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holyford86
Some guy with a problem
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
RBV's on Boost
GMRS Radio License
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2007
- Messages
- 2,401
- Age
- 39
- City
- Plattsburgh
- State - Country
- NY - USA
- Vehicle Year
- many
- Transmission
- Manual
- Total Lift
- 7
- Tire Size
- 33x12.50R15
Well, the time has come, My dd is suffering from a little bit of neglect (truck in sig), I decided I either needed to find something else to drive or fix it up. I'm going to be swapping in a 4.0, replacing most of my body panels, along with the driver side floor pan, and doing some other exterior mods to bring it up to snuff once again.
Even though I've been a staunch supporter of the 2.9 for many years, I've recently become quite unhappy with it's performance and the fact that I really have to pound the crap out of it to maintain the speed limit ( vacuum gauge reads roughly 1" of mercury to maintain 55 mph on flat ground in 5th) The amount of ticking is steadily on the increase and I was greeted with 29PSI oil pressure @ 3,000 rpm warm, this morning
... It's normally around 40-45, but that's been steadily declining as well.
I just bought a 90k mile 4.0 out of a 93 explorer from another member on this site, who has been on my case about doing this swap for years (you know who you are). Motor will be regasketed, and installed in my truck, I will not be doing anything internal to it, It runs well and other than some leaks is in excellent shape.
I'm going to be migrating my 200 amp alternator, york air compressor, and Saginaw power steering pump onto it. The alt and P/S pump will be going on when I do the swap but the compressor may take a bit as I need to make a bracket to hold it and order the serpentine clutch to fit it.
I'm going to do my best to document what I'm doing in detail, but it's going to be a quick swap, I'm starting the process on a Friday night and I'm going to be driving it to work the Monday after. As far as the motor work, that will be done the week prior in the evening, motor will be mechanically ready to drop in when I start pulling the 2.9
The wiring seems straightforward (looking at the engine diagrams for both harnesses right now) I will be using the fuel pumps, relays, alternator harness, and anything else I can from the 86, to ease the number of wires I have to cut and make for a (hopefully) cleaner swap. I'm going to mod the wiring harness in the weeks prior to get it roughly ready for the swap as well.
As far as body work goes, I picked up rust free fenders, doors, hood, and panel beneath grille. Fenders have been trimmed already, doors will be gutted and prepped soon, as well as the hood and panel. Driver side floor pan will be replaced first, as well as all of the body mount bushings, then after driving it for a bit and letting the body settle and such I will install the new sheetmetal.
Recently I've rewired my lights, audio, air compressor, added interior winch control, and I nay be adding cruise (big maybe). I just ordered replacement offroad lights for the top (old ones rotted out) and will be making a new light bar to hold them soon.
The goal I've set for completion of all this? I'm going to drive this to the Vermonster in September, I'm going to enter it in the show & shine (it's my dd I can't afford to enter it in the competition). Hopefully I inspire some people by doing so (I doubt it, but it's a nice thought
)
Even though I've been a staunch supporter of the 2.9 for many years, I've recently become quite unhappy with it's performance and the fact that I really have to pound the crap out of it to maintain the speed limit ( vacuum gauge reads roughly 1" of mercury to maintain 55 mph on flat ground in 5th) The amount of ticking is steadily on the increase and I was greeted with 29PSI oil pressure @ 3,000 rpm warm, this morning
... It's normally around 40-45, but that's been steadily declining as well. I just bought a 90k mile 4.0 out of a 93 explorer from another member on this site, who has been on my case about doing this swap for years (you know who you are). Motor will be regasketed, and installed in my truck, I will not be doing anything internal to it, It runs well and other than some leaks is in excellent shape.
I'm going to be migrating my 200 amp alternator, york air compressor, and Saginaw power steering pump onto it. The alt and P/S pump will be going on when I do the swap but the compressor may take a bit as I need to make a bracket to hold it and order the serpentine clutch to fit it.
I'm going to do my best to document what I'm doing in detail, but it's going to be a quick swap, I'm starting the process on a Friday night and I'm going to be driving it to work the Monday after. As far as the motor work, that will be done the week prior in the evening, motor will be mechanically ready to drop in when I start pulling the 2.9
The wiring seems straightforward (looking at the engine diagrams for both harnesses right now) I will be using the fuel pumps, relays, alternator harness, and anything else I can from the 86, to ease the number of wires I have to cut and make for a (hopefully) cleaner swap. I'm going to mod the wiring harness in the weeks prior to get it roughly ready for the swap as well.
As far as body work goes, I picked up rust free fenders, doors, hood, and panel beneath grille. Fenders have been trimmed already, doors will be gutted and prepped soon, as well as the hood and panel. Driver side floor pan will be replaced first, as well as all of the body mount bushings, then after driving it for a bit and letting the body settle and such I will install the new sheetmetal.
Recently I've rewired my lights, audio, air compressor, added interior winch control, and I nay be adding cruise (big maybe). I just ordered replacement offroad lights for the top (old ones rotted out) and will be making a new light bar to hold them soon.
The goal I've set for completion of all this? I'm going to drive this to the Vermonster in September, I'm going to enter it in the show & shine (it's my dd I can't afford to enter it in the competition). Hopefully I inspire some people by doing so (I doubt it, but it's a nice thought
)
). And the truck as it sits now.
