What is the best thing to do with my 89 ranger

[lilgear]

I have a 1989 ranger with a 2.9L V6 AKA cologne.
what would be the best thing to do should i leave that in there or get somthing else i am planning on turning it into a prerunner but i will still have to drive it as it is my only form of transportation i am only 16 so im on a buget but if its alot im saving up cash to work on it whats the best bang for my buck and what is the best thing to drop in. and turbo or no?

 

[fordwheelinman]

leave it like you got it until youve got some steady income, or your out of school.

 

[baddad457]

leave it like you got it until youve got some steady income, or your out of school.

Ditto!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bmxryder]

your gonna need a bigger motor for bigger tires, and thats not cheap. if you really plan on doing a prerunner i would buy a truck with a bigger motor in it already. the 93-97 years are good because there is tons of parts for them and they still have i-beams, so you can get a lot more travel for a lot less money. and if your thinking about turbo or supercharger i would go with a supercharger for an offroad truck, but i wouldnt worry about that untill youve got suspension.

 

[lilgear]

I already have a steady income thats not a problem it just takes time for me too get the cash together so its mostly in the planning stages right now im saving up its only taken me 2 weeks to make about 600$ its more of a time issue i can old work on it at my dads and i cant go there very often but its going to be a summer project.

 

[Iron Ranger]

Well, if you want to drop in a v8, it's no easy task. Tons of time, money, parts, and research is required. I'm not saying don't do it, but just be absolutely sure before you loosen that first nut.

I would research the two topics first, gather the pros and cons, availability of parts, time and cost, tools needed, etc. Me, personally, I've never heard of a 2.9T before.

I do know with a v8: Pretty much every drivetrain component must be replaced, I mean everything
I do know on a v6T: Room for tubes, turbo(s), intercooler, re-flashed PCM, stronger tranny, extra gauges, rebuilt engine with dished forged pistons.

Either way, it's one heck of an undertaking with lots of spilt blood and sweat, parts not lining up, steps missed.

Before I go, I learned this a long time ago: Money's never a factor, it's the time it takes to accumulate it that matters

 

[fordwheelinman]

you dont NEED a bigger motor for bigger tires, just more gearing.

the 2.9 ECM can NOT be reflashed unless you know some wizkid super computer programmer who wipes it and writes a whole new program, but even then i doubt it can be done.

I still say leave the thing alone, if you want a project, save your money and buy a beater truck that is a project. As it is now, what happens if when the summers over and you need to go back to school, the truck isnt done? How do you get back and forth to work during the summer to make that cash, while the truck is in pieces? Im not saying dont do it Im just saying examine all angles, if you havent already, before diving into a big project. I have a daily driver, my big truck, and a project. If something happens to the DD, i still have something to drive. Im not driving my project, so i have all the time in the world to get money and parts for the project. At 16 you cant very well have 3 rigs, but 2 is very possible. Thats the way i would go i were you. One final thought, chicks dig trucks, but not when they are in pieces........FWM.

 

[Iron Ranger]

He is right. Get a DD first before tearing apart your only means of transpo.

My DD is a Cobalt that can barely keep the heat flowing in the winter, but it's reliable and in one piece, my truck is a summer slammer(If I ever get the thing done)

 

[lilgear]

DD isnt a problem i got somthing to drive. and if that takes a shit its back to the PPT poor people transportation aka the bus. and how much could i get out of a 2.9 its not going to be a truck were actually going to race but were looken for some fun. we need to keep it street legal to get it around and to where we want to take it and for me to take out with my friends or take girls out. if you got something to say about taken girls out and going out messen around with friends remember when you were 16-19.

 

[Iron Ranger]

There's guys in the "Forced Induction" forum here that can help you with specs on a turbo'ed v6. There's some pretty sharp folks there.