Yep It sure is funny how these guys say my truck is better and then they are in the ditch! But hey I can't poke any fun! My mom's old chevy Climbed a 19% with 6 inches of snow when a 03 ford f350 with 34in mudders had to back down. Yet on the same road Next morring the same Ford, chevy, 89 4x4 toyato(with wild countrys) all had to chain yes CHAIN up! YA my little 4wd f150 with bald buckshots climbed like it had claws! GO 4.9ers!!!

 

The European 2.9 used in small cars had tons of aftermarket. Ford even had a set of DOHC 24v heads for the 2.9. You can swap them to the american engine, but its pretty involved. But there are really no performance kits for a 2.9 in a ranger, you have to make most of it yourself.

Stock they are 140HP @ 4600 RPM and 170 ft-lbs @ 2600 RPM. It is not to hard at all to get them pushing 250-300HP and 300-400 ft-lbs of torque.

 

Interesting! Looks like th 2.9L doesn't have any less power than the 3.0L.

 

My first car was my grandmother's 72 Merc Comet with the 200 I6 and auto. My dad and ended up pulling the C4 for my moms Monarch when her tranny went and swapped in a 3speed on the floor from a friend that built 60's Mustang V8's. I put on 6 to 2 headers with true duals and Turbo mufflers. Opened the intake, and cammed it. Used to beat my friends 305 Camaros, pissing them off all the time. Ruined 2 sets of traction bars from the torque.

 

Rick 2 words (HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!) I miss the Old Man sooo Bad I loved that car most indestructable vehicle I ever had,THAT 76 Maverick single handedly convinced GM=Garbage Motors......I had an 85 Blazer that had an easy life regular maintenance and it threw a piston and rod out the side of the block at 80,000 Miles....By Contrast the 76 FORD Maverick I had was a 2 door coupe with Red paint anda Black interior with 3 on the tree and the Faithful 200Cid had 250,000 when I originally got it and had about 325,000 on it when I sold it because of problems that in retrospect I've been kicking myself for ever since. that Maverick was the FUNNEST car I've ever owned hands down. so to answer your question Bill Yes I Miss the Old Man Terribly I wish I'd never sold it. My suggestion is don't make my mistake keep your truck Permanently with the exception of not running it into the ground keep it alive and running I WILL have me another Maverick but this time hopefully with a 250Cid and a 3 speed 3 on the tree AND Rick I'll probly give it the royal treatment like you did to that 200 and top it off with a Turbo or Supercharger I figure 9.0:1 and about 15PSI would make for one hellacious inline six Yes I know I'd have to strengthen up the bottom end WHO cares it can be done and to Clarify the Mustakes comment I HATE all mustakes made after 73 everything made before 73 were Mustangs after 73 they were Mustakes OR S***Stains which ever you prefer the 05s were the first to resemble a mustang

 

Absolutely Court!!!
I've been tempted many times to find another one and build it up again. Mine was the Ford Skyblue from 72 when I got if from my grandmother. I added the triple racing stripe down the center and two toned the side, both in Royal Blu to offset the skyblue. Limo tinted windows and the old style Mustang louvers on the back window, with Gold Mags. I'll try to find pics and post them on my website for you to see.

I kick myself too for letting it go and wish I'd kept it. I may find another and do it again.

 

Yeah I sure do miss mine thats for sure. I know I'll enjoy the 68 F100 Ranger I'm getting with 390Cid and 3 on the Tree but I doubt it's anywhere near as fun as my 76 maverick was. the 87 F150 how much better can it get than a Multi port fuel injected straight 6??? Still it wasn't as fun as my Maverick Not Everything is about Power that car was just fun period oh well I'll get another Preferably another 76