2.9 opinions, or better yet, truths?

[MAKG]

You should be able to get into the 20s with a 2.9L

I get 19-20 MPG on a 4.0L. In an Exploder that weighs more than any Bronco II.

Power? Who gives a flying F. We're not racing these. It's torque.

 

[0ldman]

I get 23mpg in my 88 Ranger, 2wd, 2.9, 5 speed, 3.45 rear, 215/75 R14, combined country roads and city. Dunno highway mpg yet.

My wife's 2000 Explorer, 4.0, auto, LEV, gets about 23mpg highway, about 18 city, probably outweighs my Ranger by a good 1000.

The 4.0 isn't automatically going to get worse mileage. I had a 74 Comet 4dr, 200 inline 6, probably between 10-12 mpg. 74 Comet 302 2dr I got later was 17mpg when I got it, bone stock. I got 24mpg by the time I was done, and about gained about 70hp.

Its more about how you drive it.

 

[Jspafford]

You should be able to get into the 20s with a 2.9L

I get 19-20 MPG on a 4.0L. In an Exploder that weighs more than any Bronco II.

Power? Who gives a flying F. We're not racing these. It's torque.

Sorry, I meant to say mid twenties. I get around 22-26mpg in the summer (now).

 

[Boggin]

i got a 88 2.9 it runs great never had anything done to it, no trouble to screech the tires here and there and gets great mileage

 

[V8_power428@hotmail.com]

Hey my 89 has 435 000km on it and it works great i havent had any major troubles with it yet and i really want to see how far it will go.

 

[4x4junkie]

Mine's still hanging in there with (I think) around 156K miles on it.

Decent power (maintains speed on most grades fine), and about 22-23 MPG HWY (this in a lifted BII on 35" radials)

The 4.0L is certainly nice (my '94 Ranger has the 4.0L), but I haven't seen much need to swap my 2.9 for one at least until it decides it's going to quit. At this point it has yet to give any indication it's anywhere near quitting.

 

[rickcdewitt]

I will gladly keep driving my 2.9L while enjoying mid teen MPG, as opposed to swapping in a 4.0L just to say I have "mo power"

going from 2.9 to 4.0 i picked up 1-2 mpg in normal driving in the upper teens, mid teens with some wheeling thrown in

 

[Jspafford]

going from 2.9 to 4.0 i picked up 1-2 mpg in normal driving in the upper teens, mid teens with some wheeling thrown in

I meant mid twenties..

 

[92MiniMonster]

I honestly cant say too much bad about a 2.9, it is peppy, although i just replaced mine that had a 133,000 miles on it with a new one from a guy who owns a local shop my uncle grep up with. I def. think the new 2.9 has a little more ass to it, but hey its new. Ive got about 5 thousand miles on the new engine and only one issue that was really my fault when i built it. My MPG does seem considerably lower then everyone elses reports, this i dont quite understand.

 

[0ldman]

Takes a bit of break in before you start getting good mileage from a fresh engine.

If you build one loose to start with, it doesn't take as long.

Generally, you get the best mpg out of a high mileage engine.

 

[dirtsquirt]

i have an 87 bought new in 86 2.9 v/6 running 31" tires runs like a top 1.3 mill klm on it

 

[fix_or_repair_daily]

My 88 B2 2.9 A4LD 4.10 runs pretty damn good in my opinion for what it is. I've had it since this time last year and 8K and no problems with the engine except for valve cover and oil pan gaskets pissing oil. It has way more balls than my moms beater 87 S10 blazer 2.8 5 speed with half the miles as mine. They both get about the same gas mileage 19-21 depending on terrain and right foot. I couldn't imagine mine with a 5 speed but one will go there when the A4LD goes.
Josh

 

[derek54401]

bought an 87 ranger with x13000 miles. so i will claim that it has gone 1013000 more likely 113000, but still, reliable engine. lost all coolant once due to loose heater core hose, but caught it immediately and pulled into the next gas station, no head cracking.

engine is a little weak in the ballz department in 4th and 5th, but 1-3 are pretty brisk. likes to be revved. squeals the tyres easily in 1st and 2nd

does everyone else agree that most of the power comes in between 2000-4000 rpm?

I seem to get 16-18 around town, revving it to about 4000, with 31 inch tyres, 3.73, is and ext cab, that prolly adds weight
this is a substantial improvement from when I first bought the truck 3000 miles ago, was only getting 12mpg, driving it nowhere near as hard.

 

[nightshift]

Everything's OK, as long as it's OK.

I had to replace my 2.9 at 116k. It was the usual cracked head / losing coolant / low oil pressure / clacking lifter horror show. It ran like a clock up to that point. I got a remanufactured engine with new World heads from a place in Jersey. I now have 189k on it, and it's doing mighty fine. I put a Fairbanks shift kit and a honking big oil cooler on the A4LD, and so far no problems.

I love my B2, but I would never again buy a vehicle with a 2.9 in it. Toward the end of it's production, I believe that Ford knew there were serious problems in the oiling system, so they made changes to the electric oil pressure gauge circuit to cover it up, IMO. To me, that's the only thing that would explain the changes they made... lousy SOB's!

Of course, that's just my opinion.

If this engine goes (I doubt it will), I'm putting a 4.0 in there. Either way, I'm keeping the B2!

 

[drturbo]

I have a 1987/88 2.9 xlt 4x4.
I used to be auto, it is now manuall..
Engine has 225000km on it, she ticks a little at start up, but spins easly and noiseless otherwise, wether it is +40celcius or -35celcius outside...
Always since she was new been running high quality synthetic oil, with frequent changes.

I love the car and the engine, she never lets me down, fires anytime, and pulls anything I want her to pull.
If the engine breaks down before me, I'll replace it with a european 24v BOB cosworth 2.9l
You guys dont come across that engine so easily, do you???

Tommy