2.8/2.9

[Richard]

this guy has a 1985 ford ranger with a 2.8 and he wants to put a 2.9 in it. is there much difference between the two ? will it just bolt up ? any info would be great. Thank You.

 

[BobR]

the pilot bearing on the 2.8 is in the crank, on the 2.9 its in the flywheel.

so 2.8 engines can be bolted to a 2.9 tranny

there will be clearance issues to deal with when bolting a 2.9 engine to a 2.8 tranny.


4.0 trannys can work on both.


the biggest PITA when installing a 2.9 in an older vehicle is the wires.

Bob

 

[Richard]

Thank You.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Also the 2.8 is carbureted and 2.9 fuel injected so the gas tank/fuel pump will need to be addressed.

 

[yodusty]

I am considering this swap also and would like as much input as possibe. I want to turn my truck with a 9" lift into a daily driver so I don't want to go with a 4.0 or 5.0 for fuel economy purposes.

 

[Teoma]

Other then the fuel injection, are there other differences in the engines? Could you just swap a 2.8 intake onto a 2.9 block?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Other then the fuel injection, are there other differences in the engines? Could you just swap a 2.8 intake onto a 2.9 block?

The valves are in different places so nothing would line up. Add to the mix that the 2.9 has a timing chain and the 2.8 have timing gears so the camshaft spin in different directions. Not much interchanges between the two engines.

Although I took a 1986 A4LD that was behind a 2.9 and put it behind my 2.8, so far 6 years later it still works perfect. It fits in there just as well as the burned out one I pulled out.