Friend of mine rolled a Bronco II, I was in the passenger seat. Car pulled out in front of us on a 55 mph country road. He hit the brakes and steered to the right. We slid into the grass shoulder which caught the tires and flipped us over completely, landing back on the wheels. Thankfully we were both wearing seatbelts and we walked away without a scratch. After we got back to his house (his mom picked us up - Bronco was obviously trashed) we ordered pizza and drank beer.
My cousin also rolled one on a rutted out country road. Hit a big rain-washout and lost control and rolled into a ditch. She did not survive. Not entirely the B2’s fault, but with the height and wonky front suspension - they just weren’t very stable.
Look it up . Ford knew in pre production that those roll over easily and still sent it into production. Over $150 million in wrongful death lawsuits and over 200 lawsuits filed. Like Gm they figured it to be more profitable to pay out lawsuits, than fix the inferior engineering
My parents bought a brand new Bronco II in 1987. I drove it a lot as a teenage and then I owned it for a while when I was 20. It was a great vehicle that was driven by 3 generations in my family. Would love to get my hands on it again and restomod it.
My grandfather had a couple Perkins Rangers on the farm. By the mid 90’s he had found two or three to use as parts cars. They really were super slow, but he put somewhere close to 400k miles on that Ranger before it rusted out.
With the Perkins, you could add a turbo and tune the pump a little to make them considerably nicer to drive. And the engine would still outlast the body.
I always thought that the first and second gen Rangers and Bronco II’s were handsome little trucks, the utilitarian styling really worked well for them.
The manual transmissions were definitely junk. It was a good design, but Ford decided to use plastic parts for the shift mechanism and it failed quickly. Mine popped out of gear and rolled into the woods, despite the parking brake being set. Replacement transmission parts were no better quality than the original. But the little 2.3 engine in mine ran well up to 243K miles when I sold it.
They were good runners. My Dad had an '83 Ranger with 2.3 liter 4 and 4 speed manual. Not fast by any means, but was a strong runner, good on gas, could haul a pretty heavy load.
Basically what the bronco sport and maverick are today, except those modern cars are actually good. Love our maverick hybrid, genuinely can't comprehend an affordable small truck being much better than it is.
Had a v6 ranger and bronco 2. Both went well over 100k with no problems . I fixed the roll over tendency on the bronco by using 50 series tires which lowered the center of gravity by several inches . I would buy either one of them again
I bought a new Bronco II in 1986 and loved it. Gave it to my Dad who drove it almost the ground. It eventually found its way to rural Mexico, where it may still be running around.
The police in my old home town used propane powered cars. Another advantage for engines that run on natural gas is the oil stays cleaner for much longer. This makes a difference when your fleet alternates between stop and go driving with long periods of idling.
I saw a book from the early 1980s that said that cars running on LPG should have their oil changed every 500 hours or 15,000 miles. And that was with 1980s API SF oils when the drain interval on gasoline cars was 3,000 of severe service to 5,000 miles highway driving.
There are a lot of benefits to running propane. It’s popular to convert off road vehicle from carburetors to propane because it doesn’t have problems with angles. It’s also cheaper and higher octane than pump gasoline. Higher octane means you can run considerably higher compression ratios and make more torque. When I build a v8 for propane, I go for 12.5-1 compression vs the stock compression being under 9-1 in most cases. Also, propane gas mixes with the air better than a liquid fuel, so you can use long intake runner to increase torque without having issues at low rpm. Just like E85, if they actually built the engines for the fuel, it would have been far more popular.
Ford also made propane powered Crown Vic Police cars in the 90's. They quit when they realized they might explode from a rear end collision. Some of them did.
The propane powered Crown Vics still survive today, especially in Canada. A friend of mine who lives in Toronto always had them in her family. Her Dad would drive nothing else but I think he would get them from either police or taxi fleet sales. He still drives one and they have at least 2 parked at their house. Obviously they are the last gen Crown Vic from.....2006? I don't exactly know but they are still kicking around in Canada!
In the very early 2000's I owned a 1985 Ford Escort Wagon DIESEL and I owned a 1986 Ford Tempo DIESEL. The cars weren't quick by any means, but they got tremendous fuel mileage. The Tempo would get close to 50mpg. The Escort Wagon would only do low to mid-40's. Their little 2.0L 4cyl diesel engines were pretty reliable. Other than normal things like starters and maintenance, I never had any major mechanical problems with either of them.
The Bronco II was definitely polarizing at the time. Those who went off road or through a lot of snow loved them and held onto them as long as possible. Those new to small 4x4's had a learning curve. Some figured it out, some didn't. In truth, the lil' Bronc was no worse than a Jeep CJ5, International Scout II, The Samurai or the original rollover champ, the original Bronco (yes, the present auction darling was, at the time, seen as a notorious rustbucket that cleared loose oxidation by rolling over). Granted, the Cherokee and S10 were wider and less prone to rollovers, but off road, a well-setup Bronco could only be matched by an equally prepped a Cherokee. The S10 was more road oriented.
Ford did have a diesel car program, and it was brilliant. In 1984 Ford bought 800 BMW turbodiesel inline 6 engines (designed from the ground up as diesel engines, unlike the Olds 350 fiasco), and installed 600 into Continentals and 200 in Mark VII's. The cars were capable of 40 MPG and had 25 gallon tanks - 1000 miles of range! These were GOOD CARS! The problem was, as mentioned, that the GM diesel fiasco had soured the American market to diesels, so Ford canceled the program and sold off the experimental fleet as used cars. A coworker had a buddy that bought one of the Mark VII's and they drove it from Michigan to Florida. Coming home they filled the tank in Miami, FL and stopped to refill in Monroe, MI, because they didn't think they could quite make it all the way back to Dearborn on one tank.
@@GreenHawkDriveSi los norteamericanos hubieran usado motores diésel europeos para sus coches, como los I6 de Mercedes y BMW, la historia de éstas motorizaciones hubiese sido diferente. @GreenHawkDrive If Americans had used European diesel engines for their cars, like the I6s from Mercedes and BMW, the history of these engines would have been different.
My great Uncle Charles bought the new downsized Thunderbird in 1980. I was amazed at how much it had shrunk from the previous generation. The backseat had very little room. The front seat was okay as long as you moved it all the way back. He didn't keep it too long and traded it for the much roomier LTD in the mid-80s. American cars in the early 80s were hot garbage as they struggled to compete with the Japanese on quality and efficiency. Very dark days for those of us who lived through them.
Seeing a boxy ranger hurts a bit those rigs are hard to kill man the 2.3 iron block with the 3 speed auto is a dangerous combo of reliability and fuel efficiency
When the Ranger first came out in the 80s with the 2.3L timing belt engine, they were bulletproof. If you changed the oil and didn’t abuse it, they could easily go 350K miles. The Bronco II was a great idea, but they were top heavy and had a tendency to roll.
I had a 86 Bronco 2 and flipped it the 2nd day I had it . I flipped it going about 35 mph when I tuned to go around a bowling ball sized rock in the road. It was unbelievable how easily It flipped over. Broke a vertebrae in my neck and 2 in my back and was wearing my seat belt
Awesome video, perfect for a rainy Sunday. Cheers from North Carolina! Appreciate you! PS, the presentation is great, lots of good information and you deliver it in a really digestible way. I am not a car expert at all so these are fascinating looks into the evolution of these models. Thanks again!
Although the 3.3 6 cyl was the base engine, I can’t remember actually seeing any T-Bird or Cougar XR-7 with the 6 cylinder engine. Most had the 5.0 (decent acceleration for the times) or for the 82 models the 255 v8 (an engine most of us try to forget ).
The 3.3 was replaced with the 2.3, If I recall, when the 3.3 stopped being made in either 81 or 82 and replaced with the 2.8 Cologne or Essex v6, which was replaced with a 3.8 version.
@@ItsDaJax To my knowledge the thunderbird and cougar xr7 never used the 4 cyl in that generation. The “regular “ cougar (the stable mate to the Granada) did. However In the next generation, the Thunderbird did offer a turbo 4 cyl, I believe. In 1982 the 3.8 became the base engine replacing the 3.3. And the 3.8 v6 also became the base engine for that generation. To my knowledge The cologne v6 was never used in the Thunderbird or cougar but was used for a while in the fox mustang along with the 3.3
The first new car I ever bought was a 1980 Ford Fairmont 4-dr with the 255 V8. It must've been made on a Wednesday because I never had any problems with it and partly because I've always been good about ensuring that maintenance was done. The 255 was a sorry excuse for a V8 but, once I desmogged it and changed out the jets in the carb, it became a decent grocery getter and commuter (no smog checks where I lived). It felt peppier around town and only when trying to pass somebody at 50 mph or above did the 255 remind me that it wasn't a 302. But, all in all, that car was a good one.
@@BlackPill-pu4vi the 255 was a good engine mechanically. It was simply low on power. And the Fairmont was a solid car in it's day. Nothing fancy. But solid transportation . Initial reviews place it below the GM x bodies. But as the miles rolled on, the Fairmont ol proved itself much more reliable and solid than the x cars from GM or the k cars from Chrysler
So just a bit of information on the 1985-87 Mitsubishi 4d55 turbo diesel found in the Ford Ranger and Ford Bronco II. It produced 86hp and 134ft lbs of torque. It was a very reliable motor. The 4d55/56 started production in 1982 and is still in production in countries like the Philippines. It's amazing this engine has been in production for 42 years. New parts are readily available and easy to find. It is truly a legendary engine and was the first turbo diesel engine ever offered in a pickup for the North American market.
A buddy had an 84 diesel ranger. Pretty sure it was non turbo and I thought it was a Mazda engine. We got it 2mph shy of pegging the 85mph speedometer down the biggest grade around.
I had a Bronco II, and I was T boned, but mine did not roll over, and it protected my passenger and me pretty well. I had no injuries, but my passenger had a cut on the top of his head. I liked the styling, and I did add Explorer rims, which fit and made it look and drive better.
I started driving in '87, so research for me into this topic involves accessing memory lane. My vote on the best Ford of this era?? A Fairmont powered by the 200 ci inline 6. Decent torque and gas mileage, easy to work on, and ran forever. This motor was not fast, but quick out of a light at low RPM, adequate cruising and hill pulling power on the open road, and good on ⛽
Those and the panther platform cars looked and drove well. After growing up in one and now owning another, I'd say the 2 door grand marquis was alright.
Just wanted to point out a couple things first ford did attempt to venture deep into diesels specifically with the escort and tempo and the 80 tbird with a 5.0 was a great car I loved mine
The 4wd tempo and Aerostar were both great vehicle’s especially in the snow my father had a 4wd tempo as a demo and it was absolutely unstoppable as long as the snow didn’t get too deep
Had an 88 Bronco II Eddie Bauer Edition. Liked it, but it always felt like it was walking on tiptoes. Traded it a year later for a 1989 Taurus SHO. Quite a difference.
Very good analysis of the 80's Fords! I did not know of the short-lived propane models. In your commentary about the diesel ranger, you apparently had no critique of the Mitsubishi 2.3 turbo diesel in the ranger, and imo, rightly so. I extensively test drove a new Mitsubishi turbo diesel truck in 1985, and was pretty impressed with it's drivability. Mitsubishi used a very small impellor that caused the turbocharger to spool up at lower rpms, which negated the most common complaints of the diesel engines, and they had their "silent shaft" to smooth the engine, as well. I also test drove a Toyota diesel truck, new, a 1985, and the Mitsubishi drove better than it. You may not have known this, but, also in the mid 1980's Galpin Ford, in the San Fernando Valley, Sepulveda/Van Nuys, Calif; which was the number one Ford dealer in the USA, for decades, sold 100% alcohol cars! They had their own service station, across the street from the dealership that dispensed 100% alcohol. I would buy the alcohol blended gasohol from that station to use in my D50, and Toyota truck. it apparently was a short lived experiment that lasted maybe a year-and-a-half. Years later I bought a first year, 1989 Taurus SHO, from Galpin Ford. That car would certainly get my vote for the best Ford car for the 1980's!! Thanks for your Vlog!!
HI Green Hawk, I just found your channel. That was a good overview, thanks for making. It's kind of fun to look back, shake your head, and ponder what the hell they were thinking. Compared to what it was in the 60s, the early 80s Thunderbirds are just sad. I get they had to downsize for reasons of economy, but it's like they were determined to make the car as boring as possible. Everything about it seems to scream "malaise-era".
Great vid! Those diesel Rangers went away about the same time alot of other diesel small trucks here did by the mid 80s. Gas was cheap, so why pay more to go slower?
Chevrolet had diesel options for the S-10 and Luv, Mitsubishi had them, and even Dodge in the D-50 (rebadged Mitsubishi) and D-150 (made by Nissan and later replaced by a Cummins). Nissan had one too.
12:35 The sight of that rearview mirror aimed at the roof made me think of the late 1970s when I used to work with this 90+ year-old guy who drove a Mercury Bobcat. One evening, he gave me a ride home and he crawled along at 15 MPH all the way. By the end of the trip (he lived around the corner from me) he was leading something that looked like a funeral procession and he had practically snapped the mirror off trying to divert the light from all of those high beams. After that, I found other means of transportation when my car was in the shop.
One of my good buddies drove one of these in high school. We didn't think it was ugly, just kind of boring. It was solid driving though, and way more reliable than my Scout II and my other friend's 260z. Good video. I've watched maybe 7 or 8 of yours and finally subscribed. You don't have to, but if you want to polish your delivery for the voice-over, just go through the script a few times more, thereby taking out some of the ums and ahs, as well as using shorter takes and stitching them together. That's just my 2 cents and only b/c you said something about it in this video. Looking forward to more!
I bought a 89 built, 90 ranger with a 2.3 and when reading the Haynes manual it mentions the diesel and thought that was one of the oddest things I’ve seen. Especially since I had the 2.3 and that thing was struggling a lot lol
It's not the "Blue Circle", it's an oval. You start off showing a Mustang II. The Mustang II was sold in the mid - late 70s. Some "extensive research".
Yeah my mistake. I know the mustang ll was offered in the last 70s, it’s a car most people are aware of as being a failure and so I used it in the intro to help draw people in.
I was around when the mustangII came out and it was a smashing success.They came out just as the first energy crisis hit (perfect timing) and my Ford salesman uncle at the time said he sold a lot of these himself and Ford could barely keep up with the demand. I think the mustang II actually saved the mustang name. @@GreenHawkDrive
The 80-82 fox body Cougars and a TBirds are now considered snazzy classics to have. They were very polarizing cars. I have a 1981 Mercury Cougar XR7. It turns heads everywhere I go and when I take it to car shows.
Great show ! I enjoyed watching these old videos and kinda get down looking @ what we have to drive today ( 2023/24 ) nothing but crossovers today. I totally agree that some of these propane powered cars and trucks were slow and also dangerous .
Great bloody job man, big love from Cape Town South Africa, big fan of the format you got down here keep on brotherman , I look forward to watching you and your channel grow and expand exponentially !
I had a brand new 1983 Mercury Cougar. In 18 months (6 months after the warranty expired), it started rusting...bad. Lived in Texas with no salt on the road.
El Ford Bronco II tuvo exactamente el mismo problema que tendría años después el primer Mercedes clase A: facilidad para volcarse por un centro de gravedad alto. Mercedes lo resolvió modificando la suspensión y añadiendo control de estabilidad, algo sólo disponible en vehiculos de gama superior. The Ford Bronco II had exactly the same problem that the first Mercedes A class would have years later: ease of overturning due to a high center of gravity. Mercedes solved it by modifying the suspension and adding stability control, something only available in higher-end vehicles.
2 things...the '80-'82 turdbirds were infamous for dropping their red rear taillight covers because they were glued on with some adhesive that failed within a few years. 2nd, pontiac gran prixes, monte carlos were G-body cars, not A's. A's were full sized cars like bonneville, caprice/impala, etc.
I had never heard of the Mitsubishi 2.3L turbo used in a Ford product, so strange! Considering this was at a time when Chrysler and Mitsubishi were not only sharing engines but entire models like the Saporro, Colt, Starion, Conquest....how did Ford manage to get Mitsubishi engines? My Dad worked at a place that had a lot of fleet Rangers when they came out and I never heard of the Mitsubishi engines, interesting stuff!
You You keep working on your channel. The more you do, the better you will become. You will gain experience and learn new things. I was about to mention the diesel Lincoln, but you did. I think it is great that you are doing your channel and sharing what you have learned. I do recall the early 80's Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar. They were nicely loaded especially for the time. They overhauled them for 1983. They rode the success of that change well into the 1990's.
Bronco II also had an idiotic front suspension setup. the twin traction beam is basically another name for swing axles which are prone to causing rollovers
The worst Ford car in 1980 by far was the "Foxbody" Mustang, if you could call that hideously ugly POS a Mustang. I don't. It was easily the ugliest American brand car sold in the U.S. But it's problems went even further than that, and applied to all cars built on the Fox platform, including the second generation Granada, Fairmont, and later model Thunderbirds. The Fox platform had pretty much no structural rigidity, and flexed like a wet noodle. Jack one corner up high enough to remove the wheel, and the doors wouldn't open or close. And speaking of jacking, there was no place to jack or lift the car from that wouldn't cause underbody damage. The entire chassis was made from the same super thin sheet metal as the body. The only safe places to jack from were the rear axle, and the front control arms. Ans as if all that weren't bad enough, they rusted like crazy, which may not really be such a bad thing, because it means that many of these disasters aren't around any more. I grew up on farms, and all the farmers had their personal trucks, which they replaced every couple of years, mostly Ford F-100s and F-150s, converted to butane, which is also an LPG. They had huge tanks in the bed (back then trucks had real beds) and could be driven halfway across the country without refueling. Engines lasted twice as long because LPG burns so much cleaner it did not cause carbon deposits and contaminate the oil. I have never driven a Bronco II, but I certainly wouldn't be afraid to. I have driven lifted Jeep CJs and Suzuki Samurais with no problems. No, you can't drive them like a low wide car, but they were not meant to be driven that way. The only car I ever rolled was way back in 1975, and it was my dads 1963 Rambler station wagon. I lost it in a right angle curve on a gravel road, which I forgot about being there until it was too late. I was going way too fast to make that turn by the time I saw it, so it was my fault. No seatbelts in that car, but I still survived just fine with a few bumps and bruises.
You forgot to mention about the 1980 to 1982 Thunderbird. The problem was when the driver shuts the door, it made the gear select to Reverse. Ford claimed the drivers did not put the gear properly in park.
When I saw the Granada accompanying the title I was enraged. With the most indestructible engine ever built (200 6 3.3) it was boxy but reliable beyond belief, best car I ever owned, I put 14000 kms on it, keeping it as a second car . Mine was unlike any other I saw two door immaculate condition, comfortable, I beat the crap out of it. I could go 100 mph, pedal to the floor, throw it in reverse a million times, back in drive within stopping (ok, I was 17 lol) my comment would have vulgar to say the least. I'm sorry and glad I watched it first!
I worked at a ford dealership at the time of the cars you say are bad. First of all, the Bronco II was really a nice vehicle. You could not beat that thing in the snow and it was awesome to drive. Yeah, some people rolled theirs, but I know people that rolled S-10 Blazers and full sized Bronco's. The other cars, Like the T-Bird, were just Fox Body Mustangs with less HP and different sheet metal. They were not that bad. With the V8 and the TRX wheels and tires, they were really nice. The cars back then were not the greatest by todays standard, But the were very competitive with everybody else.
Without a doubt, the BII is the funnest truck I've ever owned. I put a 4.0 in a 90 with a D35 front end, F150 coils and 33 inch tires. What a blast, drove it from Seattle to Connecticut and back. If you understand vehicle dynamics, you won't have any problems. Of course, the majority of buyers don't understand vehicle dynamics.
Being a kid at this time our neighbor bought a brand new T-Bird in 1980. I still think it’s the best looking T-Bird generation ever. Just love the styling; it looked so luxe and futuristic. Spent a lot of time in Bronco II’s as a kid and they seemed nice
You forgot Ford Fairmont 1978/1983, Mercury Zephyr and front of Fairmont as truck Ford Durango 1979/1982. This my first time watching your video not bad I hope see other videos from you. Good luck with videos.
That s10 blazer what a beautiful 4x4, so much better than any bronco II, miss the one my family had, 89 4.3 tahoe s10 blazer exact twin to the one in this video, stunning! and better engineered too. Nice Video!
GM did pretty good, Chrysler did FAAR worse than Ford with its 2nd generation Cordoba and Marada .That's why they ended up leaving that market segment after just 4 years.
My folks ordered a 1984 Brono II with a roof rack, they waited 4 months for it, my mom had a connection to Ford, it was shared they had an issue with the roof rack, it was eventually delivered, two tone blue, 5 spd as ordered, the truck was excellent, never one issue the whole time they owned it. 2.8L ...it looked sharp and was extremely reliable
My mom had an 81 Thunderbird. It was about as exciting as milquetoast, but she recalled it was reliable, and served her dutifully for over a decade; even when she moved from California to Mississippi.
In 1989, I had a 1981 Mustang, 3.3 litre slant 6. In the rain, I had to open the hood, unscrew the air cleaner, and prop the flap open in the carburetor to start the motor. Running the air conditioner for more than 10 minutes would overheat the engine. Oh, and part of the floor rusted out and the back leg of my drivers seat went through the floor.
My aunt rolled a Bronco 2, she was fine, but really shaken up. I always thought they looked pretty nice, just my opinion. I can't stand the Ford Grenade, I mean Granada, just too boxy. I wish manufacturers would offer more diesel options, especially on small to mid size trucks, I would love a little 4 wheel drive pickup. Great video ✌️
My old boss got one of those BMW diesel cars for his wife, and he had me drive it to his house. Acceleration was just plain awful! But it wasn't as bad as the diesel Chevette, which I also had the misfortune to drive.
Back in the 80s, I was driving 70s cars until I bought a new F150 in 89. Only exception was my mother’s 80 Fairmount wagon. Despite cheap, the important components that made it drive down the road held up rather well. I drove 80s Broncos and LTD Crown Vics in law enforcement in the 90s and either platform was pretty durable. I remember specs on the early 90s square body T-Birds and Cougars, as well as LTDs, and Lincoln’s. They never interested me cause I thought they were ugly aAs well as under powered. Never had any interest in the Bronco IIs either.
I was going to come and fuss at you when I saw the Ranger, but I see it's the diesel, which I never even knew existed. I owned a V6 with a Mazda-sourced five speed... that little truck was nice and just about bulletproof. It was also perfect for driving around listening/singing along with Waylon Jennings or Hank Williams Jr. I drive a Miata now and when I do that people look at me funny.
G-bodies were great... initially. I've owned 2 used Grand Prix's (1980 LJ and 1987 LE) over the years, and ridden in countless other cars. All G-bodies with a V8 sagged in front, and they all became rattle traps with some age. In the downsizing era the B-body was definitely GM's best.
Major problem with the Bronco II was the tire pressure recommendations for the Firestone Wilderness A/T 2 tires. In order to provide a smoother ride Ford recommended lower inflation pressures than Firestone deemed safe for highway speeds. Yeah, Firestone of _Firestone 500_ notoriety from the seventies.
Bought one new in the good ol 80's...upgraded suspension, ran it with Jeeps & Toyotas in the woods. Awesome!!! Got 130K, trouble free miles, sold it for a 4 banger maunal stick Ranger , also from the 80's. Got 160k miles without issue, kept it for 10 years...Bought a used 1980's Full size Ford truck with the straight 6 .....got 180k, then tranny went. I knew several people with the little Ford Festiva....all got between 150-180k miles with minimal issues. Never had any issues with my 1980's Fords.....
there was an Eddie bauer '88 bronco 2 for sale down the street when I was about 14 years old. Paid the guy 80 bucks for it, no title, dented. We beat the crap out of that thing in the woods. I also learned how to drive stick. It was a beast until the front driveshaft fell out of it. It still did pretty good in 2wd.
Had a Bronco ll.....Worst part was V6 engines cracking cylinder heads.....Great ground clearance made it tippy.....but also had very tight turning radius...decent on gas....great factory radio, AC/ Heater. I love the body style of the 80-82 Tbirds....Great cars but under powered. Can make a great "sleeper" with the Fox body platform, and a Mustang V8 swap.....
I had several Bronco II's and really never say a problem with the way they handled. Its a short wheel base 4x4, its going to have different handling characteristics then a larger or wider vehicle.. The biggest issue i saw with them was the power train. The V6 was prone to head gasket failure and cylinder head cracks, and the A4LD automatic trans was a bit problematic and the inside the bellhousing slave cylinder on the 4 and 5 speed manual transmissions was a nightmare to service. They were prone to clutch issues. If they would have given these trucks a more conventional power train, maybe a small inline six or a small v8 with the transmission from the F150 it would have been a far better truck. Both of mine went over 80k, one started to have engine issues, the other, a four speed seemed to have incurable clutch issues. After four slave cylinders and five master cylinders and then a rear main seal oil leak I cut it loose and went to a full size Bronco. The T-Bird and Cougar of the early 80's were just dressed up Ford Fairmonts built on the Fox chassis, which was shared by the Mustang/Capri, Fairmont/Zephyr, and LTD II/Marquis models. This continued until 1994. There was nothing wrong with the line of cars as a whole, they were a downgrade from the 70's models but properly equipped they were good cars. The propane option models didn't really make their way to all areas. I don't think in my 35 years with Ford one ever crossed my path, but we saw several aftermarket propane and natural gas conversions, none of which were particularly good and the lack of top end lube usually meant the engine would need attention at about half the mileage of a normal gasoline powered engine. I owned a 1986 LTD II, a 5.0L four barrel version with alloy D slot rims which were the same as on the mustang. The car was quick, fast, and fun to drive. Several recalls for emissions forced a minor de-tuning of it if the owner allowed it but its a car I wish I had taken better care of and kept around. I sold it with 180k on it in 'well used' condition in 1990. My only complaint with that car was the cost of tires, its lack of winter driving ability because of the tires, and the lack of replacement parts for the sport models from day one. Ford made very few of these and things like door moldings, dash trim, and interior parts were nearly impossible to find even a year after it was new.
We had 2 Bronco II growing up. That's what I learned to drive in. I have fond memories of them. If I could find one still running I'd buy it. Just got to be careful.
I say both on bronco , they could have put wider track tires an rims on them an even factory lower it by 1 or 2 inches may have helped, the rims an tires are way to skinny , I own a 2001 Isuzu rodeo an I immediately got fatter tires I dropped low profile tires 50 series on this suv an it did lower it but I don’t do hills an valleys I drive on highways so this helped my SUV’s stance a lot an it handles better as well
I have a bronco II as my first car it does well and really you never feel like it’s tip prone I’ve taken some hard turns and it responds well and doesn’t feel like tipping very rugged and performs well
The 1980 Thunderbird and Cougar say a lot to me. I always liked the styling. Since you mentioned Lincoln, the seventh generation Continental with the BMW diesel was also reprehensible. As far as the Bronco II is concerned, that rig made me nervous just by looking at it when it came out. I was a 14yr old kid and knew I didn't want to ride around in one. Ford would design halfway decent automobiles, then ruin any decent reputation they could've had by stuffing them with half-hearted (or less) 4 cylinder engines that just weren't up to the task building up a good reputation. If you want to talk about clean-sheet crap-box 1980's Ford products, the Escort/Lynx and the Tempo/Topaz MUST be included. The Malaise Era engines and the big 3 (or 4 depending on what part of the decade we're talking about) just refused to see the light concerning the future. They kept introducing and kept producing pushrod engines that were rough, unrefined, and inefficient while being surrounded by an ocean of smooth, refined OHC engines from Japan. When GM introduced the Quad 4, I believe everyone, me included, was hoping GM saw the light of day. Instead, it was rough, somewhat underpowered, and unrefined. It wasn't total junk, but it wasn't what it could've and should've been. The 80's was very revealing concerning the American automobile manufacturers. In many ways, they refused to see the light of day, writing on the wall, or just held their customers in utter contempt while the Japanese built themselves up through refinement, efficiency, and volume.
I drove a 1982 LTD Country Squire station wagon taxicab that ran on propane. It was extremely reliable compared to the gas models. This was in 2004-2005, so the car itself was 22-24 years old while I was driving it. It had an estimated million miles on it. I say estimated because the odometer had stopped working at 200k miles.
HI GHD,, I AGREE WITH YOUR RATINGS VERY MUCH!! S-F... WHATCHING YOUR VIDEO'S SECOND TIME,, GREAT!! I GREW UP IN THE 60S AND HAD MANY OF CARS BUT I NEVER HAD A CAR WITH PROPANE,, BUT GOING IN THE ARMY IN THE MIDDLE 70S I MISSED IT ALL,... BUT GETTING OUT AND BUYING ONLY TO THIS DAY 50-60-70S CARS ONLY WITH MY SON MAX 8 YR.S OLD HE SAYS PROPANE?? HA!!! WE HAVE A 1978 BUICK, 1958 DODGE CUSTOM ROYALE SWEEP WING,,.. WE LOVE YOUR CHANNEL BUT NOT INTO THE 2000 CARS .. PEACE!!!
The Perkins Diesel that was in the Ranger was an industrial motor, incredibly common, and parts are super easy to find. Same for the Mitsubishi. That motor didn't just come in Ford trucks, so you can get parts anywhere. They still sell that same motor in Thailand
Had a first generation Escort, was driving down a back road one day and the back hatch window glass imploded all over the back seat, it was a 4 speed stick that felt like a rubber band, if it was raining out the windows would fog up and turn green, and the brakes would lock up while pushing down even gently on the brake peddle and that’s how I wrecked it into the ass end of a truck, oh and the auto track seat belt broke during that wreck , true story bro.
I had a 81 Granada. Pure piece of trash. Very dangerous to drive as the steering was just incredibly sloppy. Returned to purchase place dealership a couple of times. No resolution. Took it to other Ford dealerships, no resolution. Just a pitiful design.
My dad bought a 1988 Ford Ranger XLT Eddie Bauer Green/Cream two tone from the dealership. He spent months finding one with all the options he wanted. It was a good truck. He had it a bout 15 years. I liked the fold out seats in the back where two people could sit sideways.
Friend of mine rolled a Bronco II, I was in the passenger seat. Car pulled out in front of us on a 55 mph country road. He hit the brakes and steered to the right. We slid into the grass shoulder which caught the tires and flipped us over completely, landing back on the wheels. Thankfully we were both wearing seatbelts and we walked away without a scratch. After we got back to his house (his mom picked us up - Bronco was obviously trashed) we ordered pizza and drank beer.
Glad you both are okay. Right on man!🍻
Back in the day when your parents would buy you alcohol when you were 18 😂
@@samholdsworth420 shoot, in the 80s you could buy beer at 18
My cousin also rolled one on a rutted out country road. Hit a big rain-washout and lost control and rolled into a ditch. She did not survive. Not entirely the B2’s fault, but with the height and wonky front suspension - they just weren’t very stable.
Look it up . Ford knew in pre production that those roll over easily and still sent it into production. Over $150 million in wrongful death lawsuits and over 200 lawsuits filed. Like Gm they figured it to be more profitable to pay out lawsuits, than fix the inferior engineering
My parents bought a brand new Bronco II in 1987. I drove it a lot as a teenage and then I owned it for a while when I was 20. It was a great vehicle that was driven by 3 generations in my family. Would love to get my hands on it again and restomod it.
My grandfather had a couple Perkins Rangers on the farm. By the mid 90’s he had found two or three to use as parts cars. They really were super slow, but he put somewhere close to 400k miles on that Ranger before it rusted out.
That's what I have on my Ranger now and still going strong. Of course been replacing starters, sensors, etc over the years. But the 2.3l is a beast
With the Perkins, you could add a turbo and tune the pump a little to make them considerably nicer to drive. And the engine would still outlast the body.
I always thought that the first and second gen Rangers and Bronco II’s were handsome little trucks, the utilitarian styling really worked well for them.
Too bad the transmissions were junk.
The manual transmissions were definitely junk. It was a good design, but Ford decided to use plastic parts for the shift mechanism and it failed quickly. Mine popped out of gear and rolled into the woods, despite the parking brake being set. Replacement transmission parts were no better quality than the original. But the little 2.3 engine in mine ran well up to 243K miles when I sold it.
They were good runners. My Dad had an '83 Ranger with 2.3 liter 4 and 4 speed manual. Not fast by any means, but was a strong runner, good on gas, could haul a pretty heavy load.
Basically what the bronco sport and maverick are today, except those modern cars are actually good. Love our maverick hybrid, genuinely can't comprehend an affordable small truck being much better than it is.
Had a v6 ranger and bronco 2. Both went well over 100k with no problems . I fixed the roll over tendency on the bronco by using 50 series tires which lowered the center of gravity by several inches . I would buy either one of them again
I bought a new Bronco II in 1986 and loved it. Gave it to my Dad who drove it almost the ground. It eventually found its way to rural Mexico, where it may still be running around.
The police in my old home town used propane powered cars. Another advantage for engines that run on natural gas is the oil stays cleaner for much longer. This makes a difference when your fleet alternates between stop and go driving with long periods of idling.
There were some crown vics with the conversion produced as late as 2011
I saw a book from the early 1980s that said that cars running on LPG should have their oil changed every 500 hours or 15,000 miles. And that was with 1980s API SF oils when the drain interval on gasoline cars was 3,000 of severe service to 5,000 miles highway driving.
I worked at a large gas company. Half our fleet was natural gas/propane as we were the filling station.
There are a lot of benefits to running propane. It’s popular to convert off road vehicle from carburetors to propane because it doesn’t have problems with angles. It’s also cheaper and higher octane than pump gasoline. Higher octane means you can run considerably higher compression ratios and make more torque. When I build a v8 for propane, I go for 12.5-1 compression vs the stock compression being under 9-1 in most cases. Also, propane gas mixes with the air better than a liquid fuel, so you can use long intake runner to increase torque without having issues at low rpm. Just like E85, if they actually built the engines for the fuel, it would have been far more popular.
Ford also made propane powered Crown Vic Police cars in the 90's. They quit when they realized they might explode from a rear end collision. Some of them did.
They were natural gas powered
They made them until 2011
The propane powered Crown Vics still survive today, especially in Canada. A friend of mine who lives in Toronto always had them in her family. Her Dad would drive nothing else but I think he would get them from either police or taxi fleet sales. He still drives one and they have at least 2 parked at their house. Obviously they are the last gen Crown Vic from.....2006? I don't exactly know but they are still kicking around in Canada!
Just paying homage to the Pinto!!!😁😉
In the very early 2000's I owned a 1985 Ford Escort Wagon DIESEL and I owned a 1986 Ford Tempo DIESEL. The cars weren't quick by any means, but they got tremendous fuel mileage. The Tempo would get close to 50mpg. The Escort Wagon would only do low to mid-40's. Their little 2.0L 4cyl diesel engines were pretty reliable. Other than normal things like starters and maintenance, I never had any major mechanical problems with either of them.
Good stuff man. Escort wagons are awesome
i had a 86 diesel escort wagon, loved it! it was taken from me when i was rear ended.
I had a 4dr hatchback 5sp diesel. I think it was a Mazda marine diesel?
The Bronco II was definitely polarizing at the time. Those who went off road or through a lot of snow loved them and held onto them as long as possible. Those new to small 4x4's had a learning curve. Some figured it out, some didn't. In truth, the lil' Bronc was no worse than a Jeep CJ5, International Scout II, The Samurai or the original rollover champ, the original Bronco (yes, the present auction darling was, at the time, seen as a notorious rustbucket that cleared loose oxidation by rolling over). Granted, the Cherokee and S10 were wider and less prone to rollovers, but off road, a well-setup Bronco could only be matched by an equally prepped a Cherokee. The S10 was more road oriented.
It’s like blaming a Mustang for spinning out in a corner. It’s on the driver more than anything else!
Ford did have a diesel car program, and it was brilliant. In 1984 Ford bought 800 BMW turbodiesel inline 6 engines (designed from the ground up as diesel engines, unlike the Olds 350 fiasco), and installed 600 into Continentals and 200 in Mark VII's. The cars were capable of 40 MPG and had 25 gallon tanks - 1000 miles of range! These were GOOD CARS! The problem was, as mentioned, that the GM diesel fiasco had soured the American market to diesels, so Ford canceled the program and sold off the experimental fleet as used cars. A coworker had a buddy that bought one of the Mark VII's and they drove it from Michigan to Florida. Coming home they filled the tank in Miami, FL and stopped to refill in Monroe, MI, because they didn't think they could quite make it all the way back to Dearborn on one tank.
Thank you, definitely going to bring this up when I eventually talk about these diesels!
@@GreenHawkDriveSi los norteamericanos hubieran usado motores diésel europeos para sus coches, como los I6 de Mercedes y BMW, la historia de éstas motorizaciones hubiese sido diferente.
@GreenHawkDrive If Americans had used European diesel engines for their cars, like the I6s from Mercedes and BMW, the history of these engines would have been different.
My great Uncle Charles bought the new downsized Thunderbird in 1980. I was amazed at how much it had shrunk from the previous generation. The backseat had very little room. The front seat was okay as long as you moved it all the way back. He didn't keep it too long and traded it for the much roomier LTD in the mid-80s. American cars in the early 80s were hot garbage as they struggled to compete with the Japanese on quality and efficiency. Very dark days for those of us who lived through them.
My dad bought the same cars in the 80s. The back seat was roomy but I was only 9.
Seeing a boxy ranger hurts a bit those rigs are hard to kill man the 2.3 iron block with the 3 speed auto is a dangerous combo of reliability and fuel efficiency
My dad had an 87 Ranger with the 2.3 turbo diesel and he loved the excellent fuel economy. He got it in 1996. I enjoyed driving it around too.
When the Ranger first came out in the 80s with the 2.3L timing belt engine, they were bulletproof.
If you changed the oil and didn’t abuse it, they could easily go 350K miles.
The Bronco II was a great idea, but they were top heavy and had a tendency to roll.
I had a 86 Bronco 2 and flipped it the 2nd day I had it . I flipped it going about 35 mph when I tuned to go around a bowling ball sized rock in the road. It was unbelievable how easily It flipped over. Broke a vertebrae in my neck and 2 in my back and was wearing my seat belt
I’m so sorry man, that is awful. How are you doing today?
Awesome video, perfect for a rainy Sunday. Cheers from North Carolina! Appreciate you! PS, the presentation is great, lots of good information and you deliver it in a really digestible way. I am not a car expert at all so these are fascinating looks into the evolution of these models. Thanks again!
Thank you James, I appreciate that man. Sorry about those Panthers🤝
Where in N.C. ? Moving there soon for Retirement.
Just got a 81 and 82 T Bird amd a Turbo. Also have the SVO Mustang. 5 spd. Sleeper 😊.
@@James-ik8yz Hey James, Just north of Raleigh :). Moved here from Maryland like 30 years ago and never left. Love it here :)
Although the 3.3 6 cyl was the base engine, I can’t remember actually seeing any T-Bird or Cougar XR-7 with the 6 cylinder engine. Most had the 5.0 (decent acceleration for the times) or for the 82 models the 255 v8 (an engine most of us try to forget ).
The 3.3 was replaced with the 2.3, If I recall, when the 3.3 stopped being made in either 81 or 82 and replaced with the 2.8 Cologne or Essex v6, which was replaced with a 3.8 version.
The Tbird had the 3.8 v6 instead
@@ItsDaJax To my knowledge the thunderbird and cougar xr7 never used the 4 cyl in that generation. The “regular “ cougar (the stable mate to the Granada) did. However In the next generation, the Thunderbird did offer a turbo 4 cyl, I believe. In 1982 the 3.8 became the base engine replacing the 3.3. And the 3.8 v6 also became the base engine for that generation. To my knowledge The cologne v6 was never used in the Thunderbird or cougar but was used for a while in the fox mustang along with the 3.3
The first new car I ever bought was a 1980 Ford Fairmont 4-dr with the 255 V8. It must've been made on a Wednesday because I never had any problems with it and partly because I've always been good about ensuring that maintenance was done.
The 255 was a sorry excuse for a V8 but, once I desmogged it and changed out the jets in the carb, it became a decent grocery getter and commuter (no smog checks where I lived). It felt peppier around town and only when trying to pass somebody at 50 mph or above did the 255 remind me that it wasn't a 302. But, all in all, that car was a good one.
@@BlackPill-pu4vi the 255 was a good engine mechanically. It was simply low on power. And the Fairmont was a solid car in it's day. Nothing fancy. But solid transportation . Initial reviews place it below the GM x bodies. But as the miles rolled on, the Fairmont ol proved itself much more reliable and solid than the x cars from GM or the k cars from Chrysler
So just a bit of information on the 1985-87 Mitsubishi 4d55 turbo diesel found in the Ford Ranger and Ford Bronco II. It produced 86hp and 134ft lbs of torque. It was a very reliable motor. The 4d55/56 started production in 1982 and is still in production in countries like the Philippines. It's amazing this engine has been in production for 42 years. New parts are readily available and easy to find. It is truly a legendary engine and was the first turbo diesel engine ever offered in a pickup for the North American market.
I remember having a neighbor who was in love with diesel escorts, It seemed everyone was on the diesel bandwagon in those days.
A buddy had an 84 diesel ranger.
Pretty sure it was non turbo and I thought it was a Mazda engine.
We got it 2mph shy of pegging the 85mph speedometer down the biggest grade around.
I always liked the styling of the Bronco. It was simple, handsome, and i really liked the way the rear windows wrap up into the roof. Nice touch.
I had a Bronco II, and I was T boned, but mine did not roll over, and it protected my passenger and me pretty well. I had no injuries, but my passenger had a cut on the top of his head. I liked the styling, and I did add Explorer rims, which fit and made it look and drive better.
Glad you are both okay, very scary. very.
The Escort and Tempo also were available with the Mazda diesel engine
I started driving in '87, so research for me into this topic involves accessing memory lane. My vote on the best Ford of this era?? A Fairmont powered by the 200 ci inline 6. Decent torque and gas mileage, easy to work on, and ran forever. This motor was not fast, but quick out of a light at low RPM, adequate cruising and hill pulling power on the open road, and good on ⛽
Those and the panther platform cars looked and drove well. After growing up in one and now owning another, I'd say the 2 door grand marquis was alright.
What year was your Fairmont?
I had a 1986 Bronco II XLT, I loved it 👍 It's amazing, I still see a few on the road today
Just wanted to point out a couple things first ford did attempt to venture deep into diesels specifically with the escort and tempo and the 80 tbird with a 5.0 was a great car I loved mine
I didn’t know this thank you
They also made a 4wd Tempo briefly. Not awd, 4wd.
The 4wd tempo and Aerostar were both great vehicle’s especially in the snow my father had a 4wd tempo as a demo and it was absolutely unstoppable as long as the snow didn’t get too deep
Had an 88 Bronco II Eddie Bauer Edition. Liked it, but it always felt like it was walking on tiptoes. Traded it a year later for a 1989 Taurus SHO. Quite a difference.
Definitely!
Very good analysis of the 80's Fords! I did not know of the short-lived propane models. In your commentary about the diesel ranger, you apparently had no critique of the Mitsubishi 2.3 turbo diesel in the ranger, and imo, rightly so. I extensively test drove a new Mitsubishi turbo diesel truck in 1985, and was pretty impressed with it's drivability. Mitsubishi used a very small impellor that caused the turbocharger to spool up at lower rpms, which negated the most common complaints of the diesel engines, and they had their "silent shaft" to smooth the engine, as well. I also test drove a Toyota diesel truck, new, a 1985, and the Mitsubishi drove better than it.
You may not have known this, but, also in the mid 1980's Galpin Ford, in the San Fernando Valley, Sepulveda/Van Nuys, Calif; which was the number one Ford dealer in the USA, for decades, sold 100% alcohol cars! They had their own service station, across the street from the dealership that dispensed 100% alcohol. I would buy the alcohol blended gasohol from that station to use in my D50, and Toyota truck. it apparently was a short lived experiment that lasted maybe a year-and-a-half. Years later I bought a first year, 1989 Taurus SHO, from Galpin Ford. That car would certainly get my vote for the best Ford car for the 1980's!! Thanks for your Vlog!!
Wow, I definitely did not know that. Thank you man, I enjoyed the read! SHO’s are awesome🤝👍
The name of the fuel company across from Galpin Ford was called "Future Fuels of America", where the 100% alcohol was dispensed from.@@GreenHawkDrive
The carburetor on the 302 and some 6s was a nightmare.
Variable Venturi of Death.
HI Green Hawk, I just found your channel. That was a good overview, thanks for making. It's kind of fun to look back, shake your head, and ponder what the hell they were thinking. Compared to what it was in the 60s, the early 80s Thunderbirds are just sad. I get they had to downsize for reasons of economy, but it's like they were determined to make the car as boring as possible. Everything about it seems to scream "malaise-era".
Welcome aboard man, thank you for subscribing!
Great vid! Those diesel Rangers went away about the same time alot of other diesel small trucks here did by the mid 80s. Gas was cheap, so why pay more to go slower?
Great point! Thanks again for the support🤝😎
@@GreenHawkDrive You know it! Look forward to your next one.
Chevrolet had diesel options for the S-10 and Luv, Mitsubishi had them, and even Dodge in the D-50 (rebadged Mitsubishi) and D-150 (made by Nissan and later replaced by a Cummins). Nissan had one too.
12:35 The sight of that rearview mirror aimed at the roof made me think of the late 1970s when I used to work with this 90+ year-old guy who drove a Mercury Bobcat. One evening, he gave me a ride home and he crawled along at 15 MPH all the way. By the end of the trip (he lived around the corner from me) he was leading something that looked like a funeral procession and he had practically snapped the mirror off trying to divert the light from all of those high beams. After that, I found other means of transportation when my car was in the shop.
One of my good buddies drove one of these in high school. We didn't think it was ugly, just kind of boring. It was solid driving though, and way more reliable than my Scout II and my other friend's 260z. Good video. I've watched maybe 7 or 8 of yours and finally subscribed.
You don't have to, but if you want to polish your delivery for the voice-over, just go through the script a few times more, thereby taking out some of the ums and ahs, as well as using shorter takes and stitching them together. That's just my 2 cents and only b/c you said something about it in this video. Looking forward to more!
I loved the T birds that came out 84 or whatever.. I'd love to find a Fila edition with a 5.0
My dad bought a used 8th gen Thunderbird. I never realized that it only had 88hp. The seats and suspension made the ride comfy.
Don’t forget the diesel 1984-1986 Tempo and Topaz.
I bought a 89 built, 90 ranger with a 2.3 and when reading the Haynes manual it mentions the diesel and thought that was one of the oddest things I’ve seen. Especially since I had the 2.3 and that thing was struggling a lot lol
It's not the "Blue Circle", it's an oval. You start off showing a Mustang II. The Mustang II was sold in the mid - late 70s. Some "extensive research".
Yeah my mistake. I know the mustang ll was offered in the last 70s, it’s a car most people are aware of as being a failure and so I used it in the intro to help draw people in.
I was around when the mustangII came out and it was a smashing success.They came out just as the first energy crisis hit (perfect timing) and my Ford salesman uncle at the time said he sold a lot of these himself and Ford could barely keep up with the demand. I think the mustang II actually saved the mustang name. @@GreenHawkDrive
@@GreenHawkDrive People call it a failure but was the first mustang to sell one million, and held that title until the s550. It saved Ford.
I liked the mustang II. Only drove one once but it was decent little car. Hard to find one now.
@@ronaldarchibald2506 l drive a '74 Mustang ll. Had her since new. Even the 8-track works. 366,000 miles.
The 80-82 fox body Cougars and a TBirds are now considered snazzy classics to have. They were very polarizing cars. I have a 1981 Mercury Cougar XR7. It turns heads everywhere I go and when I take it to car shows.
Great show ! I enjoyed watching these old videos and kinda get down looking @ what we have to drive today ( 2023/24 ) nothing but crossovers today. I totally agree that some of these propane powered cars and trucks were slow and also dangerous .
Great bloody job man, big love from Cape Town South Africa, big fan of the format you got down here keep on brotherman , I look forward to watching you and your channel grow and expand exponentially !
Thank you so much man, I remember your comments from videos back. I appreciate it🤝
I had a brand new 1983 Mercury Cougar. In 18 months (6 months after the warranty expired), it started rusting...bad. Lived in Texas with no salt on the road.
My Bronco 2 was one of my favorite cars ever. Never came close to rolling it.
El Ford Bronco II tuvo exactamente el mismo problema que tendría años después el primer Mercedes clase A: facilidad para volcarse por un centro de gravedad alto. Mercedes lo resolvió modificando la suspensión y añadiendo control de estabilidad, algo sólo disponible en vehiculos de gama superior.
The Ford Bronco II had exactly the same problem that the first Mercedes A class would have years later: ease of overturning due to a high center of gravity. Mercedes solved it by modifying the suspension and adding stability control, something only available in higher-end vehicles.
2 things...the '80-'82 turdbirds were infamous for dropping their red rear taillight covers because they were glued on with some adhesive that failed within a few years.
2nd, pontiac gran prixes, monte carlos were G-body cars, not A's. A's were full sized cars like bonneville, caprice/impala, etc.
I always called them Thunderchickens.😁
I’m surprised I got them mixed up. Thank you
I still have my 1980 Ford F-150 shortbed truck with the 4.9 inline 6cylinder. Garage kept, all original, 74,659 actual miles. It's a keeper.
Very impressive
I had never heard of the Mitsubishi 2.3L turbo used in a Ford product, so strange! Considering this was at a time when Chrysler and Mitsubishi were not only sharing engines but entire models like the Saporro, Colt, Starion, Conquest....how did Ford manage to get Mitsubishi engines? My Dad worked at a place that had a lot of fleet Rangers when they came out and I never heard of the Mitsubishi engines, interesting stuff!
You You keep working on your channel. The more you do, the better you will become. You will gain experience and learn new things. I was about to mention the diesel Lincoln, but you did. I think it is great that you are doing your channel and sharing what you have learned. I do recall the early 80's Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar. They were nicely loaded especially for the time. They overhauled them for 1983. They rode the success of that change well into the 1990's.
Thank you again, OLDS, for the wonderful support.
@@GreenHawkDrive You are welcome.
Bronco II also had an idiotic front suspension setup. the twin traction beam is basically another name for swing axles which are prone to causing rollovers
The worst Ford car in 1980 by far was the "Foxbody" Mustang, if you could call that hideously ugly POS a Mustang. I don't. It was easily the ugliest American brand car sold in the U.S. But it's problems went even further than that, and applied to all cars built on the Fox platform, including the second generation Granada, Fairmont, and later model Thunderbirds. The Fox platform had pretty much no structural rigidity, and flexed like a wet noodle. Jack one corner up high enough to remove the wheel, and the doors wouldn't open or close. And speaking of jacking, there was no place to jack or lift the car from that wouldn't cause underbody damage. The entire chassis was made from the same super thin sheet metal as the body. The only safe places to jack from were the rear axle, and the front control arms. Ans as if all that weren't bad enough, they rusted like crazy, which may not really be such a bad thing, because it means that many of these disasters aren't around any more.
I grew up on farms, and all the farmers had their personal trucks, which they replaced every couple of years, mostly Ford F-100s and F-150s, converted to butane, which is also an LPG. They had huge tanks in the bed (back then trucks had real beds) and could be driven halfway across the country without refueling. Engines lasted twice as long because LPG burns so much cleaner it did not cause carbon deposits and contaminate the oil.
I have never driven a Bronco II, but I certainly wouldn't be afraid to. I have driven lifted Jeep CJs and Suzuki Samurais with no problems. No, you can't drive them like a low wide car, but they were not meant to be driven that way. The only car I ever rolled was way back in 1975, and it was my dads 1963 Rambler station wagon. I lost it in a right angle curve on a gravel road, which I forgot about being there until it was too late. I was going way too fast to make that turn by the time I saw it, so it was my fault. No seatbelts in that car, but I still survived just fine with a few bumps and bruises.
Ranger didn't only have a diesel option but you also had an electric option that was used as around town deliveries veheicles.
You forgot to mention about the 1980 to 1982 Thunderbird. The problem was when the driver shuts the door, it made the gear select to Reverse. Ford claimed the drivers did not put the gear properly in park.
When I saw the Granada accompanying the title I was enraged. With the most indestructible engine ever built (200 6 3.3) it was boxy but reliable beyond belief, best car I ever owned, I put 14000 kms on it, keeping it as a second car
. Mine was unlike any other I saw two door immaculate condition, comfortable, I beat the crap out of it. I could go 100 mph, pedal to the floor, throw it in reverse a million times, back in drive within stopping (ok, I was 17 lol) my comment would have vulgar to say the least. I'm sorry and glad I watched it first!
Another hit piece ya. We need a video ranking worst hit piece videos
I worked at a ford dealership at the time of the cars you say are bad. First of all, the Bronco II was really a nice vehicle. You could not beat that thing in the snow and it was awesome to drive. Yeah, some people rolled theirs, but I know people that rolled S-10 Blazers and full sized Bronco's. The other cars, Like the T-Bird, were just Fox Body Mustangs with less HP and different sheet metal. They were not that bad. With the V8 and the TRX wheels and tires, they were really nice. The cars back then were not the greatest by todays standard, But the were very competitive with everybody else.
Without a doubt, the BII is the funnest truck I've ever owned. I put a 4.0 in a 90 with a D35 front end, F150 coils and 33 inch tires. What a blast, drove it from Seattle to Connecticut and back. If you understand vehicle dynamics, you won't have any problems. Of course, the majority of buyers don't understand vehicle dynamics.
Being a kid at this time our neighbor bought a brand new T-Bird in 1980. I still think it’s the best looking T-Bird generation ever. Just love the styling; it looked so luxe and futuristic. Spent a lot of time in Bronco II’s as a kid and they seemed nice
I have about 400,000 miles on my 2.3l '90 Ranger. I was told it rolled over twice before I bought it and I'm almost on my second roll over.
That’s incredible
You forgot Ford Fairmont 1978/1983, Mercury Zephyr and front of Fairmont as truck Ford Durango 1979/1982. This my first time watching your video not bad I hope see other videos from you. Good luck with videos.
Love ur channel, low-key straight to the point and informative
Thank you man!
Brother in laws sister's husband worked for Ford. Her brand new Zephyr was stalling on the way to the bowling alley. True story.
That s10 blazer what a beautiful 4x4, so much better than any bronco II, miss the one my family had, 89 4.3 tahoe s10 blazer exact twin to the one in this video, stunning! and better engineered too. Nice Video!
Couldn't agree more, and thank you!
GM did pretty good, Chrysler did FAAR worse than Ford with its 2nd generation Cordoba and Marada .That's why they ended up leaving that market segment after just 4 years.
My folks ordered a 1984 Brono II with a roof rack, they waited 4 months for it, my mom had a connection to Ford, it was shared they had an issue with the roof rack, it was eventually delivered, two tone blue, 5 spd as ordered, the truck was excellent, never one issue the whole time they owned it. 2.8L ...it looked sharp and was extremely reliable
Still got a 85 bronco II great little truck.
Good stuff man!
My roommate 20 years ago had one of these. Many drunken off-road adventures in it and we both survived. Was a very fun rig
My mom had an 81 Thunderbird. It was about as exciting as milquetoast, but she recalled it was reliable, and served her dutifully for over a decade; even when she moved from California to Mississippi.
In 1989, I had a 1981 Mustang, 3.3 litre slant 6. In the rain, I had to open the hood, unscrew the air cleaner, and prop the flap open in the carburetor to start the motor. Running the air conditioner for more than 10 minutes would overheat the engine. Oh, and part of the floor rusted out and the back leg of my drivers seat went through the floor.
Ouch man…
My aunt rolled a Bronco 2, she was fine, but really shaken up. I always thought they looked pretty nice, just my opinion. I can't stand the Ford Grenade, I mean Granada, just too boxy. I wish manufacturers would offer more diesel options, especially on small to mid size trucks, I would love a little 4 wheel drive pickup. Great video ✌️
Glad she’s okay, very scary. I appreciate the feedback and support!
My old boss got one of those BMW diesel cars for his wife, and he had me drive it to his house. Acceleration was just plain awful! But it wasn't as bad as the diesel Chevette, which I also had the misfortune to drive.
BMW made diesels in the 80s? I know Mercedes did.
Back in the 80s, I was driving 70s cars until I bought a new F150 in 89. Only exception was my mother’s 80 Fairmount wagon. Despite cheap, the important components that made it drive down the road held up rather well. I drove 80s Broncos and LTD Crown Vics in law enforcement in the 90s and either platform was pretty durable. I remember specs on the early 90s square body T-Birds and Cougars, as well as LTDs, and Lincoln’s. They never interested me cause I thought they were ugly aAs well as under powered. Never had any interest in the Bronco IIs either.
I was going to come and fuss at you when I saw the Ranger, but I see it's the diesel, which I never even knew existed. I owned a V6 with a Mazda-sourced five speed... that little truck was nice and just about bulletproof. It was also perfect for driving around listening/singing along with Waylon Jennings or Hank Williams Jr. I drive a Miata now and when I do that people look at me funny.
I loved my Bronco II. If you know how to drive, they're not unsafe.
I had a 1989 Bronco II and I found no problems with stability nor did it try to roll over.
It was mostly how you drove them, the first generation broncos were just as easy to roll over.
80-82 T birds were mugly, but Gm g bodies improved greatly after 1980.
G-bodies were great... initially. I've owned 2 used Grand Prix's (1980 LJ and 1987 LE) over the years, and ridden in countless other cars. All G-bodies with a V8 sagged in front, and they all became rattle traps with some age. In the downsizing era the B-body was definitely GM's best.
Major problem with the Bronco II was the tire pressure recommendations for the Firestone Wilderness A/T 2 tires.
In order to provide a smoother ride Ford recommended lower inflation pressures than Firestone deemed safe for highway speeds.
Yeah, Firestone of _Firestone 500_ notoriety from the seventies.
I owned a 1987 Bronco II. I liked it except it was way underpowered.
You should had to include that weird Ford EXP and the first mustangs III (1979 to 1982)
Bought one new in the good ol 80's...upgraded suspension, ran it with Jeeps & Toyotas in the woods. Awesome!!! Got 130K, trouble free miles, sold it for a 4 banger maunal stick Ranger , also from the 80's. Got 160k miles without issue, kept it for 10 years...Bought a used 1980's Full size Ford truck with the straight 6 .....got 180k, then tranny went. I knew several people with the little Ford Festiva....all got between 150-180k miles with minimal issues. Never had any issues with my 1980's Fords.....
Good deal man!
there was an Eddie bauer '88 bronco 2 for sale down the street when I was about 14 years old. Paid the guy 80 bucks for it, no title, dented. We beat the crap out of that thing in the woods. I also learned how to drive stick. It was a beast until the front driveshaft fell out of it. It still did pretty good in 2wd.
Excellent. You have a new subscriber!
Welcome aboard!
I had a gen 2 'Granola' as a rental car .There was something loose in the strut mechanism, and it only had 27K on it!
Had a Bronco ll.....Worst part was V6 engines cracking cylinder heads.....Great ground clearance made it tippy.....but also had very tight turning radius...decent on gas....great factory radio, AC/ Heater.
I love the body style of the 80-82 Tbirds....Great cars but under powered. Can make a great "sleeper" with the Fox body platform, and a Mustang V8 swap.....
Great stuff, kerp it up.
Appreciate it!
I had several Bronco II's and really never say a problem with the way they handled. Its a short wheel base 4x4, its going to have different handling characteristics then a larger or wider vehicle.. The biggest issue i saw with them was the power train. The V6 was prone to head gasket failure and cylinder head cracks, and the A4LD automatic trans was a bit problematic and the inside the bellhousing slave cylinder on the 4 and 5 speed manual transmissions was a nightmare to service. They were prone to clutch issues. If they would have given these trucks a more conventional power train, maybe a small inline six or a small v8 with the transmission from the F150 it would have been a far better truck. Both of mine went over 80k, one started to have engine issues, the other, a four speed seemed to have incurable clutch issues. After four slave cylinders and five master cylinders and then a rear main seal oil leak I cut it loose and went to a full size Bronco.
The T-Bird and Cougar of the early 80's were just dressed up Ford Fairmonts built on the Fox chassis, which was shared by the Mustang/Capri, Fairmont/Zephyr, and LTD II/Marquis models. This continued until 1994. There was nothing wrong with the line of cars as a whole, they were a downgrade from the 70's models but properly equipped they were good cars.
The propane option models didn't really make their way to all areas. I don't think in my 35 years with Ford one ever crossed my path, but we saw several aftermarket propane and natural gas conversions, none of which were particularly good and the lack of top end lube usually meant the engine would need attention at about half the mileage of a normal gasoline powered engine.
I owned a 1986 LTD II, a 5.0L four barrel version with alloy D slot rims which were the same as on the mustang. The car was quick, fast, and fun to drive. Several recalls for emissions forced a minor de-tuning of it if the owner allowed it but its a car I wish I had taken better care of and kept around. I sold it with 180k on it in 'well used' condition in 1990.
My only complaint with that car was the cost of tires, its lack of winter driving ability because of the tires, and the lack of replacement parts for the sport models from day one. Ford made very few of these and things like door moldings, dash trim, and interior parts were nearly impossible to find even a year after it was new.
We had 2 Bronco II growing up. That's what I learned to drive in. I have fond memories of them. If I could find one still running I'd buy it. Just got to be careful.
I say both on bronco , they could have put wider track tires an rims on them an even factory lower it by 1 or 2 inches may have helped, the rims an tires are way to skinny , I own a 2001 Isuzu rodeo an I immediately got fatter tires I dropped low profile tires 50 series on this suv an it did lower it but I don’t do hills an valleys I drive on highways so this helped my SUV’s stance a lot an it handles better as well
Those are awesome rigs, is it manual/4WD?
I have a bronco II as my first car it does well and really you never feel like it’s tip prone I’ve taken some hard turns and it responds well and doesn’t feel like tipping very rugged and performs well
Ford did have an escort station wagon with a diesel. It got 60 miles to the gallon.
love it keep up the great work bro
Appreciate it, thank you!
Subscribed! How about best ford/GM/Chrysler of the 80’s?
Appreciate that man! For sure
Great video I enjoy everyone that comes out but I wonder how many propane vehicles got shipped up to Canada?
Thank you man! Gosh, probably a good amount. I’m not exactly sure though.
@@GreenHawkDrive another great video I enjoy everyone. Thank you again from the great white north.🇨🇦
The 1980 Thunderbird and Cougar say a lot to me. I always liked the styling. Since you mentioned Lincoln, the seventh generation Continental with the BMW diesel was also reprehensible.
As far as the Bronco II is concerned, that rig made me nervous just by looking at it when it came out. I was a 14yr old kid and knew I didn't want to ride around in one.
Ford would design halfway decent automobiles, then ruin any decent reputation they could've had by stuffing them with half-hearted (or less) 4 cylinder engines that just weren't up to the task building up a good reputation.
If you want to talk about clean-sheet crap-box 1980's Ford products, the Escort/Lynx and the Tempo/Topaz MUST be included.
The Malaise Era engines and the big 3 (or 4 depending on what part of the decade we're talking about) just refused to see the light concerning the future. They kept introducing and kept producing pushrod engines that were rough, unrefined, and inefficient while being surrounded by an ocean of smooth, refined OHC engines from Japan.
When GM introduced the Quad 4, I believe everyone, me included, was hoping GM saw the light of day. Instead, it was rough, somewhat underpowered, and unrefined. It wasn't total junk, but it wasn't what it could've and should've been.
The 80's was very revealing concerning the American automobile manufacturers. In many ways, they refused to see the light of day, writing on the wall, or just held their customers in utter contempt while the Japanese built themselves up through refinement, efficiency, and volume.
I drove a 1982 LTD Country Squire station wagon taxicab that ran on propane. It was extremely reliable compared to the gas models. This was in 2004-2005, so the car itself was 22-24 years old while I was driving it. It had an estimated million miles on it. I say estimated because the odometer had stopped working at 200k miles.
It’s Blue Oval not Blue Circle lol. Great video!
You're right! Thank you 🤝
HI GHD,, I AGREE WITH YOUR RATINGS VERY MUCH!! S-F... WHATCHING YOUR VIDEO'S SECOND TIME,, GREAT!! I GREW UP IN THE 60S AND HAD MANY OF CARS BUT I NEVER HAD A CAR WITH PROPANE,, BUT GOING IN THE ARMY IN THE MIDDLE 70S I MISSED IT ALL,... BUT GETTING OUT AND BUYING ONLY TO THIS DAY 50-60-70S CARS ONLY WITH MY SON MAX 8 YR.S OLD HE SAYS PROPANE?? HA!!! WE HAVE A 1978 BUICK, 1958 DODGE CUSTOM ROYALE SWEEP WING,,.. WE LOVE YOUR CHANNEL BUT NOT INTO THE 2000 CARS .. PEACE!!!
Thank you for your service, it’s an honor. I’m speechless. 🇺🇸 Thank you for support with the channel❤️
WE THANK YOU SIR,, HAPPY HOLIDAY !!!!@@GreenHawkDrive
The Perkins Diesel that was in the Ranger was an industrial motor, incredibly common, and parts are super easy to find. Same for the Mitsubishi. That motor didn't just come in Ford trucks, so you can get parts anywhere. They still sell that same motor in Thailand
Was that truck the same one from terminator 2 that he said 65 was the vehicles top speed?
Can I ask: what is the point of a 2 door suv?
Had a first generation Escort, was driving down a back road one day and the back hatch window glass imploded all over the back seat, it was a 4 speed stick that felt like a rubber band, if it was raining out the windows would fog up and turn green, and the brakes would lock up while pushing down even gently on the brake peddle and that’s how I wrecked it into the ass end of a truck, oh and the auto track seat belt broke during that wreck , true story bro.
I had a 81 Granada. Pure piece of trash. Very dangerous to drive as the steering was just incredibly sloppy. Returned to purchase place dealership a couple of times. No resolution. Took it to other Ford dealerships, no resolution. Just a pitiful design.
Rangers are fine. I've seen them bust their asses over the years. I also had an 88 B2 XLT. Loved it.
I agree. I’m not dissing the ranger at all,
just throwing some shade at the diesels due to their short life time!
My dad bought a 1988 Ford Ranger XLT Eddie Bauer Green/Cream two tone from the dealership. He spent months finding one with all the options he wanted. It was a good truck. He had it a bout 15 years. I liked the fold out seats in the back where two people could sit sideways.