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One cannot deny (unless you're severely biased and delusional) that a very large part of the population had huge problems with the 2.9 V6 mainly due to it's cooling system problems, which led to more cracked heads than can possibly be counted. This is especially evident due to aftermarket companies (World Products) designing an entirely new casting for the heads.. Did it like to be revved? Sure, absolutely. Could it handle it? Not for long. It was junk from the day it was designed. The valve train was severely problematic. The cam journals in the block were weak. The mains were weak, but probably the strongest part of that engine family. The entire block was weak and extremely prone to warping, and the heads were prone to cracking, all in the same general location. I got rid of mine after at least 5 heads all cracked in the exact same spot, on two completely different blocks. One from a well known and respected aftermarket engine rebuilding company. They were flat-out defective factory parts. Ford failed us on this one. That's why World Products picked up the slack and made some excellent little cylinder heads designed from completely new castings.
Don't get me wrong. I wanted to love the little 2.9 but it was just a weak ass engine from the get-go. It did love being revved, but it couldn't handle it. I wish it was a good engine design, because I love my Ford products and I'll die driving a Ford. I know and love Fords. I'm not trying to argue with anyone, but I've really seen several dozens of Fords scrapped because of nothing more than this weak ass engine. Actually the number is probably closer to 100 scrapped vehicles because of the 2.9l V6.. BIG FAIL FORD.
I personally own 3 Bronco II's and a couple Rangers that are sitting in the woods because of this engine failing. Mainly cylinder head related. One was a piston pin failure on an engine ordered through a Ford dealership with less than 60,000 miles on it. The piston pin walked sideways and became intimate with the cylinder wall, but the interesting part was that the same engine had another piston that the piston pin egg-shaped the bore in the piston and started allowing the piston to slap around. The knock sounded like hell but would completely disappear at times. It took a tear-down to figure that one out.
Enjoy your 2.9 engines all you please, but I'll never recommend one to anyone (in fact I steer people away from them) and you couldn't give me one for free. I'd scrap it and keep the truck for a swap project.
Now, carry on with this thread. Rant over. lol
