What engine should I put in my other 90?

[Sevensecondsuv]

My other 1990 ranger's 2.9 won't hold oil pressure. Help me decide what engine to put in. I have the broken 2.9, a 2.3 in pieces, a good 2.9 A4LD, and a good 2.3 A4LD. All other options would have to come from the junkyard.

 

[Psychopete]

My other 1990 ranger's 2.9 won't hold oil pressure. Help me decide what engine to put in. I have the broken 2.9, a 2.3 in pieces, a good 2.9 A4LD, and a good 2.3 A4LD. All other options would have to come from the junkyard.

A 3.0L? I thought you were a lot cooler than that!

j/k

Pete

 

[Born24wheel]

Depends what "Number 2" is used for, but a 302 swap is always interesting and can be done with a junkyard motor. If you want something for mileage though, go with the 2.3, the 2.9 is definitely not a favorite of mine from past experiences.

 

[Hahnsb2]

None of those. A 4.0 with an M5OD.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

I'm definately not messing with a V8 swap. I already have a fast ranger. I just want something to drive that will take a good beating and keep on going. Basically something to take the miles and abuse so that my turbo ranger doesn't have to. My explorer just aint good enough on gas to drive everyday.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

None of those. A 4.0 with an M5OD.

Too much work for the gas mileage that would be only slightly better than my explorer. I'd do the 4.0 w/A4LD because I would be able to just bolt it up to the tranny that's already there.

 

[Ranger44]

I'd say use an engine that you'd already have. The 2.3.....

But it's useless without a 5spd behind it. So M5OD.....

The 2.3 has alot of aftermarket support for a 4cyl and can be built to produce more power than a stocker 5.0.

Other than that, a 3.0 or 4.0 with 5spds would be my other choices.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

The 2.3 has alot of aftermarket support for a 4cyl and can be built to produce more power than a stocker 5.0.

Don't I know it!

 

[Ranger44]

Don't I know it!

lol. Yeah, you would.

 

[WhiteBroncoII2WD]

I guess I'm going to be one of the few that says, "fix the 2.9 Liter that's in the truck and make it better then stock in the small ways." In order to keep these engines alive we need to keep them running their best even when it means a little more work.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

Well, I'm looking for the easiest and cheapest fix possible that is going to last awhile. And to tell the truth, having the 2.9 lose oil pressure 30,000 miles after a rebuild has kind of destroyed whatever faith I had in 2.9s.

Plus it'd be great if I didn't have to waste time opening up an engine and putting it all back together.

 

[Shran]

My vote would be for the 4.0 and M5OD as well. That combo would not be a whole lot more work than the 4.0/A4LD, and will be much stronger in the end.

 

[Psychopete]

Swapping to a different engine and transmission is easier said than done.

If you're going for cheap and easy, and other 2.9L to put into it's place from the j/y would be exactly that. Reliability is always in question no matter what used engine you get. You shouldn't be to worried about it either, I would assume the heads on your current 2.9L are good, so you could swap parts if something were to happen in that aspect.

Hell, my brother's distributored 3.0L has only 80K on it and it started squealing like a pig. He pulled the dis and the gear was half way ground off. Nothing is bullet proof. He's in the same boat as you, but he opted to rebuild it. Spent a ton of money on it. I told him to just get one from the j/y and call it a day and be done with it.

If an engine is going to fail catastrophically, it usually pretty obvious. My 2.9L died at 98K due to cracked heads/worn out bearings, and it got me home at least 10 miles knocking the whole way.

IMO

Pete

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I would be tempted to crack open your rebuilt 2.9 and see what is wrong. If it is just the cam bearings it might be a cheaper fix than a junkyard engine... and depending on how long it ran without oil pressure it might be in better shape than a JY engine.

If it is shot, and you just want it for a DD then I would grab a JY 2.9.

 

[AllanD]

You don't have an "other" selection.

I choose None of the above.

Frankly If the choices the 3.0/5sp is the best of the bunch.

But given my druthers I'd go with either a 4.0/5sp
OR
a 2.3 TURBO with an M5OD-R1

a 2.3 with 10:1 would have greater issues with different fuels
than a turbo would, mostly because a piston is an inefficient
way to compress the air compared to the turbocharger.

a turbocharged engine will generally make a LOT more power
than a high compression engine that generates the same peak
compression pressure, or should I say "critical compression"

high compression means custom, custom means expensive.

a 4.0 swap is cheap
a 3.0 swap would be cheap
a 2.3turbo swap would be cheap.

rebuilding a 2.9 isn't.
building a custom 10:1C/R 2.3 isn't cheap either.



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