Thanks for the add

[RonD]

So your recommending a rebuild of the 2.9? Whats the reason my friend and why do you dislike the 4.0?

Our(your) TRS forum has a few 2.9l DEVOTED FANS, they think people who do the 2.9l to 4.0l swaps are mislead by people who like the 4.0l

Me, I've had both, I prefer my 1994 4.0l 4x4 Ranger to my past 1990 2.9l 4x4 Ranger I like the extra STOCK power it has
They share the same block and BOTH had heads that will crack if over heated
2.9l tended to get quite noisy as it aged, still fine to drive, just had noisy valve train

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

I went all out with mine. Found a machine shop, sacking away money to finish. H beam rods, 5.8 trinity pistons. Motor is being built to support 21 psi, though. Stock pistons handle 14 psi with good tuning.

 

[Wireman995]

2.9 is ford Europe's performance v6.

Shove a fresh cam in it with FE block lifters of your choice (same lifters), and enjoy more power than a jy 4.0 will give you.

Theyre a seriously good engine. They had soft cams and need high zddp oil.

Melling cam is 80-100, lifters are inexpensive. Clean the crap out of your rocker shafts, and away you go for less than an engine swap.

If I go this route should i dump the FM146 for the M5OD

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

2.8 pistons and a fresh cam yields a 10:1 high comp 2.9. @gaz has one.

4.0 crank , jeep 4.7 pistons and deck work yields a 3.5 stroker. @Stroker built one.

I'm insane, so I followed the skogenracing/frofix racing approach, al la boost.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

If I go this route should i dump the FM146 for the M5OD

Yes. That in itself is a massive upgrade.

 

[Wireman995]

S

Our(your) TRS forum has a few 2.9l DEVOTED FANS, they think people who do the 2.9l to 4.0l swaps are mislead by people who like the 4.0l

Me, I've had both, I prefer my 1994 4.0l 4x4 Ranger to my past 1990 2.9l 4x4 Ranger I like the extra STOCK power it has
They share the same block and BOTH had heads that will crack if over heated
2.9l tended to get quite noisy as it aged, still fine to drive, just had noisy valve train

See this is why i joined this forum. Different perspectives. Im a die hard 7.3 / 6.7 diesel guy those are my weapons on choice and thats where my knowledge is at. Ive owned 3 rangers but never messed with them other than maintenance and repair.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Do some homework on the minker and Sierra XR4X4. Both had the 2.9. Lots of history behind them.

 

[Wireman995]

Thank you guys yall have given me alot more to consider and added to my confusion!

 

[Wireman995]

Do some homework on the minker and Sierra XR4X4. Both had the 2.9. Lots of history behind them.

Will do

 

[Wireman995]

Our(your) TRS forum has a few 2.9l DEVOTED FANS, they think people who do the 2.9l to 4.0l swaps are mislead by people who like the 4.0l

Me, I've had both, I prefer my 1994 4.0l 4x4 Ranger to my past 1990 2.9l 4x4 Ranger I like the extra STOCK power it has
They share the same block and BOTH had heads that will crack if over heated
2.9l tended to get quite noisy as it aged, still fine to drive, just had noisy valve train

Yes the 2.9 does get noisy and in my experience tends to like to piss oil on the grass. Im undecided at this point. Ill find the ranger donor and possibly build the 2.9 also. For the record im not really making a all out of this thing I actually want to drive it as a second make that third vehicle. Park my diesels from time to time when im home off the road.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Yes the 2.9 does get noisy and in my experience tends to like to piss oil on the grass. Im undecided at this point. Ill find the ranger donor and possibly build the 2.9 also. For the record im not really making a all out of this thing I actually want to drive it as a second make that third vehicle. Park my diesels from time to time when im home off the road.

Theyre fun if fresh and stock, especially with lower gears. Flat torque curve and all.

 

[Wireman995]

I went all out with mine. Found a machine shop, sacking away money to finish. H beam rods, 5.8 trinity pistons. Motor is being built to support 21 psi, though. Stock pistons handle 14 psi with good tuning.

Bro damn you wanting to stand it up on wheelly bars

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Bro damn you wanting to stand it up on wheelly bars

Just following the rally tradition haha. The goal is an American version of a Sierra. Piece by piece lol.

 

[RonD]

One other thing to consider................what will be the primary use of the Ranger?

When you start raising compression you need to raise OCTANE.
HAVING TO run 91 or 93 octane to drive around town is, in my opinion, dumb, if its just a weekend cruiser then YES INDEED but.....

"There is no replacement for displacement", period, whatever you can do to a 2.9l, you can do to a 302 V8, and cheaper, or a 4.0l

Having the fastest 2.9l is bragging rights for sure, but to who.............lol

 

[Wireman995]

1991-1994 Explorer would be fine if you can find a manual one, otherwise the computer will turn on the CEL full time because no automatic hooked up

Ok ive finally acquired my donor, its a 1994 explorer 4x4 unfortunately its has an auto tranny. Is there any way to make the comp and harness work?
Im hopefully going to be starting on the destruction of the expo in a day or 2. Ive only got this week off until Christmas maybe I can finally get this show started. 6-7 nights a week the last 7 weeks sure has taken a bite out of my shop time but im grateful to be working.