1988 Bronco

[FordF-SuperDuty]

I'm gonna be looking at a 88 tommrow. It's an 351W with an AOD. These are the vehicles that I know most about but I really don't know much about them. Anything I should look for. It has a little under 72K miles.
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/1448952551.html

 

[5.0Flareside]

ask tons of questions about it. like do they really know it has only 72k miles and not 172k. make sure it runs smooth. and drive it to make sure it shifts good. and click out of overdrive and into overdrive to make sure its there. AOD's suck. so if it dont shift right stear clear of this truck unless you wanna take the time to swap in a c6. and make sure it really is a 351W. the plenum will have a curvy shape and the 302 is kinda squarish.

 

[FordF-SuperDuty]

With the condition it appears to be in, I'd be shocked if it had 172K miles.

 

[5.0Flareside]

true but my truck has 302k miles on it but other than the odometer it dont look it. looks can and are decieving at lots of times.

 

[Fordzilla80]

I agree with Chris.Go over the entire truck.Be very weary of the AOD.Hopefully the owner has taken good care of the truck,which might help you out in the long run.

 

[FordF-SuperDuty]

Looked at it today but didn't drive it. Looks like it's only 2-3 years old condition wise. Going back tomorrow to drive it.

 

[john112deere]

I'm a long way from an expert on those trucks...but I somehow had the notion that the 351 came with the C6 behind it, not the AOD.

 

[FordF-SuperDuty]

The C6 was standard, the AOD was an option.

 

[5.0Flareside]

Ann's white 88 had a AOD from the factory with the 351W. and someone who actually had a brain swapped in a C6. thank god.

 

[TexasNomad]

Not bad, our 86 f150 when it sold it had rolled over nearly two times, and it had a heavily worked AOD, so just cuz it has a AOD wouldn't be a factor in buying it or not if I was you..

 

[5.0Flareside]

wow. never been rebuilt or anything tex? wow. you got a good one. lol.

 

[TexasNomad]

wow. never been rebuilt or anything tex? wow. you got a good one. lol.

No never had a problem we worked a tree service back then, we worked her guts out, and never a single issue with the AOD thats why I have my view on the AOD.
And the guy we sold it too we still see in traffic every now and then.
SO maybe we got a killer one and every one else got crap I dunno, all I know and believe in is what I've seen and known , I keep peoples opinion with a very small grain of salt, unless I know they really know their crap and not repeating what they've heard.

 

[5.0Flareside]

yeah definatly understand that. thats like my friend had a 3.8L in a thunderbird and everyone always said there junk and his lasted till 250k miles with no problems. just good ole maintenance and anything can last for a while. but ive always known of people having issues with the AOD. never liked it personally.

 

[fordman76367]

im no fan of the aod by any means but i believe alot of it has to do w maintenence and how its used..like most things...i mean yeah the aod isnt fords best creation but my 84' has a aod in it from the factory and it has abt 108k miles on it and the overdrive is fried on it...of course my grandpa had this truck since 84 n i bought it in 06 and he's hauled stuff with that f150 tht most people would use a 250 or 350 to pull...he's one of them old fashion guys tht works his stuff to the bone n expects it to keep goin n his excuse is...its a ford it can handle it boy..it aint no perty pink chevrolet

 

[TexasNomad]

Yeah and sadly bad news travels faster and farther then good news.
I think the AOD had its problems but I think it gets a worse rap then it deserves..ANY ways!
The AOD in that bronco wouldn't be a factor in me buying it or not.. Besides a C6 would be a easy swap

 

[FordF-SuperDuty]

This AOD obviously has not been abused.

 

[5.0Flareside]

yeah so i cant wait to hear if it drives as good as i expect it to.

 

[FordF-SuperDuty]

We will see tomorrow.

 

[conanski]

I got my doubts this truck actually has an AOD, as far as I know the AOD was never a factory option behind the 5.8 in trucks, only behind the 4.9 and 5.0. There are several possibilities here..
A) the AOD was swapped in
B) it's actually an E4OD with the kill button on the shift lever or dash
C) the truck actually has a 5.0 and not a 5.8. The early EFI intakes did not have the engine displacement on the upper and a lot of people can't otherwise tell the difference between these blocks.

 

[polarbear]

I'm guessing it either has a 5.0 L motor, or a has had a tranny swap. As already mentioned, the 5.8 wasn't available with the AOD. Here's a page from the brochure.

On another note, those ultra-low-mileage older units don't fascinate me much. past experience tells me there's a lot of deterioration going on as they sit- even if it's indoors. Give me something that's been driven daily anytime.