Planning on rebuilding my 89 ranger motor

riss6270 · Oct 2, 2012

I have a 89 ranger with the 2.9l 5 speed 2wd. I just purchased a new well 03 ranger and have had very good luck with ther 89. I dont want to sell it bc it gets very good mpgs. It has a little over 200k on it and just seems like its running out of life. I was thinking about rebuilding the engine. I have never done this before but i think im more than capable of doing it. I just dont now if it is worth it or not. Does anyone have any thoughts and or pointers if i should go through with it. I would spend up to 800 or 900 in doing the rebuild. Is it possible to do it for that amount??? WOuld it be better to get a motor from the junk yard for 350 and rebuild that one and then swap it??? Any thoughts would be great. Also this is my first post so hello to everyone. I have had my 89 ford ranger since i was 17 and just purchased the 03 a mth ago. I love the rangers. The best on the road. I do have to say i am a little shocked that im getting 12mpgs in my 03 ranger 4.0 fx4 4x4 5 speed man. Thought i would be getting a little bit better.

doorgunner · Oct 2, 2012

Welcome! Maybe you can do a good tuneup instead of rebuilding the engine/chek the catalytic converter to see if it's clogging up/add headers/etc to get more pep out of it....(it's not healthy to rebuild an engine that still gets good gas mileage)....just use a couple hundred of that $800 to beef-up the 2.9 & use a hundred to tune up the '03 to get better mileage...

my .02 cents....

NEVERDONE86 · Oct 2, 2012

I JUST REBUILT MINE BECAUSE IT LEAKED REALLY BAD AND GOT HORRABLE MPGS. I WOULDNT REBUILD IT JUST DO A FULL TUNE UP AND RUN IT. :icon_thumby:

O AND WELCOME TO TRS!

doorgunner · Oct 2, 2012

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR MORE INFO:

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132113

country0001 · Oct 2, 2012

Drop a 4.0 in it

riss6270 · Oct 2, 2012

Country...
i dont think i can afford to put gas in 2 4.0l engines. So after read the pose from doorgunner i think im going to do a hell of a tune up. If im doing a tune up would it be worth doing rings and all of that? What would be ideal for a tune up?

martin · Oct 2, 2012

At that mileage it's just broken in, if it's running well and not leaking like a sieve, tune up and drive.

brinker88 · Oct 2, 2012

When you say piston rings, that is far beyond a reg. "tuneup"

fyre82 · Oct 2, 2012

Seems that even with parts from Rock Auto it's almost a grand to rebuild just in parts, that's without head and block work.

That said, its about a grand for a warranted rebuild, or should I say was when I replaced mine a few years ago.

So, like mentioned, if it doesn't leak, too bad, rattle like a can of rocks, then tune it, plugs, cap, rotor, wires. Pull codes to see if there are sensor issues and go from there. A little goes a long way with a 2.9.

Good luck

Rich

doorgunner · Oct 2, 2012

riss6270 said:
Country...
i dont think i can afford to put gas in 2 4.0l engines. So after read the pose from doorgunner i think im going to do a hell of a tune up. If im doing a tune up would it be worth doing rings and all of that? What would be ideal for a tune up?

A. spark plugs
B. spark plug wires
C. distributor cap
D. distributor rotor
E. fuel filter
F. PVC valve
G. air filter
H. oil & filter
I. fuel system treatment(fuel injector cleaner--1 bottle added to next tank of gas)
J. but NOT a ring job!

riss6270 · Oct 2, 2012

Ok. So I'm going to be buying the stuff tomorrow for the tune up. I do have one issue with the truck. The oil pressure is very low. The gauge will go from the n in normal to almost nothing and there is a slight ticking sound when I start the truck. Usually goes away after 5 min or so. But for the most part it runs fine. I will post pics of my two rangers when I figure out how on here.

riss6270 · Oct 2, 2012

One question. Where does the PVC valve go? Never replaced before

riss6270 · Oct 2, 2012

Pcv ...... Stupid auto correct

Psychopete · Oct 2, 2012

passenger side valve cover

country0001 · Oct 2, 2012

I get 21 mpg on the highway in my B2. 16 city. My 2.9's have never got great mileage

Planning on rebuilding my 89 ranger motor

New Member

Lab Rat for V.A. hospital

New Member

Lab Rat for V.A. hospital

Active Member

New Member

New Member

11/2013 OTOM Winner

Member

Lab Rat for V.A. hospital

New Member

New Member

New Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad

Member & Vendor Upgrades

Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store

Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad

Amazon Deals