need some ideas for a truck

[mentalbreakdown00]

I am thinking on putting a transmission in an acquired van me and my dad got, in turn maybe scoring his 87 B2 4x4 auto. If I did this the poor ol 2.9 is old an tired with a known cracked head or two, what would you do to make it a capable trail rig without too much cash in it, I know a 4.0 and 8.8 and 35, but that stuff aint cheap around here....

 

[gribly]

You can use a 28 and 7.5 with some good 31's and get another 2.9 from a junkyard. I'd do cheapest lift I could, get some used tires, get a junkyard motor (whole thing, don't bother a rebuild) and weld the 28. Trail rig only right? I'd start here and fix/mod what holds you back.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

No I don't want a rig for the trail only.

 

[strvger]

same as what gribly said, but don't weld the front axle. cheap body lift (under $150), less if you get a deal on craig's list or ebay. if you want great tires for cheap, go here: www.treadwright.com
everything else hopefully will come from the jy. good luck.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

All the junk yards around here want 750$ ish for a used 2.9, I can get a 4.0 for the same price or rebuild mine for right at 1K, ALSO i HAVE 79 coil buckets and f-250 shock towers, would leveling the truck fit 31's and I have never found any info on extended radius arms on a barely lifted truck, I think I could have some cheap fun in a B2 with some 31's and a locker, heck my original reason for joining this site about 10 years ago my 85 ranger I only had 30's on it and had a blast

 

[strvger]

mine has a 2in body lift and i'm running 31in tires. yours should be fine with a similar amount of lift in any form really.
i'd keep looking for a good 2.9 for the easiest fix. keep checking craigs list and decide how far you would drive to save a couple hundred bucks for one. i know ebay reman engines are not cheap at all. however, every once in a while, they have complete cars/trucks for parts and you might find one close to you for a good price. also, maybe just find a complete b2/ranger that maybe has other problems but a good engine for cheap.
i'm never afraid to make a drive to save possibly hundreds of dollars. heck, i drove 175 miles and saved $3,000 when i bought my 2009 Kia Sportage last year. more than worth it to me.

 

[Hopman]

heck, i drove 175 miles and saved $3,000 when i bought my 2009 Kia Sportage last year. more than worth it to me.

But you bought a freakin' KIA SPORTAGE!!!!

My apologies, but the issues trying to fix my sister's '97 Elantra really turned me off to Korean cars.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

I will drive to the next town for an engine trans whatever if I can save a few dollars, one problem, I have been searching for 3 months around me (nearest town is minimum 2 - 2 1/2 hrs) and nothing. I have searched all the junkyard through my business, and nothing cheaper then $650 thats a no warranty, no garuntee at all, anything with any garuntee is at least 850$, so it looks like i'm rebuilding or buying a whole other truck, which I haven't found in quite a while. I have found an old 1" body lift though, and some 3" taller ( I think) coils....

 

[feellnfroggy]

Believe it or not, carb'd 302 swap and sas would prolly be the cheapest route to make it 'capable' if you just want it running then back to stock would be the best way to go.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

I have a 302, but no trans or t-case

 

[feellnfroggy]

Theres a bunch in knoxville here and you need to check out OCala4sale.com jacksonville4sale.com orlando4sale.com get the idea? Also craigslist in the ocala area always has some awesomeness. Your only 3 hours from atlanta too, I know for a fact that there are some good deals in atlanta.

 

[feellnfroggy]

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/pts/1888736323.html

This is the shyt, I might even look into it myself.
http://knoxville.craigslist.org/pts/1888057715.html

 

[feellnfroggy]

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/pts/1885953717.html

If you want I can pick this up for you and we can find a way to get it down to you. I can maybe even meet you halfway for gas money. Anything I can do to help a fellow floridian.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

umm atlanta is a minmal 4 hrs, same with ocala

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

thats a 2wd trans, can find 1000 around here