1987 4X4 2.9L oil pump install

[Paulos]

It looks like I may need to change the oil pump in my '87 2.9L 4X4 Ranger, and I have read here in the forums that it may be necessary to pull the engine to change it. I had an '88 2.3L 2X4 Ranger that I was able to raise off the mounts far enough to stick in a 4X4 block on both sides of the block and barely get the pump out, so I'm hoping to not have to actually pull the engine (and trans).

Am I correct in assuming that being a 4X4 makes it more difficult?

 

[shadetreebronco]

I belive i have read here somewhere that you can remove the access plate on the center of the firewall behind the upper intake , unbolt the motor mounts and lift the engine to get some room down there !

 

[adsm08]

4x4 makes this MUCH harder. The 4x4 engine cross member sits almost 2 inches closer to the oil pan. In fact the 4x4 2.9s have a different oil pan than the 2wds. It sits up tighter in the middle.

I have done this almost every way you can think of, and frankly IMO, if the equipment is there to pull the engine out it is not worth the hassle of doing it in the vehicle.

 

[Paulos]

Thanks for the replies. If the 4x4 Rangers are a tighter fit, I'll just wait a bit longer, pull the motor, and rebuild the bottom end (it has 310K+ miles on it). I've got new heads and stainless headers, so I might as well do it all at one time. Hopefully it will last a little longer like it is.

 

[adsm08]

Just start running some thicker oil. That ought to help.