Some input necessary

[thorsranger91]

I have a 91 Xtra cab 2.9 t code 4x4. Wife has agreed to let me do whatever as long as the bills are paid. I use the truck as a driver, construction, and firewood truck. I pull a 6x14 tandem axle trailer. It has been lifted 2 or 3 inches. Question becomes 4.0 or 5.0 swap with the end result of practicality in mind?

 

[Curious Hound]

4.0 is probably easier. It fits better and will mate with your present transmission.

But who doesn’t love a V8?

 

[sgtsandman]

The 4.0 OHV is based on the 2.9, so would probably be the easiest.

What gearing do you have in the axles? If a 3.73 or numerically lower, a gear change might be a good complement to the engine.

People have talked about the difficulty in finding matching gears for some of the older front axles. So that may not be an option anymore.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

How heavy is your trailer? Does it have brakes? What terrain do you drive in? Your truck is "legally" allowed to tow a certain amount, and I doubt that your loaded work trailer falls within those specs.
That said, I've towed well over my trucks gvwr. And have been fined by dot...ouch!
Commercial plate on 1/2 ton truck.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

If i were you?

Keep the ranger as a DD and go pick up the numerous 87-96 F150s all over CL and marketplace for probably not a whole lot more they youll have in a swap, and have a truck that will handle your stuff better in all aspects.

 

[thorsranger91]

The 4.0 OHV is based on the 2.9, so would probably be the easiest.

What gearing do you have in the axles? If a 3.73 or numerically lower, a gear change might be a good complement to the engine.

People have talked about the difficulty in finding matching gears for some of the older front axles. So that may not be an option anymore.

Not sure what gears I have. All I know is they're factory

 

[thorsranger91]

How heavy is your trailer? Does it have brakes? What terrain do you drive in? Your truck is "legally" allowed to tow a certain amount, and I doubt that your loaded work trailer falls within those specs.
That said, I've towed well over my trucks gvwr. And have been fined by dot...ouch!
Commercial plate on 1/2 ton truck.

My trailer empty is about 900 pounds. It doesn't have brakes yet. Waiting to put electric braking on. Mostly drive highway/city with some clay like fields as we live near the flint hills in Kansas so it's just hilly and flat terrain. My loaded outfit trailer is still under 2k pounds therefore I'm not worried about that. Whenever I go logging I have had closer to 6k on the trailer as it was green hardwood. I'm not in a scramble for wood anymore so don't foresee doing that anytime soon. I don't plan to pull my car trailer with the stranger as I have my touareg for that

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Not sure what gears I have. All I know is they're factory

Two places to look for gear ratio....
Door tag code, look up codes in the tech library.
Tag on rear cover bolt.

 

[thorsranger91]

The 4.0 OHV is based on the 2.9, so would probably be the easiest.

What gearing do you have in the axles? If a 3.73 or numerically lower, a gear change might be a good complement to the engine.

People have talked about the difficulty in finding matching gears for some of the older front axles. So that may not be an option anymore.

Not going to keep that t code in there. Hate autos when I want control. My salvage guy has a 95 5 speed 4.0 4x4. It was sent to him after being lightly overheated. It's an Xtra cab as well so I can swap with him there

 

[sgtsandman]

Not going to keep that t code in there. Hate autos when I want control. My salvage guy has a 95 5 speed 4.0 4x4. It was sent to him after being lightly overheated. It's an Xtra cab as well so I can swap with him there

Make sure you get the drive shafts and computer with the engine and transmission. Chances are good that they will be different lengths than what you have now with the automatic.

 

[Curious Hound]

Not going to keep that t code in there. Hate autos when I want control. My salvage guy has a 95 5 speed 4.0 4x4. It was sent to him after being lightly overheated. It's an Xtra cab as well so I can swap with him there

I understand about not liking automatics. But they often have a higher tow rating.

 

[thorsranger91]

I understand about not liking automatics. But they often have a higher tow rating.

As stated I tow with my touareg. It has an 8k tow capacity. Ranger is just lighter loads

 

[don4331]

I understand about not liking automatics. But they often have a higher tow rating.

In Rangers, automatics always have a higher tow rating.

'91 Ranger SuperCab 4x4 (OP's truck)
2.9/auto: 4,800 lb trailer max (4.0/auto: 5,600lbs)
2.9/manual: 2,300 lb trailer max

4.0/manual isn't even option, but that's because the FM145 manual of '91 wouldn't take the load. The later, M5ODR-1 will mount behind 4.0 and would in theory have more capacity. But if OP is stopped by DOT/in accident they go by aforementioned maximums.

Kansas is one of few states without brake requirements at specific trailer weight/percent of tow vehicle. Rather, you need to demonstrate stopping in 40' from 20mph.

Ranger needs ~17' to stop without trailer from 20mph; ~25' from 20 with 2k lbs trailer.* So, OP should be fine so long as weight is correct.​

*Assumes both front and rear brakes are in good working order.​

Driveshafts, both front and rear on 4x4s, are supposed to be identical between manuals and automatics.

 

[thorsranger91]

Well it may have come time for a swap earlier than expected. My a4ld is now leaking fluid. When I looked under the truck, dripping from lower starter bolt. Excuse for the m5 swap?