replace 2.9 with 2.8 and duraspark?

[born ford]

I am looking at buying a 90 ranger that is in fantastic shape. I have the option of either changing all the body parts and floorboards to my current 85 ranger, or just putting the 2.8 in the 90 ranger. 90 has a 2.9 that gave it up. how difficult is it to swap the 2.9 for the 2.8 with duraspark? i know the mounts and trans fit, but what about hooking up the duraspark into the 90 harness? and should i leave the electric fuel pump or change tanks and use the manual pump? know its a long post but if someone could point me in the right direction.

 

[Psychopete]

you can run your fuel tank return as a feed if you take the check valve off that's in the tank, or run an adjustable return style regulator with your efi pump and power it through a relay.

get the helm inc electrical trouble shooting manuals for the 1990 & 1985, splice the 2.8L harness to the 2.9L dash plugs. use the 2.9L sending units for oil pressure & temp. little stuff you'll have to sort out that's just different. If it's the feed back 2.8L, definitely mark every vacuum and connection lol

 

[born ford]

thanks for the reply the feed back carb is going away rebuilding a 2150 for it so no probs there. i would hate to cut up the wiring in the 90 truck as i would like to rebuild the 2.9 and reinstall it later. should be no differnt then a v8 duraspark swap i would think but cant find much info on it or is that wrong?does the harness need to be choped in that swap?

 

[RICO9]

It would be way easier to just swap bodies.

 

[born ford]

can i ask why it would be easier to swap bodies? what would be the advantages? ive changed a cab before and it was no picnic.lol the duraspark is only 2 wires that i could even use a toggle switch to the battery if it came down to it, ive done it before on my 65 galaxie. its not hard to swap tanks if i needed to. not trying to criticize mind u i just dont see the point.

 

[enginepaul]

Once you do a DuraSpark, you don't need the computer or the sensors; so if you just leave the old wires, or unplug them where you can , you can then go back to the 2.9
I'd double check with your DMV as to legality; I can put a newer engine, but not an older engine in a vehicle. Most states would allow your swap but check first, just in case.

 

[born ford]

thanks that is what i thought the 2.8 is just a solution for now. dont have laws like that around here ive seen some crazy stuff people have put together,lol. f

 

[lodden758]

I have put a 2.8 in my 90 BII, not as hard as anyone thinks, I acually ran mine off the 90 harness, just plug in the 29's harness to the 2.8's dizzy and you will get spark then all you have to do is get fuel and it will run, but timing won't advance, so you'll have to manually set it at 15 btc, I ran mine for a year like that getting about 20 mpg's decided I wasn't goin back to the 2.9 like the 2.8 better so I did a HEI swap in to it. I was able to take the whole 2.9 harness out with out cutting it up so every wire you'll need for durspark is before the 2.9 harness plugs in to the cab