Blown motor question

[Tb8983]

So I recently blew the motor up in my 89 b2 and I don't know what I want to do to replace it. I guess my question is what the cheapest route to fixing it. I can get a 2.9 longblock with a 3year/ 100000 mile warrenty which ever comes first for 1200 ship to my door. Is this cheaper then doing a 4.0 liter swap or a v8 swap. It's a 5 speed with a Manuel transfer case and I would like to keep it that way and I figured if I did the 4 liter swap I have to find a tranny and transfer case too same with the v8 swap. Which is the cheapest way of getting it back on the road not in a huge rush to do it I have a place were it sits and i have a dd. So just curious on input from everybody. My plans are to lift it 4 incus and put it on 33s after this problem is taken care of.

 

[bobbywalter]

if you got a 500 dollar running sploder the sploder would be cheaper if you know what your doing.

i know i can do a v8 swap for under 1200 as well.


but since your on the internet asking, the 1200 dollar reman is likely the best bet.

though by the time you install it with fresh clutch kit fluids gaskets for top and v/c's ect things it will more less be 14-1600 doing it yourself.


no real way to justify things without knowing all the details

 

[bobbywalter]

biggest factor is time really.

 

[Tb8983]

Time isn't the issue and it already has new alternator clutch flywheel brakes and tires would like to have it done by December so I can go snowboard this year. And the v8 swap are those carb or fi swaps cause I want to keep it fi

 

[adsm08]

2.9L to 5.0 EFI swap is really really easy for the wiring.

You get two injector plugs and a 5.0 PCM from the year of your truck, splice the two new injector plugs onto the end of the existing injector harness and plug in the 5.0 to the 2.9 harness and throw in your new PCM.

I haven't done that swap myself, but I have talked to a lot of guys who did and most of 'em say that's how the did the engine wiring

 

[arineod]

Yeah, but wouldn't you need more than just the motor? What about the drive train?

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, but wouldn't you need more than just the motor? What about the drive train?

Yeah, you still need the trans, lots of guys say they get away with using a 1354 case with the 5.0 though.

I only posted about the wiring because it sounds to me like the OP already knows what he would need to do to the drive line if he does a 5.0 swap.

 

[BlackBII]

4.0 from Junkyard, 175$
Wiring/Computer from junkyard 40$
Radiator, hoses, fuel lines, clutch, flywheel, strarter, oil, sparkplugs..etc ~200$
Two weekends of work

That was my first 4.0 swap. Personally, I would never spend 1200 bones on a 2.9, even if it is brand new. Not worth it.

 

[Little_blue_B2]

I vote to do the 4.0 swap. I wish I would have found this site before we rebuilt my 2.8.

 

[88BII got it for $250]

2.9L to 5.0 EFI swap is really really easy for the wiring.

You get two injector plugs and a 5.0 PCM from the year of your truck, splice the two new injector plugs onto the end of the existing injector harness and plug in the 5.0 to the 2.9 harness and throw in your new PCM.

I haven't done that swap myself, but I have talked to a lot of guys who did and most of 'em say that's how the did the engine wiring

WTF are you talking about?
For 80s S.D. EFI. http://therangerstation.com/Magazine/summer2008/2_9-to_5_0-Swap.htm

For explorer 5.0l EFI http://therangerstation.com/tech_library/5_0_swap_in_newer_ranger.html

 

[adsm08]

I said outright that I haven't done it myself, but that I've talked to guys who did and got away with it.

I'm not saying there isn't a better way to do it.

 

[trail B2]

I wouldn't trade a 5.0 for a 4.0 if I could do it with a wand.But that's because it gets 18 MPG and i'm 48 not 18.

 

[Tb8983]

Ok thanks for the input still not sure but motors at my local junkyard are closer to 3-4 hundo and offer no warrentys what so ever so if I buy a motor I would still have to go threw it cause I'm not going to take the time to throw it and and just hope. I'm most likely going to do the 4 liter swap cause it only going to go up to 33s and a v8 for me sounds like I would just break things and want to race all my buddies cars with so I just have to look and find motor wiring tranny and do I have to find a new transfer case if I'm just doing the 4 liter swap or will the one in I work. The only reason I ask is cause everything on my b2 is Manuel no power nothing the way I like it and I know it. Harder to find a Manuel case out of a ranger or explorer. Also for the motor swap do I need to stay around my year to get it like say it's an 89 don't go past like a 92. For the most part I'm machanically inclined but the wiring and fab work is what I will need help with

 

[chazzone]

The 2.9 is a dead end. I wouldn't put a dime into one. The heads are junk, and since World isn't making replacments, its just a matter of time before they go and you're scrounging for used parts.

You can use your existing drive train with the 4.0. It really makes the most sense over all for a reliable DD, and if you need more grunt for the tires, do a gear swap and put in lockers.

 

[arineod]

The 2.9 is a dead end. I wouldn't put a dime into one. The heads are junk, and since World isn't making replacments, its just a matter of time before they go and you're scrounging for used parts.

You can use your existing drive train with the 4.0. It really makes the most sense over all for a reliable DD, and if you need more grunt for the tires, do a gear swap and put in lockers.

Good advice That is what I plan to do