2.9 vs 4.0

[trail B2]

I don't want something as heavy as a 302 in my little B2.On off road vehicles I'm a big fan of toque rich six cylinders.I really like the Jeep 4.0 as well.That being said the 302 is a much better engine than a 4.0.You can make a 302 into anything you want injected ,carburetor,power house or simple and reliable.No matter what you do to a 4.0 it's not to far from what it started from.

 

[fastpakr]

I think you'd be surprised by how little weight difference there really is.

 

[Kayakcrazy]

I don't want something as heavy as a 302 in my little B2.On off road vehicles I'm a big fan of toque rich six cylinders.I really like the Jeep 4.0 as well.That being said the 302 is a much better engine than a 4.0.You can make a 302 into anything you want injected ,carburetor,power house or simple and reliable.No matter what you do to a 4.0 it's not to far from what it started from.

I agree with the straight 6's. Head to beat for reliability. Wish a 300cubic inch 6 would fit in the b2. Great engines

I pondered a 250-6 cylinder swap in a past b2. A little too long to make it a good swap it will work but a lot of mods to make it fit

 

[59bisquik]

Lets be realistic, ford didn't really intend either to turn 35 inch tires.

That's what the correct gears are for...

 

[Kayakcrazy]

True, gears help compensate but if it fixed it all nobody would be changing engines. Having more horses along with gearing is still better.


It is amazing what our expectations are now. The first military model jeeps had something like 70hp. Now we talk junk about having less than 200. Can never be satisfied I guess

My 2.9 has done what I ask so far, including pulling my boat, still want that v8 though

 

[trail B2]

One of the reasons I liked the 4.0 was it had a torque curve very close to the 4.0 Jeep.

Fastpakr I looked around for the difference in the motors weight the only number I could come up with is 170 pounds.That's certainly not enough to worry about if you want a V8.Your going to gain a little weight with the auto transmission and other needs but I bet less than 250 pounds total.

 

[Will]

4.0 is a way better engine. It fixes all the problems a 2.9 has, gives you a serpentine belt, and adds a ton of torque. It's a truck engine--never installed in anything but a truck. There was no horsepower war going on when Ford developed it. It was built to pull a load, not boost a glossy brochure. When they went to the SOHC version, that was for the advertising people. The pushrod motor is capable of anything you can ask.

I owned a 4.0 Ranger, then bought a 2.9 B2 and just couldn't stand it. The 4.0 allows a lot more clutch than the 2.9 for hauling the truck over rocks or even shrugging a trailer into motion--which I did a lot with a camper. There isn't a comparison in that type of work.

Running a quarter-mile, I don't think there is a big difference between a 2.9 and a pushrod 4.0. The 2.9 pulls longer in each gear. But as I said, Ford built these as truck engines. A lot of people now want to see their vehicle as FAST when Ford built it as a TRUCK. It's the best compact TRUCK engine ever built. It's crap as a race motor.

 

[Will]

True, gears help compensate but if it fixed it all nobody would be changing engines.

Yeah they would. People always want bigger--that's part of being 'merican.

The 4.0 is very narrow compared to a 5.0. It's a 60-degree motor. It's a very compact motor for it's displacement. It is almost as heavy, but it is compact. Nobody gave a crap back when the 5.0 was designed. You could crawl into the engine compartment and there was this tiny little 302 in there. That was the little V8. They narrowd the Cologne motors to 60-degrees from 90-degrees in the V8s to make them fit easily in narrow vehicles. There are now V engines that are so narrow, they only need a single cylinder head. VW has used it, and the they used that technology in the Bugatti Veyron.

Really, a 5.0 is crap compared to what you can find to swap in now. Any modern 3.5 V6 would demolish a 5.0 in every way. I would be looking for a drivetrain from a newer pickup, not messing with old 5.0 stuff. 200hp? That's all the best 5.0 really made after Ford was busted for advertising them at 225 when they really made 205hp. Those old-people mobility scooters make 200hp these days. A Honda Odyssey minivan will beat a 5.0 Mustang. I wouldn't waste all that work swapping in something that really doesn't make any difference.

Why not a 300+hp motor from a new V6 Mustang?

 

[trail B2]

I like that view Will.When they came out with that GDI base Mustang motor it had just about the same power as the original Shelby 302.I had a 302 68 mustang in my youth they were not fast.A few years ago I inherited a pretty little 93 black F-150 with a 302 drove nice motor always felt like it was working hard got rid of it. Doesn't mean it won't work in a B2 for someone though.

 

[59bisquik]

The 5.0 is still a desirable swap because of its huge aftermarket, its a fairly easy swap mechanically, and most were OBD1.

While there are much more powerful engines out there today, the newer computers make them more difficult to install with computer chipped keys etc. Also, the lack of adapters and stuff make it more difficult.

Folks in California also have extra challenges since you really need to purchase a whole car to do the swap instead of picking up just an engine and harness.

 

[dirtcowboy]

Howcum the massive modern 4.0 wasn't ever installed in a truck? I've owned or operated a couple of dozen F-150's, a real truck, in the last 35 years, and the smallest engine I ever used was the 4.9, a real truck engine. Here is the thing about the pig 5.0's, even at 225 hp, they all made at least 300 lb ft. of torque. The massive power house that is the 4.0 makes about 225. I've also have several BII's with 5.0's in them, and they look like Ford intended to offer them from the factory. The biggest issue is fitting headers, easily solved If one uses factory exhaust manifolds or Hedman 88400's. (4x4 only, I don't gots no 2wd trucks). Getting 300 horses and 400 lb tq out of a 5.0 is a simple cam swap and ignition upgrades. Stupid simple. I've been racing 5.0 Fords since 82 when the GT was reintroduced. They are considerably more than "pigs". I've done both the 4.0 and 5.0 swaps and hands down the 5.0 is the best bang for the buck. That being said, the 2015 GT in my shop has a supercharger and makes about 550 horseys at the rear wheels, with a factory warrantee!

Why not a v-6 from a new Mustang? Have you popped the hood on a v-6 Stang? Those engines are HUGE, they aint going into a RBV. Let alone trying to cross the all computer vehicle with stone age RBV's. Here, go to this site and read why NOBUDDY is installing these modern super turd v-6's in anything. http:// www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=147380 This dude has had help from FORD electrical engineers trying to complete this swap. Just slap it in and hook up your stock 25 year old wiring harness, yeah right.......... Good luck to you. Besides that, everyone knows the hot ticket is the ecoboost 4cyl setup, 350 horses is only a good tuner (SCT from 5 Star)away.

 

[Kayakcrazy]

Yea new engines are a bear for most back yard mechanics. The electrical systems are so extensive.

That 300 hp mustang engine seems like a good idea on the front end but gets more complicated as you go. Did a little research on that myself. Not that it wouldn't be a good engine but the cost would keep me from doing it as my b2 is a play toy for me to beat up. Same for the Eco boost. They are crazy expensive and same deal with the electrical system. Personally my skill set or patience is not that high

 

[59bisquik]

When I finally get my 54 on the road next year (it has a 5.0/AOD also), I will then focus my efforts on a 5.0 for the Bronco with some GT40 heads and a few other goodies to keep it smog legal and be a nice upgrade over the 4.Slow.

 

[trail B2]

I was reading the options for 302 swaps some of you guys had good experiences with it.What works the best an Explorer engine tranny and keep the one speed transfer buy the adapter for the two speed?Is there any other manual tranny options than adapting the light weight five speed.I was measuring the motor tranny transfer case combo for an F-150 seemed long for a B2 maybe it could go in a Ranger I don't know.

 

[dirtcowboy]

When I finally get my 54 on the road next year (it has a 5.0/AOD also), I will then focus my efforts on a 5.0 for the Bronco with some GT40 heads and a few other goodies to keep it smog legal and be a nice upgrade over the 4.Slow.

I've got a 347 on the run in stand. I went all Edelbrock, heads, cam, manifold, etc., etc. and it's a NASTY little bit. It's going in my last 89 BII, c-4, atlas t-case, D-44/Ford 9", (all early Bronco stuff) prolly 40" MTR's.