What would you do?

[86MUDRCJ]

Okay guys, I've been thinking for awhile about what I'm gonna do as far as motor options for the truck. I know ultimately it comes down to budget, but with the new job ill have a nice chunk of change to throw at it every month. So here's where I'm at:

1) Put a used 2.9 back in without rebuilding just to get it back up and running. Or rebuild a motor from the junkyard.
2) Put a 4.0 in there for a little more power.(but I've been told the fuel economy isn't great. I've even been told its llike having v6 power with v8 mileage.
3) Just go crazy and put a small block in it. Obviously this would be awesome but I don't really know if I want to do that because I haven't v8 swapped a ranger before.

So I guess what I'm asking is, if you were in my position what would you go with, and just a brief explanation why would be great. Thanks in advance!

 

[country0001]

Option 2. You got it backwards. Its v8 power with v6 economy. I got 22 mpg in my B2 with sensible tires on it.

I love my 4.0. would not trade it for a v8

 

[straycat]

If money is tight I would just put the same motor back in. If you can have yours rebuilt...do it. If you can find a really great running 2.9 that has no issues then buy that and just swap it out on the weekend. A 4.0 will involve a trans swap as well and a harness swap too.

 

[86MUDRCJ]

Option 2. You got it backwards. Its v8 power with v6 economy. I got 22 mpg in my B2 with sensible tires on it.

I love my 4.0. would not trade it for a v8

What do you mean by sensible? I'm planning on 35's but I'm going to be gearing too.

If money is tight I would just put the same motor back in. If you can have yours rebuilt...do it. If you can find a really great running 2.9 that has no issues then buy that and just swap it out on the weekend. A 4.0 will involve a trans swap as well and a harness swap too.

Right now momey is kinda tight, but if need be I can just put a little away at a time. I see quite a few trucks around here that have the 2.9 but usually the headgasket is blown or something else. My grandpa knows a guy that owns a pick n pull and when he buys a complete motor there the guy warranties the motor himself. Maybe I could go that route?

 

[country0001]

Sensible tires were 225/75/15's that I got cheap.

I'm runnin 30's now with 3.73's and will get 17-18 highway with out any adjustment to the speedo for tire size.

I also drive it like I stole it because it runs great. The 4.0 is a fun motor. It used the same motor mounts, I'm using my 2.9 M5OD. It's just fun to drive, and it has a 4 " lift.

No regrets on the 4.0.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The 2.9/4.0 would be the easiest/cheapest. I personally don't deem either worthy of rebuild vs chuck and replace.

My mother's 4.0 Explorers (94 4.0 ohv 96-10, 02 SOHC 05-current) with stock tires and gearing have struggled to approach upper teens on the highway... the '02 is better but it is about on par with my 5.4 F-150 that has 32" mud tires.

A SB swap is a ton of fun to drive but it is a serious investment of both time and money. Don't even consider it if you don't plan on keeping the truck for a long time or don't have another good vehicle to depend on while you are putting it together.

With a 4bbl, three speed, 3.73 gears, 31" MT's I get about 10mpg at 60mph... which isn't too bad for a V8 turning 2700 rpm. My one regret is that 3 speed trans...

 

[stegomon]

i say 4.0. i will be working on my swap this winter

 

[Road Angels]

Answers kind of a no brainer, no bucks equals whats cheapest get it running then collect what you want to do with it in the future when money isnt a problem

 

[86MUDRCJ]

The 2.9/4.0 would be the easiest/cheapest. I personally don't deem either worthy of rebuild vs chuck and replace.

My mother's 4.0 Explorers (94 4.0 ohv 96-10, 02 SOHC 05-current) with stock tires and gearing have struggled to approach upper teens on the highway... the '02 is better but it is about on par with my 5.4 F-150 that has 32" mud tires.

A SB swap is a ton of fun to drive but it is a serious investment of both time and money. Don't even consider it if you don't plan on keeping the truck for a long time or don't have another good vehicle to depend on while you are putting it together.

With a 4bbl, three speed, 3.73 gears, 31" MT's I get about 10mpg at 60mph... which isn't too bad for a V8 turning 2700 rpm. My one regret is that 3 speed trans...

Holy cow! A 3 speed would seem like it would sick the mileage down a bit. I do plan on keeping the truck forever honestly. My wife and I are sharing the ecobox right now, and that's why I've been able to sort of put money away.

i say 4.0. i will be working on my swap this winter

The only drawback for me is, a lot of people swap in 4.0 and with the tire size I'm running, I think I would have to gear the axles down quite a bit.

Answers kind of a no brainer, no bucks equals whats cheapest get it running then collect what you want to do with it in the future when money isnt a problem

True, but the motor is alreadt out of the truck. All I would need to do would be drop the tranny and driveline and I'm ready to start swapping stuff over.

 

[70roadrunner]

If you need it as a daily driver, I recommend the 4.0 swap. its a little more work, but well worth the effort. and you wont wish you had done that at a later date. ive done swaps before and then wished I had gone a different route, but it was either time or money that dictated what I was able to do.

 

[country0001]

I met a guy running 35's on a D30 in a Jeep cherokee with 3.55 gears.

It can be done, not saying you'll have a lot of power, but you can run em