Working on a 1986 Bronco II with a 2.9 4x4.
Are there any performance ignition parts available? Distributor in particular. Dropping another 2.9 into it but want to upgrade to performance parts.
Cam and hydraullic lifters? What brand offers these?
Can we omit the external fuel pump and just use the internal? Have replaced them both and they have both stopped working, again. Iknow it comes stock with two and requires two, but can you get away with it?
I have been surfing the web for parts and seem to find nothing but OEM parts, but this is not a unique engine. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanx!
710 cap

 

msd makes a pretty good ignition... the msd6a and teh blaster 2 coil to supplement that will enable you to opent he plugs to at elast .55 so youll burn more efficiently creating more power in there... along with that a K&N a throttle body, well off the engine you have now is better than the later 88's due to its larger size... you can always look into upgrading to an MAF system which will be more adaptable to changes in the performance... the fuel pumps both shoudl be there because the one in the tank is a low pressure pump and the other is a high pressure pump.. if htey both stop working you may want to check the fuel pressure relay... the fuel inertia switch and the module on the distributor about that problem.. seems pretty common with a 2.9 another upgrade to get more power is possibly a chip.. i know jet makes them and they are pretty good especially witht he aforementioned parts and such...

 

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if you really want to know what to put on the 2.9 look up monty06 .... hes done almost everythign you can to open up this engine

 

did i here my name being called

 

welcome 710cap to FTE, hey goalscorer2 thanks for the call.
so i here your looking to add some performance to your engine.

what i would like to know what do you have in mind ?
what have you done so far?
what is in your budget?
how handy are you with tools? meaning can you do the work yourself?

something to look for in the net is the following a flowmaster 40 series muffler
with dual exhuast 3inch inside/2.5 outside dual. add some hp and torque
either you can cut the cats off ( what i did ) and just add striaght pipe then go flow dual with tips. or just add a flow or just go with striaght pipe all the way.

i added a pair of headers to my 2.9L www.jamesduff.com pretty costly but worth it. also a chip in mind i have a jet chip,but you can find them at jamesduff too and hypertech makes them too.
i found mine on ebay another good source for finding 2.9L stuff

MSD they don't sell a complete distributor but they do make cap and rotor kits.

mallory ignitions/accel ingitions same company make performance ignition systems too.
if you decide to go with msd then i would look for a msd 6al or 6a with a pn/8227 msd blaster tfi coil looks just the stock version and fits right in.
the whole system . you can find them on ebay for alot less than from factory

give the truck the basics first = air,fuel,oil,trans,pcv valve, air filter k&n look for a CAI from a dodge neon -93-95 one piece system DIRECT FIT for your intake size 3inch diameter to remove your stock box if you want too. your stock box might not look like it but it's a sort of rambair/cold air setup
fuel filter go with any. oil filter also K&n they have a 1inch nut on the filter to easily remove and replace the filter. trans filter any is good. if auto.
also pcv valve.

move to engine timing 8.8mm spark plug wires i use msd with bosch paltinum 4 plugs pre gapped at .44 ready to go i have used these plugs with a great responce. some other might disagree.advance timing to 12deg instead of 10deg, rebuilt the distributor yourself get a new oil gear,pin,stator/pick coil,tfi module,cap and rotor. company of your choosing .

add some greatly needed help for that engine add yourself a 4.0 explorer radiator from -90-94 direct bolt-on 2core instead of 1.
thermostat a jetchip thermostat 180degrees, i used a flex-a-lite fan with a spacer instead of the stock plastic fan with clutch these motors come with
and i have two small 9in efans for back up.discard your ac/system if not needed for some added hp. all of my gaskets i use felpro. as for heads i would replace all your freeze plugs and get them rebuilt just to be on the saft side or get some off a 88-90 b2 better castings/or world products.
install some free floating rockers this will eliminate the lifter noise from your engine i use 20w-50 castrol gtx in use with a combination of a k&n oil filter does wonders. port and polish your heads to your exhuast manifolds upper and lower intakes for some better flow decarbonize all those parts before you reinstall everything. clean your TB wityh air intake cleaner shave your butterfly just a little for better flow of air i have headers on my engine so i used header wrap and high heat paint to coat my exhuast.

power usage the b2 has 8 to 4guage power cables stock depending on year
i had 6guage cable i upgraded to 2guage both neg and pos. installed a optima yellow top and had a high outout 80amp alternator on my b2 sotck is 65amp
i now have a 130amp alt and i have the 80 sitting in the garage.

i have plenty more things done to my 2.9L which is more like a 4.0 lol
i got my b2 running at 190hp instead of 140 hp stock. so any more questions ask away ?

 

no prob man ...ou helped me out a couple times now

 

another upgrade i didn't see here is an oil cooler... junkyards will have them on certain thunderbirds and the junked policed 5.0's if you need more info check this link out http://therangerstation.com/tech_library/OilCooler.htm this is also a great site to browse through as they cover other aspects of the "RBV"s

 

that's right i got a engine and tranny oil cooler from jcw.com cost was 140.00 i didn't go for the oil cooler from trs. for myself it doesn't cool as much.

 

We haven't done a thing to it yet. We are getting ready to pull this new engine apart and definately want more horse power. I take it to Montana and hunt out in the middle of nowhere and I want to: a. not get stuck ,b. not break down and finally c. be able to handle at lot more ground. I really appreciate all the feedback I have recieved!! I am going to start looking into all these avenues for parts..

710 cap

 

Oh, yeah! In addition to my last post.. My budget is good but not outrageous! I and a few buddies do turn wrenches..one is a mechanic. Basically more horse power is the goal and like I said everything is stock so far...

710 cap

 

if you really want a project that can take you anywhere then i suggest just buying a used explorer .. 2 door if you can find em.. and gut it and use all those parts,... you get a 4 liter dana 35 frontend and a 8.8 rear... the upgrades for that engine are alos more widelty available if you are into going that far with thi truck... the d 35 and 8.8 can handle 33's give you a bit more ground clearance anthey are direct bolt in's for the most part.. theonly change is you have to change the spring pad locations on the rear...but if you have a spare engine to taek apart do that and build it form the bottom up right itll be stronger and last longer like that...these engines are pretty bullet proof from what ive seen...and if you hunt witht he truck you may also want to look into cuttin the top and possibly makin a bed liner and such to carry in the goods after a hunt..also you if you wheel a bit then def look into a newer driveshaft.. im just throwing out ideas im yself am trying to make these decisions as well .. so for right now i keep mine on the street cuz i get a little too crazy out in the dirt...