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10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco

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Gary Lewis

10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco

Administrator

Another article, this one entitled 10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco. I noticed a few errors, but overall it was an interesting read.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

grumpin

Re: 10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco

That first picture, the blue 1980 Bronco is a good looking rig.

Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona

Gary Lewis

Re: 10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco

Administrator

Yes, it certainly is, so let's save the pic.

grumpin wrote

That first picture, the blue 1980 Bronco is a good looking rig.

And here's the video:

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Ford F834

Re: 10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco

Administrator

This is one of the best bullnose pictures out there on the internet. Looks to be a Freewheelin’ package A. Note the missing antenna… I don’t know why Ford liked to depict them this way….

SHORT BED 4-DOOR DIESEL: 1986 F350 4x4 under construction-- 7.3 IDIT ZF5+GVOD

STRAIGHT SIX 4X4: 1981 F150 2wd to 4x4-- 300 I6 close ratio diesel T19, hydroboost brakes, Saginaw steering

BIG F: 1995 F-Superduty under construction— converting to 6.9L IDI diesel ZF5+DNE2

BigBrother-84

Re: 10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary, is this a standard way to lock a Bronco tailgate?

If so, can this be adapted to a Bullnose truck in order to prevent tailgate robbery?

Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.

grumpin

Re: 10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco

I’ll answer, not a lock, a switch, to operate the rear window.

Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona

Gary Lewis

Re: 10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco

Administrator

Thanks for jumping in there, Dane.

Jeff - I was going to refer you to this thread about tailgate locks, but then realized it is your thread so won't.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

BigBrother-84

Re: 10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco

This post was updated on .

Gary Lewis wrote

Jeff - I was going to refer you to this thread about tailgate locks, but then realized it is your thread so won't.

You're right Gary, but I never found an easy solution.
The way our Bullnoses are designed make a lockable hinge almost impossible.
The only solution that would potentially work is to install a left closed hinge to the right side, which makes the door not removable (Matt's proposal).

That's why I was wondering how Broncos are tailgate secured.

Thanks to Dane, I now realize that Bronco's tailgate handle is located on the inner side of the tailgate, and that its window acts as the "security lock" (has to be lowered to enable door opening). I assume that all Broncos tailgate windows were powered, with this key lock that is in fact a switch.

This is probably the 11th thing some enthusiasts had to know about 80-86 Broncos.

Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.

Gary Lewis

Re: 10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco

Administrator

Yes, I couldn't find a way to lock the tailgate on Big Blue. I thought of cutting into it and installing a lock like you can put on the later 'gate which has the removable panel, but came to the conclusion that wasn't going to work - the 11th thing one needs to know about Bullnose trucks.

So I went a different direction. I put a security system on the truck with switches on the hood, doors, toolbox lids, and tailgate. Now I can lock the truck with a push of the button and anyone that tries to open any of those items will be met with a raucous noise when both the horn and the siren go off.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

BigBrother-84

Re: 10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco

Gary, I pointed your alarm solution directly in the tailgate locking topic.
Could be useful for future search.

Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.

Gary Lewis

Re: 10 Things Every Enthusiast Should Know About The 1980-'86 Ford Bronco

Administrator

Yes, I just saw that. Good job, Jeff!

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile