Supercharging a 2.9l?

[Kody165]

I have an 87 2.9l manual. Its a great engine but it just needs a little "oomph". my question is can the engine even handle it? its pushing 350k miles. and is it even possible to do it to this engine? or should i just swap in a whole new 302? Any input is greatly appreciated

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Probably wouldn't take much if any boost.

I wouldn't charge an engine with that many miles on it unless I wanted to see the insides without the hassle of taking it apart by hand.

 

[ronclark]

I have an 87 2.9l manual. Its a great engine but it just needs a little "oomph". my question is can the engine even handle it? its pushing 350k miles. and is it even possible to do it to this engine? or should i just swap in a whole new 302? Any input is greatly appreciated

easiest way to get some more oomph is regear, i am betting you have 3.45.
what size tires do you have?
4.10 and 225/75/15 seem to be the best combo for the 2.9l with a 5 speed, i was able to keep 23 mpg highway in my truck with good power.

 

[jhammel85]

Any kind of boost on an engine with 300k plus miles is just asking for problems.

 

[Kody165]

Yea, ive got the 3.45 on it with 15's. the reason i ask is because my dad pushed one of these 2.9s to hit half a million miles before it gave out so i wasnt sure how much beef it had to survive a charger, thanks for the input guys!

 

[jhammel85]

They're reliable motors, that's for sure!

 

[adsm08]

The 2.9 is fairly reliable in stock form, if it is taken care of.

If you put any boost at all to them you pop the heads. I really doubt you will scatter the bottom end because the heads will crack well before that happens.

I would look at a 4.0 before a 5.0. Easier to do, similar results.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I would look at a 4.0 before a 5.0. Easier to do, similar results.

Using well picked stock parts probably about the same jump as 2.9 to 4.0, maybe a little more.

If you get hp greedy and start grabbing Mustang stuff you get a slightly better bottom end (to a 4.0) with a drastically better top end.

With a standard roller cam and E6 heads they are brutal at low RPM. My biggest regret is upgrading from them to an HO cam and E7 heads.

The 4.0's big perk (and IMO about the only one) is it will drop in where a 2.8/2.9 once lived. 2.8/2.9's used rather flakey transmissions so that can be offset partially offset that way though...

302 will require cooling system work, transmission/transfercase and driveshaft work. It is more $$ and time, for me when it rears back and is belting out its battle cry it is all worth it though.

For a dd that I didn't really care much about I would find the first low mile V6 and move on. A healthy 2.9 isn't really hurting for power for just moving the truck around.