BII vs. pre '95 Explorer Sport

[kxbronco]

I've been looking around for a BII for a little while and reading about all the swaps (engine, diffs/axles, etc.) that people do from explorers into BIIs. My question is why not just get a pre '95 Explorer Sport? You get the seemingly stronger drive train. I know the Explorer is a little bigger (length/width). It's my understanding that the frames are both TTB.

Putting preferences aside, why not the Explorer Sport (4x4 of course)?

Thanks,

Chris

 

[BlackBII]

Cause it's just not the same as having a BII!

Looky here:
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?p=198237#post198237

 

[CopyKat]

If you can find one in good shape go for it. I was actually looking at Explorers before I bought my B2. With the $5000 average asking price they all had too much rust on them. I was looking at mostly 4 doors as it was to be a family type vehicle.

I gave up and found a B2 for under $500

 

[CheapThrillB2]

i had a sport before the B2. I would rather have my old sport then my B2. but thats just me

 

[BlackBII]

Having a 4.0, D35, 8.8 and M5OD, more interior room, better seats etc. makes the Sport a better choice, but, it's just not the same as having a BII!

 

[CopyKat]

The other thing that swayed me to a B2 was the Gen 1 front end. Lends itself to easier mods. and it looks better.

 

[WhiteBroncoII2WD]

i had a sport before the B2. I would rather have my old sport then my B2. but thats just me

What in particular do like about the Explorer Sport better then the Bronco II if you don't mind me asking?

 

[engdept]

You can get Bronco II's cheaper than the Explorer Sport and most of the Explorer Sport interior will swap into the Bronco II with little mods.

 

[CheapThrillB2]

in my opinion the sport has a better frame, i like the rear leafs below the frame rail vs next to the frame rail, wheel base is better on the sport. And the sport starts out with everything drivetrain related that would eventually find itself in a B2.

I like my B2, but if i got my hands on a decent sport the b2 would find itself dissassmebled. But i agree with the above statement, the 1st gen front end just looks better in my opinion.

 

[kxbronco]

Thanks for the post so far.

BlackBII, Thank you for the link. I will check it out in detail tonight.

I personally like the look of the BII better, but putting all preferences and price aside, from what little I know and have read, the Sport sounds like the best way to go from a drivetrain perspective. It is a little bigger (could be good or bad), has a longer wheel base (again, could be good or bad), and I assume a little heavier. I assume reliability is comparable between the two. Other than price, why wouldn't you go with the Sport?

My experience with all is that I drove an '87 Ranger ext cab for 11 yrs and 130k miles, my brother had an '84 BII that I drove a fair amount, and I had a '91 and '96 Explorer 4 dr 2WD that I put over 100k on both. I liked them all.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

It's true the sport has all the parts the Bronco II guys want. On the bad side it weighs 500 - 1000 lbs more and bronco II's don't have the serious rocker panel and fuel hatch rust issues that the sports have.

Even the mighty 4.0 can feel a little overwhelmed by the sports mass.

So it's basically a question of are you willing to accept the serious rust issues and extra weight for the benefit of not having to swap drivetrains.

 

[codeman2468]

I have a b2 and and explorer (4dr). for off-roading the b2 is just way more fun, in my opinion. They're light and small and can get down most atv trails, and won't high center like a longer vehicle even if it has 6in taller tires.

I also like that parts are usually cheap and easy to come by. Plenty of rangers and b2s out there. I just bought a complete running parts vehicle for $350!!

I will admit, however, that if it will also be your daily-driver, and explorer may be much more comfortable. But for off-roading, the b2 is my preference. That's my humble opinion.

 

[Hahnsb2]

After raping my sport parts rig for it's 4.0 and working on it, ect, I just prefer my B2. I don't like the gas tank location on the sport at all, and it just seems bigger and bulkier and lower sitting to the ground. I'd rather put the sport goodies in my B2 than have the sport.

 

[kxbronco]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm keeping my eye out for either a BII or an Explorer Sport. Hopefully, a good BII will come along first. If not, I will go with the Explorer Sport and let the fun begin.

 

[AllanD]

It's true the sport has all the parts the Bronco II guys want. On the bad side it weighs 500 - 1000 lbs more and bronco II's don't have the serious rocker panel and fuel hatch rust issues that the sports have.

Even the mighty 4.0 can feel a little overwhelmed by the sports mass.

So it's basically a question of are you willing to accept the serious rust issues and extra weight for the benefit of not having to swap drivetrains.

Ok time for the truth police to step in... where do you get "500-1000lbs"?

At WORST an explorer sport weighs 300lbs more than a Bronco2
and most of that is the heavier axles (which anyone with a brain
swaps into their B2) and the heavier 4.0 engine (If you don't have
one you want one... admit it!) and mabey 45lbs for the A/C system
(if you are comparing to a Non-A/C Bronco2)

The wheelbase difference is 8" a Bronco2 is 94" an Explorer sport is 102"

102 - 94 = 8

How much do you really think an 8" slice of body shell weighs?

Rust? there is no real difference, they just rust in different places.
On the Bronco2 it's simply less visible.

To be honest the only thing that would make me get another bronco2
(I've had three in the past) is if I actually found a set of those "unicorn" removeable side windows.

AD

 

[CopyKat]

To be honest the only thing that would make me get another bronco2
(I've had three in the past) is if I actually found a set of those "unicorn" removeable side windows.

AD

And I seriously Doubt any (Likely 1 prototype, used for the Add campain) are still existing.

 

[BlackBII]

And I seriously Doubt any (Likely 1 prototype, used for the Add campain) are still existing.

Like I said, I'm going to find one!

Or I'll make one

 

[88mudder]

In my opinion b2's look better in general all around by looks. I dont like Explorer factory bumpers. B2's turn really sharp, and the short wheelbase is better for tight woods. Overall the b2 looks like more of a offroad rig than the Exploder. Exploders have better drivetrains, but id rather have the smaller body of the b2 anyday.

 

[Capt Jay]

I've been wheeling the Explorer sport for a few years now and couldn't be happier. I admit I did have a BII first, I had a ranger. The Explorer has a very tight turning radius, your can't argue with the strength of the running gear and the interior room is excellent. I even had room to remove 14" from the roof and move the tailgate forward to make room for a rear radiator and still have plenty of storage behind the back seat. I don't know how it would do with a 4.0l, I immediately removed mine and added the 302. I did have the advantage of buying one with a good body, blown motor and bad transfer case so it didn't break the bank to throw all that stuff away and replace it with what I had in the Ranger. The Explorer was only $100.00. So my $.02. Not a comparison with the BII, just that I like the Explorer and it's a flexible platform to start upgrades and alterations.

 

[Totalled]

An explorer is a bloated pig compared to a BroncoII. They start out with significantly less ground clearance, and yes, even a sport's extra length and width work against it in my wheeling terrain. I wheeled my BII stock with a stock sport, and he bottomed out and got hung up on corners I breezed through.

Plus their mommy wagon looks are just a turn off compared to the in your face TRUCK of a gen 1 BII.