2.8 social group...

[kimcrwbr1]

I put a manual choke on mine, got it from advance autoparts, works great and one less electronic device I have to worry about. Just need to find out which screw on the choke linkage allows for high idle to occur when I pull the choke out all the way so I dont have to sit in it and keep my foot on the gas to warm it up. It use to work then suddenly stopped and havent had time to look at it.

As for high rpms, mine was seeing 5-6k tonight, having fun in the snow.

My electric choke still works great but I was thinking you could put a spring on the end of the cable. when you pull the choke it will hold the butterfly all the way closed. When you start it the pulloff will open it to the v notch on the fast idle cam and just adjust the high idle that way. Like a throttle spring on a lawn mower. Just a suggestion it wouldnt take much spring pressure to close the choke and alot less to hold it open. Maybe there is some way to adapt a cap where you can actually move the spring inside the cap so it holds the choke both closed and open using the cable. Hummm then the pulloff and high idle cam would be in play. The spring would naturally open the choke as the engine gets hot. I was planning on getting a 2.8 to rebuild for when mine craps out. As many times as it overheated and run low on oil. I figure maybe 5 or ten more years I`ll get right on it.

 

[Eric Kropp]

Back to the social side of the group....I bought my 1983 Ranger XL, long bed, dual tank 4x4, with a 5 speed and A/C. I bought it in 1990 and it had 135,000 miles on it, but I was desperate for a low cost 4x4 and it was a dual tank long bed with A/C. So I figured 135,000 is more miles than I ever purchaced a vehicle with, but if I could make it hold together 'til I got my house built, I would replace the engine after the house was done. Well that was 20 years ago and it runs WAY better now then it did back when. I had to take the engine out at 310,000 and put a gasket kit on it and dropped it back in to see just how far it would go. At this point if the PCV is pulled you can see quite a bit of blow by and I did struggle a little at the smog station this year (California...no choice). I have another engine I will probabley rebuild during the next year and a half and put in before the next smog test. It really hardly uses oil, just seams to build up crank case pressure. If it wasn't for the smog requirements I would just drive it until there was nothing left but metal shavings. Actually I don't really know what is good or bad about siamesed exhaust ports or what ever that gripe is. What I know is the timing chain hasn't slipped or broke cause there isn't one and the lifters don't need to pump up in the morning when you start the old girl up cause they are solid. I am not beyond the age of liking HORSEPOWER, but I figure if I want HP's I will have that in a muscle car with a v-8, and I just accept the fact that it has no horsepower, just long life and few problems. I don't really four wheel, I bought it for the 3 times a year that it snowed where I built my house. Really it is just a commuter vehicle and has cost me very little to own for the 20 years I've had it.

 

[Eric Kropp]

So where is this "social group" going. Is there going to be a separate spot on the forum menu titled "2.8 social group"?

 

[Psychopete]

Is it safe to push these little engines to 5-6k rpms?

It depends on what your definition of safe is..

 

[Twister]

It depends on what your definition of safe is..

Safe = Things wont break

 

[Psychopete]

Safe = Things wont break

I'd be reluctant to push it any harder than it needs to go. Probably not going to be huge, but solid lifters need adjusted every so often - running it at those RPMs will probably make that a little sooner. Never know what will happen tho!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Safe = Things wont break

As I recall the factory redline is 5500.

Mine is a gasping asmatic 2.8, and still have yet to find a reason to rev even that high.

 

[dangerranger83]

I dont have a redline with my duraspark. I have taken mine to 6000rpm without a load on the engine and could still go more. Okay did once doing dounuts in the snow right after I got her to be 4wd again.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I dont have a redline with my duraspark. I have taken mine to 6000rpm without a load on the engine and could still go more. Okay did once doing dounuts in the snow right after I got her to be 4wd again.

Redline, as in the red line on the tach. Not rev limiter.

 

[dangerranger83]

I was meaning if your were running the factory computer setup that there would be a set limit it can go. As far rev. limit, Im clueless.

 

[Twister]

As I recall the factory redline is 5500.

Mine is a gasping asmatic 2.8, and still have yet to find a reason to rev even that high.

I see, my 2.8 seems to be in good health, but it rarely sees anything over 4k if it even goes over that.

 

[dangerranger83]

Mine got the end of my driveway tonight before dying. Think the coil went out and only has 500 miles on it. Had to use the starter and put her in 4lo to get her to the curb.

Other then this happening again, its reliable.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Mine got the end of my driveway tonight before dying. Think the coil went out and only has 500 miles on it. Had to use the starter and put her in 4lo to get her to the curb.

Other then this happening again, its reliable.

That is about the only thing I haven't touched on mine.

 

[Twister]

So why would my 2.8 run hotter in the winter than in the summer?

In the summer it will sit around 190-195*

But in the winter it is reaching 200-205*



I dont get it? Is this normal?

 

[dangerranger83]

Due to the thermostat gets a hit from the cooler rad fluid hitting the thermostat and force shutting it I assume. In the summer you dont have that and the thermostat just stays open.

As for my truck, runs again. It wasnt the coil, had a 2 year warrenty on it so got a fre one but when I rplacd it, still no ignition spark so took the dura box off went to autozon got it tsted and it said that it shorted itself so having a lifetime warrenty on it, got a free replacement on it. So I have all new ignition components under my hood again.