Work In Progress

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Very true!

 

[86MUDRCJ]

I totally agree with you. It is way easier to swap the whole motor. However, there is no telling what the other motor looks like on the inside. Those heads could be shot too, and the cylinders could be warped for all we know (meaning boring the thing out and having to get new pistons$$$$). Just because there is not mixing of fluids now does not mean it will stay that way after you start the thing up again...

If you have already pulled your motor apart, and your block looks good for the most part (in other words, it could use a hone job but dose not need a bore job). I would probably stick with just getting new heads for yours. You just never know anything about a motor until it is pulled apart.... that's my only point.

so, I think, this is what it comes down to. Are you a gambler?

I agree ill probably give it a once over and see what I got. If it takes about the same time then ill see about just swapping it all over. If my motor is rebuildable then I might go that route. The only thing that bugs me is, if I have a bad motor why wouldn't I upgrade instead of keeping it the same? For short term I could see why it would be an obvious choice. On the same token 2.9 weren't exactly powerhouses. Gambling? Nah I tried it once and I almost lost my ass lol

 

[FordRanger89]

I agree ill probably give it a once over and see what I got. If it takes about the same time then ill see about just swapping it all over. If my motor is rebuildable then I might go that route. The only thing that bugs me is, if I have a bad motor why wouldn't I upgrade instead of keeping it the same? For short term I could see why it would be an obvious choice. On the same token 2.9 weren't exactly powerhouses. Gambling? Nah I tried it once and I almost lost my ass lol

If I had to do it all over, I would do a 4.0 swap.
When I just got out of high school I had my 2.9 bored 3 over and high compression pistons put in along with new heads...... worst thing I have ever done.... If you want power than do a motor swap. If you don't see yourself needing the extra power, the 2.9 is not a bad motor as long as you get yourself some descent heads.

 

[86MUDRCJ]

I do want more power. I'm not looking for something that throws you back in the seat but it gets movin when you want it to, it pulls decent, and gets okay gas mileage.

 

[bobbywalter]

Just look for the explorer 5.0. There's a little bit extra you have to do with the swap, but you're gonna get that out of an F150 tres oh dos. And the explorer comes with the motor mounts, so I believe you won't need a body lift.

even if you put a 2.9 back in i like at least a 2 in body lift.


4.0 is a good way to go, but they can be clutch killrs too.


on the 5.0, 2wd trans is not bad to convert. its possible on some units to pop on an ext housing from a 4x4 if you plan to keep the ranger t case by using the 28 spline adapter. but at 500 bux for the adapter to do that its not exactly best value.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I'm gettin over 18 mpg in my ranger with my 5.0 and its lifted on 35" tires. That's what I was getting back when it was stock and I have all the power I need. But i want more lol. So this summer I'm gonna be swapping my block out though for one I had built.
If you have the time and $ I highly recommend goin with the 5.0. I love mine.

 

[bobbywalter]

I'm gettin over 18 mpg in my ranger with my 5.0 and its lifted on 35" tires. That's what I was getting back when it was stock and I have all the power I need. But i want more lol. So this summer I'm gonna be swapping my block out though for one I had built.
If you have the time and $ I highly recommend goin with the 5.0. I love mine.

i have never seen that in extended running. not doubting you but if your methodology is off or equipment is reporting incorrectly its easy to go over or under.


then again your fuel may be superior as well.


if my 5.0 could get over 18 it would not be in marks pinto....it would still be killing boggers on my truck.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

It's a stock HO 5.0 with 570 Holley street avenger on a edelbrock air gap intake and I have a 5 speed trans. My axels are geared to 4.56's
I went 220 miles before I filled up and it took just barely over 12 gallons. It's possible my speedo is off but idk I haven't took the time to check it.

 

[bobbywalter]

thats a decent setup then. it will run about 80 percent of my favorite shit no problem in any case.


i my experience cali vehicles get freakishly good milage compared to michigan. i think its the fuel blends.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Really? I would of thought they'd get worse cuz all the smog crap lol we do have weird fuel blends compared to the rest of the states.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I'm gonna swap over to a Holley efi set up later this somer. I'm hoping it will stay the same or even get slightly better mpg. Idk either way I'll find out lol

 

[90jurassic2]

You could always just find a 4.0 to put in....

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

https://accounts.craigslist.org/eaf?postingID=3842468134&token=U2FsdGVkX18xMTM1MjExM-zs7QQUzNLX9Rik7Fk9pNhWyAWyWSZVd4LxianWuOIFNUxS2wcIi2R5KDQc6NdkCCiDBBpxMy1y
This guy has a ranger for sale in Elk Grove. Only problem is it was converted to manual and the state won't register it cuz of it lol

 

[86MUDRCJ]

even if you put a 2.9 back in i like at least a 2 in body lift.


4.0 is a good way to go, but they can be clutch killrs too.


on the 5.0, 2wd trans is not bad to convert. its possible on some units to pop on an ext housing from a 4x4 if you plan to keep the ranger t case by using the 28 spline adapter. but at 500 bux for the adapter to do that its not exactly best value.

So if I go with a 4x4 trans then no matter what I'm switching tcase? But I have seen people use the rbv tcase without buying the kit do I assume it was a home brew type deal?

I'm gettin over 18 mpg in my ranger with my 5.0 and its lifted on 35" tires. That's what I was getting back when it was stock and I have all the power I need. But i want more lol. So this summer I'm gonna be swapping my block out though for one I had built.
If you have the time and $ I highly recommend goin with the 5.0. I love mine.

Honestly 18-20 for me would be ideal. But with 37's and 4.88's I don't know if that's feasible. If it was up to me I would do a mild build just to give it an extra skip in its step. How much of a guesstimation would you say on how much it would cost for a stock to mild build?

True but I don't think I wanna mess with v6's anymore lol

 

[86MUDRCJ]

The link comes to a email a friend page?