- Joined
- Jun 1, 2001
- Messages
- 7,897
- Reaction score
- 135
- Points
- 63
- Age
- 62
- Location
- East-Central Pennsylvania
- Vehicle Year
- 1987... sorta
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- '93 4.0
- Transmission
- Manual
2.9's are either absolute junk or the best motor ford made depending on who you talk to.... and WHEN you talk to them.im just looking for a light offroader, something I can take camping etc. Not planning on doing any crazy offroading. I really like the body style of this ranger http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twU0kJznqM8, what other years had that front end style?
edit: also, is there anything wrong with the 2.9L's?
The problem is that they are one of the best ford engines until they break, then you are basically screwed.
As I've said before and been quoted by people using my quote as a sig
"a 4.0 IS the performance modification to improve a 2.9"
Anything the 2.9 does (except get good highway mileage) the 4.0 does better.
The 4.0 makes more torque at 1200rpm than a 2.9 can make at it's torque peak.
The rub is if you like the 1983-88 body style they didn't come with the 4.0 engine (introduced in 1990) and swapping one in is essentially a "wiring nightmare", I've done it (on my 1987), so have several others, but it's not within everyone's capability to do so.
The 1989-90 body style is similar and swapping a 4.0 into one of those is FAR easier, but easier yet is getting a 1991-92 that already HAS a 4.0
why not a 1990? because ford made exactly eleven 1990 4.0 Rangers
with 5sp manual transmission and those were never "Emissions certified"
and frankly you don't want an automatic.
Why is the A4LD suck a total POS? it's simple, when you take a GERMAN engine and bolt a FRANCH transmission to it and the FRENCH transmission
will either surrender or get the crap knocked out of it.
On later rangers I'm not a particular fan of the 1995-97's because of the switch to EEC5/OBD2 and the complete mess they made of the wiring.
even the god-damned dome light is controlled by a computer module.
but I DO like the two piston brakes they used those years.
So what I'd specifically recommend you look for is either a 1993 4.0 5sp Ranger OR a Non-EGR(Most Non-California) 1994s, then swap the 1995-97 beams and front brakes onto it.
AD