2.9 Promaxx Aftermarket Head Porting

[Stroker]

Oh no. You didn’t just say that. Did you?

View attachment 41773

Oops, I think I just stood on a hornet's nest!

 

[Snoranger]

Oops, I think I just stood on a hornet's nest!

Ehh... There’s only about 2-3 of them.

 

[8thTon]

Oh boy...

So if you had a pile of 2.9L's and a pile of 4.0L's... which pile would you urinate on?

The ones with the cracked heads? Wait....

Are these crack head engines?

 

[Curious Hound]

The ones with the cracked heads? Wait....

Are these crack head engines?

Some of them might become "you're-a-peein" engines.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well, I’m not a huge 2.9 fan... but, this whole idea of building a 3.5L stroker out of a 2.9 does seem like it would be an interesting project. Not that I need any more projects right now, I’m already up to my eyeballs in projects and then some, but at some point when I get around to building some engines for spares for my fleet...

As of right now my 88 is slated to get a 2.9. Got most of the gasket matching porting done, have to grind the valves yet and put it back together. It’s set up for a MAF, headers and I’m intending on doing the Volvo power steering and perhaps methanol injection. The idea of building a 3.5 for a spare is interesting

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Why build a 2.9?

Simple.

These were my prices:

3.681 forged piston set with swain tech tbc $150

5.400 forged h beam rods with ARP bolts $206

Hot tank, magna Flux, cam bearings, bore and hone to 93.5mm, second hot tank, rod balance and re hone to std, balance 8k $480

Melling cam $86

FE Block anti pump up lifters: $46

Free floating rocker spacers $15

1992 Ranger Block HD lower intake $8

Merkur Scorpio TTB intake: $46

Crane double valve spring hardware: $60

SI Portflow valves: $126

Intercooler: $60

Glyptal: $62

Promaxx heads, cloyes timing set, melling high volume oil pump, damper dudes damper, sealed power HD pushrods, high polish 89tm rocker sets, remote tfi, methanol injection, megasquirt, turbocharger, plumbing, 2.5" exhaust, waste gate, bov, high flow cooling, EDIS, etc all on hand already.

This yeilds a sub 300lb v6 with a 1.9 rod ratio, 8.5:1 compression, and balanced to be able to handle 7-8k rpm and handles 21 psi to the face worry free. More if I tell Morana yes on the girdle. The 7:1 compression allows for future twin charging. Just so happens to be the same as the Lancia Delta, my automotive hero. I already have the blower brackets and pulley extensions for the M62 made. It's getting ****ing twin charged, once I'm comfortable with my abilities as a tuner. Nobody has been insane enough. If I find a bottle in the junkyard, it's getting nitrous as an additional cooler.

Fun facts:
rod ratio of 1.9:1, NASCAR Spec is track dependent at 1.85 - 1.91:1bore/stroke ratio of 1.298, nascar is 1.277,

Hi. I am insane. I know. But why not?

This is my first solo build. Dad and yall taught me well. I can do this. If not, snos name of the 2.9 Trinity build will make for an interesting case study in what the physical structure of the block can handle.

Oh. And that bill? Paid for by junkyard picks and parting stuff out.

All I have in it is my time.

This has been the most positive learning experience I've ever had.

Hate on the 2.9 all you want.

It's my engine. It taught me how to do all of this. Why break my balls for wanting to learn? Do the skills and experience I earn through this not carry over to bigger or more refined stuff?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Why spend money dropping on a 4.0 when chances are you already have a 2.9 and for not alot of money you can build a 2.9 to totally spank one? As @PetroleumJunkie412 is roadmapping here.

The 2.9 suffers the same hate the 400 does. Neither one are bad engines and both have alot of potential, but because they have larger engines that bolt in their place that potential is never realized.

If the 2.9 was the oddball and the 3.0/4.0 interchanged then you would see the same hate directed at the 3.0.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Also, to add to my other post...

I have been personally attacked over the years on here for questioning why someone wants to do something (like replacing a running 2.8 with a friggin 58hp perkins diesel) like im crazy. But since its a diesel and everyones like "muh diezzzzel!l its ok.

But now you guys are doing the same shit simply because its different and bucks the norm and will actually be an improvement unlike some of the other things you guys have supported.

Just because you dont agree with it, or like it, doesnt mean you have to blow him shit at every turn. This 2.9 hes building is likely to hand a 302 truck its ass on a silver platter, much less some wheezing 4.0.

Also, for what hes saying he'll have into this build, its less or around the same as a junkyard 4.0 with a rebuild and it will smoke one.

So like it or not, have some respect for the build and dont talk like hes nuts for trying it. Once its done he'll get the last laugh.

 

[bobbywalter]

Blue printing and balancing....

No on the 4.0 crank

Don't laugh....there is a guy here that built deck spacers.

I was astounded.

 

[bobbywalter]

Also, for what hes saying he'll have into this build, its less or around the same as a junkyard 4.0 and it will smoke one.

No. Won't be less.

But will be a monster. And very bad ass...with a totally different operational dynamic.





Anybody using a 58 hp diesel is an idiot.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

No. Won't be less.

But will be a monster. And very bad ass...with a totally different operational dynamic.





Anybody using a 58 hp diesel is an idiot.

I screwed up.

I meant to say "junkyard 4.0 with a rebuild"

 

[bobbywalter]

Rebuild costs are the same. Well within 150 bux.


But positive part sourcing goes to the 4.o...

To be clear....I dig this build and look forward to the results.

I do agree with you that of the 60 deg engines, the 2.9 was the best out there in the 80,s by a mile.

But it is unable to suit my needs. Wrong tool. But a fine tool for what it does.

 

[8thTon]

Easy guys - I get building a 2.9, and PJ’s already addressed the stuff that would concern me about that engine. I’m interested to see how it comes out. My question was why stroke it to a 3.5 rather than just do a 4.0, which was answered. The rest was supposed to be good natured bs, but I apologize for contributing to messing up the thread. Not all of us see some great moral/religious/philosophical difference between the 2.9 and the 4.0, especially once you start mixing the parts.

And anyone that likes Lancia can’t be all nuts!

 

[Uncle Gump]

Hell... I spent about three decades building air cooled VW engines. So I know a thing or two about doing what I like and not going with the flow.

@PetroleumJunkie412 you know exactly how I feel about your 2.9L build... just carry on... I'm looking forward to the grin on your face when it goes down the road.

 

[Curious Hound]

Hell... I spent about three decades building air cooled VW engines. So I know a thing or two about doing what I like and not going with the flow.

@PetroleumJunkie412 you know exactly how I feel about your 2.9L build... just carry on... I'm looking forward to the grin on your face when it goes down the road.

That grin is gonna wrap around his head til the corners of his mouth touch each other in the back.