• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

4.0 retrofitted with a distributor?


Rowdy Fitzgerald

Hog hunter
Firefighter
EMT / Paramedic
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Aug 29, 2008
Messages
2,271
Reaction score
372
Points
113
Location
Nevada
Vehicle Year
1987, 1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0,4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Total Lift
6”
Tire Size
35
So I picked up an 89 today. They guy had started a 4.0 swap. He took an engine out of a automatic 92 explorer and swapped the engine, harnes and computer over. I don't know if I should pull the 4.0 harness and put the 2.9 harness back in to try getting it to run with the distributor or just go through everything and double check his work to finish it up.
 

Attachments



RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,291
Reaction score
8,295
Points
113
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
So I picked up an 89 today. They guy had started a 4.0 swap. He took an engine out of a automatic 92 explorer and swapped the engine, harnes and computer over. I don't know if I should pull the 4.0 harness and put the 2.9 harness back in to try getting it to run with the distributor or just go through everything and double check his work to finish it up.
???

2.9l use MAP and distributor
4.0l used MAF and EDIS-6(spark module)

Not really interchangeable unless you are swapping the 2.9l back in
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
7,826
Reaction score
6,565
Points
113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
And if you dont want that 2.9 harness, I have a home for it.
 

snoranger

Professional money waster
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
RBV's on Boost
ASE Certified Tech
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Nov 25, 2007
Messages
13,053
Reaction score
13,525
Points
113
Location
Jackson, NJ
Vehicle Year
'79,'94,'02,'23
Make / Model
All Fords
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!

Rowdy Fitzgerald

Hog hunter
Firefighter
EMT / Paramedic
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Aug 29, 2008
Messages
2,271
Reaction score
372
Points
113
Location
Nevada
Vehicle Year
1987, 1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0,4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Total Lift
6”
Tire Size
35
Ron- I know, I was going to try to install a distributor and see if it was possible to run a 4.0 with the 2.9 ignition system. That's why I initially started this thread. I still have a spare 93 4.0, so I may buy another Ranger later on just to try it.
 

Rowdy Fitzgerald

Hog hunter
Firefighter
EMT / Paramedic
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Aug 29, 2008
Messages
2,271
Reaction score
372
Points
113
Location
Nevada
Vehicle Year
1987, 1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0,4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Total Lift
6”
Tire Size
35

RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,291
Reaction score
8,295
Points
113
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
Problem will be in the computer, both spark systems need "vacuum advance" which they get from the computer
Vacuum advance is Engine Load advance, the TFI and EDIS-6 both have RPM advance, but they have no way to tell what the engine Load is, thats what "vacuum advance" was for on the older systems, the computer does have engine Load i.e. throttle position and engine RPMs, and/or MAP and MAF data
So computer sends "vacuum advance"/engine load info to the spark system, and its different for 2.9l and 4.0l spark systems

And not sure if 2.9l distributor even works in the 4.0l

If it does then you could run the 2.9l computer and systems, I think 4.0l had larger injectors than 2.9l, but worse case is you would get a full time lean code until you got larger injectors


But not sure why you would even want to do that, the pre-1995 4.0l spark system was way more reliable than the TFI setup
 
Last edited:

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
7,826
Reaction score
6,565
Points
113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
We'll see what happens. I haven't looked that over yet, idk what kinda condition it's in.
Good chunks are fine tbh. I rewire crap all the time to retrofit, pigtails and pins are useful, also ecm plugs and the stupid silicone gasket.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
7,826
Reaction score
6,565
Points
113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Problem will be in the computer, both spark systems need "vacuum advance" which they get from the computer
Vacuum advance is Engine Load advance, the TFI and EDIS-6 both have RPM advance, but they have no way to tell what the engine Load is, thats what "vacuum advance" was for on the older systems, the computer does have engine Load i.e. throttle position and engine RPMs, and/or MAP and MAF data
So computer sends "vacuum advance"/engine load info to the spark system, and its different for 2.9l and 4.0l spark systems
And this is why speed density is better than maf.

Fight me.


An experiment i meant to try was converting a 2.9 to a 4.0 spark and maf setup for the adaptability. I was planning on making my modifications to try and hit the sweet spot on the 4.0 ecm. Never got around to it.

And not sure if 2.9l distributor even works in the 4.0l
So, euro boys say no, but I've never tried it. There's a deck height discrepancy in the ford performance information pdf. The 2.9s block height is incorrect, 4.0 block is taller, 2.9 shares deck height with 2.8. Been meaning to try it, but time sucks.



But not sure why you would even want to do that, the pre-1995 4.0l spark system was way more reliable than the TFI setup
If you want your TFI system to last, remote mount it. They never perform well after getting too warm. There's a noticeable performance change and they never quite come back.

EDIS wasted spark is one of the best ignition systems out there, beats the pants out of tfi.
 

Rowdy Fitzgerald

Hog hunter
Firefighter
EMT / Paramedic
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Aug 29, 2008
Messages
2,271
Reaction score
372
Points
113
Location
Nevada
Vehicle Year
1987, 1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0,4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Total Lift
6”
Tire Size
35
I wanted to try it just for the hell of it, really. Seeing as how the 4.0 is what, 50hp more? I figured it would be a easy way to boost power and not spend much money or need much experience with wiring.
 

TigerDan

New Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2016
Messages
29
Reaction score
21
Points
3
Vehicle Year
1967
Make / Model
Sunbeam Alpine
Transmission
Manual
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?
The difference in height is in the lower end.... longer stroke ? About 3/4" ?
 

TigerDan

New Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2016
Messages
29
Reaction score
21
Points
3
Vehicle Year
1967
Make / Model
Sunbeam Alpine
Transmission
Manual
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?
I believe the 2.8's are different from the 2.9 & 4.0's I have some of the 2.8 distributors and a 2.9 as well as what is in the 4.0 will compare them....
 

fastpakr

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
U.S. Military - Veteran
V8 Engine Swap
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
7,991
Reaction score
2,791
Points
113
Location
Roanoke, VA
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
285/75-16
The difference in height is in the lower end.... longer stroke ? About 3/4" ?
Yes, the stroke is longer, but the deck height is greater as well.
However, the difference appears to be taken up by keeping the cam at the same height relative to the deck and separating it further from the crank.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
7,826
Reaction score
6,565
Points
113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Yes, the stroke is longer, but the deck height is greater as well.
However, the difference appears to be taken up by keeping the cam at the same height relative to the deck and separating it further from the crank.
Deck height on 4.0 is 0.800" greater than 2.8/2.9.

Pruett book, forget page number. Available in the tech section.
 

DPDISXR4Ti

Active Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2019
Messages
126
Reaction score
33
Points
28
Location
New York
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ranger
Transmission
Manual
Originally we were taking about getting the 2.9l computer, distributor and wiring to work on a 4.0l engine, which seems doable
Yikes, 10 pages and this ^^^ question still isn't answered. Sorry, I also don't have the definitive answer, just the question. In the Merkur world we have a more valid reason for doing this as our 2.9 has different stuff (intake, accessories, etc) from the Ranger, so just dropping in a Ranger 4.0 isn't as easy. A couple of us are contemplating a 4L swap though, but really just want to swap the long-block and leave most everything else alone. The one thing that's probably required is a "hybrid" intake manifold made using the lower portion of the 4L manifold welded to a Scorpio upper that's had it's runners cut off.

So yes, it would be nice to know if there is a way to run the 2.9 distributor in the 4.0. It sounds like perhaps it's just a matter of getting the height right?

On a side note, I've run 16.7 pph EV6 fuel injectors as found on the 2002-2004 4.6 Explorer with no other changes. The engine ran great, but was a bit rich and wouldn't go into closed-loop so I went back to 14's, just newer EV6 ones from a circa 2004 3L Ranger. So perhaps with a 4L and the 2.9 engine management, things might work well.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top