Anybody ever seen a Diesel Bronco II?? | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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Anybody ever seen a Diesel Bronco II??

ajrn

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City, State
Toledo, Ohio
Year, Model & Trim Level
1998 XLT
Hi all..

I've gotten into biodiesel. Boy-- want to find a rare vehicle, try finding anything under a 3/4 ton pickup with a diesel, here in the US.. :rolleyes:

I'd bought some "Ford Diesel" service materials.. I knew there was an "Early" (83-87ish) Ranger Diesel-- but a service 'tech sheet' from Ford lists BRONCO II as well..

Anyone ever seen one of these-- or have one??

I know the US had diesel:
Escort/Lynx
Tempo/Topaz
Ranger/Bronco II?? (These were a Mazda built motor)
and a few LINCOLNS-- that had a BMW-built 5cyl Diesel..

Anything I'm missing??

I'd love to find one-- even if the body is shot.. My understanding is it was slow, but the motor was pretty indestructible.
 



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there is a 1986.. I think Ranger 4x4 here for $2000, could just swap it all in to a BII.... Not sure if it is as easy as that. I was thinking the same thing one day, than I talked to a few people that had them in the past and said to stay away from them because the parts are VERY hard to come across, and when you do VERY $$$ But it would be a cool little rig :thumbsup:
 






Ive heard or ranger diesels, but never seen one. Never heard of one in a BII.
 






Ive heard or ranger diesels, but never seen one. Never heard of one in a BII.


Here's a Ranger (Courier) diesel. I saw lots of them in New Zealand when I was there in 2004.

Other weird vehicles in this thread
 

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You know..

Ford Mexico had a Diesel Ranger-- as well.. They also had a 4 door RANGER (not the sport track we have here)..

I wonder-- if you didn't live in an area that tailpipe tested, how hard it would be to get one of those engines for an Explorer..

...I've already GOT the Explorer part..
 






I saw a Diesel FJ-40 (Old style Toyota Land Cruiser) when I was in NZ. That would be a killer off road vehicle. :thumbsup:

I would like an Explorer sized SUV with a nice torquey 4 or small 6 turbo diesel engine. Jeep makes the Liberty with a Diesel (or they did, but now it won't be available until the new version which meets the newest emission standards in 2007 or 2008). The Liberty is a little smaller than I would like and doesn't seem that solid of a vehicle compared to the Explorer. JMO.
 






I have heard of the diesel BII, but I have never seen one on line or in person, only early 4 banger BII's and 2.8L BII's in 84-85.
 






Ranger diesel

There were NO BII diesels, but the Ranger diesel used the same Mazda 2.0engine as the Escort. We had a few customers back in the day that had them, they ran great as long as you kept them up. Parts are terrible expensive and very hard to find these days. The conversion would not at all be practicle. As a side note there were also turbo diesel Cherokee's, cool, but problem plauged and very rare.
 






I don't know about rangers or bronco's in the states which came with diesels, however, I'm very seriously considering a diesel swap into my 99' EB 4Dr.

As for stuff on the market right now, a Cummins 4BT out of a Frito Lay box truck will fit, and return good gas mileage, though they are noisy, and shakey. A Cummins ISB I-4 is a common rail motor, which is approximately the same size, so it would work too, not sure what they came out of.

Also, any of the Isuzu I-4's that came in the Isuzu NPR and Chevy W series cab over box trucks should also fit. Any of these would be smoother and quieter than the Cummins 4BT. If I can find one, I want one of the 4HK1-TC's from a 2005+ NPR. 5.2L Common Rail, 190/387 HP/TQ, 4 valves per cylinder. They come with either a 4 speed auto or a 6 speed manual behind them. One of them in an Explorer should perform at least as well as a V8, with better towing power, and MUCH better fuel economy.

It may also be possible to fit one of the Nissan, or Toyota motors found in the UD, and HINO box trucks, though I know less about those.

Then, there is all the new stuff comming out in 2007 and 2009. The future is bright for diesel. I will eventually swap motivation for my explorer to diesel!
 






I don't know about rangers or bronco's in the states which came with diesels, however, I'm very seriously considering a diesel swap into my 99' EB 4Dr.

Are you going to make it an off-road only vehicle? I haven't researched it myself, but I don't think you could get it registered in CA. They (CARB/BAR) will allow some engine swaps as long as the new engine meets the more restrictive (either the engine or body) emission regulation(s), but you are looking at transplanting an engine from a heavy duty vehicle (i.e. not smog inspected) into a light duty vehicle (i.e. smog inspected). I kinda doubt they would allow it on the highway.
 






Are you going to make it an off-road only vehicle? I haven't researched it myself, but I don't think you could get it registered in CA. They (CARB/BAR) will allow some engine swaps as long as the new engine meets the more restrictive (either the engine or body) emission regulation(s), but you are looking at transplanting an engine from a heavy duty vehicle (i.e. not smog inspected) into a light duty vehicle (i.e. smog inspected). I kinda doubt they would allow it on the highway.

Actually, it's the oddest loophole.

It's true, if you are swapping a gasoline motor, it has to be the same year or newer, maintain all of it's smog equipment, and come from the same class vehicle (I.E. Passenger car to passenger car, light duty truck to light duty truck).

But for a diesel motor, all you have to do is take your rig to the DMV, fill out a REG 256, and check the "Motive power changed" from gasoline to diesel. You then get a registration for a diesel vehicle, and are smog exempt, since diesel vehicles are smog exempt in Cali.

I agonized over that for a long time, thinking I had to find a 99' or newer diesel from a similar class vehicle. Something like the diesel from a jeep liberty comes to mind. But you can change your engine to one which is smog exempt, and all you need to do is have the DMV inspect it. Maybe have a smog ref look at it, but all they would do is confirm that it is in fact a diesel, rather than a gas motor.

For reference, the DMV site about smog, where it states which vehicles are smog exempt. Namely:

* Hybrid
* 1975 year model or older
* Diesel powered
* Electric
* Natural gas powered and has a Gross Vehicle Weight rating of 14,001 lbs. or more.
* Motorcycle
* Trailer

Also the REG 256 Statement of Facts form. See section E. for "Motive power changed".

Should simply be able to present this to the DMV registration desk, and have an inspection (I've been told sometimes they don't even inspect it, if they're having a "good" day), and get your new smog exempt registration.
 






weight

The one thing everyone forgets when doing a diesel swap is the sometimes massive weight of the engine. We had a Chevy truck of an '80's vintage that someone had swapped in a 6 cylinder Cummins from a later Dodge, it was WAY more than the weak Chevy 1 ton fame could stand, it never was right. If you put a diesel in that explorer, the first thing you'll run into is a front end sitting on the ground. Cranking up the torsion bars is not the answer. It comes down to if you want a diesel, buy a vehicle that had one from the factory, conversions are not worth the money. It will be many many years before you'll ever (never) see your return from the price difference between gas and diesel., and the cost of the conversion.
 






The one thing everyone forgets when doing a diesel swap is the sometimes massive weight of the engine. We had a Chevy truck of an '80's vintage that someone had swapped in a 6 cylinder Cummins from a later Dodge, it was WAY more than the weak Chevy 1 ton fame could stand, it never was right. If you put a diesel in that explorer, the first thing you'll run into is a front end sitting on the ground. Cranking up the torsion bars is not the answer. It comes down to if you want a diesel, buy a vehicle that had one from the factory, conversions are not worth the money. It will be many many years before you'll ever (never) see your return from the price difference between gas and diesel., and the cost of the conversion.

I'm well aware of this fact. The Isuzu diesels are at most, a couple hundred pounds heavier than the all iron 302 that's currently in there. I'm running a 2wd, so I've got some wiggle room, plus there are all sorts of fairly heavy items that get bolted onto the front ends of the explorers (bumpers, brush guards, winches, etc) that don't drastically effect it. Plus the engine adds its weight both in front, and behind the front axle. It shouldn't be a HUGE issue.

Though, I certainly won't under take the project without boxing the frame and adding strategic strengthening aids. Also, I'm toying with the idea of replacing my front suspension anyway, for reasons unrelated to the swap, but I don't think it's necessary simply for the weight of the motor. Bear in mind, the Isuzu diesels are installed in the same chassis as a Small Block Chevy, with no modifications other than engine mounts.

You do make a good point though, when it comes to the "big" diesel motors. A 6cyl cummins weighs over 1000#, easily twice what the 302 weighs. The 6.6L duramax and ford powerstroke motors are similar. That's why I'm looking at "lighter" diesels, both in size, and weight.
 






Actually, it's the oddest loophole.

It's true, if you are swapping a gasoline motor, it has to be the same year or newer, maintain all of it's smog equipment, and come from the same class vehicle (I.E. Passenger car to passenger car, light duty truck to light duty truck).

But for a diesel motor, all you have to do is take your rig to the DMV, fill out a REG 256, and check the "Motive power changed" from gasoline to diesel. You then get a registration for a diesel vehicle, and are smog exempt, since diesel vehicles are smog exempt in Cali.

Carry on then. :thumbsup: :salute:

Be sure to post pics too. ;)
 






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