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I have an 89 with 187000 miles on the original motor,it has some oil leaks other than that it still will push 70 mph easily on the hiway I dont usally go that fast but a few times to pass.The older man I purchashed from did regular maintenence and took good care of it, I think the 2.9 is a good motor if maintained.
exactly!, someone from another tread didnt get that though.
I was trying to explain to him that even though the design of this motor is very poor, if you maintain it regularly, it will last long just like any motor.
From factory, i dont think any bronco II or 2.9 ranger had that valve ticking sound off the lot....but as the engine aged, the already small oil passages become clogged with sludge if someone went a while without an oil change.
and that whole head cracking thing is also something that can easily be avoided, as far as i know, the only time the heads crack on the 2.9 is when you overheat it. Typically, normal driving will never cuase the temps to reach high enough to crack them, only when you overheat the motor dose that occur. the solution? Keep a good eye on your temp guage, and make sure the gauge is working properly. Once you notice the tempheading near the red, do whatever you can to cool it down, such as using the heater....NEVER let it go into the red, worst case, even shuting off the motor prior to it seriously overheating is better then driving it in that condition. Also maintian the cooling system as best you can.
'87 XLT 2.9/5-spd with almost 149K on the odometer. Runs strong, but I have the typical valvetrain noise -- although not as bad as I used to. I've actually had her up to damn near the peg on the speedo (around 80+), but I typically don't drive her over 60-65 regularly. Not sure if the engine has ever been replaced or rebuilt, but, I don't think it has 149K on the engine itself, as the original owner towed the rig behind an RV most of the time he owned it (with the rear driveshaft in place and the t-case and tranny in neutral, which put mileage on the odometer, just not the engine... and caused all sorts of hate and discontent elsewhere, heh).
exactly!, someone from another tread didnt get that though.
I was trying to explain to him that even though the design of this motor is very poor, if you maintain it regularly, it will last long just like any motor.
From factory, i dont think any bronco II or 2.9 ranger had that valve ticking sound off the lot....but as the engine aged, the already small oil passages become clogged with sludge if someone went a while without an oil change.
and that whole head cracking thing is also something that can easily be avoided, as far as i know, the only time the heads crack on the 2.9 is when you overheat it. Typically, normal driving will never cuase the temps to reach high enough to crack them, only when you overheat the motor dose that occur. the solution? Keep a good eye on your temp guage, and make sure the gauge is working properly. Once you notice the tempheading near the red, do whatever you can to cool it down, such as using the heater....NEVER let it go into the red, worst case, even shuting off the motor prior to it seriously overheating is better then driving it in that condition. Also maintian the cooling system as best you can.
So as long as you baby the engine it's great! LOL.
168K and it's worn out beyond the ability to make it to the next town without lossing all oil pressure even with 50w in it. Mine was a security vehicle so I'm sure there is a ton of idle hours on it. I have yet to see a 2.9 that was actually used like a truck engine not have problems by the 160-180K mark. Can't complain about the rig though, I call it the last real mini 4x4 Ford made.
So as long as you baby the engine it's great! LOL.
168K and it's worn out beyond the ability to make it to the next town without lossing all oil pressure even with 50w in it. Mine was a security vehicle so I'm sure there is a ton of idle hours on it. I have yet to see a 2.9 that was actually used like a truck engine not have problems by the 160-180K mark. Can't complain about the rig though, I call it the last real mini 4x4 Ford made.
Sounds like a combination of lots of idling, a lot of high-rpm wear and tear, and crappy maintenance. I made the mistake once of buying a used fleet vehicle... ended up getting a rebuilt long block and calling it good. I also ended up selling it later
Sounds like a combination of lots of idling, a lot of high-rpm wear and tear, and crappy maintenance. I made the mistake once of buying a used fleet vehicle... ended up getting a rebuilt long block and calling it good. I also ended up selling it later
For what I payed I wouldn't call it a mistake but it's not the only 2.9 that's been in my life. I also sell auto parts 3 nights a week and poor 2.9L's aren't exactly rare.
Just a funny story, i was playing around with my bronco II, seeing at the crappy reaction time of the 2.9 LOL. And the trottle stuck WOT in neutral, for about 5 seconds it was bouncing off the rev limter (didnt even know it had one LOL!!!) and it still runs completly fine.
I though that motor was done, LOL
I agree with you osin.... no matter how hard i try to convince myself, the bronco II is in no way a REAL truck (unless you make it one)....but having a mini light duty S.U.V is fun anyway....even more so when you just got your license and all you do is drive!!!!
Cant wait to hear that dual exhaust i ordered!!!
having no muffler makes for a real bad sound....then again im a year off from drivng this thing alot instead of starting it up occasionaly in the yard.
theres a funny thing about mileage, im heard somehwere the earth is 20,000 miles in circumfrence (dont mind the spelling) So a bronco II with 300,000 miles traveled enough to go around the world 15 times!!!!
Last edited by fordxfour87; Apr 5, 2006 at 08:41 PM.
For what I payed I wouldn't call it a mistake but it's not the only 2.9 that's been in my life. I also sell auto parts 3 nights a week and poor 2.9L's aren't exactly rare.
Sorry for the thread hyjacking Desert Dog.
I wasn't referring to a BII or a 2.9 Ford vehicle at all, just saying, I've seen what "fleet vehicles" sometimes are like after they're sold to the unsuspecting buyer and all. The vehicle in my case was an older 3/4 ton Chevy and I spent all of $1500 or so total, including the rebuilt engine and all of the other mechanical parts that had to be replaced, etc. I sold it for $2500, though
(helps when you can find useable junkyard body parts and have a paint booth open to you damn near whenever you want to use it! -- however, I don't quite have that luxury nowadays )
i have an 86 bII with 177,000 on 2.9l.as far as i know everything is original except fot the replacement heads i put on last summer due to being cracked,it still has good power it does have a 5spd tranny,my fuel mileage has been around 17-19 mpg.i bought it from the original owner for $1,100.it is one of the most fun vehicles i have ever driven.as long as any engine is maintained,they will give great service.