Hey there I have an 88 manual Bronco II xlt with manual locking hubs, 4x4 . My engine is at 190xxx n still going strong so I figure now is the perfect time to start planning it’s inevitable engine failure . I’m torn between a tdi diesel swap for the fuel mileage, except to get decent power(90hp stock) out of them you have to mod them a lot which I feel will lose all mpg advantage . So now I’m looking into a I-VTEC. These engines turn off half the engine at cruising speeds n low power times to conserve fuel but get 220(hp n torque) on stock engines. Honda pilots wieghing 4500lb get 19/28 mpg - although more aerodynamic they are a bit longer than the bronco n wider I believe. They’re very Similar to the standard v6 VTEC’s just more fuel efficient than fast - but with 80 more hp than my stock bronco I think I’ll be ok :p . So really I’m wondering if anyone’s swapped a Bronco II / ranger with a VTEC and if there’s any info on that around . I tried looking it up but it doesn’t seem like a popular swap- I-VTEC j35 is the specific engine I’m looking at but any info on a VTEC swap would be helpful

Some additional info the I VTEC weighs 360lb with fluids I believe and isn’t to different from the normal VTEC in means of dimensions, still trying to figure out exact measurements so I can figure out new mounting points . So I’m not sure with the added power if upgrading suspension and steering components is necessary but if so I don’t mind doing it. Just trying to figure out what I should start planning on upgrading and what I should hold off on till I drop a new engine in. Example-I wanna redo exhaust but may wait to plan my exhaust around a new engine , or upgrading suspension steering now and get it out of way. Posted on bronco forum but no one chiming in, so ima try here

Yeah, they’ll swap over, but the output shaft also needs to be changed. 4wd has a short shaft and that tail piece bolts to the transfer case. The 2wd shaft is longer, and so is the tail housing.

I looked at the Duarte’s/ecobost , they seem like a good option but more expensive due to the cars they’re found in/year. While Ik the ivtec will be way more work - we have odyssey with them in there for 700 around me n pilots for 2g. I’d save over 1500$ each year with 10mpg so whatever my options they can be justified:p

ill look into that stuff today tho, from the dimensions I’ve found so far I believe it’s slighty smaller width n length but taller. My main concern is what you pointed out , it’s mounted transversely but i figure with the diesel I’d have get mounts welded anyways . And worst of all they don’t come in manual(absolute must for me) and I need a transfer case . So I was gonna look into trying to adabt a m5/fm146. Although if I’m going that far into a project I might look for a 6 speed

So I think the t56 out of a mustang is what I can find suggestions on, luckily the j35 ivtec spins the correct way to set it up as rwd, only reason I’d stick with FM146 is I love its 1st gear and the removable bell housing seems like it could make things a tad bit complicated. All this information is difficult to find sadly since no one with a minivan cares to mod there engine and anyone looking for a Vtec swap is looking for raw power. Btw thank you for everyone’s input n not bashing on my over complicated idea :)

I wondered about the emissions, I’m in Northern California (humbolt county) n they only require you to smog once here when registered in ur name but if I ever move I might be screwed - however while researching I came across some info that’s bothers me more than tranny - apparently the switch from v6 to i3 causes strain on the front motor mount (transverse mounting) which I feel will further complicate once switching to longitudinal mounting. And most are saying it’s only a 1-2 mph gain from Vmc to non-vmc. I’m still looking into the normal Vtec now but more open to other possibilities now. My goal is to squeeze 10 mpg out of this engine while producing pretty good power still. Ima reader has the Duarte’s/EcoBoost more but would like to stick with a v6 over i4 ( don’t like the sound) ik I’m picky with my **** . But these broncos are my dream car(size,visibility,comfort, overall cosmetic design) and I got it for 600$ I figure I could drop 15 grand into it over time and make myself a custom brand new car and still save $ vs buying one off the lot and still not being satisfied

I am worried about emissions testing but the smog shops in humbolt are so of the coolest shops ik - they don’t charge if you don’t past and on one of my engine swaps the computer throw like 50 codes after 100 miles of driving - guy spent an hour figuring out which ones needed to be fixed so I could reset battery -> drive short distance and smog before the rest popped up - on top of that he refused my money until it passed and only charged me 40$ , I tipped him another 40$ since i seem to fail a lot :p but I’ve got it narrowed down to this

J35a6 I-Vtec -> custom bellhousing-> T56 tranny(2.97-.62 ratio) -> short shaft -> divorced transfer case -> stock rear axel with 4.11 gear

The cool thing about this project is I can get the engine from a 04-06 odyssey (600-700) for donor car- and the tranny from local pnp for 150$ - I figure 2g for parts to rebuild engine n tranny , 1g for custom welds , 500$ for custom bellhousing, 500$ for driveshafts im debating just getting another Bronco II (like 400$) with a blown head gasket to do this project on since I’d like to still drive my bronco during the months this project takes - and please add to my expenses , if you see something I forgot but all and all if it goes smoothly I’m expecting 5k to get engine n tranny in there and have it start (not expecting it to be smooth) then another 5k in reserve for random bs.

Now what I need help figuring out , do they make transfer cases with varying high gears ? I’m not making this car to win races but I would like to put all the growers in there place , they all buy retardly expensive trucks And ride everyone’s asses cause they own a 50,000$ truck n think they’re the **** ( don’t get me started on my personal vendetta against them). But essentially what I’m getting at is even with the highest geared t56 trans , I’m really only gonna use the Vtec(switches at 4100) part of the engine in first(30-40) and second (40-60)but the gearing is perfect with what I’m planning 2000 rpm at 65mph in 5th and 2000 at 80 in 6th - but I’m wondering if I can get a transfer case that when putting it in 4h it raises the gear ration so I can get higher rpms at lower speeds than 2h for a quick pull out .

is there a transfer out there that does this? I know atlas 4speed has 3 low gears but I usually only need 1low to crawl around farm with a trailer and some light crawling around the river.

Once again thank you for your input ik this is a Honda engine but the Honda forums suck compared to the openness of ford owners . You guys are the best