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, SelectShift automatic

The Bronco Ranger XLT combined Ford's 5.8L (351 cu. in.) V8 with the selectshift automatic.

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
SelectShift automatic

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, SelectShift automatic. 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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