2.9 build not 4.0 swap

[BLUTHUNDER1]

No engine swaps none !!!!!!!!!! Just bought 2 2.9 engines for $150 one has good compression and runs. Other one has stuck rings. Beside k&n filter , after market ignition and porting does one have any dirt cheap 2.9 build tips. Also does any one know where i can get world 2.9 head (i do not want to swap engines !!!!!!!!!!!) i do not have any extra money to spend this is my work truck. Thanks

 

[Big Jim M]

What??

No engine swaps none !!!!!!!!!! Just bought 2 2.9 engines for $150 one has good compression and runs. Other one has stuck rings. Beside k&n filter , after market ignition and porting does one have any dirt cheap 2.9 build tips. Also does any one know where i can get world 2.9 head (i do not want to swap engines !!!!!!!!!!!) i do not have any extra money to spend this is my work truck. Thanks

THINK about what you have asked! If there were any "dirt cheap" ways to improve the 2.9, doncha THINK the engineers at Ford would have done them to that little engine? If you want more horsepower or torque do an engine swap to a 5.0... Horsepower don't come cheap!
The K&N won't help one damn thing except to cause more wear on your engine. Aftermarket ignition won't give even ONE HORSEPOWER! Porting and polishing will only help at very high rpm. World heads are the same as stock heads...just a little heavyer! There is no substitute for cubic inches.
Big JIm

 

[low_five]

THINK about what you have asked! If there were any "dirt cheap" ways to improve the 2.9, doncha THINK the engineers at Ford would have done them to that little engine? If you want more horsepower or torque do an engine swap to a 5.0... Horsepower don't come cheap!
VThe K&N won't help one damn thing except to cause more wear on your engine. Aftermarket ignition won't give even ONE HORSEPOWER! Porting and polishing will only help at very high rpm. World heads are the same as stock heads...just a little heavyer! There is no substitute for cubic inches.
Big JIm

I agree with almost everything he said except nitrous is a good substitute for cubes. Way cheaper too.

 

[Psychopete]

Ebay was selling world castings, but they are expensive. As far as I know, they have been discontinued.

What are your goals? You have 2 spare engines, and there isn't much improvement to be had unfortunately that is cheap. I think gears would be the biggest bang for the buck, but best to look to see what you have and what size tires.

 

[Ivy Mike]

You're looking for a cheap performance upgrade on a truck you use for work?

Have you ever heard the saying "Fast, Cheap and Good...pick two."
If it's fast and cheap, it won't be good.
If it's cheap and good, it won't be fast.
If it's good and fast, it won't be cheap.

You are also looking at tearing down the entire top end of the engine no matter what you do. It really would be easier to simply swap the motor out.
The only cheaper options I can think of would be nitrous or just re-gear the rear end so it feels faster.

 

[Ivy Mike]

I suppose you could put together a junkyard turbo setup but the amount of work required there is going to be more involved than swapping in a 4.0. Probably more expensive as well.

 

[RustedRanger]

If I had the money and my truck wasn't a rust bucket I would go with a remote mount turbo set up. I did a net search and a guy put one on a Chevy Cavalier with very good results and he did it in a day. But then that guy does that kind of thing for a living. The best thing about it is that the motor is unchanged except for the intake hose. Of course it would need some tuning but guys are getting good (not huge) gains with low boost and an increase of 1-2 mpg driving easy.

 

[Aaron84]

I am doing the same thing as you right now and after call after call and countless hours of research I found some one who built or more or less woke up a 2.9 and he agreed to let me ride in his truck 4in skyjacker lift 33s 4.10 gears and a 5speed and all he did was port and polish everything and had a mild cam it was very clean ran 100x better then stock and thats not crazy expencive ither. In my engine im going to run a better piston with less blowby port match and polish the intake full valve job back cut the valves and mill the heads to clean them up if needed. the crank is at the shop being miked and polished right now so ill let you know asap.