88 Ranger 2.9 Exhaust Manifolds

[archifx]

I recently picked up a nice 1988 Ranger with the 2.9 Can anyone tell me why the passenger side exhaust manifold has an open port on it? Does this connect to something that should be in its place? Any help would be great.

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

The hole should be plugged, it was for the EGR system used on earlier 2.9l Rangers

 

[archifx]

Gotcha... When you say plugged, is there a specific part that can achieve this or should I get creative? You mention the EGR system, I should probably locate the missing system correct? Does anyone have photos of what this is supposed to look like with the EGR system in place? Any photos of the manifold plugged up? I appreciate the fast reply.

 

[RonD]

Part number for the plug is E8TZ-9G458-A

But its a threaded plug and threads in manifold can be bad if its been off for awhile

1988-1992 2.9l Rangers didn't have EGR system, just 1986/7 did
Later model passenger side manifolds didn't have the hole, but can't say if they were the same fitment to header pipe in 1988

A shop may be able to weld the cap over the hole, needs to be thick steel or exhaust will eat it away

 

[archifx]

I snapped a photo of my manifold with the opening going to nowhere... Where does the pipe route to?

 

[RangerStrom]

That doesn't look like an EGR port. I think it is for the flexible hot air duct that routes to the air box. There should be a port about the same size on the air box facing the engine. It shouldn't hurt anything to leave it alone. I removed the flex duct and sheet metal shroud when I replaced my heads about 10 years ago.

 

[archifx]

That doesn't look like an EGR port. I think it is for the flexible hot air duct that routes to the air box. There should be a port about the same size on the air box facing the engine. It shouldn't hurt anything to leave it alone. I removed the flex duct and sheet metal shroud when I replaced my heads about 10 years ago.

Gotcha... that makes total sense. It was baffling me. Looks like a turbo manifold lol. I appreciate that.

 

[RonD]

+1

Its the pre-heater for air going into the engine on cold starts

It helps the engine heat up faster in colder climates
Flex pipe often breaks and since this is not a required system people don't replace it

From the air filter box to the radiator support is the CAI(cold air intake), it pulls air into the engine from behind the grill, and in front of the radiator
On this air tube will be the connection for the other end of the flex pipe and a valve
When cold the valve will change position and pull in air from around the exhaust manifold which will be air that has been pre-heated by the manifold
As engine warms up the valve switches back to the air from behind the grill

On the air filter box you will see 2 vacuum lines, one line runs to upper intake, the other to this Valve to open and close it
Part inside the air filter box is temperature sensitive, it sends vacuum to valve only when very cold

 

[adsm08]

An EGR port would have been in the driver's side manifold.

The early 88 MY 2.9s still had the EGR ports in the intake and exhaust manifolds to burn off the unused inventory, and the ports were just plugged. But that is the preheater port. Don't worry about it.