1988 2.9 automatic ranger, head gasket/cracked cylinder

[twocoloreyes]

my ranger either has a blown head gasket or a cracked cylinder. it overheated and now it wont drive very far without having issues, and there is water in the oil.

what ever the problem is, im wondering if it is worth fixing. i have no know-how or resources to fix it myself, so i will probably have to take it to a mechanic. i picked up the truck for about 2000, the cost to fix it quoted out about 900-1500 depending on the problem.

so what do you think? fix it? part it out? new engine?

 

[disciplerocks]

Depends on what its worth to you. You could pull the head off and see if its just the gasket and replace. Thats what I'd do. Or you could consider it a blessing and find yourself a 4.0 to drop in. Its all up to you.

 

[bigblue88]

4.0 swap

Depends on what its worth to you. You could pull the head off and see if its just the gasket and replace. Thats what I'd do. Or you could consider it a blessing and find yourself a 4.0 to drop in. Its all up to you.

Would you have to change around some things or a lot of things for this.

 

[jhammel85]

^ Agreed. However, I'd stop driving it before the whole engine goes! If I were you I would be replacing it myself but since you aren't sure how, I would have a mechanic do it for me. Even for that price, its cheaper than buying a new car or truck. Especially one for those prices...Plus you could be buying someone else's problem, ya know?

 

[jhammel85]

Would you have to change around some things or a lot of things for this.

Theres a pretty good sticky on our forums about swapping those 4.0's in.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/4L_Conversion.html

 

[twocoloreyes]

is it possible to put an 89 engine in an 88?

 

[disciplerocks]

Of course. Should be a direct swap. Not sure if all the sensors have the same plugs, but they should.

 

[jhammel85]

Should be OK, Just don't use the MAF from the 89. You're cpu won't see it anyway.

Do a search here though before you do it. Just to make sure you don't miss anything!

 

[Psychopete]

Should be OK, Just don't use the MAF from the 89.

Only the California emissions computer utilized a MAS.

86-92 2.9L will work, but there are some subtle differences. A big gotcha is fuel lines to the rail and fuel pressure regulator. But swapping the fuel rail is pretty simple, and really could save time if you pull the fuel rail before the engine, my '88 had spring-loks, which after the years the spring in the fitting became difficult to work with. If you pull the rail, won't even have to mess with disconnecting the lines. Same w/ power steering pump. TPS plug may differ, but I am not entirely sure. TPS sensor should swap over regardless.

 

[jhammel85]

Oops, Sorry. I thought the 89+'s had Mass Air Flow Sensors in the intake tubing.

 

[Psychopete]

Oops, Sorry. I thought the 89+'s had Mass Air Flow Sensors in the intake tubing.

Would have been nice, those MAF computers can be hard to find over here in the Mid-west! Had to order mine from a junk yard in California for $$.