I went and did it

[holyford86]

I finally decided to buy a replacement engine for my truck. I have gotten to the point that i wanted to have a spare lying around to put in just in case. Picked up a 120k mile motor out of a 89 for 100 bucks, i drove the truck before the motor was pulled out. now I get to go through it and replace the oil pan gasket, rear main seal, clean the oil pump strainer, put new valvecover gaskets on, install a new water pump and then wait for the ticking time bomb to go off. and replace it. It is fast approaching 280k miles on it and it is to the point that I just don't trust it anymore. My hat is off to an impressive run though.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

why not throw a set of bearings in the "new" motor while your at it? or at least pop the caps off and inspect everything. you wont have another chance like this after you put the motor in the truck...

 

[holyford86]

it ran good enough and didn't make any noise when I pulled it. If I get another 50-60k out of this one I will be OK with it. I don't want to tear this one completely apart its just leaking oil nicely and that's all I'm trying to solve.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

its your call...i just like saving myself the work later down the road.

id love to do exactly what you did though, and have a junkyard motor "on hand" just in case.

 

[almostclueless]

I would totally put a freshly turned crank and matching bearings in a back up engine while it's out.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

chances are good that he wouldnt even need to turn the crank...just throw in a set of bearings for...what? $100?

personally, i have a hard time not replacing bearings while i have the oil pan off of a high mileage engine. bearings are too cheap and too important to neglect.

but thats just me...

 

[holyford86]

I might plastiguage the bearings and see what I have and if they are badly worn I would probably change them. I just started looking at it to see what i need to replace, so far on the list is this:
replace valvecover gaskets, oil pan gasket, remove oil level sensor and weld up the hole in the pan ('86 trucks don't use them), clean the whole thing, install new plugs, inspect main and rod bearings, replace the rear main seal, replace the water pump, clean the oil pump screen, swap to the 4.0 oil filter adapter, new thermostat.

I am also debating on what I want to do with the transmission. the truck that this motor came out of also had an m5od, it needs a shifter, the one on it is worn but the transmission doesn't seem to make too much noise. I currently have a fm146, I can take and wiggle the input shaft around a good 1/4 of an inch and it makes some internal noise(surprise surprise), I have a feeling the fact that the transmission partially removing itself has something to do with it, all but two of the bellhousing bolts fell out and the other two were working on it.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the FM in my parents ranger did the same thing. i was replacing the rear main seal in it after it popped (while i was driving it, of coarse), and discovered the top 2 bolts and studs were missing, and one of the bottom studs had sheered off...making one bolt all that was holding the transmission in

 

[koolmilds]

holyford, ive got an oil pan without the oil level sensor that im not going to need. would you like to buy it ? PM me if interested.

 

[holyford86]

No, I'm alright with what I have, worst case scenario I can reuse the one off the 86. Thanks for the offer though.

 

[Hahnsb2]

No 4.0 swap ?

 

[Psychopete]

No 4.0 swap ?

LOL, I thought he got something newer at first or something. I am also suprised he went with another 2.9L. That's true dedication.

Pete

 

[holyford86]

I really can't argue with the reliability of the one I have, it has nearly 280,000 miles on the original motor, I'm still driving it right now and aside from a recurring code and it puffing some smoke when its warm out theres nothing wrong with it, the heads are original as well. I was able to pick this motor up for a pretty good deal so I'm going to go with it. If I couldnt have found another for what I paid I probably would have went with a 4.0. I am dedicated to the 2.9, it's been the most reliable typewriter I've ever owned, Its gutless for the most part but the truck gets really scary to drive at any speed greater than 65 MPH so its really no big deal. I have been stuck with the nickname of 2.9 god by a friend of mine at one point because I apparently have the uncanny ability of keeping the things alive.

 

[177CIOfPureLove]

That is pretty cool. I do love my 2.9 very much. I am sure that there are better engines out there, but I am very glad with the service I recieve from mine. I would have no problem with freshening up a junkyard block for a spare. Giddy up 2.9! I cannot believe that you still have the original heads! thats crazy. You might have the best 2.9 casting there ever was there.

 

[ranger]

heck with the 4.0 if your gona put a bigger engine go with a 302 and then the truck will have some balls