Planning on rebuilding my 89 ranger motor

[riss6270]

I have a 89 ranger with the 2.9l 5 speed 2wd. I just purchased a new well 03 ranger and have had very good luck with ther 89. I dont want to sell it bc it gets very good mpgs. It has a little over 200k on it and just seems like its running out of life. I was thinking about rebuilding the engine. I have never done this before but i think im more than capable of doing it. I just dont now if it is worth it or not. Does anyone have any thoughts and or pointers if i should go through with it. I would spend up to 800 or 900 in doing the rebuild. Is it possible to do it for that amount??? WOuld it be better to get a motor from the junk yard for 350 and rebuild that one and then swap it??? Any thoughts would be great. Also this is my first post so hello to everyone. I have had my 89 ford ranger since i was 17 and just purchased the 03 a mth ago. I love the rangers. The best on the road. I do have to say i am a little shocked that im getting 12mpgs in my 03 ranger 4.0 fx4 4x4 5 speed man. Thought i would be getting a little bit better.

 

[doorgunner]

Welcome! Maybe you can do a good tuneup instead of rebuilding the engine/chek the catalytic converter to see if it's clogging up/add headers/etc to get more pep out of it....(it's not healthy to rebuild an engine that still gets good gas mileage)....just use a couple hundred of that $800 to beef-up the 2.9 & use a hundred to tune up the '03 to get better mileage...

my .02 cents....

 

[NEVERDONE86]

I JUST REBUILT MINE BECAUSE IT LEAKED REALLY BAD AND GOT HORRABLE MPGS. I WOULDNT REBUILD IT JUST DO A FULL TUNE UP AND RUN IT.
O AND WELCOME TO TRS!

 

[doorgunner]

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR MORE INFO:

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132113

 

[country0001]

Drop a 4.0 in it

 

[riss6270]

Country...
i dont think i can afford to put gas in 2 4.0l engines. So after read the pose from doorgunner i think im going to do a hell of a tune up. If im doing a tune up would it be worth doing rings and all of that? What would be ideal for a tune up?

 

[martin]

At that mileage it's just broken in, if it's running well and not leaking like a sieve, tune up and drive.

 

[brinker88]

When you say piston rings, that is far beyond a reg. "tuneup"

 

[fyre82]

Seems that even with parts from Rock Auto it's almost a grand to rebuild just in parts, that's without head and block work.

That said, its about a grand for a warranted rebuild, or should I say was when I replaced mine a few years ago.

So, like mentioned, if it doesn't leak, too bad, rattle like a can of rocks, then tune it, plugs, cap, rotor, wires. Pull codes to see if there are sensor issues and go from there. A little goes a long way with a 2.9.

Good luck

Rich

 

[doorgunner]

Country...
i dont think i can afford to put gas in 2 4.0l engines. So after read the pose from doorgunner i think im going to do a hell of a tune up. If im doing a tune up would it be worth doing rings and all of that? What would be ideal for a tune up?

A. spark plugs
B. spark plug wires
C. distributor cap
D. distributor rotor
E. fuel filter
F. PVC valve
G. air filter
H. oil & filter
I. fuel system treatment(fuel injector cleaner--1 bottle added to next tank of gas)
J. but NOT a ring job!

 

[riss6270]

Ok. So I'm going to be buying the stuff tomorrow for the tune up. I do have one issue with the truck. The oil pressure is very low. The gauge will go from the n in normal to almost nothing and there is a slight ticking sound when I start the truck. Usually goes away after 5 min or so. But for the most part it runs fine. I will post pics of my two rangers when I figure out how on here.

 

[riss6270]

One question. Where does the PVC valve go? Never replaced before

 

[riss6270]

Pcv ...... Stupid auto correct

 

[Psychopete]

passenger side valve cover

 

[country0001]

I get 21 mpg on the highway in my B2. 16 city. My 2.9's have never got great mileage