/icons/grin.gif You can hear the turbo whistle at idle. images/icons/cool.gif


No power like diesel power!

BW - that's Golden lotion for you!

[ 08-16-2001: Message edited by: WaterDog ]

[boater]

cummin`s rebuilds are top of the line, i would check them out.

[Deleted User]

Steve buddy you get that Bronc lifted and you'd never be able to haul your big butt into it!
Stew

President of the ifish Pot-stirrers

[MetalHead]

RT, The advise to go to Cummins Northwest or Portland Engine Rebuilders it right on the money (best warrenty and fair prices). As for increasing power chipping a gas engine does not give that great of a return for the money. Go with a Flow Master cat back system and a K&N Intake filter system these to mods will give you bolt on HP gains of 25 to 35hp. But more importantly for towing it will give you increased torque. If you really want to pull that sled in style sell the Bronco then go to your ford dealer and say POWERSTROKE images/icons/grin.gif