a lot of people talk about the 3.0 being gutless.
Well, it's revvier than any other stock ranger engine EXCEPT the
4.0 SOHC introduced in '01.
The 3.0 simply needs to spin to do it's job.
The 2.9 also needs to spin, compared to say... a 4.0OHV.
The 2.9 just needs to spin less than the 3.0.
If you plan to tow forget any of the 4cyl engines.
AD
+1
And I'll add my $0.02...
With a manual transmission and the right gears, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a 3.0L, it gets good fuel economy and mine has moved everything I've ever put in it or hooked onto it....
I've had nearly a ton and a half of limestone in the bed several times, same goes for topsoil. I have no idea how much some of the other stuff I've loaded it down with weighed, but I know that even with the heavy duty spring packs I've built for it, I've sat it down pretty good in the rear. For towing, I've towed both my 88 BII and my 89 choptop behind my Ranger, and it had no problem moving along at 65mph on the highway. All you have to do is have it set up to do it, keep your head about you, and let the engine rev up. The 3.0L likes to be between 3,000 and 5,000 rpms.
2.9's are good motors as well, though they tend to have an issue with cracking heads. There's two ways of dealing with that. One is to replace the heads with aftermarket ones, preferably World Products heads. The other is to approach it how I did with my choptop. I put a 180* thermostat in it and went to a radiator from a 4.0L Ranger with an auto tranny (I know that the rads from the 89-92 body style fit, not sure if any others fit). I also have a mechanical coolant temp gauge that I keep my eye on when I'm running it. So far with this setup I haven't got it much past 190* even on a pretty hot day and running it a lil hard.
The a4ld auto trannys are mostly junk because most people don't make any attempt to take care of 'em. If it's an auto with overdrive, up until somewhere in the 90's, it's an a4ld. If you keep the fluid really cool, replace it regularly with a filter, it will hold up as long as you're not too abusive.
4.0L motors are good for hauling too, but typically more difficult to find than a 2.9 or 3.0. IMHO, I wouldn't go anything less than one of the v-6 motors if you intend to do much hauling/towing at all. Sure you can use a 4-banger, but a properly setup v-6 will do the same work with less strain.
All that said, back in the spring I sold an 89 BII with an a4ld auto tranny. I bought it waiting in line for the crusher cuz the yard seems to have something against holding onto BIIs for any length of time. But anyway, I got it with a clean title, fuel pump was replaced at some point and the splices came apart in the tank. Soidered the wires up and she fired right up. Did a very thorough going-over of the truck (it had apparently lead an abused life), and fired it up again. It sat coughing and sputtering on the shop floor for at least 5 minutes before it evened out. Thing ran like a top and the best estimate of the mileage was right around 200k. I replaced the tranny fluid and filter, fuel filter, plugs and wires, cap and rotor, air filter, o2 sensor, PCV valve, and dumped two bottles of fuel injector cleaner in. Later I changed a few other sensors an stuff.
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, and never missed a beat. I also used to have a 2000 5speed with the 2.5. Much slower, but got close to 10 MPG better than my current two trucks.
