I6 swapped b2

[rusty ol ranger]

I think the 2.9 makes a decent small truck engine. Why do you think they put 3.73 gears in it? Let it wind out, it will get a loaded truck moving. I ruined the rear leaf springs in my 2.9 ranger from hauling full loads of green firewood in it. And it had the longbed on it. You won't use 5th gear very much when loaded, leave it in 4th and let it eat.

The 2.8 I have now is pretty weak. But if I really dog it, it will go half-decent. If it doesn't complain about me using all it has each time I drive it, then I think we can get along and get the job done.

And I agree about the book. Not much info in there that I saw besides standard engine rebuilding techniques. Go out and buy "How to rebuild your small block Ford" and you will get 3/4 of the info in the cologne book.

Ive got 3.45s behind my 2.9 and never have hurt for power.

I think people expect the 2.9 to perform like a V8 sometimes. Compare it to a 2.3, 2.8, or whatever junk GM was using during that time period, and youll see the 2.9 quickly becomes a shining star.

 

[8thTon]

Yeah I don't know what people think gears are for. My tractor has maybe 30hp. Put it in low range 1st gear and it will pull whatever.

 

[bobbywalter]

Ive got 3.45s behind my 2.9 and never have hurt for power.

I think people expect the 2.9 to perform like a V8 sometimes. Compare it to a 2.3, 2.8, or whatever junk GM was using during that time period, and youll see the 2.9 quickly becomes a shining star.

yup. that is factual with two thumbs up and a snap in a circle.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Yeah I don't know what people think gears are for. My tractor has maybe 30hp. Put it in low range 1st gear and it will pull whatever.

My 10hp farmall cub dragged my 4000lb 77LTD II out of the garage with 3 locked brakes.

Gearing and traction does alot

 

[4x4prepper]

We will see how the 2.8L carb. in a B2 does for towing. I am about to upgrade both axles (Dana 28/7.5) to 5.13 - 5.14 gears. Locker in the front. maybe welded in the rear. Plan on running p235/75r15 and not going more then 55 mph about 3200 rpms.

 

[franklin2]

We will see how the 2.8L carb. in a B2 does for towing. I am about to upgrade both axles (Dana 28/7.5) to 5.13 - 5.14 gears. Locker in the front. maybe welded in the rear. Plan on running p235/75r15 and not going more then 55 mph about 3200 rpms.

Do you have a source for your axle upgrades? I looked the other day and didn't see hardly anything for the Dana 28 and very little for the 7.5. Unless you can find someone with some leftovers on the shelf in inventory. More selection for the Dana 35 and the Ford 8.8.

 

[Shran]

We will see how the 2.8L carb. in a B2 does for towing. I am about to upgrade both axles (Dana 28/7.5) to 5.13 - 5.14 gears. Locker in the front. maybe welded in the rear. Plan on running p235/75r15 and not going more then 55 mph about 3200 rpms.

wut

Towing in general with a B2 sounds like a pile of fun but with a welded rear axle?

No idea where you're gonna find 5:13s for your axles either, I thought 4.56 was the lowest ratio available for the D28 and those were hard to find years ago, plus the pinion gets godawful tiny...

 

[wildbill23c]

wut

Towing in general with a B2 sounds like a pile of fun but with a welded rear axle?

No idea where you're gonna find 5:13s for your axles either, I thought 4.56 was the lowest ratio available for the D28 and those were hard to find years ago, plus the pinion gets godawful tiny...

The B2 will tow, but its short narrow wheelbase is far from ideal, the slightest cross wind will have you all over the road, hell a crosswind with just the B2 will have you all over the road especially if you've still got 30+ year old steering and suspension LOL. The engine/transmission can do it, that's not the problem, the problem is the Bronco 2's size, or lack of....I think max trailer capacity was 3500lbs and I'd say that's pretty far fetched in the real world....maybe on a good day on perfectly flat ground with no other vehicles around to cut you off, etc.

 

[stegomon]

When my bronco had 205 tires I could smoke the. All day. I was even getting around 25-30 mph. But now I have 31 inch tires and a rear locker. I am lucky to get 15

 

[4x4prepper]

> No idea where you're gonna find 5:13s for your axles either,

Well, did you know the Ford Escape uses a rear Dana 28 and the 5.13 R&P fits the IFS 28? Wish I had known about the carrier break ...

I bought my 5.13 R&P from Barnett Performance at http://www.b1320.com Sales person Nick was a huge help and I am going back for my rear axle R&P too.

Still a toss up between the 7.5 and 8.8. With the 8.8 I get a spool, less expensive for 5.13 gears, but, I have to change the yoke or drive shaft. With the 7.5 I weld the gears and get to use everything I now have.

I tow a lot, I believe the spool or welded rear end will be more predictable when shifting gears using the manual transmission then with a lunch box locker.

 

[Greentitan]

So I'm looking at getting rid of the 2.8 currently in my truck. I looked at the 2.9 and a few others but with the associated problems of the 2.9 and Cali's laws, I think I've settled on the AMC 258 out of a cj7. Is there anyone here that has done something similar in a b2 or a ranger?

Not an answer but I'm gonna be attempting an m52 swap from a BMW. So we both will be doing I6 swapps

 

[Greentitan]

Remember the context is what Will is referring to.





If an inline is really what you want...

I would look at the Jeep 4.o or a supra engine. The BMW offerings are good but the Toyotas are bad ass...there are quite a few inline 6 that are modern that will be nice. The Jeep stuff fits better then the full-size ford stuff. Easier to fit trans and t case


The Ford 300 with a speedway style intake/exhaust, a fi tech and matched cam will fit and be a monster. With a turbo it would be wild.





Then there is the easy button.

The 4.0 is to the 2.9 what the 351 is to the 302. A waste of time or a dream come true depending on your specific needs.

In a stock truck doing mostly car stuff... say commuting, the 2.9.... especially paired with a manual trans is really good.

like the 351....the 4.0 just uses more gas for required commuter performance.

If your generally loaded with 800 or more pounds or haul shit regular....have a lifted truck with 33 or larger tires, the 4.0....again especially paired with a manual trans, is by a a sizeable margin the best engine outside of the 2.3 Ecoboost....


Two things about the rbv....evicting a Dana 35 or a 4.0 that works well from an rbv for a stockish 302 and Dana 44 is a waste of time if your not going all out. This means 37 or larger tires and 300 or more HP...in which the d44 is upgradeable a d like the 302....easily so. But money.


And for effort and time over performance...a downgrade.


With a 2wd.....a supra seems the easy power of you can find it cost effectively. Big engines though.

Since I plan on putting an I6 in my 89 ranger I've been looking at the 2j or some others from Toyota but for cost I have found a running and in good shape BMW m52 n/a out of a E36. I do know I'm sacrificing a little reliability.

 

[Brian Rhoades]

Why do you want an i6? I happen to like the 2.8l provided you remove the computer, duraspark it and run a regular 2150 carb. It will run and run and run. Old reliable and cheap to fix if anything ever does go wrong. There are negatives though. It lacks power big time and fuel economy is pretty sad too especially if your lifted with 5.13 gears(8.8 and dana35 swapped) and 35's. It does the job offroad on the trails though.

Anyways you might consider an early 90's 4.0l swap. Pretty easy to do, more torque, power and similar mpg. Or consider a HO 5.0L swap. Not as easy but not very hard either. Again more power, torque, and similar mpg.

I honestly don't think an I6 is worth the trouble.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Brian Rhoades]

Oh also, I would not ever bother with regearing a D28. Way to weak. 5.13's???

 

[franklin2]

Oh also, I would not ever bother with regearing a D28. Way to weak. 5.13's???

I just put new front axle u-joints on my 84 BII. Those axle u-joints are tiny little things aren't they?

I just finished up the ugly ttb balljoint replacement. Done 3 of them now on different trucks and none of them were very much fun.