Reman engines

[superdave1984]

I have to put in a quart about every other fill-up. About 2-3 a month. This little truck sat in a field for 3 years and I am guessing that did some damage to the rings, hence the oil burning. Plus it doesn't like going up long hills on the highway. And I know if I pull it and it stays out of the truck more than a weekend, it will be replaced by a 302. That's fine and dandy, but this is my DD and I know from experience V-8 power, a Ranger, and bad weather are a REALLY bad combination.

 

[Mechanickid]

just buy another 2.0 or 2.3 and be done

 

[OilPatch197]

Plus it doesn't like going up long hills on the highway.

That is the nature of the beast, OD bogs my motor down on the interstate when going up hills, a fresh rebuild too. Great fuel economy.

 

[RangerMan64]

Don't want to steal your thread superdave, but would it be worth it to rebuild a 2.9L on my '88? A lot of my buddies say just get a new truck and stop putting money into the old bitch!

 

[Mechanickid]

My dad rebuilt the 2.9 in his 86 three times. Everyone laughed at him. He never replaced the original clutch until last month @ 314.xxx miles , they kept laughing. They quit laughing when they realized that he knows his truck and that he and his truck have stood the test of time. Now they respect him and his truck.
IMO if the truck is in good shape and you like it, make yourself happy and fix it.

 

[superdave1984]

After some research it looks like it will be considerably cheaper to just throw the 2.0 away and drop in a 5.0. I know fuel economy will suffer, but the donor car I have my eye on is an 88 Town Car with 87K miles and has a 5.0 SFI with an AOD tranny so it won't be too painful. Not the most powerful V-8 in the world at a rated 160HP, but a considerable upgrade over what I have now. Hell a rebuild kit for the 2.0 is over $500 and that doesn't include new pistons if I have to punch the holes. Doesn't include gaskets either. I can get this whole car for around $300 and sell the body for scrap.

 

[cocoasranger]

I think that 3 liters of additional displacement will give you a lot of extra torque which will get you up those hills.