1987 Bronco 2 5-speed (2.9L) needs clutch ? Any hints/hacks/tips?

[BTR]

Just trailered home ‘87 Bronco 2. I welcome any guidance on the coming clutch replacement. I haven’t really seen it yet, but hoped to be able to drop the trans and transfer case together: probably not, huh? Thanks for any time on this.

 

[gaz]

BTR:

I've use 3 different brands of clutch with my 87 2.9l:

Zoom 2 Kevlar; very grippy, no fun in traffic but super strong clutch, nothing helped get power down better

Centerforce Stage1; better than stock, easier on the leg but did not get as much power to pavement

Some OEM; the cheapest, felt like stock, made my 2.9 feel like a 2.3 four banger but it worked well as far as shifting experience and service life

Also, all 3 were for the 2.9L; I have since learned that I can use the stronger, larger 4.0L clutch. When my current clutch dies I will be using a Centerforce stage1 4.0L replacement.

 

[BTR]

Great help. Thanks.

 

[franklin2]

Taking the transfer case off separately sure makes it lighter and easier to handle.

And I had a ranger and Bronco II. I bought the Bronco II with a bad 5 speed. I swapped the 5 speed from the ranger into the Bronco II. I know some guys do it, don't know how though. But I could not get either one of those transmissions in or out without taking the y pipe off and dropping it down. So that can be another can of worms, getting the nuts loose on the exhaust manifolds. I was able to do it though, soaking them with penetrate, and using a impact to back up, go in, then back up and gently working them off without twisting the studs off.

 

[Snoranger]

Taking the transfer case off separately sure makes it lighter and easier to handle.

And I had a ranger and Bronco II. I bought the Bronco II with a bad 5 speed. I swapped the 5 speed from the ranger into the Bronco II. I know some guys do it, don't know how though. But I could not get either one of those transmissions in or out without taking the y pipe off and dropping it down. So that can be another can of worms, getting the nuts loose on the exhaust manifolds. I was able to do it though, soaking them with penetrate, and using a impact to back up, go in, then back up and gently working them off without twisting the studs off.

Don’t do it... take it to a mom and pop exhaust shop. Have them take the y pipe out and reinstall it. If the bolts/studs break, they’ll replace them.

 

[BTR]

Thank you. I’ll hit those with Blaster solvent tonight and look for that.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

If you're going to do the 4.0 clutch swap, read up on it tin the tech section. Not worth putting a 2.9 clutch back in. Only hard part is getting the starter plate for it.

@85_Ranger4x4 has video somewhere of what happens to a 2.9 stock clutch when you start building up the engine....

 

[BTR]

Don’t do it... take it to a mom and pop exhaust shop. Have them take the y pipe out and reinstall it. If the bolts/studs break, they’ll replace them.

If you're going to do the 4.0 clutch swap, read up on it tin the tech section. Not worth putting a 2.9 clutch back in. Only hard part is getting the starter plate for it.

@85_Ranger4x4 has video somewhere of what happens to a 2.9 stock clutch when you start building up the engine....

 

[BTR]

Good to know. I’ll start investigating starter plate sourcing. Thanks.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you're going to do the 4.0 clutch swap, read up on it tin the tech section. Not worth putting a 2.9 clutch back in. Only hard part is getting the starter plate for it.

@85_Ranger4x4 has video somewhere of what happens to a 2.9 stock clutch when you start building up the engine....

FWIW I don't know if a bigger clutch would have really helped much though.