4.0 retrofitted with a distributor?

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

A few years back I remember someone mentioning on here that a member had retrofitted a 4.0 with a distributor ignition in a 1st gen ranger. Would anyone happen to know if they did a build up on it?

 

[bobbywalter]

megajolt is the better option.


https://wiki.autosportlabs.com/MegaJolt_Lite_Jr.

way cost effective.

 

[RonD]

Don't recall anyone doing that

2.9l distributor might work but its not a good spark system(TFI)

And there were no carb intakes for the 2.9l or 4.0l, "they" make them but have to spend alot to get one

 

[adsm08]

The 2.9 distributor would work in a 4.0, physically speaking, but TFI is significantly less reliable than EDIS6.

If you are looking for tuneability an MSD 6AL box is pricey, but will give it to you.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I was thinking along the lines of simplicity. There's an 89, 2.9 Ranger near me for cheap that needs a new engine. Theres also a 4.0 for cheap. Everything I've read states the blocks are the same, but the heads and intake are updated. Just thinkin that if it's possible, might be worth it for a huntin rig and having less than a thousand dollars into it.

Just swap the 4.0 in and retrofit it with the 2.9 ignition system... but it's been like 10 years ago i thought someone had said a member had done this. That's what got me thinkin about the swap.

 

[Dirtman]

What engine is currently in the truck?

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

What engine is currently in the truck?

A 2.9 with a bad piston.

 

[Dirtman]

Ahhhhhh now I understand what your trying to do... buy a cheap 4.0 and use the electronics and ignition that's already in the truck. I'm not an expert on this stuff but I think you'd still run into several problems. The ECU from a 2.9 probably wont run a 4.0 (the parameters are set for the larger volume) so your still stuck swapping stuff. And if you use a 4.0 ecu, you need a 4.0 ignition anyway.

 

[bobbywalter]

yeah....not something you can do plug in play simple. the dizzy is not necessarily simpler then the edis.

 

[97RangerXLT]

somewhere in my foggy brain I think I read on here that the gear on the 2.9 distributor shaft won't work because it is cut backwards (teeth slant to the left instead of the right or vice versa) from the 4.0. I don't remember if that gear can be removed and another one from another application could be placed on there...

AJ

 

[rusty ol ranger]

somewhere in my foggy brain I think I read on here that the gear on the 2.9 distributor shaft won't work because it is cut backwards (teeth slant to the left instead of the right or vice versa) from the 4.0. I don't remember if that gear can be removed and another one from another application could be placed on there...

AJ

The 2.9 gear is backwards from the 2.8 gear.

So in that case perhaps a 2.8 distributor would work?

Either way....

Does the 4.0 even have a hole for a distributor?

 

[Dirtman]

I thought the cam position sensor replaced the distributor using the same hole.

 

[fastpakr]

I thought the cam position sensor replaced the distributor using the same hole.

Yes.

I'm surprised by ADSM's comment that a 2.9 distributor physically fits correctly on a 4.0. Isn't the deck height different?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I thought the cam position sensor replaced the distributor using the same hole.

Ah gotcha.

Ive never really examined a 4.0 that close.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I thought the cam position sensor replaced the distributor using the same hole.

That's correct. Which is why I'm wondering if it's possible lol