Car Model History

Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon · 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six

1981 Ford Bronco Ranger XLT, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, Four-speed manual

The Bronco Ranger XLT combined Ford's 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six with the four-speed manual.

1981 Ford Bronco, red full-size SUV with stripes and large wheels, front three-quarter view
Exact 1981 Bronco reference photograph; exact configuration not verified ·

Photo: Boyd Tiffin — used with permission. Model-year reference photograph; pictured equipment does not verify a listed engine or configuration.

Factory configuration

What this model is

Trim
Bronco Ranger XLT
Body style
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six
Transmission
Four-speed manual

Ford lists these engines and transmissions for the Bronco line and says options are available in all series or models unless a restriction is stated; the brochure gives no narrower powertrain restriction.

Compare related 1981 configurations

Compare up to twelve documented pairings, prioritizing the same engine, body, trim and gearbox as this car. This related selection is not a complete factory lineup.

Browse all documented 1981 configurations →

Compare 12 related configurations — current car marked
1981 Ford Bronco: documented configuration differences
ConfigurationEngineTransmissionBody
Current carBronco Ranger XLT, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, Four-speed manual4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-sixFour-speed manualTwo-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Bronco Ranger XLT, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, Four-speed manual overdrive4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-sixFour-speed manual overdriveTwo-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Bronco Ranger XLT, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, SelectShift automatic4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-sixSelectShift automaticTwo-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Bronco Custom, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, Four-speed manual4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-sixFour-speed manualTwo-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Bronco Custom, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, Four-speed manual overdrive4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-sixFour-speed manual overdriveTwo-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Bronco Custom, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, SelectShift automatic4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-sixSelectShift automaticTwo-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Bronco Ranger XLT, 5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8Four-speed manualTwo-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Bronco Ranger XLT, 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8Four-speed manualTwo-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Bronco Ranger XLT, 5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual overdrive5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8Four-speed manual overdriveTwo-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Bronco Ranger XLT, 5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8, SelectShift automatic5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8SelectShift automaticTwo-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Bronco Ranger XLT, 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual overdrive5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8Four-speed manual overdriveTwo-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Bronco Ranger XLT, 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8, SelectShift automatic5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8SelectShift automaticTwo-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon

Configuration-specific ownership

Maintenance for this exact configuration

These items are filtered to the engine, transmission, trim, and model-year applicability recorded for this configuration. Broad Amazon category searches are suppressed here; shopping links appear only beside catalog-backed part numbers.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1981 Ford Bronco Ranger XLT, 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, Four-speed manual. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
2
Scheduled topics
2
Applicability stated
2
Exact references
1

Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil and filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil and filter

    Exact reference available

    Motorcraft FL-1-A / Ford D9AZ-6731-A

    Applies to: 1981 · 4.9L (300 cu. in.) inline-six, 5.0L (302 cu. in.) V8, 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8 · United States · All US vehicles in Chilton's printed 1980–1981 Bronco band; this period secondary source distinguishes the separate Canadian leaded-fuel schedule.

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km / 7 months · All US vehicles; whichever comes first.

    Source: Chilton — Ford Bronco 1966–81 preventive-maintenance tables (1981 edition) · General Information and Maintenance, printed page 40 — 1980–81 all-US-vehicles, 7 months/7,500 miles oil/filter row · checked

    Verified ordering references

    • Service replacementMotorcraft FL-1-A

      Qty. 1 · Spin-on engine oil filter; Ford service number D9AZ-6731-A · catalog-listed

      The exact-year catalog lists D9AZ-6731-A for the 4.9L six, 5.0L V8 and 5.8L V8. Confirm the VIN, installed engine and filter mounting before ordering.

      Catalog: Ford parts catalog — 1981 Bronco oil-filter application · 1981 Bronco Oil Filter — D9AZ-6731-A; listed 4.9L six, 5.0L V8 and 5.8L V8 applications · checked

      Search this part on Amazon
  • Spark plugsView intervals, applicability and sources

    Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1981 · United States · All US vehicles in Chilton's printed 1980–1981 Bronco band; this period secondary source distinguishes the separate Canadian leaded-fuel schedule.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 30 months · All US vehicles replacement interval.

    Source: Chilton — Ford Bronco 1966–81 preventive-maintenance tables (1981 edition) · General Information and Maintenance, printed page 40 — 1980–81 all-US-vehicles, 30 months/30,000 miles spark-plug row · checked

Search results may cover different scales, trims and model years. Check each listing; this search does not establish an exact replica of the documented vehicle.

Sources

  1. Ford — 1981 Bronco factory brochure

Other 1981 configurations

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