My friend just bought an 85 ford ranger 4x4 with a 2.8, the motor is blown, we have access to many 2.9 motors, is there any major differences, will the intakes interchange? distributors the same? Flywheel the same? Will an EFI long block be the same, or are there differences in bolt configs. or something wacky like ford likes to do to us, Or will I just have to find a 2.8? I have replaced many engines in fords over the years, but have never touched a V6, any advice would be appreciated, thanks, Gar

 

I believe, and dont quote me on this, that you can use the 2.9 long block with the 2.8 components. You could try swapping over the intake, distributor, and all accessories. Use the 2.9 long block. I think it'll work. The way I'd do it, is to get the fuel injection system, computer, wiring harness, and all the accessories from the 2.9 equipped truck, that way you'll end up with fuel injection.

Good luck!

 

The motors are very different. Intakes, heads, manifolds, cams, and blocks won’t interchange. The 2.9 has a different valve arrangement and the camshaft turns in the opposite direction. So distributors probably wouldn’t interchange ether.

EFI long block is different because it has a chain driven camshaft and the 2.8 is gear driven camshaft.

Flywheels will probably be the same and I think that the transmission bolt pattern is the same.

You’re going to have to pick either 2.8 or 2.9. 2.9 will be harder because its fuel injected and the 2.8 truck isn’t set up for fuel injection.

You should find out what’s wrong with the 2.8 because they are super easy to work on.

 

thanks for the reply guys, Im just throwing up ideas here. I have found a low mileage bronco II with a 2.9 efi, 88 I think, how difficult would it be to swap over the EFI. with the 2.9. Probably more trouble than I want to go through right now, especially for this truck, anyone here done a similar conversion, also anyone here in the midwest have a 2.8 laying around. Are all the 2.8s the same? The earlier ones they put in pintos, are those swapable with the one in my 85 ranger, thanks in advance. GAR

 

All 2.8's are the same accept for one thing. 74-82 had a smaller camshaft carrier then the 83-86 ones. Outside dimensions are all the same so it will bolt in fine.

 

If you swap in a 2.9, you will need the wireing harness and ECM from the donor vehicle, and a lot of free time. Unless I had the '88 Bronc and the '85 Ranger side by side, I don't think I'd want to tackle it. Just too many little variables that you will need to be going back and forth to check and change. Or unless you get someone to help that's done it before, and or is really good with wireing. Quickest, simplest solution, get another 2.8. I have an '84 2.8 just laying around, but I'm nowhere near you. Sorry. -TD

 

I just spent the last two weeks working on this projcet. The 2.8 and the 2.9 blocks although look alike are different. one is geared timing and the other chain. You can put a 2.9 motor in place of a 2.8 but must take EVERYTHING! wiring, computer, headers..basically take the 2.9 COMPLETE engine with wiring and computer and stuff it in. I now have a perfectly good running 2.8L complete with less then 3000 miles on it I can do nothing with just sitting in my back yard.