Getting Ready to Pull the 2.9

[Harleroy]

I've developed a problem with my 2.9 - low oil pressure at hot idle. I've changed the oil pump and screen but this didn't help. I'm getting ready to pull the motor out to see what's going on. Has anyboy else experienced this with their 2.9s? What should I look for when I get in there?
Back in 2003 I bought this truck and put just about everything new into the motor including the heads. I can't bleieve it's run out of oil pressure with only about 35,000 miles on the motor. When I did the work in '03, I replaced the original radiator with a heavy-duty one and it's NEVER run hot on me so I'm confused what went wrong. I don't want to have to do this again in another 35,000 miles.

I've read that it's easy to swap the 2.9 for a 4.0. Does all the wiring connections just plug in and the fuel connections? What about the computer?
Thanks for any help/advice.

 

[FordMan016]

did you prime your pump before you put it in ? if not it wont work properly


and just because its a new pump doesnt mean its a good one could be defective.

 

[Harleroy]

I've got oil pressure when the engine is cool or running about 1000RPM. It's after I drive the truck several miles and come to a stop and the motor idles about 900 that the oil pressure light flicker or comes on. If I hole the revs above 100 -1100, the light stays off. I've changed the sending unit and put a gauge in there to check the sender and the gauge showed practically no pressure at idle.

 

[Psychopete]

I've changed the sending unit and put a gauge in there to check the sender and the gauge showed practically no pressure at idle.

An aftermarket one? When you did all of that work did you have a cracked head (I noticed you said you changed heads)? Did you also change any of the bearings?

FWIW, my 2.9L cracked a head when I was about 17. I didn't know any better and just kept driving it. Eventually the coolant in my oil ate my bearings. Did fine cold, but once I got off the highway when it was warm, TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK! Stock gauge showed no pressure when this occurred.

Pete

 

[RangerJ]

I've developed a problem with my 2.9 - low oil pressure at hot idle. I've changed the oil pump and screen but this didn't help. I'm getting ready to pull the motor out to see what's going on. Has anyboy else experienced this with their 2.9s? What should I look for when I get in there?
Back in 2003 I bought this truck and put just about everything new into the motor including the heads. I can't bleieve it's run out of oil pressure with only about 35,000 miles on the motor. When I did the work in '03, I replaced the original radiator with a heavy-duty one and it's NEVER run hot on me so I'm confused what went wrong. I don't want to have to do this again in another 35,000 miles.

I've read that it's easy to swap the 2.9 for a 4.0. Does all the wiring connections just plug in and the fuel connections? What about the computer?
Thanks for any help/advice.

I recently had this same problem,my fix was a new oil pump,crankshaft,bearing etc. Now it runs great. I initially replaced the oil pressure switch and all was fine until the engine got hot then I had the same problems you have. Hope this helps.

 

[Harleroy]

I guess I'll find out what went wrong in about a week or two when I get time to pull it out of the truck and tear it down. Thanks for the input.