since my ranger keeps acting up i think im going to put a 3.0 in it, alot better engine and pretty much everything bolts up, my ? is should i swap the engine or pull the 2.9 and replace the rear main (keep in mind the 2.9 onyl has 85k miles on it) i replaced the valve cover gaskets on it the other day and now all the sudden it blew the rear main pretty much out, it leaked over a quart in about 10-15 miles, not good, ive been thinkin swap it fix it or get a 2wd and stick a 5.8 and 5spd and 9 inch under it, not sure what im going to do, any suggestions or comments welcome on how hard itll be for any of the things ive said, so far u guys have been a big help on everything ive had to do to previous trucks and this one

 

you ca easil do it, but swap engine with tranny, engine ecu and all sensors.

 

The 3.0 is not from the same engine family as your 2.9, the 2.8, 2.9 and 4.0 are from the same family. The 3.0 is a ******* engine, nothing will hook up, you will need everything starting from scratch. Keep the 2.9 or find a 4.0 and you will have an engine.

 

yeah, 2.8, 2.9 and 4.0 are German Cologne engines sharing bolt pattern, starters (but 4.0 may have starter with permanent magnets, so loved by europeans), trannies, bellhousings..... 3.0 is tipical US pushrod engine, very reliable and easy to fix, bwas very popular on Taurus and Aerostar.

 

ok...well ive decided to just go ahead and ddo the gaskets, tired of fixin one thing after another so i bought the complete kit, im gonna tear it down and put all new in it

 

The 2.9 is a good engine, the weak link is the heads, they will crack if over heated. Like all engines, they will wear out, an 88 is 20 years old after all.

 

to find a good 3.0 is easy. Do not use 3.0 from cars becouse there are many things, like manyfolds, air intake, alternator, ps pump and other brakets are different and you have no donor to swap all these parts. You need tranny for 3.0....

So try to look for 95-99 Scorpio 2.9 engine. It is faster then engine for Ranger, has dual throutle.

 

btw, bosh L-jetronic allows to get more HP then old good EEC-iV