I'm still in Iraq for a little while but I'll be home soon, so while surfing the net looking for a gas saver... I found a decent looking BII on craigslist, I think I'll try and give the guy a call to find out more info. Like how many miles, if it's auto or manual, etc. I figured I'd give you guys a chance to give me some info and pointers on it before talking to them. What do you guys think?

http://savannah.craigslist.org/car/716827197.html

If I ever bought it it would be my beater trail truck. Cut out the finders for bigger tires, new gears, add a locker, and be done.

 

Could be a great deal depending on the motor quality

 

its a 2.9 pretty much as long as it runs smoothly itll run for a long time....

 

It looks decent and worth the price.

 

Thanks for the input guys.
Maurice, I was hoping to get your input. Your BII is awesome BTW.
After I saw this BII I went back and read the whole restore thread to get more info on them. I also asked a few of my Army buds and they said if it has the auto trans to swap it, and that the auto is junk. True? That fits with what Maurice did to his.

I'll try and give the guy a call tomorrow if the phones are working.

 

my first car was an 86 BII with the A4LD auto... that transmission is best used as a boat anchor... in the 3 years i owned it the transmission was rebuilt 3 times

 

yes, if it is a auto it is crap, HOWEVER alot of the automatic bII's were lucky enough to come with the 4.10 axles, so having a automatic to begin with can be a positive

 

If it is an auto, get it as I have a manual transmission for it that I will sell for CHEAP (need to get rid of it). Swapping in a manual isn't too bad.

 

its easily a weekend job straight through, any schmo with standard tools can do it

 

True that. I have done 2 now and it is gotten to be a 6-8 hour job from start to finish.

 

After studying Maurice's pics of the trans swap again, and taking yet another look at the add, I think the one I'm looking at might have a manual trans already. It's hard to make out but I think I can see a little bit of the shift boot in the pic of the interior.
I tried calling yesterday (sunday) but the phones were down, and today all I got was voicemail.

 

Negative. It is an automatic. The automatics in the '84-'88 BII's were shifted in the floor. The boot you see is the transfer case shift boot.

 

Awesome, well if it's already got the manual t-case then all I'd need is the manual trans, right?
If thats the case, then Maurice you might just have a buyer for that trans.

 

You will need the following parts for the swap, but they are not bad:
- flywheel (i recommend the 4.0 OHV flywheel - pre- '97 4.0's)
- clutch (must use 4.0 clutch if you use the 4.0 flywheel)
- manual transmission starter (must use 4.0 starter if you use 4.0 clutch & flywheel)
- 4.0 manual transmission dust plate (the part that is between the engine and transmission)
- clutch pedal assembly (can be found in junk yards for about $25-$30)
- 16AWG wire (for re wiring the 4.0 starter to work in the BII; it is VERY easy. You have to use the stock wire to supply constant voltage to the starter and the 16AWG wire as a trigger for the 4.0 starters solenoid. I did it on my BII and I could show you how)

I got all my parts for about $300 total (new clutch, new flywheel, new starter, new flywheel bolts, new pressure plate bolts, new slave cylinder, and used other parts).

You wont need a new PCM becuase the stock PCM doesn't control much of the auto transmission; it only controls the torque converter lock up and since it doesn't have a torque converter, it wont lock it up. My BII doesn't have a check engine light.

Even converting the newer Rangers isn't bad.

 

That doesn't sound too bad. I suppose I'd want the 4.0 parts so if I ever wanted to upgrade to the 4.0 I'd be good to go, right Mo?
I just hope the BII is still there when I get back, which is still "a few days" away.
I've got my wedding coming up, but as long as that is funded I'll probably be driving a BII around town!

 

By the way... Thanks for all the info Maurice!

 

The 4.0 parts are all around stronger than the 2.9 parts. The 2.9 clutch is 8" in diameter where as the 4.0 clutch is 10" in diameter. The reason for the 4.0 spacer plate between the engine and transmission is so you don't have to cut the starter hole open more on a 2.9 plate (that and you can get the 4.0 plates new).

 

Hey not a problem. I have learned a lot more than I "thought" I knew since I have been working on my BII. There isn't much stock on it anymore.

 

So I finally got to the guy to answer the phone to find out some more details ...and of course it's sold! Needless to say I was less than happy about that, but not too surprised.

Oh well, I shed a tear and moved on...

 

that sucks. you gonna try and find another one?