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If you want to skip the boring intro and get to the meat and potatoes, scroll down to the Readers Digest version below!
For those unfamiliar with my project '88 Bronco II, my build thread is HERE.
LONG story short is the engine is literally the only relatively untouched piece of the project; I unfortunately ended up having to do a complete transmission and transfer case rebuild when they went south in a big way.
I'm not amenable to a 3.0 swap because of the required dash upgrade (which would result in the work/money I spent upgrading my current one being for naught) and the wiring harness nightmare. I wouldn't do a junkyard motor either so that obviously dramatically increases the cost. I've spent a TON of money getting it to where it is now, with 100s of hours of my own labor on top of it; doing a project of that magnitude (which would require mechanically assistance, and consequently, more money!) with an used motor is a non-starter, no pun intended.
Likewise a V8 swap isn't on the table either; deleting the A/C when daytime temps are nearly 120 here in the summer is likewise a non-starter!
The current 2.9 is the original from what I can tell, so it's nearly 37 years old and regularly maintained or not (and I'm leaning towards not, being the eternal pessimist I am...) it's overdue for rebuild. Although it compression tests well with all 6 cylinders within a few PSI of each other and at 90%+ of factory spec, it consumes a modest amount of oil and has some blow by as witness by exhaust smoke, in addition to the coolant/cooling system issues I won't get into extraneous detail with here.
I'm extremely happy of how it sits with it's body and suspension lift, 31-inch tires and the additional heft of the front/rear zombie bumpers I installed. It will do 70+ on the interstate and you can drive it with a finger, although the gas mileage (which I do NOT care about, but bears mentioning) is barely into the double digits, and understandably so.
I won't go through the trouble of dynoing it, but I'd bet if it broke triple-digits at the wheel I'd be surprised. I know a remanned long-block would restore it back to its original "power" level, which is anemic at best but I've always felt if it had another legit 25-30 additional lb-ft of torque and HP it'd be near perfect.
Having read up on @PetroleumJunkie412 build and other related 2.9 posts I'm aware through his exhaustive research that the 2.9 is capable of better than stock power output with the adage that speed/power costs money, how fast do you want to go? With that being said, I'm unable to do the work myself as I lack the requisite tools and quite frankly, knowledge, not to mention being physically limited due to injuries.
Readers Digest Version!:
With the assistance of a local mechanic who would do the work, what/who do you recommend for a long block capable of better than stock (which was 140 crank HP IIRC...?) performance? My mechanic can put it all together and I was thinking that a heads/cam upgrade coupled with the older/larger throttle body would help, and previously recall higher compression pistons being an option too and @gaz previously gave me a suggestion for a built short block...so better heads along with a cam and call it a day?
Thanks in advance for the help and suggestions, I very much appreciate it!
For those unfamiliar with my project '88 Bronco II, my build thread is HERE.
LONG story short is the engine is literally the only relatively untouched piece of the project; I unfortunately ended up having to do a complete transmission and transfer case rebuild when they went south in a big way.
I'm not amenable to a 3.0 swap because of the required dash upgrade (which would result in the work/money I spent upgrading my current one being for naught) and the wiring harness nightmare. I wouldn't do a junkyard motor either so that obviously dramatically increases the cost. I've spent a TON of money getting it to where it is now, with 100s of hours of my own labor on top of it; doing a project of that magnitude (which would require mechanically assistance, and consequently, more money!) with an used motor is a non-starter, no pun intended.
Likewise a V8 swap isn't on the table either; deleting the A/C when daytime temps are nearly 120 here in the summer is likewise a non-starter!
The current 2.9 is the original from what I can tell, so it's nearly 37 years old and regularly maintained or not (and I'm leaning towards not, being the eternal pessimist I am...) it's overdue for rebuild. Although it compression tests well with all 6 cylinders within a few PSI of each other and at 90%+ of factory spec, it consumes a modest amount of oil and has some blow by as witness by exhaust smoke, in addition to the coolant/cooling system issues I won't get into extraneous detail with here.
I'm extremely happy of how it sits with it's body and suspension lift, 31-inch tires and the additional heft of the front/rear zombie bumpers I installed. It will do 70+ on the interstate and you can drive it with a finger, although the gas mileage (which I do NOT care about, but bears mentioning) is barely into the double digits, and understandably so.
I won't go through the trouble of dynoing it, but I'd bet if it broke triple-digits at the wheel I'd be surprised. I know a remanned long-block would restore it back to its original "power" level, which is anemic at best but I've always felt if it had another legit 25-30 additional lb-ft of torque and HP it'd be near perfect.
Having read up on @PetroleumJunkie412 build and other related 2.9 posts I'm aware through his exhaustive research that the 2.9 is capable of better than stock power output with the adage that speed/power costs money, how fast do you want to go? With that being said, I'm unable to do the work myself as I lack the requisite tools and quite frankly, knowledge, not to mention being physically limited due to injuries.
Readers Digest Version!:
With the assistance of a local mechanic who would do the work, what/who do you recommend for a long block capable of better than stock (which was 140 crank HP IIRC...?) performance? My mechanic can put it all together and I was thinking that a heads/cam upgrade coupled with the older/larger throttle body would help, and previously recall higher compression pistons being an option too and @gaz previously gave me a suggestion for a built short block...so better heads along with a cam and call it a day?
Thanks in advance for the help and suggestions, I very much appreciate it!
