2.9L to early 4.0L swap really worth it?

[rickcdewitt]

nice is your truck stuck in the top pic?

 

[zuki]

nice is your truck stuck in the top pic?

yep, i will admit it. i was stuck.

 

[chittybangbang]

The 4.0 will eat the 2.9 for dinner.I had 92 areostar AWD with a 4.0 ,it was no slug.
My 2.9 5pd w 3.45 gears get just what the factory states. 18 city,23 hwy,while the 4.0 should get around 15 city,20 hwy(not much better than a full size f150)

 

[almostclueless]

The 2.9 is a great little motor in my experience but let's not be ridiculous.....33% more torque is HUGE. That's like going from a 351 to a 460 in a midsize car (assuming they have virtually identical cam, compression, and tune).

 

[blackbronc]

It's all about powerband. A 2.9 doesn't really do much of anything til 2500 rpm while a probably 4.0 has more torque at idle. I have had 3 2.9s. 2 pos. 1 junkyard dog that runs great and gets 15 city 27+ hwy. I have 3.0 Reliable and gutless. Don't care what the mileage is cause it's got no torque curve only a very steep and narrow peak. The only fun of driving it is to hear it rev to infinity and still not be impressed by any aspect of it's performance. My 4.0 is fun and easy to drive. Unlike the 2.9 which I do like, the 4.0 has a choice of gears to use for any situation. The 2.9 has to be in the RIGHT gear or it doesn't go ar all. The 4.0 pulls better from idle to 4000 than the 2.9 does from 3k to 5500. Horsepower numbers are irrelevant in this case. Allan is 100% on the money IMO. When my current 2.9 starts to tick the lifters the 4.0 in the garage will replace it. If you're running a 2wd standard cab with the right gears I can see having a bunch of fun with a 2.9. Light weight and low torque works. 4wd BII or Supercab Ranger needs more than a 2.9 to pull itself around without straining. Notice that Ford never put anything smaller than the 4.0 in an Explorer, there's a really good reason for that.

 

[Hahnsb2]

I'd take a 2.9 over a 4.0. Just because of gas mileage...nothing else. If I was going to have a lifted truck with big tires (not too big) then definitely a 4.0. Also, my friend and my other friend did a pull off. They tied a strap to there hitches and went at it. One friend had an 89 Ranger with a 5spd, 4wd, 2.9l, and my other friend had a 97 Ranger, 4wd, 4.0, auto. Now, which one do you think won? Yeah, it was kind of weird, but the 89 won the whole time. It doesn't really prove anything, since tires, and what not. But it surprised the hell out of me. If they do it again I will post a vid of it.

You do realize that a 4.0 in most situations will pull equal milage to a 2.9? Even if it didn't (which it would in my rig) get better milage I would be willing to pay more at the pump for the added torque and power.

 

[schroader]

My friend and my other friend did a pull off. They tied a strap to there hitches and went at it. One friend had an 89 Ranger with a 5spd, 4wd, 2.9l, and my other friend had a 97 Ranger, 4wd, 4.0, auto. Now, which one do you think won? Yeah, it was kind of weird, but the 89 won the whole time. It doesn't really prove anything, since tires, and what not. But it surprised the hell out of me. If they do it again I will post a vid of it.

let me guess, the guy that won set there tell the other started spinning and then got on the gas.

I have had both, the 4.0 is a big upgrade. I have a 4.0 in an 84 (that is for sale) and I can go anywhere I need to. Truck has more power than you really need.