I think I'll keep it...

[Strieg]

So I've been reading all over the site lately... And I've decided to keep my 2.9 rather than 4.0 swap like I was planning.

My start off list to get it built up is this...
The k & n- cone or stock replacement?
Electric fan
JBA header- cali emissions legal?

I already have a magnaflow cat back single exhaust, and brand new cats.
Maybe later I'll do a true dual... If I can get away with it

Later I want to do the floating rockers, and port and polish upper and lower intake. After that, find a good set of heads.

It my list realistic? Is it in a good order? Or should I be worrying about other things first?

 

[Boggin]

glad im not the only one partial to the 2.9

 

[James86]

Personally, I'd either check the heads aren't crakced or get a newer set that is less likely to crack. If I recall the 2.9's used to like to crack their heads and I know my friend had to replace his on his '88.

 

[Big Jim M]

MW??

I'd get in her, go for a drive, and spend my bucks over at the yellow rose or somewhere that would give me pleasure!
The things mentioned would ONLY make more noise and not give more milage or power.. So I'd not do any of them. You might as well throw your money up a dead dogs ass as spend it on that stuff.
Big JIm

 

[rusty70f100]

So I've been reading all over the site lately... And I've decided to keep my 2.9 rather than 4.0 swap like I was planning.

My start off list to get it built up is this...
The k & n- cone or stock replacement?
Electric fan
JBA header- cali emissions legal?

I already have a magnaflow cat back single exhaust, and brand new cats.
Maybe later I'll do a true dual... If I can get away with it

Later I want to do the floating rockers, and port and polish upper and lower intake. After that, find a good set of heads.

It my list realistic? Is it in a good order? Or should I be worrying about other things first?

Ok, in order:

The K&N filters, are, in my opinion, pointless. A stock paper filter will flow all the air your engine needs, and filter better at the same time. Just replace it every 6 months or so and you'll be fine. More often in dusty conditions.

An electric fan on a nearly stock motor is pointless. Just get the new fan clutch if you need it. Also if your fan has any cracks in the plastic, get a new one.

I've always been partial to headers. However, remember that the stock exhaust manifold will always be more reliable. Headers have a tendency to either crack, or rust out after a few years. If you get the good coated ones it might be ok though. The factory didn't use them due to reliability concerns, under hood temperatures, and higher costs to manufacture.

Single exhaust is all you need on a 2.9. I wouldn't go bigger than 2 1/4" pipe though.

Full floating rockers, IMO, are pointless. The stock setup is already pretty good. If you could get roller rockers it might help a little, but still not worth the cost.

Porting and polishing the intake will help a little. What you really want to do, if you want to take the time, is port and polish the cylinder heads. That has helped all motors since the beginning of time. The factory didn't do it because they had to balance low speed torque, fuel economy, and cost to manufacture the heads, with power. A good port cleanup will help. But don't waste your time on the factory heads.

Before you do any of that, you should be concerned with getting all the factory control systems of the motor perfect. Then make sure the engine has good oil pressure, runs quietly, etc. Basically make sure it's in good working order before you start worrying about performance.

 

[jhammel85]

glad im not the only one partial to the 2.9

You and me both (even if my truck is slow as molasses.)

As far as the upgrades go, do what you want. If it's a project and you get something out of it, then do it. Who cares about the gains if you had fun or enjoyed the upgrades you did.

I haven't heard anything about if headers would be that much of an improvement on a 2.9. We all know that on some its much more beneficial since stock C.I. manifolds dont flow too well on some (most) engines.

The fan...well..I would just keep mechanical. Especially with the 2.9 and it's overheating issues and cracking heads. Plus there is no HP benefit IMHO.

As far as the intake goes...your truck is already running a CAI. I'd leave that alone and at the most use a K&N. I would only use that if it sees a lot of offroad. Even then I would probably stick with paper filters.

A good old paper filter works perfectly fine.

 

[rusty70f100]

To add to my previous post...

The thing I don't like about the cone air filters (Cold Air Intake) or whatever they call them, is that they disable the air blend door. There's a thermostatic strip in the stock air box, and a blend door upstream of the air box. What that does, is it regulates the temperature of the air going into the engine. There's a heated air duct that goes over to the exhaust manifold, and another that goes up to the front somewhere for cold air. The blend door moves to regulate the temperature reaching the air box. This is done for mileage.

When you put that goofy cone air filter on it, you basically disable all that. Now the engine is getting whatever temperature the air is outside. If that's really cold, look for your mileage to go down. Alternatively, if it's not vented to under the fender or something, and blocked off, it will be sucking in air from under the hood. On a hot day this could make the engine ping from having too hot of air!

So all in all, in my opinion, a CAI is a bad idea.

 

[Strieg]

ok thanks for tips... the only reason i was considering the intake port/polish was because of the sticky thread about 2.9's. and the peeps on there were saying they werent matched well. and the same for the floating rockers, because im starting to develop 'The Tick'.. ive checking my pressure and its right, and its on a fresh oil change. plus the truck has 225k miles.. so im worried it might not be getting oil where it needs it. and as for the heads, im planning on taking them off for inspection. if there are issues what is a good replacement brand? been reading that world heads are pretty ok.....

 

[dave2575]

World products is about the only aftermarket company that makes heads for the 2.9 and I am not sure but I heard that World has stopped making the 2.9 heads, but you should still be able to find them on e-bay or someone here might know were to find them.

 

[jhammel85]

I've heard the same. It's a shame that they've stopped

 

[rusty70f100]

I would get the tick sorted out before even thinking about performance.

There have been a number of theories I've heard over the years about the tick.

1. The cam bearings wear and it loses pressure at the lifters.
2. The rocker shafts get plugged with sludge and that affects the lifters somehow.
3. Ford didn't get the oil pump pickup tube bolted on quite tight enough, and it will losen enough to allow some air to be drawn into the oiling system.

Here have been my experiences, with a ticking '86 B2 I had in high school, many years ago...

1. When my dad was driving it, it would only stop ticking when turning right. Go straight or turn left and it would eventually start again. (edit: Maybe I have that backwards. It's been a long time.) By the time I got it, it ticked loudly all the time.
2. No matter what oil I ran in it, it would tick. Thicker oil quieted it down a very small amount.
3. When I put 8 quarts in it, the ticking stopped completely. Not recommended though, as the crank will whip the oil. I only did this as a test, and I only let it idle for a few minutes before an oil change.
4. When it progressed to the point that the oil light was on all the time, I pulled the motor and took it apart. It's strange, but the thrust bearing had ate into the thrust surface of the crankshaft, and the crankshaft had a good 3/16" end play. There were markings on the block and the counterweights where the crankshaft counterweights were slamming into the cylinder block. The last time I ran it, before I pulled it, it sounded like it was full of rocks.

The current B2 I've got has been a bit different. It only ticks a bit on startup, when it's cold out. I switched to synthetic 0w20 oil and that went away. Now it doesn't tick at all. If it ever does start ticking again, my plan is to pull the valve covers and clean out the rocker shafts. Then, pull the oil pan and put in a new oil pickup and new high volume oil pump. Then if it's still ticking, pull the heads and replace the lifters.