Well I have been putting off working on this thing, but I can not put it off any longer. Almost did not make back home today. Oil blowing every where, out the front and rear seal, valve covers and upper intake. A while back it did this and I thought the cat was clogged, replaced it and it still did it just not as bad.

Tonight I started tearing it apart. oil coated plugs x 6, oil in the upper and lower intake. As soon as i get the exhuast unbolted and motor mounts it is ready to pull. Then I will see just how fubared it is. Think its time to V8 the BII now.

 

So onto the next project. At least you made it home. V8 in the BII that should make it scream. You know if you really wanted to you could put that V8 in my ranger and have the 2.9 out of it.

 

sounds like the 2.9's are dropping like flies... just pulled one for a friend, took it to the machine shop, it's not a keeper... apparently the cam wasn't align bored right, wiped out the bearings, as well as the bottom end bearings... the machinist informed him this is a recall type problem, and that it would be at least $1000 in machining... on to the next motor, got any extras around, or a complete 4.0 with harness and computer?

 

Wish I had a 4.0 plus wiring and computer. My 2.9 I dont think is to bad inside, will know tomorrow. I got ti out tonight. Took a hour getting everything unhooked then took all day trying to get the darn exhuast undone, finally just took a saw to the pipe.
My cat is clogged up so I need new any way. I think this is what caused my problem. Oil is leaking out of every gasket and the exhuast gaskets have been blown out.

I think V8 to much for the BII it is my daily driver so I need gas mileage also.

Darn rebuild kit for the 2.9 is like 470 bucks, the one for a 302 is 168.00 whats up with that.

 

"popularity pricing" is what they call it, more people buy 302 kits than 2.9, so it is cheaper to produce it in mass quantities. I looked into a long block 2.9, almost 2 grand! I can get a 4.0 up this way for $450, no computer, and they say they generally leave the wiring on them. 90 guarantee as well..
If the cat is plugged enough, it will blow oil all over, due to the back pressure.... it has to go somewhere, and since it isn't going out the exhaust, it goes by the rings into the crank case, way too much for the pcv and breather to get rid of. I've seen it before...
I have seen cases where a bigger motor actually gets better or equal efficiency in a smaller chassis, since the motor doesn't have to work so hard... but if you had the power on tap, probably be too tempted to play with it...:lol:

 

Yep, my ranger gets around 10mpg but it has 4:10s and a t-18 4 speed and has been modified to around 300 hp, It runs around 3000rpm at 70mph. It just to tempting to play with.

Thats not bad for the 4.0 I have priced around here and they seem to run around 650 with out wiring or computer, for everything it was 1000.

Called my mmachinist this morning and he said 40.00 to do a valve job and check the heads. I have world heads on it so I know its been redone once before, at least the heads have been replaced.

 

Since you recently replaced the catalytic converter and it clogged back up so quickly it makes you wonder what is really wrong with the engine. Is the block in bad shape, rings and pistons? If the engines been running excessively rich it can clog the cat with soot and that leads to excessive back pressure in the exhaust system which causes more problems.
Jeff

 

Well the inside of the block is just disgusting. So much crap in it. Only one oil jurnal was free so oil could run through it. The heads had junk in them. The cylinder walls are not that bad, hardly a ring groove felt. The oil pickup screen was full of silicone.

Yes the motor has been running rich for about a month and half, I have been replacing relays and sensors trying to get to the problem, each time i run a code check it showed something new so I replaced it. The guy at the muffler shop is going to replace the cat free, said I had a year warranty on it and it exspires in Sept. (I didn't think it had been that long ago when I replaced the cat) Not much carbon on the pistons, which surprised me. I found a 13mm socket, 3 nut shells and a mud dopper nest under the lower intake all oil soaked.

Will be taking block and heads to the shop next week to get them checked out, cleaned and machine work done. I really hope it dont need bored, that would save me about 80 bucks in machine work and 65 bucks by not having to order new pistons.

The sensors and stuff I have not replaced already will be replaced when I install the fresh motor. Then it will all be new and no problems I hope.

 

hey go to stl to the junkyard (buy a wrecked trucked motor) they are only $150-$200 for the 91-94 for the motor.. heck the one place had 20 1st gen explorer's or I can find you one down here whole truck 600-800 buck (tranny bad) ... I have 2 extra motors (rebuilables) but no computer for one .... heck head gasket set with bolt is like $200 bucks for the 4.0 it becase the haeds are part of the intake (like a 390) unlike your 302...