What engine should I put in my other 90?

[rickcdewitt]

4.0 -or cut holes in the floor to pedal it around

 

[WhiteBroncoII2WD]

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.

When you rebuilt it before did you replace all the bearings, including the cam bearings?

 

[WhiteBroncoII2WD]

4.0 -or cut holes in the floor to pedal it around

I like that Rick, that's classic

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

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.



AD

I already have a 2.3 turbo. That swap was way more time and money intensive than I want to sink into a daily driver.

I don't want a 4.0, too hard on gas. I mentioned putting a 4.0 in with the current transmission because it would be cheap and easy.

I agree a 10:1 2.3 is going to be costly to build.

I agree it is cheaper to get a different engine than to rebuild one.

Right now I am leaning towards a different 2.9 or a 3.0/M5OD.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

When you rebuilt it before did you replace all the bearings, including the cam bearings?

I bought it 5000 ago. The PO said the engine had been rebuilt 25000 ago. From how nice it runs (aside from the oil pressure) and how nice the bottom end looked when I had the oil pan off, I'm inclined to believe him. The problem is that not all rebuilds include cam bearings.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

I just went to the JY yesterday to see what I could find. This place usually has something for everyone but I had no luck. Not even an old explorer with a 4.0. No 2.9's whatsoever. The closest thing I saw was a 94 2wd 3.0/A4LD. If I'm going to swap a 3.0 it's going to be stick.