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- Joined
- May 15, 2020
- Messages
- 3,998
- Age
- 70
- City
- Atlanta
- State - Country
- GA - USA
- Other
- Manufacturers factory tour, maybe big dealership tour
- Vehicle Year
- 1997 1987
- Engine
- 4.0 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
- Total Lift
- 97 stock, 3” on 87
- Total Drop
- N/A
- Tire Size
- 235/75-15
- My credo
- Never put off ‘til tomorrow what you can put off indefinitely
Let me start by saying these guys know more about how to swap the engines around and what parts you’ll need, etc., than I ever dreamed of.
I have an 87 4WD with the 2.9. Short cab, short bed, no AC, 5sp manual. It runs forever on a tank of gas. I’m assuming it’s mid to high 20s, maybe even 30 MPG, but I never clocked it.
I also have a 97 2WD 4.0 long cab short bed. Also five speed manual. I did clock it a few times, and I was doing in the mid to high 20s before I did my unusual modifications (see link below). After I added the third axle, and made the trailer and I pulled the trailer. I still got mid 20s, and I think the trailer is at least 1000 pounds, and that was over and under a lot of mountains between Atlanta and the Carlisle truck nationals. All highway miles and highway speeds, about 4000 miles altogether in two trips.
The torque and the performance of the 4.0 are astounding to me compared to the 2.9.
My 2.9 was rebuilt professionally about 40,000 miles ago. The 2.9 gets me anywhere I want to go, I have to downshift if I’m going up a long or steep hill, but that’s when it’s empty. If I have a passenger, or a few hundred pounds in the back, that all changes, I really have to work the gears.
To me, that 4.0 is almost like a little diesel. If I’m not pulling the trailer, it’ll usually go everywhere in fifth gear once I’m up to speed, at the most I’ve got to drop into fourth, but that’s rare. The reason I say it’s like a diesel? When I pull that thousand pound plus trailer, it pretty much performs the exact same way.
If these guys say that 4.0 would be easier to swap over, and you’re not absolutely starving for gas, I would think it was a no-brainer. If you are starving for gas, you can buy a whole lot of gas for what it’s going to cost you to do the swap.
And one last thought, I would suspect that the truck would be worth a lot more, and sell more quickly, when you’re done with it, if it has the 4.0 instead of the 2.9 or 2.3
My two cents, I hope it helps
I have an 87 4WD with the 2.9. Short cab, short bed, no AC, 5sp manual. It runs forever on a tank of gas. I’m assuming it’s mid to high 20s, maybe even 30 MPG, but I never clocked it.
I also have a 97 2WD 4.0 long cab short bed. Also five speed manual. I did clock it a few times, and I was doing in the mid to high 20s before I did my unusual modifications (see link below). After I added the third axle, and made the trailer and I pulled the trailer. I still got mid 20s, and I think the trailer is at least 1000 pounds, and that was over and under a lot of mountains between Atlanta and the Carlisle truck nationals. All highway miles and highway speeds, about 4000 miles altogether in two trips.
The torque and the performance of the 4.0 are astounding to me compared to the 2.9.
My 2.9 was rebuilt professionally about 40,000 miles ago. The 2.9 gets me anywhere I want to go, I have to downshift if I’m going up a long or steep hill, but that’s when it’s empty. If I have a passenger, or a few hundred pounds in the back, that all changes, I really have to work the gears.
To me, that 4.0 is almost like a little diesel. If I’m not pulling the trailer, it’ll usually go everywhere in fifth gear once I’m up to speed, at the most I’ve got to drop into fourth, but that’s rare. The reason I say it’s like a diesel? When I pull that thousand pound plus trailer, it pretty much performs the exact same way.
If these guys say that 4.0 would be easier to swap over, and you’re not absolutely starving for gas, I would think it was a no-brainer. If you are starving for gas, you can buy a whole lot of gas for what it’s going to cost you to do the swap.
And one last thought, I would suspect that the truck would be worth a lot more, and sell more quickly, when you’re done with it, if it has the 4.0 instead of the 2.9 or 2.3
My two cents, I hope it helps
