Hi all,

I'd like to have some mechanic recommendations for the Longmont, CO area.

I’ve purchased a $500 1988 Ford Bronco XLT Eddie Bauer with the 5.8 liter c6 transmission. It needs to be gone over by someone who knows these Broncos better than I do. My main concern is to not put money into it while making sure it runs and continues to run.

So far, I’ve put in new sparkplugs, wires, new points, new distributor cap, air filter and pcv air cleaner (can’t find the hard plastic pcv location – rear passenger side behind the engine I guess?) a new pump for the window washing fluid, new windshield wipers, repaired the tailgate, I also replaced the turn signal actuator to get the turn signals working again, as well as gave it an oil change, a new thermostat etc.

On my short list, I wanted to change out the fuel filter and the fluids in the transmission and differential.

I have but not put on new stock shocks and polyurethane bushings for the front and rear of this old Bronco but I what I am really looking for is a go-over where I can realistically understand the condition of this thing. It starts right up, but, might be running rich. The transmission shifts through all gears, but, it takes a second to plug into gear so I think I might need just a torque converter or a full transmission rebuild.

Who can I go to in the Longmont area who knows these cars and will give me a realistic report of how my Bronco runs and what needs to be replaced to keep it consistently running? Is there a Ford Truck garage that everyone goes to? I drive it around town all the time, but, I am a little reluctant to drive it to Denver or into the mountains until I know it better. Thoughts? Anybody close by Longmont have the time to show me the ropes on Bronco rebuilding?

J&S automotive in Gunbarrel. I know it's a little bit of a drive from Longmont but only about 10-15 minutes depending on where you are. I've known the owner for years. He's a great guy, great mechanic, has a huge shop and is very trustworthy. Give them a call. (303)530-1455

Thanks. I just gave them a call and scheduled an appointment for next Monday.

did you mean "rotor" when you mentioned "points"?

hey im in ft.collins, and i have a mech i trust, he's "eddies leaf spring shop and towing." he's done a really great job pointing out a lot of things on my bronc going! call \him at (970) 407-0331. tell him john with the black bronco sent u.

hey im in ft.collins, and i have a mech i trust, he's "eddies leaf spring shop and towing." he's done a really great job pointing out a lot of things on my bronc going! call \him at (970) 407-0331. tell him john with the black bronco sent u.


Boy, I must be in anal mode lately, just nit picked above, and here I go again.....to your left nineincer44, do you really mean you have 5.56 gears?;)

How did it go Demian?

J&S automotive in Gunbarrel. I know it's a little bit of a drive from Longmont but only about 10-15 minutes depending on where you are. I've known the owner for years. He's a great guy, great mechanic, has a huge shop and is very trustworthy. Give them a call. (303)530-1455

Does this outfit deal with trani's at all? I've got a c6 that hates to be in OD unless we're light footed with it or coast. I'm pretty sure it's just a band adjustment needed, everything else shifts like a charm, but i'm finding that after accelerating from 55 to 65, she don't want to go back into OD unless we hit the OD off/on button a couple of times.

thanks!!

They are a full feature shop. I'm not sure if they do in-house rebuilds or not though. Give a call and ask about it.

Cool, will do.
We used to have an awesome trani guy in la salle, thats all he did and was the most reliable in the area, but he's since retired and i'm skeptical about just dropping it off at any repair place. But i'll give these guys a call and find out. That's just down the street from where I work anyway, so it would be pretty convenient.

Thanks for the tip!

Today is the 8th, 11:00 PM and I just got back from picking up my Bronco. It needed new wheel bearings on the passenger front, a new oxygen sensor, ana alignment, a new valve gasket and a new manifold gasket - and a I had them put on the 4 shocks that I had bought... they told me that my beat up old 1988 Bronco had the dual shock factory setup in front with shocks in front of the axle and behind the front axle. So, they installed the four I had purchased and told me that I would probably want to order the shocks for 'front' of the axle. Turns out that was an option back then. Perhaps I should have crawled under there and looked. :twak

So, since I am relatively new to the world of Broncos, I am pretty happy to find out that what I got is a slightly rusted and dully painted, albeit loaded, 1988 Eddie Bauer with a 5.8 liter, c6 tranny with a dual factory front-shock setup. I'm thinking that is pretty cool. Next year, I might have some money for engine, tranny and exhaust.

Craig spoke with me about the old Bronco and really has quite a bit of experience with 4X4's and I am sure that if he doesn't work on the C6, he knows who to recommend you to.. Definitely give him a call. :beer