I was also wondering on what you would recommend for bolt on performance upgrades? I already have a MSD ignition, and cone air filter. I was thinking stuff like a throttle body spacer, maybe a performance fan, and anything else that'll give me some more HP. Thnx guys! Also where to find the stuff too, please. Oh yeah I have an '86 B2 4WD with 2.9L and the A4LD

 

Well I guess i was wrong. I thought someone in here would know something about performance add-ons but....I guess maybe I can try a local truck shop.

 

Aside from an electric fan set up you have done most of the add-on upgrades there are. Being it's an 86 it already has a pretty good throttle body, but a spacer would help, a little. The best addition to these B2's is a 302 CI V8. What kind of air filter did you go with, and have you looked into a pully set yet? Lastly before you go to the idiots at the local "truck shop" check out the ranger station's web site.

 

An electric fan would scare me. I had one on my El Camino and it worked ok. But my understandings is they don't cool as well as a traditional setup. Everything I've read about the heads cracking when the engine gets just a little hot would make me think twice about this one....

 

You can buy the conversion kit at most any store, and most of the horror stories I have heard were form jimmy rigging the wrong fan in to the wrong car. Properly hooked up Electric fans will keep a 2.9 cooler than the stock one. I have a 3.0 in my wifes taurus and it came with electric fans, just cause its new doesn't mean the concept is not the same. I do believe bbrowning, however. A single electric fan on a chevy V8 wouldn't cool very well. But in retrospect my 77 street rod K5 Blazer cooled well with a twin electric set up, designed to fit it. There are other options, it was just a thought. I gained HP simply by throwing my a/c compressor in the dumpster.

 

Build a type of cold ram air intake, Port your upper and lower intake. The intakes don't line up diameter to diameter. Porting opens this up and allows better flow. Knife edge the intake side of the throttle body to remove the front lip. You can use a Dremel tool to grind, sand and buff this area to obtain a smooth airflow in to the engine. You can also mill down the butterfly to blend in to the shaft for a smoother air flow.

1986-1987 2.9 throttle bodies were much larger than those produced from 1988 and up. 1986-1987 throttle bodies measure at 58mm. Making them a direct bolt on replacement. (The 1986-1987 TB are large enough to fit a tennis ball!).
headers, better freeflowing cats and exhaust, mild cam, build some free floating rockers, Plenum Spacers, Set your timing at 12 degrees advance and use at least 89 octane fuel, Install a Crane PS-91 or MSD Blaster TFI coil, Install 8mm spark plug wires,
Install Motorcraft Spark Plugs, Install a 180 degree thermostat, Use synthetic fluids to prevent friction/horsepower loss

Replace your mechanical fan with a 16-Inch electric unit to reduce engine drag

** If your looking for better acceleration then consider increasing your ring and pinion ration by the next size. (Example - Swap 3.73's for 4.10's).

 

wholly crap your my hero wolffpax. I am printing that one for future upgrades. Thanks man!

 

Will the earlier (86-87) throttle bodies bolt on to an 88? What is involved/needed to do this swap? New to this page of the Forum, all of my experiance is with the straight six and the big 8's. I just sort of inherited an 88 B2 and to be honest don't know a thing about it.

 

Thnx guys! I do have an '86 so I know that I have the larger TB but I didn't think about working on the TB itself a little more, thnx man. Oh yeah and about the question "mattri" asked, you should be able to directly bolt the larger TB from an '86-'87 to your '88. I have never done a TB swap, but from what I have heard it is VERY easy!

 

Yes it is a direct bolt on. Just carefully look at the gasket when installing. If the gasket is bent in any way, you will have a leak that will drive you crazy. No need to replace the gasket if it is not bent. If I remember correctly, it is not the typical cardboard type paper gasket, It's metal.
No problem on that info guys. It is costly to do it all and if power is what you are after you might consider a 4.0 swap. I am in the early stages of the swap myself and will get it going whenever this cold weather goes away.

 

 

So, are we saying that the '86-'87 58mm TB is a "direct bolt" on, to the '88 2.9?

What about the diameter of the plenum opening on the '88? Is it not the same diameter as the '88 TB? Does the plenum not have to be machined, (opened up), to 58mm, as weel, in order to match the 58mm TB?

I realise the bolt pattern will be the same, but will the plenum opening match the 58mm TB without having to be machined?

 

About your performance upgrades! check jamesduff.com, they have header's and performance chip's as well as many other accesories specific to Bronco, Bronco II and Ranger.

 

hey BroncoII man, did that MSD igniton make much of a difference? and did you install a TFI msd blaster coil along with it?

I was thinking of putting an MSD 6a ignition in my 89 FI BII
but alot of the info I got said I would'nt notice much of a difference. not with my Fuel Injection set up any way.

 

I was wondering which would have the most advantage. A cold air setup or just getting a K&N filter that fits the stock box? What are the advantages to cold air other than the stock warm air box with a really good filter? Thanks