1988 Ranger Restoration - Keeping a Promise

[G8orFord]

12 valve 2.9l, 21psi, stock internals, dynos 535hp at the rear wheels

1:40 or so to be able to hear it.

I get it. You're doing it right as best as I can tell, but 21 psi is ALOT for a gasser. I realize tuning can help a lot with today's electronics and fuel injection though. I just don't think stock internals will not last long at that level. What crank are you using? Surely not the cast stock piece.

 

[Blmpkn]

21 pounds is small peanuts for a gasser nowadays

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

I get it. You're doing it right as best as I can tell, but 21 psi is ALOT for a gasser. I realize tuning can help a lot with today's electronics and fuel injection though. I just don't think stock internals will not last long at that level. What crank are you using? Surely not the cast stock piece.

Yuuuuuup, the stock cranks are forged, so that one's being reused.

 

[G8orFord]

21 pounds is small peanuts for a gasser nowadaysView attachment 42984

Maybe for a modern engine or a purpose built engine designed with that in mind, but not a 30+ year old design never intended to be boosted. PJ seems to have all that figured out though.

 

[G8orFord]

Yuuuuuup, the stock cranks are forged, so that one's being reused.

Cool, didn't realize they had factory forged cranks. Most are not.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Cool, didn't realize they had factory forged cranks. Most are not.

Yessir. Iirc factory truck crank mains and clutch pilots very different from merkur block to ranger block. Pruett and uk forums show a few differences, and both mention truck crank is stronger. @Stroker and @DPDISXR4Ti may be able to shed some light here.

IDK wtf kind of cast the factory pistons are either, but holy crap are they strong. Rod bolts are weak point. $60 in ARP bolts fixes it. Morana himself told me that the Eaton m122 was his blower of choice for the 2.9.

I'd recommend to anyone to call him if you're doing a build on the 2.9 or 4.0. he's in his 80s. Pick his brain while you can.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yuuuuuup, the stock cranks are forged, so that one's being reused.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Keep it up, and this is what the trail ride is going to look like.

 

[sgtsandman]

I’d be running too if I had a Dodge coming at me. It might not be able to stop...

 

[McWillies]

If I was less practical and had a couple more loose bolts in my cranium I'd follow in your footsteps... This thread is a gold mine and you sir are the miner. Have the top end of my 2.9 pulled off because I blew the head gaskets and I'm waiting for the heads to get done at the machine shop... My upper intake manifold keeps whispering in my ear about how it wishes it and the lower manifold could flow better

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Side note.... I may have stumbled across the oil pan mod of all oil pan mods.....

 

[Snoranger]

Side note.... I may have stumbled across the oil pan mod of all oil pan mods.....





































View attachment 43192

Interesting, but why did you censor the word LOVE?

 

[Uncle Gump]

Side note.... I may have stumbled across the oil pan mod of all oil pan mods.....





































View attachment 43192

No you didn't!

 

[McWillies]

Definitely added 30 horsetorques with that mod... Don't wanna high-jack your thread, but do you or anyone else have experience with Promaxx Performance heads? Have to buy two new 2.9 heads and I'm torn between them and King. Both companies have new heads with an "improved design." The Promaxx's are cheaper but I can't find much info online about them. Under the "about us" section on their site it says they started up in 2012. I know World Products used to be a common upgrade but they don't make 2.9 heads anymore. From what I've read King has a good reputation. I'm buying assembled heads, so I'm not just worried about the casting quality, but the quality of the moving stuff too. Thanks in advance y'all.

Edit: Just did some looking around and went back in your thread to see what heads you're using. I see it's Promaxx. Can you vouch for the valves, springs, and retainers as well? I'd like to not spend the $650 for Kings if I don't have to, but I will if the Promaxx's aren't worth dealing with.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

The valves, etc that came on my Promax from J&C Enterprises are beyond garbage, and partly responsible for my rebuild.

J&C recycles used valves, springs, etc from old heads and drops them directly into new ones. Three of my valve springs were DOA.

Promax themselves are fine, just need finishing work. No idea about King tbh.