Dear Readers;
I have a 1989 Ford Bronco with the 5.0L V-8 and the four speed
automatic with overdrive. The transmission was rebuilt by Ford less than
35,000 miles ago and I just recently replace the engine seals. My truck
has 82,000 miles on the odometer. I take very good care of her, but I
often wonder how much longer she will last. If anyone can give me some
personal experiences regarding this engine, it would be greatly
appreciated. For general information, I run 32×11.50×15 BFG AT’s,
Jacob’s electronics, and I change all fluids at recommended intervals.
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Doyle Kim
Doyle Kim (ez057…@chip.ucdavis.edu) wrote:
: Dear Readers;
:
: I have a 1989 Ford Bronco with the 5.0L V-8 and the four speed
: automatic with overdrive. The transmission was rebuilt by Ford less than
: 35,000 miles ago and I just recently replace the engine seals. My truck
: has 82,000 miles on the odometer. I take very good care of her, but I
: often wonder how much longer she will last. If anyone can give me some
: personal experiences regarding this engine, it would be greatly
: appreciated. For general information, I run 32×11.50×15 BFG AT’s,
: Jacob’s electronics, and I change all fluids at recommended intervals.
: Thank you for your help.
:
: Sincerely,
:
: Doyle Kim
I have an ’85 Bronco that is just starting to get a tired FI 5.0l (302
for those who remember the pre-metric engine designation days) at 168,500
miles. I’m running Jacobs electronics and 31×10.50 Dunlop Mud Rovers
and, other than a slow start under "warm" conditions that I can’t
seem to fix, am having no problems. I lose a little bit of oil
between changes (varies) but I think that it’s from a user-caused
oil pan gasket problem. Seems a little low on power, but I bought it
with well over 100k on it, so I don’t know what it felt like new.
I’ve owned other vehicles (cars actually) with the 302, and I would
say that at 82,000 miles, you shouldn’t even be thinking about when the
engine will croak unless you have some reason to think otherwise.
Drive it and don’t worry. If you really do take good care of it it
may well go another 82k without any problems. (Oops, forgot, I changed
the timing chain set awhile ago…earlier Ford 302′s used a plastic
gear set [go figure], but I understand that was short lived.)
Most small block V-8′s (even Chevy) will last a long time
if cared for properly and not driven by teenagers. :)
Enjoy your truck….
Tim Coste
tlco…@mtu.edu
In article <3sg5j7$…@mark.ucdavis.edu>,
ez057…@chip.ucdavis.edu (Doyle Kim) wrote:
> Dear Readers;
> I have a 1989 Ford Bronco with the 5.0L V-8 and the four speed
>automatic with overdrive. The transmission was rebuilt by Ford less than
>35,000 miles ago and I just recently replace the engine seals. My truck
>has 82,000 miles on the odometer. I take very good care of her, but I
>often wonder how much longer she will last. If anyone can give me some
>personal experiences regarding this engine, it would be greatly
>appreciated. For general information, I run 32×11.50×15 BFG AT’s,
>Jacob’s electronics, and I change all fluids at recommended intervals.
>Thank you for your help.
My previous Bronco was an ’89 Eddie Bauer with the 302 (I just traded it in
for a ’95 with the 351). I put this truck thru hell and got 140k out of the
motor. It was just beginning to get tired at trade in. I pushed it beyond
it’s limits in towing, plowing, and off-roading. I would not worry if I were
you. I traded up to the 351 because the 302 just did not have enough power
for me.
Steve
–
"The only thing that separates us from the animals is mindless superstition and pointless rituals"
-Andy Kaufman
ste…@tiac.net
Doyle Kim (ez057…@chip.ucdavis.edu) wrote:
: I have a 1989 Ford Bronco with the 5.0L V-8 and the four speed
: automatic with overdrive. The transmission was rebuilt by Ford less than
: 35,000 miles ago and I just recently replace the engine seals. My truck
: has 82,000 miles on the odometer. I take very good care of her, but I
: often wonder how much longer she will last.
No one could really answer this question, but the 302 should last a long
time. I replaced mine at 125K, not because I had to, but I had built a
351 for the truck. The AOD tranny on the other hand, I wouldn’t put as
much faith in that. I replaced mine with a C-6.
At 125K miles, when I tore down my 302, the bearings were showing some wear,
but they had a long way to go. The rings were still sealing very well,
cylinder walls looked good too. At 82K I would suspect you’ll need a water
pump soon, if you haven’t already replaced it.
BTW, what seals went on the engine? Rear main? front timing cover? Or was
it just a valve cover gasket or something. The seals really have little to do
with the longevity of your engine (unless it runs out of oil, that is).
–
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Steve D’Amelio Greater Franklin Off-Road Club
73 Bronco New England Assoc. of 4WD Clubs
91 Rodeo United 4WD Assoc.
70 Mustang Charter member- Tread Lightly
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
geo…@onr.com wrote:
>bit uncomfortable with anything mechanical that comes out of Korea.
I notice the ’95 sportage are under a recall right now. Something
about axles breaking, wheels falling off, brakes failing…
sdb
—
| Sylvan Butler | Not speaking for Hewlett-Packard | sbut…@boi.hp.com |
"Don’t Tread On Me!"
In article <DApMns….@boi.hp.com>, sbut…@boi.hp.com wrote:
> geo…@onr.com wrote:
> >bit uncomfortable with anything mechanical that comes out of Korea.
> I notice the ’95 sportage are under a recall right now. Something
> about axles breaking, wheels falling off, brakes failing…
> sdb
> —
> | Sylvan Butler | Not speaking for Hewlett-Packard | sbut…@boi.hp.com |
> "Don’t Tread On Me!"
Is that a joke or what? How can you check what is on recall and for what?
Is the KIA really made in Korea or US? They certainly try to make it look
like they are am american car.
Dave Jacobs
The KIA is currently under recall to local dealerships so that rear axle seal
retention bolts can be torqued properly to prevent leaks which have been
prevalent. Not because of axles breaking etc.
CHAD
David Jacobs (djac…@qntm.com) wrote:
>In article <DApMns….@boi.hp.com>, sbut…@boi.hp.com wrote:
>> I notice the ’95 sportage are under a recall right now. Something
>Is that a joke or what? How can you check what is on recall and for what?
It was published in the recall list in a recent consumer reports magazine.
sdb
—
| Sylvan Butler | Not speaking for Hewlett-Packard | sbut…@boi.hp.com |
"Don’t Tread On Me!"
Chad Reynolds (bow…@chevy.corp.sun.com) wrote:
>prevalent. Not because of axles breaking etc.
Consumer Reports, July 1995, p.495, quote:
——————————————————
’95 Kia Sportage
Rear brakes could fail or rear wheel and axle
shaft could come off.
Models: 1319 sport/utility vehicles made 10/94-1/95
What to do: Have dealer inspect and tighten rear-axle
bearing oil-seal retainer and brake backing plates.
——————————————————
End quote.
So it wasn’t axles breaking, but it does say that brakes
could fail, or that rear wheel and axle could come off.
In any case, it doesn’t sound like a "good thing."
Not bad for previously posting without the magazine in
front of me, having briefly noticed an entry in a list
of entries, none of which had any relevance to me.
sdb
—
| Sylvan Butler | Not speaking for Hewlett-Packard | sbut…@boi.hp.com |
"Don’t Tread On Me!"
In article <djacobs-2706952340270…@djacobs.vip.best.com>,
David Jacobs <djac…@qntm.com> wrote:
>In article <DApMns….@boi.hp.com>, sbut…@boi.hp.com wrote:
>> I notice the ’95 sportage are under a recall right now. Something
>> about axles breaking, wheels falling off, brakes failing…
>Is that a joke or what? How can you check what is on recall and for what?
>Is the KIA really made in Korea or US? They certainly try to make it look
>like they are am american car.
Unfortunately it is not a joke. Sportage’s built between (I
blieieve 10-94 and 1-95 have been recalled for pretty much what
he said. The best source I know of for nformation like this
is Consumer Reports, which is where I read about this.
Jon