Motor Options


bubbaone2

15+ Year Member

Joined
Mar 20, 2010
Messages
78
Points
3,101
Vehicle Year
1987
Transmission
Manual
Alright guys, so I have 2 1987 ford rangers. And they both have 2.9 liter motors in them. On one of the trucks to motor is shot. (the guy who had it before me blew it up trail riding at a trail convention). One of these trucks is going to be for mud and stuff while the other is going to be for driving (the mud one is the one with the blown motor). Now, I have a few options here that I can do for motors. I can just buy another 2.9 liter one and pop it into the mud truck, I can buy a 4.0 liter motor and put it in the everyday driving and put the 2.9 from the everyday driver in the mud truck, or lastly, I can get a 302 V8 motor and put it in the driving and take the 2.9 from the driver and put it in the mud truck.. So i don't know really which one would be best. I need some help and maybe suggestions from you guys. Thanks so much!
 
I'd put a 4.0 in the mud truck, but leave it street legal and use it to tow, and leave the 2.9 in the DD.
 
that actually might be a good idea. since it'll give me more power to get through stuff (mud holes, woods etc.). thanks.
 
adsm08 said:
I'd put a 4.0 in the mud truck, but leave it street legal and use it to tow, and leave the 2.9 in the DD.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I just got done swapping my 253k 2.9 with a 4 liter, good choice in my opinion :icon_thumby: Plus having the 2.9l as a DD is good for sippin gas
 
Just letting you guys know the DD with the 2.9(running) is showing 80k miles on the odometer (might be original)
 
Probably more like 180K.

My 2.9 is just about to 190K and it's still going strong.
 
possibly, the title says exempt due to the age
 
what would be really smart is to put 4.0's in BOTH of them.

that means you'd only need one set of spares for BOTH trucks and only remember one set of diagnostic proceedures, etc...

AD
 
^A very good point, as usual.

Plus doing the second one will go a lot faster since you already figured out most of the stuff on the first one.
 
More power. put the 302 in the mudder, and a 4.0 in the DD. I heard people here complaining that the 2.9 doesn't get that good of gas mileage. God knows my 2.8 gets gallons to the mile, especially now with the 31's on it!
 
I get in the upper teens (17-19) for MPGs with my 2.9l and 32" tires.

Put a 302 in the mudder. Then find a small diesel engine (or other engine of your choice) for the DD and you can use the mudder as a DD while you're doing the engine swap on your real DD. Doing the mudder first allows that you always have a vehicle to use for daily duties.
 
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