I’m looking to buy a 1986 Ford Bronco II for $500. The transmission’s shot, is it worth it?

I'm looking at a 1986 Ford Bronco II listed for $500. I don't know if buying it and then replacing the transmission would be worth the money, given I can find a Bronco II in similar condition for roughly $3000. Is it worth getting the $500 Bronco and replacing or repairing its transmission? The post says the "Transmission is shot".

My car has 171000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Before I would make the purchase of the vehicle I would recommend first locating a replacement transmission for the vehicle. Then you will know how much the part will cost and then just need to get pricing on replacement clutch assembly and the labor to do all the work. You may find it very hard to locate a replacement manual transmission and even harder to find repair parts for the insides of the transmission. You are talking about a vehicle that is 30 years old.

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The average 1986 Ford Bronco II costs about $15,470.52. The average price has decreased by -18.1% since last year. The 7 for sale on CarGurus range from $7,500 to $28,991 in price.
(4.9-liter) I-6; 88 percent of 1986 Broncos were built with the Automatic Overdrive transmission, leaving just 12 percent shifting a four-speed manual on their own.
That`s a boon for those who do their own work. Of course, the Bronco II`s trim size makes it a great collector car because it`s relatively easy to store, and with its short 94-inch wheelbase, it will be just as agile in a tight spot as it ever was.
1986 Ford Bronco base price starts at $13,307 to $15,807.
A: The average price of a Ford Bronco II is $11,794. Q: What years was the Ford Bronco II sold?
1990 Bronco II

The final year of the Bronco II is without a doubt the best one to purchase used. In late 1989, four-wheel-drive Bronco IIs saw an improved front axle. They also received improved cylinder heads to help with an issue some earlier models had with cracking if they became overheated.

A 1986 Bronco makes a good project truck, and with a little work is a outstanding off road platform. The 5.0 is a little small for the truck, but a few after market parts and it`s more than up to the job.
The Ford ZF transmission is the best manual transmission available for your Early Bronco. This is a state-of-the-art five-speed transmission that shifts smoothly and has an excellent low gear as well as overdrive. ZF transmissions are easy to find and will bolt right to your 302 or 351 Windsor.
While other brands save their best hardware for premium series models, Bronco is extending its high-capability Sasquatch Package for 2022 to its segment-exclusive seven-speed manual-transmission Bronco two-door base, Big Bend, Black Diamond and Badlands series.
First-Generation Ford Bronco, 1966-1977

Because they tend to be the most desirable, they also boast the highest values of the classic Broncos today. Hagerty lists average values for the first 1966 model year as $35,900 for the enclosed wagon body style, $28,500 for the pickup, and $34,200 for the open-top roadster.

Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison. For engine performance, the Ford Bronco II`s base engine makes 140 horsepower, and the Ford Bronco base engine makes 145 horsepower. The Bronco II is rated to deliver an average of 18 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 460 miles.
The height, measured from the ground to the top of the car, is 1873 mm across all variants. The width is 1990 mm across all variants. The length is 4816 mm across all variants.
The average 1989 Ford Bronco II costs about $14,159.82. The average price has decreased by -20.5% since last year. The 7 for sale on CarGurus range from $6,950 to $13,995 in price.
How much does the 1987 Ford Bronco II cost? The average 1987 Ford Bronco II costs about $17,780.86. The average price has increased by 55.6% since last year. The 9 for sale on CarGurus range from $7,500 to $28,991 in price.
The Ford Bronco 1984 prices range from $7,480 for the basic trim level SUV Bronco base to $11,000 for the top of the range SUV.
The idea behind the Bronco II was not to create a new family vehicle, but rather to downsize the traditional four-wheel-drive truck. Like the full-size Bronco, the Ford Bronco II was based on pickup truck bones (in this case, the newly introduced Ranger), and it was designed to be as rough-and-tumble as the original.
2.9L Engine for 1987 Ford Bronco II.
The original Bronco II and Ranger transmissions are too weak to withstand V8 power and must be swapped for a heavier duty transmission. You have the option of changing your Manual truck to an automatic, or vice versa at this point.
Ford Bronco Sport Features

Drivers have their choice of a standard 1.5-liter EcoBoost® with 181 horsepower or an available 2.0-liter EcoBoost® with 250 horsepower. No matter which engine you select, all trims come standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission and a capable 4X4 system.

1985-1990 Ford Bronco II 23 gallon gas tank.
2022 Ford Bronco Raptor Is a 400-HP Rock Crawler That Never Skips Leg Day. The high-powered Bronco variant borrows off-road suspension hardware from F-150 Raptor.
The Bronco II also enjoyed V-6 power right from the start, with a 2.8-liter V-6 (115 ponies) that was replaced with a 2.9-liter mill in 1986. The latter delivered 140 horsepower and helped the truck feel slightly quicker.
Prior to the reveal of the 2021 model, vintage Broncos have been the focal point of the collector truck/SUV market over the past few years. What were once honest, workaday utility vehicles have become a staple of today`s vintage car culture, from trails to car shows and restoration garages.
The 1988 Bronco II was the best-selling year, with 148,433 sold. It seemed that Ford`s engine improvements and expanded options had paid off.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I’m looking to buy a 1986 Ford Bronco II for $500. The transmission’s shot, is it worth it?
ANSWER : Before I would make the purchase of the vehicle I would recommend first locating a replacement transmission for the vehicle. Then you will know how much the part will cost and then just need to get pricing on replacement clutch assembly and the labor to do all the work. You may find it very hard to locate a replacement manual transmission and even harder to find repair parts for the insides of the transmission. You are talking about a vehicle that is 30 years old.

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ANSWER : Hi There,
This is a known issue in this generation Ford Focus and some Fiestas with the "Power Shift" transmission and there have been numerous recalls and lawsuits. Although, it is would be difficult to determine how much longer your transmission will last given the fact that you have many new parts, I would not recommend junking the car as it may still provide some valuable life left for you. I would recommend taking it to the dealer to see if these parts may be covered under the recall.

I’m looking at a jeep, but the transfer case is making some noise. It only effects driving when in 4WD. Is it worth buying and fix?
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ANSWER : Hi there. As long as the engines in the two Toyota’s are identical in size and configuration, the compatibility of the two transmissions should work, however there are some risks with swapping out a transmission on an older vehicle like your 88 Corolla. The correct way to complete this service is also installing new drive axles and supporting hardware within the driveline. However, the head gasket repair is often a trap, as the reason most head gaskets fail is due to an overheating issue, which typically damaged the cylinder head itself, internal components like pistons, connecting rods and more. If finding a newer car is not in the cards as the moment, the best investment would be the transmission swap.

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If you’d like a second opinion on this, consider contacting YourMechanic, as a certified technician can perform a pre-purchase inspection of the vehicle before you buy it to give you a greater scope of the car’s condition. Good luck.

Hi I’m wanting to buy a used car for first time driver I was offered a 2000 Toyota Corolla for $1000 you think is worth it to buy
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