Any V6 motor improvements?

[willfixx2]

I have been reading on this forum and other and have determined that these ford motors, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0 are loaded with problems with the heads, head gaskets, and over heating. Has Ford or any vendor come up with better componants and/or design for these problems? Sometimes I think the after market does a better job of providing replacement parts. I would like to at least put in a high capacity oil pump and maybe replace the intake and head gaskets on my 2.9 before before I install that motor.

will

 

[BlackBII]

Improvement for a 2.9?

Yeah, Ford did it for you, it's called a 4 point 0.

 

[Chevelle Kid]

Improvement for a 2.9?

Yeah, Ford did it for you, it's called a 4 point 0.

Psssh, that's only a minor upgrade....go for 5 point 0

Ford did improve the head castings for the later 2.9s, I think '89 and '90.

Other than that I haven't the slightest clue...lol


Ben

 

[Beanmachine7000]

4.0L... There were some aftermarket heads for the 2.9L from World Castings that were supposed to be better... You don't need a hi-po oil pump... The stock one is fine... Why do you think you need that?

 

[2manyfords]

3.0L doesn't have any serious problems like the 2.9L suffers from.

 

[holyford86]

the 3.0 does have its problems, as does the 2.9 and just about every other motor out there. When properly maintained the 2.9 is a rock solid reliable motor as long as you don't overheat it too bad.

 

[fastpakr]

I have been reading on this forum and other and have determined that these ford motors, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0 are loaded with problems with the heads, head gaskets, and over heating. Has Ford or any vendor come up with better componants and/or design for these problems? Sometimes I think the after market does a better job of providing replacement parts. I would like to at least put in a high capacity oil pump and maybe replace the intake and head gaskets on my 2.9 before before I install that motor.

will

I'm not sure what the problems are you've run across with the 3.0 in your reading, but they're extremely rare compared to any Cologne V6 issues. The 2.9 is basically a 2.8 with EFI and chain timing. The 4.0 is a taller, stroked 2.9 with significantly revised head castings to reduce cracking. It's not perfect, but comparable to a 3.0 in reliability and a near direct swap for a 2.9.

 

[AllanD]

a 5.0 swap has several issues mostly related to the fact that it is a less than idal truck engine (and people complain about the 3.0 being a revvy bitch)

And that it and the ranger aren't designed for each other.

If talking about REPLACING a 2.9 with something else a 3.0 really doesn't enter the discussion.

THE logical thing to replace a 2.9 with is a 4.0, and mostly because finding another good
2.9 17years after the last one was made is something of a longshot.

As fo the 2.9 holding up if treated well? BULLSHIT!


I had a 2.9 fail. it was an engine I had cared for since new.
It lived it's entire life in a base model non-A/C 5sp Bronco2
After the trans fragged in the B2 I swpaped the engine into my Ranger.

It lasted another 1200 miles before it unexpectedly puked coolant into the oil and washed ut the cam and main bearings.

It had NEVER been overheated not even once.

Yet it dies just as dead as any other.

2.9's are "unpredictable" I've actually owned and driven NINE of them.
I was completely satisfied with only one of them

I kept at it because kept getting donor vehicles with running engines
even AFTER I had bought a running 4.0 donor vehicle.

That 4.0 engine is in my truck now and the only thing I wonder is
why I didn't swap it into my ranger 6years earlier.

MECHANICALLY the 4.0 is a "bolt-in" where a 2.9 has been
the ONLY other engine that will mount that easily in a 2.9 truck is another 2.9.

THE issue with the 4.0 swap is electrical and people fear this for less than realistic reasons... particularly if they are dealing with an '89-up truck.

AD

 

[willfixx2]

Thanks for all of the information. I did not actually seek out a 2.9 motor to replace the 2.8 in my ranger. The BroncoII was/is available if I just go get it. I'm looking for to do just daily driving and perhaps some long trips (1200 miles round trip). No large tires, pulling heavy trailers, or mudding. I figured if I put some good heads, good intake & head gaskets, good oil pump, and don't run it hot, it will give me long service. But it seems like some of you may have taken care of your trucks and the motor still failed. I wouldn't mind installing a 4.0 if I had one. Maybe if this swap lets me down, I might research and find a better motor. My brother has an 89 Taurus with a 3.8 that he will give me but I think the head gaskets are bad. I also know where a 3.0 from a 92 Taurus that is good. Its transmission is bad. I thought the 2.9 Bronco was the best deal.

 

[fastpakr]

With an existing 2.8 truck, I'd seriously consider seeking out a decent 2.8 block. Much less work on the conversion and you lose the head problems of the 2.9. If you're going through the work to do the swap, you'd have no extra work to get the 4.0 instead.

 

[fatt_owl2.9]

the 3.0 and 3.8 from the Taurus are from a completely different family of engines, designed for transverse layout/FWD applications. They will not work in a Ranger/BII.

If you get a decent-running 2.9, just clean it up and tune it up and hope for the best, it could turn out to be a very decent motor. It's really a crapshoot with those engines. If not, then a 4.0 swap is the next best bet, unless you somehow have access to a neverending stream of good-running junkyard 2.9's.

 

[fastpakr]

the 3.0 and 3.8 from the Taurus are from a completely different family of engines, designed for transverse layout/FWD applications. They will not work in a Ranger/BII.

If you get a decent-running 2.9, just clean it up and tune it up and hope for the best, it could turn out to be a very decent motor. It's really a crapshoot with those engines. If not, then a 4.0 swap is the next best bet, unless you somehow have access to a neverending stream of good-running junkyard 2.9's.

He isn't using a 2.9 now, he's got a 2.8. The switch from a 2.8 to a 2.9 is no easier than a 4.0 swap, but the end result is a less reliable engine with lower output, that hasn't been produced since 1992.

The 3.0 Vulcan from the FWD Taurus is the same as the 3.0 Vulcan in the RWD/4WD Ranger. The only difference I'm aware of is head gasket orientation. If that's addressed, the engines can be swapped back and forth just fine.

 

[fatt_owl2.9]

He isn't using a 2.9 now, he's got a 2.8. The switch from a 2.8 to a 2.9 is no easier than a 4.0 swap, but the end result is a less reliable engine with lower output, that hasn't been produced since 1992.

The 3.0 Vulcan from the FWD Taurus is the same as the 3.0 Vulcan in the RWD/4WD Ranger. The only difference I'm aware of is head gasket orientation. If that's addressed, the engines can be swapped back and forth just fine.

oh good god...now I see what's going on. Yeah, just find a cam and headers and maybe a nicer carb for your 2.8. The 2.9's were all fuel injected, you're gonna have to mount an ECU and all the wiring harnesses and....just forget it. But if you insist on going that route, then a 4.0 is the thing to do, you'll be getting an engine with much better reliability and power.

I didn't realize the 3.0 in the old Taurus was a Vulcan. However because of the FWD layout, the transmission mounting points are probably gonna be different, and therefore wouldn't work in a truck/RWD layout. I know that's the case for the 3.8, there were FWD and RWD versions, with totally different bolting patterns for the transmissions, and they're not interchangeable. I'm sure it's the same case with the 3.0, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[fastpakr]

I didn't realize the 3.0 in the old Taurus was a Vulcan. However because of the FWD layout, the transmission mounting points are probably gonna be different, and therefore wouldn't work in a truck/RWD layout. I know that's the case for the 3.8, there were FWD and RWD versions, with totally different bolting patterns for the transmissions, and they're not interchangeable. I'm sure it's the same case with the 3.0, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Same bolt pattern on the FWD and RWD 3.0, and the RWD mounts work just fine on the FWD block. I'm sure with a search we could find a recent discussion of somebody that used one, but it's definitely been done multiple times here in the past.

 

[barrys]

How about swapping out a 3.0 for a 4.0? Is that a pretty straightforward swap?
I have a 3.0 Vulcan, rear wheel drive, auto tranny.