1987 Ranger XLT, 4x4 resurrection

[Teddy da bear]

Hello!

I'm new to the website and forum.

I have a 1987 Ford Ranger XLT, Supercab, 4x4 with 2.9L V6.

Been in storage for 25 years!

I want to bring it back to life. However, I need to source a rebuilt 2.9L V6 engine.

Jasper says "none in stock". Other parts in short supply as well.

Can anyone help me?

 

[franklin2]

What is wrong with your engine?

 

[Teddy da bear]

Well ...from the beginning.

Year was 1997. Old girl had 157,000+ miles on her.
I was building a house (#1 priority).
Ranger was hauling trailer with building supplies when upper radiator hose blew.
Engine super heated......and oil pressure dropped significantly.
Later finding out there was sludge in the engine. When engine overheated it mostly ran down into oil pan blocking oil pump pickup.
Took it to mechanic and he messed with it and for some reason set it aside.
So, I got the truck out of there and put it in my pole barn. I dismantled top of engine and there was sludge up to the top of the lifters. I cleaned it up best I could, but life and building of the house got in the way.

27 years later I decided it's time to bring it back to life. Either an engine rebuild or swap for another rebuilt engine.

However no one can seem to locate one for me. Engine rebuilder also has issue finding certain parts.

 

[franklin2]

If you have all of the pieces, I would rebuild yours. I would first take it apart and check it out, see how the crankshaft looks and the cylinder bores. It may not need much. Or it may need everything. Check out the tech library above, and look under the 2.9 articles. There is one in there that will tell you if you have the better cylinder heads. If you have the lousy cylinder heads, I would not even mess with them, and look to see if they still sell the better aftermarket heads. Mine cracked, and I bought a set off ebay. The price was not bad, and they had it setup already for me to send the old ones back.

I like the 2.9. Very peppy engine and I get 21 mpg with it.

 

[Terrys87]

I see you are in Michigan, here in the mid Missouri, there are a few motors in the bone yard. Guessing game if it is a good one or not. One yard is about 180 for the motor after trade in of your old motor and you pull it. I did not know Jasper did not have any motors available as that what I had planned on doing for a replacement in the future. Finding a place to rebuild motors is getting harder to find and since they are not making the better heads anymore it is going to get harder. A trip down south might be an option you have to use.