Exhaust manifold or headers

[H20mikey]

I got a 2.9 V6 Ford ranger 1990 and got the engine out and been wanting new exhaust manifold or headers but can not find headers does any know where to buy some or some exhaust manifold and I have the engine so I was also wondering what to do to the engine before I put it back in

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Rockauto has the factory style manifolds.

Seems there is one company still making headers for the 2.9. Pacesetter maybe? I cant remember

 

[RobbieD]

I was also wondering what to do to the engine before I put it back in.

Don't lose it.


Seriously . . .
Were there any issues before you pulled it?

Do you know the history of the motor?

Was a compression test done, and a real oil pressure gauge ran for a while before the motor was pulled?

Even if it was a perfectly-running original engine, since it is out I'd replace the freeze plugs, and consider new oil pan gaskets and crank seals so that the oil pickup can be cleaned, minimum, or better yet a high-volume oil pump installed.

 

[Roert42]

Robbie’s right. doesn’t hurt to do some maintenance type stuff while you have easy access.

No reason not to throw a full gasket set at it. Few hundred bucks and you dot have to worry about a bunch of leaks.
Most of those gaskets are probably over 30 years old.

 

[JoshT]

...got the engine out and been wanting new exhaust manifold...

Why?

Installing headers is one thing. Not likely to gain much, but it's it's something. There's no reason to replace the manifolds with new manifolds if there is nothing wrong with the old ones, I you won't gain anything.

If you don't like the old dirty look, they sell paint for that at the local parts store. It'll last about as long as the new look on the new cast iron.

 

[Lefty]

Headers will most certainly make for more horsepower, but they will also aise the temperature inside the engine bay. They'e good for street rods. but in my humble opinion, not so much for daily drivers.

I've got my eye on a few parts from Tom Morana Racing http://www.moranav6racing.com/category.html?CategoryID=38

 

[JoshT]

I've got my eye on a few parts from Tom Morana Racing http://www.moranav6racing.com/category.html?CategoryID=38

I feel it is my duty to warn you that 90% of what you find on that site is a waste of money, and at least 99% of it is way over priced.

 

[RobbieD]

And since it's pulled, you could always try putting it under your pillow, and see if the Good Cologne Fairy will leave you a 4.0 for it.

 

[Lefty]

I feel it is my duty to warn you that 90% of what you find on that site is a waste of money, and at least 99% of it is way over priced.

You just might be rightel Feel free to elaborate.

 

[JoshT]

You just might be rightel Feel free to elaborate.

Well look right at the top of the page you linked. $400 for a 2.9L double roller timing chain, chain only no tensioners. Double Roller is completely unnecessary for a 2.9L and a GOOD single roller with tensioners (Cloyes) can be had at RockAuto for ~$60.

Valve cover rails are unneceaaary if you take the time to straighten them (you'll have to do that either way if bent) and properly torque them in sequence. They get bent from being overtightened, either when installing new gaskets or tightening stock gaskets trying to stop a leak. Once bent they will keep leaking until you take the time to fix it or replace it.

Their "superior" valve cover seals for $95 are actually Fel-pro permadry seals available at RockAuto for around $40.

I could go through nearly every page on the site and pick a part a lot of the items.

 

[Lefty]

Well look right at the top of the page you linked. $400 for a 2.9L double roller timing chain, chain only no tensioners. Double Roller is completely unnecessary for a 2.9L and a GOOD single roller with tensioners (Cloyes) can be had at RockAuto for ~$60.

Valve cover rails are unneceaaary if you take the time to straighten them (you'll have to do that either way if bent) and properly torque them in sequence. They get bent from being overtightened, either when installing new gaskets or tightening stock gaskets trying to stop a leak. Once bent they will keep leaking until you take the time to fix it or replace it.

Their "superior" valve cover seals for $95 are actually Fel-pro permadry seals available at RockAuto for around $40.

I could go through nearly every page on the site and pick a part a lot of the items.

YUP. got it. T wanted rocker rollers. Tom charges more than anybody else. Then again he might be the only manufacturer for them

 

[superj]

thats what sucks. that site is the only place left to get 3.0 performance stuff, it seems

 

[Lefty]

That's why they overcharge