Good or Bad??

[JaketheSnake]

I dont know much about Fords or Bronco's for that matter and was looking into buying one. I got one on the hook. Its a 94 with 160K miles, looks in good shape and runs well. The guy wants $3000 for it. Am I walking into a possible engine rebuild within the next 10,000 miles or should this think hold up for a bit? Any advice would be appriciated. Thanks

Jake

 

[Roadkill]

In my area (central Texas) that price sounds good. Maintenance is the key. If the truck has been well maintained, you could still get years of service out of the engine. Mine just went over 194,000 and is running strong as ever; climbs hills like a mountain goat. My advice is to look the vehicle over very carefully (if you not mechanicaly inclined, take a friend who is). Look under the truck for leaks, with that many many miles, it is very likely to be leaking a little from the rear main so don't imediatly write the truck off for a drop or two there. Also, do some research. Ask the current owner what kind of maintenance has been done; does he have records? ( I keep a log book with every drop of oil, gallon of gas, tighten ****** part replaced etc.) If the owner can provide this, he probably has cared for the truck well. Pay a few dollars for a carfax report. This will tell you how many owners the truck has had, where they lived, and (for some states) if the truck has ever been salvaged or been in accidents.

Good luck, hope the truck is what your looking for. Welcome to Broncozone! >

 

[BB33's]

I dont know much about Fords or Bronco's for that matter and was looking into buying one. I got one on the hook. Its a 94 with 160K miles, looks in good shape and runs well. The guy wants $3000 for it. Am I walking into a possible engine rebuild within the next 10,000 miles or should this think hold up for a bit? Any advice would be appriciated. Thanks
Jake

Hello and welcome to BroncoZone. I live in Southern California and in my area 3000 dollars sounds like a pretty fair deal. like Roadkill meantioned the rear main seal on those trucks like to leak but should be mechanically sound, my truck just turned 168000 miles and other than a bad main seal(one or two drops a week, literally) it runs as good as ever, as long as the engine doesn't smoke( white, black, etc. ) and keeps oil pressure i'd say thats a **** of a deal, good luck and enjoy

 

[Mike @ Tracy]

Are you guys serious about you're mileage??? Mines an 86 and she only has 134,000 I guess she really was a spoiled little truck, NOT NO MORE >

 

[Yardape]

Mines got 140,000. Had to convert from Canadian. LOL

 

[Roadkill]

Are you guys serious about you're mileage??? Mines an 86 and she only has 134,000 I guess she really was a spoiled little truck, NOT NO MORE

Before me, my truck was owned by a guy in west Texas. In that part of the country, a trip to the grocery store can be over 100 miles round trip. I'm originally from southern New Mexico, I lived 35 miles from my high school. (70 miles round trip). Mileage can rack up fast in some places.

 

[beausdad]

Mine is a '95 with 210K on it. Runs like a champ. Can't find where the oil is leaking from. Think it just needs a new oil pan gasket. I have babied it since I got it. It has only seen the mud one really good time. I will tell you this. People who say that foreign cars are better than American cars say that because they were too lazy to maintain their American cars. I have owned Hondas, Toyotas, Nissans, Fiat, Chevy, Dodge and Ford. The Fords lasted just as long as the Toyotas and Hondas.

If you take care of any vehicle it will last forever, but if you use it like it is disposable then you get what you ask for.

 

[Stubby1971]

My 94 just flipped 91,*** and I would consider $3000 fair- keep the oil changed and a can of sea foam once a year in the fuel and it hsould run a long time

 

[Big Ragu]

hey mine's a 93 with 235.000 and still see's the beach and the mud.........oh lots of mud!!!

 

[lfbco94]

my 94 odometer broke just shy of 200k that was almost a year ago no engine problems the lights on but test bring up nothing

 

[wtfdissux]

was starting to think mine was low mileage but guess not with 276k on a 88

 

[Broncobeginner123]

I just hit 160,000 last night on my 95 driving from NH to VA, now i am heading out to CA on monday.. She still runs strong as **** though..

 

[SLICKS92BRONCO]

These engines hold up great, I have a 351w with 250k doesn't use any oil at oil. I periodically put a engine additive called TX7 great stuff it is Teflon. Ive never done any work to the engine and I bought it with 190K, and I paid $4000 for my Bronco. Sounds like a good price.

 

[firelt90bronco]

Before you think about it, ask yourself this: Did the guy before me beat the **** out of this truck? Why would someone sell a perfectly good truck? How much money am I willing to spend on getting back up to top condition?

 

[beausdad]

I just hit 160,000 last night on my 95 driving from NH to VA, now i am heading out to CA on monday.. She still runs strong as **** though..

Are you kidding me? You are going to drive a lifted 5.8l all the way to CA? Have you been saving gas money for the past 5 years for this trip? I drove mine to Louisiana about 3 years ago when gas wasn't really bad and it still cost me about $500 and mine was bone stiock. Oh wait - I see you have a K&N cold air intake and an exhaust. That willmake all the difference :-"

 

[beausdad]

Hey Jake, I bought mine in 2003 with 149K on it for $5500. Never had any real problems with it until about a month ago. Ask the guy about the water pump, look behind the skid plate for the front differential and see if there is any mud/rocks caught up in there. Take it for a drive and hit the brakes real good and see if it pulls one way or the other. That tends to be a sign that it has been wrecked. Check the rear cap seal to see if it is cracking. If he has a cargo liner in the back lift it up to see if its wet under there. You tend to remember to do little things like that after the title is in your name.

If you are just going to use it for wheelin' then don't worry about all that crap and get her muddy. That's what she's for. So help me if I see you with a soccer ball magnet on that thing we will find you and take away your man card.

 

[broncobob58]

I bought my 89 XLT in August of 05 from the original owner for $1400 and use it everyday and have only put a minimal of work into it, it has some rust but the paint is still shiny,interior very good.I first looked at an 87 Eddie Bauer Bronco for $100 less than mine it had more rot ,electrical problems,ticking 302 and it was from a 17 year old kid.The front cross member was caked in mud.On the way home from looking at the 87 we passed through this town along the way and ended up going down an out of the way industrial road and there it was,it was set off the road between two tractor trailers with a tiny sign in the windshield.I called the number and met up with the owner.He wanted to know how I spotted it I guess he was trying to hide it.He was trying to talk me out of buying it ,telling me all kinds of stories of where he and his family went with it. I guess his wife probably wanted him to get rid of it.He bought it new and took very good care of it,he just put a bunch of work into it and had all the receipts,even the window sticker and all the books that came with it new.He bought it one town away.He was very honest.He told me everything he did to it and what it needed. He was upset to see the Bronco leave. Thats the kind of person you want to buy a vehicle from.I'm still very happy with mine and it now has 141,000 miles on the original drivetrain,but as with any vehicle 10 plus years old and 100,000 plus miles there is going to be some work needed.