Work In Progress

[90jurassic2]

Now that you're 2.9 is coming out, look for a 4.0. It's worth it. Unless you come across a 2.3T.

 

[86MUDRCJ]

Go big or go home, i'm puttin a 460 in it. Lol honestly if I come across a complete f150 with a 5.0 then ill grab it. A 2.3T would be cool but I've never really worked on cars with small boosted motors. Plus growing up around racing I'm kinda done with anything less than 8 cylinders, Or 6 cylinders but its a smoker.

 

[90jurassic2]

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.

 

[86MUDRCJ]

I've found the a couple 5.0 expos but they all have been 2wd but of I'm right I could just get any tranny for a 302?. I wouldn't mind putting a bl on anyway would be nice to have a little elbow room.

 

[90jurassic2]

I've never really been fond of body lifts. I figure it's just personal preference. I think you could take the tranny from a 302, but don't take my word for it. I know most five oh's out of an expo will probably have an auto behind it.

 

[86MUDRCJ]

Well a couple guys on here I have seen used a mustang 5.0 and they kept the 4x4 so there has to be way to do it. I might put a bl on if I got an f150 motor but also to if I get a bl I could move the tranny and tcase up into the frame rails and flat belly it if I wanted.

 

[90jurassic2]

That makes sense, but I've seen guys with Yota's just make a raised tranny tunnel in the cab. It looks a lot more cozy that way too. Then again, they had full exo's on the inside and out. I'm thinking with a mustang 5.0 they might have gone with a divorced t case set up?

 

[86MUDRCJ]

They might have on the tcase setup, someday I might exocage it but there's no need to right now. If I don't have to cut that part of the floor out I don't really want to lol that's why I think a body lift would take care of that. But I'll address it when the problem arises.

 

[90jurassic2]

Makes sense. A buddy of mine has a 3 inch on his ranger. He says that it makes it a little easier to reach spark plugs.

 

[86MUDRCJ]

With as tall as its gonna be without the body lift I think it's gonna be a biotch just to get the oil filter off lol

 

[fyre82]

3" BL makes it much easier to work under the hood.

I have an '87 2.9 that I don't intend on doing anything with.
It had clean coolant and oil in it, no mixing that I could see.
It wasn't running cause someone had butchered up wiring
and stuff was missing.

I bought the truck for a donor to my supercab, I'm tearing it apart for another trailer project so if you are interested in the engine, drop a line.
It's ready to be pulled as its just sitting in there in the way of the rest of the demolition . . . I just don't know its condition, it just looks as if it didn't blow up or blow a gasket so far as I can tell.

Rich

 

[86MUDRCJ]

3" BL makes it much easier to work under the hood.

I have an '87 2.9 that I don't intend on doing anything with.
It had clean coolant and oil in it, no mixing that I could see.
It wasn't running cause someone had butchered up wiring
and stuff was missing.

I bought the truck for a donor to my supercab, I'm tearing it apart for another trailer project so if you are interested in the engine, drop a line.
It's ready to be pulled as its just sitting in there in the way of the rest of the demolition . . . I just don't know its condition, it just looks as if it didn't blow up or blow a gasket so far as I can tell.

Rich

I figured a lift was a lift and it might get in the way but its a cheap option till I can afford a bigger lift. I might shoot ya pm. I really only need the heads as far as I know that's what looks like cracked. It would be nice if I could get her runnin again though.

 

[90jurassic2]

Generally with 2.9's, if the heads go bad, there's probably something else wrong under the hood.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

It's WAY easier to swap the whole motor. I vote you get that motor from him. I've done head gaskets and swapped motors. It'll take about the same amount of time. But save you tons of worry and frustration.

 

[FordRanger89]

It's WAY easier to swap the whole motor. I vote you get that motor from him. I've done head gaskets and swapped motors. It'll take about the same amount of time. But save you tons of worry and frustration.

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?