Car Model History

Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon · 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8

1981 Ford Bronco Ranger XLT, 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual overdrive

The Bronco Ranger XLT combined Ford's 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8 with the four-speed manual overdrive.

Representative Full-size F-Series-based ford bronco; exact 1981 model-year photograph unavailable
Exact 1981 Bronco reference photograph; exact configuration not verified ·

Photo: “1996 Ford Bronco XLT in Oxford White, front left.jpg” by Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Factory configuration

What this model is

Trim
Bronco Ranger XLT
Body style
Two-door full-size four-wheel-drive wagon
Engine
5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8
Transmission
Four-speed manual overdrive

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.

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, 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8, Four-speed manual overdrive. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
2
Factory intervals
2
Fitment-scoped
2
Exact references
1

Before orderingIdentify 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 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 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

Sources

  1. Ford — 1981 Bronco factory brochure

Other 1981 configurations

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