2.9 Performance?

[HondaEater]

Any suggestions for a guy new to 2.9s? I just want a little more added torque when i throw the 3 inch body lift and 33s on (3.73s with a limited slip 7.5)

 

[straycat]

4:10 gears will be fine with 33's. That is what I run on my 99 Ranger. You can add a cam shaft and a set of headers as I did on my 83 Ranger that had the 2.8 L and my 89 BII that had a 2.9 L. It made a huge difference in the performance and it was a better ride with the extra HP and torque. If you can do the work yourself as I did it is far cheaper of course.

 

[Earl43P]

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Kunz_Korner.htm

 

[BlackBII]

Gears will be your best investment.

4.56's will work best with 33"s

 

[HondaEater]

4.56s seems high for 33s my buddy ran 33x12.5x15s on 3.73s open diff rear and it wasn't too sluggish. I can do the work im an entry level tech at a Nissan dealer I've been here for a year and some change, there just doesn't seem to be much bolt on performance for the 2.9, a cam is out of the question as we do emissions testing here in good ol new jersey

 

[adsm08]

There isn't much bolt on for the 2.9 because it was pretty well maxed from the factory.

Headers, cam (should still be ok for emissions) and a MAF conversion ought to be a nice boost.


But as said before, gears. They will be your best bet.

 

[heptofite]

upper intake -> lower intake -> head porting will wake it up a lot, combined that with some nice equal length headers and a low restriction exhaust, more aggressive high rpm cam, maincap girdle in the bottom end.

then, if you're feeling ballsy, get a standalone programmable engine control computer, 200hp without boost wouldn't be out of the question with the right work.

if you're going to convert to maf, find one that doesn't suck, ranger Maf sensors just plain ****in blow, huge intake obstruction.

if you feel like learning a lot about engines, run a map based standalone and you'll make better power, might not make better fuel economy though.

edit: @adsm, if the 2.9 was 'pretty well maxed' from the factory, why do the european models of the exact same engine have 20-30 more horsepower on the exact same internals?

 

[strvger]

^^ no smog controls back then in Europe... been there, done that.

 

[Bennybooster]

4.56 at least for 33's. I am going to 5.13's for 32's but thats for racing

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Performance for the 2.9?

Well...... just how thick is your wallet and how light would you like it to be?

lol.....

The best performance upgrade for a 2.9, the most value for your dollar, is to pull it out of the truck and use it for a boat anchor. Put a 4.0 or 5.0 in it's place.

Or just go with 4.10 gears or 4.56 gears and call it a day.

Now if you decide that your wallet needs lightening....

Bore the motor slightly over, say maybe 30 over
Upgrade crank and cam shafts
4.0l valves in the heads (use World Products heads)
Port/polish the heads and intakes
Use a Scorpio 2.9L upper intake
Headers for the exhaust, high flow cat and minimally restrictive muffler
Performance cap, rotor, wires, and double platinum plugs
180* thermostat and 4.0L Explorer rad to keep it cool
Performance MAF conversion
Computer customized to the changes

Should only cost several grand if you can do some of the work yourself....

 

[lneidlinger]

edit: @adsm, if the 2.9 was 'pretty well maxed' from the factory, why do the european models of the exact same engine have 20-30 more horsepower on the exact same internals?

They had different heads that were also less prone to cracking.

 

[wrecking-crew]

Here is my recommendations on a budget.
Exhaust work. Cut it off behind the cab or throw on a glasspack in place of the muffler.
If there was a good quality cone paper filter to go over the throttle body, I'd say do that.(not recommended for offroad use.) I gained 2hp on a dyno taking the air box top off. (I have since lost the sheets. Should be in one of my boxes. Stock engine, slipping clutch: 112hp 135tq)

With the work lil_blue said, I would not expect over 135hp at the wheels with the mods he mentioned.

A 4.0 swap would be a good major upgrade and a 5.0 probably better power wise. Just prepare for a lot of work.

 

[adsm08]

edit: @adsm, if the 2.9 was 'pretty well maxed' from the factory, why do the european models of the exact same engine have 20-30 more horsepower on the exact same internals?

^^ no smog controls back then in Europe... been there, done that.

They had different heads that were also less prone to cracking.

^That^ ^those^ and that Scorpio computer that you keep trying to sell me.

The physicals of the 2.9 are about as good as you got with the tech available in the 80s while staying within US emissions limits (something the Euro engine was not hampered by). It was run somewhat de-tuned to not thrash the engine though. The Euro ones were run full out by the EEC system.

 

[heptofite]

They had different heads that were also less prone to cracking.

the heads were machined down less, the power building aspects of them were identical.

 

[heptofite]

so, if the presense of a cat can suck 20hp off the engine, than clearly all this talk being spouted that cats don't hinder the engine is false.