$100 1990 2.9 Auto 4WD STX w/4.10s

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75668






Bear with me, I'll get the photos linked better when I get home (can't do the photobucket at work). edit: see if they show up this time.

Bought this for $100 Saturday from Craigslist. Great guy selling it, helped me load it up (come-along onto tow dolly) and everything. THANKS, Dave!!!

It had no wheels/tires, so I threw my 30" mudders into the Sentra and borrowed my buddy's 96 F150 to drag it home. With gas, tow dolly and the $100, I've got about $180 in it already. Yes, I dropped the driveshaft to save the trans. They had only towed it 2 miles from where it died, so it should still be good. If not, I'll get an MO5D, etc.

The 2.9 is locked up solid from low oil pressure (his kid kept driving it with 0 psi at idle, had to goose the gas to get any oil pressure). So, I'll be parting out whatever is still worth anything from the 2.9 that I don't need for the 4.0 swap.

So, my major issue is getting the Tq Converter disconnected from the flywheel. I did find some reference to being able to pull the engine without unbolting the Tq Converter, but I'd like some comment from an experienced hand on that. I'm keeping the supposedly "good" A4LD in it when I bolt up the 4.0.

I drained brown water from the radiator and watched brown globs plop out of the coolant tank. That coupled with oil starvation makes me think the heads are toast. Didn't drain the engine oil yet. I'm thinking about filling the crankcase with ATF to try to unlock the inertia-welded crank bearings. It laughed at my 42" breaker bar, but I didn't strain myself too much. You know how we old farts are with pulled back muscles....


For those commenting in the Test section......! I was home at lunch trying to figure out uploading/linking to photobucket, freaking camera battery died after 4 pics, my puggle snuck out into the field - had to chase her down, my lunch got cold, wife was colder (no nooner today dammit) and I had to wait in line at the Post Office.

I spent about 6 hours on it yesterday, pulling/pushing it to the garage apron with my Sentra and a tire between the bumpers, taking parts off and tagging. Needs a battery and a running, complete 4.0 with computer and radiator.........Bueller?

Hoping to find an Explorer donor...like this one....http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/1600949042.html
but I am out of cash for the moment.


I haven't had a truck since early Nov. Sure is nice to see one "in the chute" when I drive by. I'll update this as I progress.

Way to help a brotha out, thanks.

I would just put a MO5D in it and trash the A4LD. I have to say it is in nice condition from the looks of it. $100 for an extended cab ranger isnt a bad deal, I never did like the 2.9's, they seem to have too many problems from what I hear.

From what I have seen, people put PB Blaster inside the cylinders and let it sit a few days to help unlock an engine.

Best bet on the torque converter is to pull the engine with it still attached and leave the tranny in the truck. Then pull the pan, losen the main bearings and rod bearings, rotate the crank and remove the converter bolts.....been there done that.

Other wise, looks like a fun project! Good luck!

Took a bunch of parts off.
Bumper is off, needs repainted and the trim repainted.
Might find a lower valance with foglights.

Didn't feel like getting under it, so the starter, block ground, trans bolts and exhaust remain the only thing holding me from pulling the motor. Buddy has his engine hoist busy doing a 454 swap in his El Camino. I can wait.

I really need to get a pressure washer in that engine bay too. Beyond filthy.

Let's see if this picture shows up.

Yeah, in the back of my mind I keep thinking put a stick shift in it, but I want the wife to drive it. All she keeps saying is what an ugly truck it is.

I'm looking around for a donor, biding my time, who knows what will end up in there. I'd really like to find a rolled or rear-ended Explorer with an intact drivetrain. I keep thinking put a 4.0 in it for simplicity, but we'll see what donor rolls home behind me.

You forgot to put the "/" at the end [/IMG]

I edited your original for you.

i have a 4.0 and a harness and a ecu if u need it

PM sent.

There are two Clearfields in PA, one near my sister (State College) and the other nearer to Allentown. Which are you?

Didn't do a whole lot tonight. Seats and center console are out, plus trim.
Pulled 4 of the 6 body/cab bolts. The fronts by the radiator support were mush and the two rears were loose.

Since it needs new bushings, might as well lift it for future clearance.
These bolts are not fun done alone.

Are you sure it is a 90 STX? I bought a new 89 STX just like it, minus the dents and peeling paint of course. I thought Ford changed the STX stripes every year. Mine was a very late 89 and did have some 90 parts on it but I would be very surprised if it had 90 STX stripes.

I owned it for 13 year then sold it to a co-worker and he is still driving it with well over 200,000 miles on it. Here is a recent picture of it. It is all original with a just few mods.

That one sure is in better shape than mine. Title says 90. I like the fender flares.

I did a few things today.
Painted the headlight trim, polished the headlamp, turn signal and marker lenses and reassembled them. They turned out ok, not great.
Depopulated and removed the fender liners. Repaired the DS headlamp and turn signal wires (solder spliced and heat shrink tubing); no idea why it was "spliced like that".
Removed all the transmission bolts to the block (fun times).
Cut the 4 bolts from the exhaust manifolds to the Y pipe with a Sawzall. One I could only cut 1/2 way through, so I'm waiting on picking up an extension to snap it.

Took off the PS exhaust manifold for grins. One bolt didn't snap. The rest did, with one snapping off at the bolthead, making for a good long pry job with a crowbar.

So, except for the one DS Y pipe bolt, the engine is pried partway from the transmission and ready to pull (seized 2.9). I drained its oil, looked like recently changed.

I jacked up the body (all the body bolts are installed but not threaded into any nuts) enough to put a piece of 2x4 under each mount. Looks like it's stressing the steering rubber (not rag) joint so I'll need a steering extension or figure a way to relieve that load. Now I'm thinking a 3" body lift might be just the ticket. Need new bushings all around. Brake lines stretched just fine (unclamped). PB bracket needs relocated.

I'm gonna try to stay fairly clean tomorrow, might take it down from the blocks, so I don't have to lift the engine as high. Wife's coming home after being away for a week. House is a mess and she plans to watch the WVU game, so I have a lot to do before then.

I have to strike a delicate balance between "he does fine without me" and "this place is a pig's sty".

I'm washing the sheets though......wish me luck.

Maybe I'll take some pictures tomorrow.

Well, i pulled the seized engine and discovered the carnage.



Unbelievable sludge in the rockers, etc. Obviously run low on oil for a long time.
They are 90 heads, so I'll clean them up and see if they are worth saving or shot. Guy said it didn't overheat, just went thunk and seized at a stop sign. Kid kept driving home with the oil pressure non-existent.


Here's the 87 engine going in once I transfer over some stuff and delete the compressor. I'm going with the bigger throttle body to start with and cleaning the fuel injectors this afternoon.
Painted the fuel rail, no pic. Leaving the EGR plumbing since all the exhaust manifold bolts snapped on the seized motor. Not messing with all that. Guy said this is a low mileage engine, came out of a wrecked 86 or 87 Ranger, I forget. An old man got T-boned. Then it went in his daughter's BII, and her boyfriend totalled it. Plugs looked good, I'm not even cracking open a valve cover.

Lol omg. Nice find in my books. Around here i cant even find a 2nd box with good to no rust, let alone finding someone that is willing to sell theirs lol.