Can anything be done to resolve known issues with the early 2.9L v6's?

[kawana]

I found a really nice 86 ranger with a rebuilt 2.9 (only 50,000km's). Ive read up a little on the early 2.9's and its apparent they have some problems. Is there anything I can do right off the bat, to make it a more reliable motor?

 

[master hec0]

bigger rad.

 

[Hopman]

Swap in a 4.0.

 

[Psychopete]

Maintenance seems to be a big factor. But there are some that die at 100K, some that go 300K+.

 

[strvger]

x2 on bigger radiator and regular oil and fluid changes.

 

[adsm08]

Maintain, maintain, maintain. That is the single most important thing to keeping a 2.9 going.

They are great little engines, tough as nails, and have no right to make the kind of power they do with that small displacement. The cam bearings and the heads are the two weak points. If you can find a set of MT89 or World Class heads those will go a long way towards helping with the head issue. As for the cam bearings, change your oil at 3K every time and you shouldn't have any trouble.

 

[JohnnyO]

Use diesel-rated motor oil. 15w-40 in the summer or year-round if it doesn't get cold where you live, or 5w-40 Shell Rotella Synthetic.

 

[adsm08]

Use diesel-rated motor oil. 15w-40 in the summer or year-round if it doesn't get cold where you live, or 5w-40 Shell Rotella Synthetic.

Good advice. I've run 10-30 in mine from day one, up until about 4 or 5 years ago when it started to smoke and I started running 4 qts 10-30 and 1 qt Lucas.

Use LUCAS.

 

[ragajungle]

Is 5w30 okay? Ive been running that (gets -10 deg winter & up to 100 deg summer here)

 

[adsm08]

5-30 should be good for you in the winter. I'd run something heavier in the summer.

I did get my hands on a Ford temp vs. weight chart a year or two ago, and 5-30 is good under 32.

 

[PaleBlue90]

bigger rad.

+1 i used one out of a 92 exploder with a 4.0

Maintenance seems to be a big factor. But there are some that die at 100K, some that go 300K+.

+1 mine went to 350K before it gave up...... i miss it

Good advice. I've run 10-30 in mine from day one, up until about 4 or 5 years ago when it started to smoke and I started running 4 qts 10-30 and 1 qt Lucas.

Use LUCAS.

+1 thats all i ran in mine, i also ran one tank of premium gas with half a bottle of marvelous mystery oil in the tank and the rest in the motor. when i burned up that tank i did a new tank of gas,new oil with a filter. it kept it real happy

 

[exbass94]

Swap in a 4.0.

Before I even clicked on the thread I KNEW someone was going to say that.

 

[necessaryevil]

+1 for lucas

 

[Exploder_Chick]

Well this is all good advice. I think I'll take it. lol. motor swap is outta the question for me right now. But the regular mentanence is what I'm doing. But first, I need to do the head gasket and PRAY that it's only the head gasket. Yay for 2.9s! lol mine should have gave up... but shes a trooper! haha