2.9 with fresh rebuilt tranny

[brattonr]

I just had the transmission and the transaxel rebuilt on my 92 4x4.

It took some time to get the engine running smooth as it sat for quite a while with the tranny and transaxel in the bed.

Anyway, I finally have the engine idling at about 900 rpm and it doesn't smoke or leak any fluids. It does have some lifter tick but its a 2.9. Anyway my question is this:

When I accelerate the engine turns about 2500-3000 rpms before it wants to move and it acts like I am pushing something really heavy. Once on the highway to get it to speed it seems a bit better although the over rev is a constant before it "goes". Truck is in 2wd, and the hubs are "free". It almost feels like the brakes are always on just a little, but if I put it in neutral I can easily push the truck around by myself so I don't think the brakes are sticking.

Any ideas? Could it be something like the wheel bearings?

fyi:
Engine was rebuilt about 6 years ago, the heads cracked. It has aftermarket aluminum heads. I just replaced the plugs, air filter, vacuum hoses and checked the plug wires/dist cap.

 

[holyford86]

Don't you mean transfercase? the ranger never came in a front wheel drive configuration. As far as I know there never were any aftermarket aluminum heads offered for the 2.9, there are aftermarket cast iron heads available however. Pull codes, you might have codes even though you don't have a check engine light, without that you're just going to throw parts at it, you may get lucky but it will cost you more in the long run. if the wheel bearings were bad they would be making noise as well as causing drag. there is a possibility that that the trans rebuild wasn't done correctly and it may not be working right.

 

[brattonr]

Don't you mean transfercase? the ranger never came in a front wheel drive configuration. As far as I know there never were any aftermarket aluminum heads offered for the 2.9, there are aftermarket cast iron heads available however. Pull codes, you might have codes even though you don't have a check engine light, without that you're just going to throw parts at it, you may get lucky but it will cost you more in the long run. if the wheel bearings were bad they would be making noise as well as causing drag. there is a possibility that that the trans rebuild wasn't done correctly and it may not be working right.

Yeah, transfercase. I was having a serious case of the brain farts when I typed that. I'll check on the heads, I was told when the engine was rebuilt that they put aluminum aftermarket heads on it. To be honest I never checked. This definately ain't a hod rod motor! LOL

I am hoping its not the transmission, although it has less than 300 miles on it (since the rebuild) and they told me to bring it back in 300 miles. Maybe they will find something. Although in the shape the truck was in they probably never thought they would see it again anyway.

Its gonna be a nickle ($10's) and dimer ($20's) I can tell already. I already sunk 2400 into the transmission.

 

[almostclueless]

Any rebuilt engine of mine that ticks right away would be going back to the shop in a real hurry.

 

[Psychopete]

I'll check on the heads, I was told when the engine was rebuilt that they put aluminum aftermarket heads on it.

+1 to holyford86, I am not sure where this comes from, but I've never seen or heard of an aluminum head for this engine. The aftermarket ones are even cast iron.

I already sunk 2400 into the transmission.

Yikes!

Double check fluid level while it's running and warm. I'd almost wonder if the kick down is adjusted properly? I mentioned brakes, but reread your posts and see you did a neutral push test...

Pete

 

[UnderMedikated]

Everyone seems to want to pull codes to check for trouble like it's some magic bullet.
My experience with reading codes has been anything but "magic." In the electronics trade computer diagnostics has led many a technician down the garden path-LOL. I'm not saying the diagnostics are worthless but be careful. I've pulled codes, ran the same vehicle the next day without changing anything, and got different results. Now how is that helpful?

 

[UnderMedikated]

2.9 aluminum heads?

 

[brattonr]

2.9 aluminum heads?

I stand corrected on the heads. The heads are aftermarket but are not aluminum. After getting the responses here I did a little checking and I had the wrong information. These are the heads on the truck.

http://www.streetperformance.com/part/world-products/cylinder-head/290428-052900.html