1986 bronco 2 engine swap

[dbrad1978]

Hello all,
I am new to this forum but have a question for someone smarter than I. I have purchased another 2.9l to replace the original. The one i purchased is from a bronco 2 with a manual transmission, mine is an automatic. Is there a fly wheel adapter or something i can do so the fly wheel will bolt up or should i try to return the motor for the right one?. Thanks in advance for all help with my problem.

 

[franklin2]

Just take the flywheel off the engine you bought, and then bolt on the flexplate from your old engine. Good to go. If the one 2.9 year is different from the other, they made very minor changes to some sensors and wiring on the engine. If you run into that, just use the same harness as originally came in your truck, and swap any sensors over so it plugs in.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Does the 2.9 use a bearing in the crank center for manuals? ( cant think of correct term) If so, then you need to make sure the new motor is the same as the old motor, either put new one in or take out as needed.

 

[RobbieD]

Does the 2.9 use a bearing in the crank center for manuals? ( cant think of correct term) If so, then you need to make sure the new motor is the same as the old motor, either put new one in or take out as needed.

Good catch. Pilot bearing.

If memory serves the 2.9 manual has the pilot in the flywheel and not in the crank.

OP, you'll need to use the automatic's flexplate AND the spacer. The starter should be the same, 2.9 manual and auto (unlike the 4.0).

Good luck!

 

[franklin2]

Yes, the 2.8 was in the crank, but the 2.9 was in the flywheel. Ran into this when I swapped in a 5 speed that was behind a 2.9 into my BII with a 2.8.

So when the original poster to this thread pulls the manual flywheel off the good engine, the pilot bearing is gone. Ready for the flexplate.

 

[Shran]

Yes, the 2.8 was in the crank, but the 2.9 was in the flywheel. Ran into this when I swapped in a 5 speed that was behind a 2.9 into my BII with a 2.8.

So when the original poster to this thread pulls the manual flywheel off the good engine, the pilot bearing is gone. Ready for the flexplate.

'83/'84 was a bushing in the crank, '85 was in the flywheel, FYI. Only because the input shaft on manual transmissions in 83-84 were longer and stuck through the flywheel into the pilot bushing... any 2.8 can use a 2.9 flywheel & bearing setup though if you wanted to run a transmission from '85 or newer.

 

[BroncLander]

Yes, the 2.8 was in the crank, but the 2.9 was in the flywheel. Ran into this when I swapped in a 5 speed that was behind a 2.9 into my BII with a 2.8.

So when the original poster to this thread pulls the manual flywheel off the good engine, the pilot bearing is gone. Ready for the flexplate.

Noted for a future date. My pilot bearing is in the crank shaft. Burning into memory now

 

[bcschief]

You will also need the spacer behind the flex plate and yes you need to remove the pilot bearing from the back of the crank. For 86 it shows to be the same starter manual or automatic.