84/88 Bronco 2 overhaul/engine-swap/paint/scrap

[PetesPonies]

2 gallons??? whoa partner, you could paint both with that much paint. What equipment are you using? Serious, 1 gallon would paint the BII with plenty left over.

 

[Shran]

I'd run the automatic. The C5 is a great transmission and even better with C4 internals. You (probably) have an FM145 or FM146 in the '88...the chances of it being worn out or close to it are fairly good. They are not the greatest. I pulled a good FM145 from my '86 and put in on craigslist, and had ten calls within a day from people trying to revive their old RBV.

 

[Pbheadshots]

2 gallons??? whoa partner, you could paint both with that much paint. What equipment are you using? Serious, 1 gallon would paint the BII with plenty left over.

It was cheaper to buy 2 gallons than 1 gallon and 2 quarts, im using a HPLV sprayer. I wanted to have plenty of paint to paint the entire truck, under the hood, door jams, etc and still have paint left over when i end up gouging it on the trails. Plus im using the paint for another friends car.

I'd run the automatic. The C5 is a great transmission and even better with C4 internals. You (probably) have an FM145 or FM146 in the '88...the chances of it being worn out or close to it are fairly good. They are not the greatest. I pulled a good FM145 from my '86 and put in on craigslist, and had ten calls within a day from people trying to revive their old RBV.

Really? I think the 84 has a C4 or C3, since it doesnt have overdrive. Since it doesnt have overdrive can i use the computer from the 88 even though its a stick?

 

[Shran]

It's a C5 (which is almost identical to a C4.) C3's and C4's were never offered in RBVs.

Yes, you can use the computer for the '88. Speed density ECMs do not care what transmission you have behind the engine. I am using the ECM from a Crown Vic which had an AOD and I have a 4 speed NP435 manual in my truck... works great. You will just have to fabricate a kickdown cable/rod, but that is a very small price to pay to have a nice transmission.

 

[Pbheadshots]

It's a C5 (which is almost identical to a C4.) C3's and C4's were never offered in RBVs.

Yes, you can use the computer for the '88. Speed density ECMs do not care what transmission you have behind the engine. I am using the ECM from a Crown Vic which had an AOD and I have a 4 speed NP435 manual in my truck... works great. You will just have to fabricate a kickdown cable/rod, but that is a very small price to pay to have a nice transmission.

Thanks for the clarification! Well i'm doubting i will have to fab anything since the 84 already has the C5 in it. But... besides the point has anyone here ran into problems with their fm146?

 

[Shran]

No you'll need to make the kickdown rod/cable if you put the 2.9 in. That will allow the automatic to shift down into first when you come to a stop. People have put C5's behind 4.0s, it is doable.

The big problem with the FM transmissions is that they are not very strong, the shifter bushing breaks off and is impossible to replace (leaving you with a very sloppy shifter that won't let you shift into some gears all the way) and the input shaft bearings fail rather quickly.

 

[Pbheadshots]

No you'll need to make the kickdown rod/cable if you put the 2.9 in. That will allow the automatic to shift down into first when you come to a stop. People have put C5's behind 4.0s, it is doable.

The big problem with the FM transmissions is that they are not very strong, the shifter bushing breaks off and is impossible to replace (leaving you with a very sloppy shifter that won't let you shift into some gears all the way) and the input shaft bearings fail rather quickly.

i thought the 2.8 and the 2.9 have the same bellhousing, the C5 is from a 2.8? explain please.

 

[nightcop]

if you look at the tech page on the rangerstation you can find most of the info you will need to do your swap. I just transplanted a 92 explorer 4.0 into my 88 ranger after rebuilding the motor. I took infomation from all the post listed in the tech pages along with a shop manuel. I haven't finished every thing yet but the motor runs good. just got the new exhaust to finish up and some body work that happened from a storm we had. I will be posting pic of the whole swap once i finish everything. Thanks to all the guys that posted info on their swaps.

 

[Pbheadshots]

if you look at the tech page on the rangerstation you can find most of the info you will need to do your swap. I just transplanted a 92 explorer 4.0 into my 88 ranger after rebuilding the motor. I took infomation from all the post listed in the tech pages along with a shop manuel. I haven't finished every thing yet but the motor runs good. just got the new exhaust to finish up and some body work that happened from a storm we had. I will be posting pic of the whole swap once i finish everything. Thanks to all the guys that posted info on their swaps.

That would be awesome to see some pics of your work!

 

[Shran]

i thought the 2.8 and the 2.9 have the same bellhousing, the C5 is from a 2.8? explain please.

They do, and so does the 4.0. The bellhousing bolt pattern is the same on all three. What I am saying is that you will need to build a kickdown rod or cable (it is a metal tube that goes from the carburetor to the shift linkage on the trans) because the 2.9's throttle body is in a different spot. Automatic transmissions will not downshift correctly or at all if you don't have the kickdown set up correctly.

 

[Pbheadshots]

They do, and so does the 4.0. The bellhousing bolt pattern is the same on all three. What I am saying is that you will need to build a kickdown rod or cable (it is a metal tube that goes from the carburetor to the shift linkage on the trans) because the 2.9's throttle body is in a different spot. Automatic transmissions will not downshift correctly or at all if you don't have the kickdown set up correctly.

You my friend are a fountain of knowledge! Fm146 for me!

 

[Pbheadshots]

Bad and good news, whatever way you take it.

I have finally decided that my easiest and best option is to use my origInal rig as the project since the 2.9 and manual tranny is already In it, so what's on my list to do is:
- strip the interior out of both
- use the 84's bucket seats trim, panels, dash, etc.. To replace the 88 beat up interior and add some nice features to the rig.
- recoat interior with more roll on bedliner, this time doing a better job.
- body work, paint outsides, paint undercarriage, and maybe add a strip of bedliner to act as a protective quarter panel.
- refinish headers, valve covers, intake etc.
- work out the 8mpg kink in the system
- wire up a more full proof system consisting of another fuse box, with my auxiliary lights and etc.
- whatever else crosses my mind.

The reason behind the sudden switch is because I looked at the project and it turned into something I could achieve the same goals without, swapping the engine, transmission, rear axle, front diff, suspension, and end up having to wire up the mess made, and not considering all the paper work needed to be filled to fix the title work and get it road legal as in the eyes of the DMV.

Hopefully you guys won't be too mad about the sudden turnaround but time is a crisis here and so is money! Hopefully you guys will stick around and watch the project progress in the other direction using the 88.

 

[PetesPonies]

It's worth investing in a HVLP setup. I do everything you mentioned with less than a gallon on an avergae car. I painted a Lincoln, no jambs, with 1/2 gallon. No use throwing all the painted into the air.

 

[Pbheadshots]

It's worth investing in a HVLP setup. I do everything you mentioned with less than a gallon on an avergae car. I painted a Lincoln, no jambs, with 1/2 gallon. No use throwing all the painted into the air.

I have a hvlp setup, I bought 2 gallons cause one if for my b2 and the other is for another project. And like I said, it was cheaper to buy 2 gallons than 1 gallon and 2 quarts. I didn't invest too much into the paint in the first place.

 

[PetesPonies]

This is what you wrote first . . .

im using a HPLV sprayer.

that's high pressure, low volume . . which is a conventional spray setup. Now you say you have HVLP which is high volume low pressure.

So see why you are confusing me??