The 2.9 Mud Truck Build

[4.0B2]

i'm all for you lovin' on the 2.9... but, if you want bang for buck and all-- listen to disciplerocks. i looked at different ways for the 2.9 to push it some. then realized i could get a donor explorer for $300.. it'll be cheaper in the long run to do the 4.0 swap now. b/c if you don't-- you're gonna polish a turd 2.9 and then realize you still don't like it. and want a 4.0

i'll never do a 5.0 swap on a RBV like mine. the 4.0 swap was super easy- and so much more power over the 2.9. the 4.0 is great... i love mine and have NEVER regretted it. i'd sure regret it if i spent $1000 or more on the 2.9 and still had no power.

that md05 will hold up behind the 4.0. just look to see if you need the flexplate and so on. idk for sure. b/c mine is the auto. but even the 2.9 a4ld held up behind the 4.0. i just swapped it out since i had the whole donor vehicle.

 

[American1990]

What year would be the best year to look for a donor? and would it be easier with a donor ranger 4.0 or explore 4.0?

 

[4.0B2]

your ranger being a 90, it'll be easy. just grab a 90-94 explorer motor, wiring, ecu.. at least. then trans and t/case if you can. and rear axle. its a 31 spline.. the ranger is a 28 spline

 

[American1990]

well....it rare to find a explore in a yunk yard or scrap yard, but we have plenty of rangers, what year was be ideal for it?

 

[RyanL]

well....it rare to find a explore in a yunk yard or scrap yard, but we have plenty of rangers, what year was be ideal for it?

Scrap yards are gonna rape you a new asshole (at least they would anywhere around this area). Check your local papers and Craig's List for wrecked vehicles. You're going to need one anyway for all the parts that you may need like the wiring and ECU. Anyway, chances are that they have the motors already pulled (and wiring all hacked up) at the scrap yard.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I would say[from reading-not doing] the easiest is the same year.
Good luck,

Richard

 

[holyford86]

If you're looking for a 4.0 to swap 91-93 are the most swap friendly as they do not have EGR. Your M5OD will bolt to the 4.0, it will bolt into the 2.9 mounts and use the 2.9 Y pipe. I thought the wiring was easy but I took my time and figured out what I needed to splice to what and labeled what went where before I picked up a wrench to pull the 2.9 out. Wiring diagrams are your friend. I bought a low mileage 4.0, re-gasketed it, hung a new clutch on it and got a used starter rebuilt. after all was said and done, I turned the key about $800 poorer. I loved my 2.9 and I probably dumped way more than I should have into it, but when it came down to it I was asking too much out of the poor little motor. I was getting about 13MPG on average with the 2.9 and with all things the same I'm getting 18MPG (most recent tank) out of the 4.0. The 2.9 would struggle to maintain 55MPH, the 4.0 will run the needle right off the end of the scale (85MPH) without even trying.

 

[4.0B2]

4.0=awesome.. and everything holyford said i agree w/ except my 2.9 got about 15-16 mpgs. my most recent tank on my 4.0 was 17.5

i bought a donor ex for the motor, trans, t/case, axles for my b2..
and the interior and body panels for extras on the 2wd ex we have. paid $300 for it

and then found out i needed heads and ended up w/ a whole nother motor for $150 that was a fresh rebuild!!!! so i got one hell of a deal on my parts ex and extra motor.