New to the boards!

[87stx]

From what my friends are telling me I have a top of the line truck for its year. It has a 2.9 V6 and was wondering what the good and bad of this engine is? Pictures coming soon. Tim

 

[87stx]

My truck: 87 Ford Ranger 4x4 STX 2.9V6 5speed
3:73LS 7.00x15 co-op grip spurs (31's)

 

[IMenriched]

Heads are the weak link....after market World heads are better.


other than that just general maintence is key as with anything

 

[87stx]

Thanks for the input. I seen some of those heads in a magazine one time and can't remember who sold them. So help a brother out.....who sells them?

 

[almostclueless]

welcome.

 

[mkpecor]

world heads.

 

[Mutant Pony]

Don't freak out if you suddenly develop a lifter tick. It is normal. It may come and go.
OH, welcome to TRS.

 

[grnrngr]

Main thing is to keep a good eye on your coolant level ,as overheating is a big factor in head or bliock cracking. I've got an '86 B2 and a '90 Ranger, both 2.9s, The B2 was fairly abused when I got it, but it ran great for a couple years until it recently developed an oil pressure problem. Still runs and sounds OK, but it won't get used again until I change the oil pump. The Ranger was in great shape but I neglected a leak in my heater core, didn't have the proper anti-freeze mix when winter hit and popped a freeze plug, tried one of those rubber universal things that didn't hold, and overheated it really bad a couple times. Swapped in a recently rebuilt from a rolled truck in the wrecking yard, runs great, and I'm stoked to have it back on the road,,

 

[87stx]

Yea the lifters ticked bad when I first got it because the guy who had it didn't do nothing but drive it. So I changed the old that looked like syrup and found the problem.... a stupid fram oil filter on it! Changed the oil and put on a good ford motorcraft filter and the tick almost went away. Everyone that I've heard(2.9) ticks..why? Tim

 

[mkpecor]

the oiling system is crap on them, they just dont get the oil to the top of the motor like it should. nothing you can do it will always have a tick that will come and go.

 

[mkpecor]

ps google ford 2.9 heads and you will find world heads.

 

[87stx]

So even with new heads (world) they still tick? What about the cooling issues? Do they fix that to? I want to lift the front and was wondering about the coil spacers that go on top of the spring. Do they require lowering brackets for the axles? Sorry about all the questions. Tim

 

[Mutant Pony]

The world heads don't crack as easy as the factory 2.9 heads. The 2.9s really don't have a cooling issue, it is more of a neglect issue. If the cooling system is kept up, the factory 2.9 heads wouldn't crack. Yes they will still tick from time to time.
As far as the lift goes, you need a lift kit. It lowers the pivot points of the TTB housings and taller springs give you the lift. This will make a HUGE improvement on a Ranger offroad.If you buy a system kit, you will also get rear springs.