Okay

I bought a 91 ranger from a farmer out here in idaho.
He said a farmhand had put diesel in it before the truck stopped running.
Has the fuel injected 2.9 with 5 speed trans. 2wd. got a good deal on the truck but it isnt running at the moment.

I have spent a lot of time trying to fix this darn truck by now but not much cash yet.

I am thinking about swaping out the motor for a different one to get it going. yes my fuel system has been flushe. twice! my question to the forum is......

What motor can i swap in for a direct bolt up? I have found a few 3.0's on craigslist for like 100 bucks or just about.
Can i swap 19xx-19xx possibly 2000+ motor into the truck? New brain box and what not.
What motor will bolt up to the trans ETC...

I want to get away with the least amount of cash spent possible.
Work on the truck is no problem since i have a heated shop and plenty of help from my gramps.

Please help!!

Mike

 

By fuel system-what exactly has been flushed??? Has the tank been dropped?? Does the pump still work?? Fuel filter changed?? How about the injectors?? Has the fuel rail been pulled to clean it out thoroughly?? Changed the spark plugs?? Diesel can mess up a fuel system, but if you take it one piece at a time, you can probably narrow down the problem..I don't think in my opinion a "new" engine will help if the fuel system is still going to give you problems..I'm sure other members will chime in........

 

by flush i do mean pull the tank and completely flush the system followed up by replace injectors and regulator from a junk yard motor. new fuel filter and spark plugs+wires.
I bought a distributor and coil just for kicks and giggles. the motor will turn over and fire if the gas pedal is fully pressed (cutting off the fuel ) but then dies within a second or so. kinda a vrooooom and thats it.

anyways, after we flushed the system we hooked a pressure gauge and the pressure was within specs and we filled an old oil bottle to check volume. No problem.

My step dad says that he was tinkering with it one day and when he removed the spark plugs (actual plug not just wire) from one side of the motor say, the driver side, the motor would run off 3 cylinders. either side driver or passenger.

Yes i do have spark and it is going to the right cylinders at the right time.
I checked the timing chain to see if the marks lined up and they do at tdc 1.
i checked the air filter and it seems to be in okay shape. Maybe need a new 1 but it is not all that bad or at least not bad enough for the truck to not run.

To sum it up i am tired of trying to mess with the motor so i am ready to install a different intake and go to a carb or just put a new motor in.

If I go towards a different motor i am hoping a 3.0 from a newer ranger will fit since they seem to be available for cheap.

Can i put a 3.0 or 4.0 into a 91 ranger 2wd 5spd without having to change the trans?
I know someone here has to know the best thing for me to do. I have tried all i know and am kinda stuck but, I have four cars and it is not all that critical that i have this truck running right this second (I.E. Too cheap to take to real mechanic).

Thanks,

Mike

 

Keep working on it, that's the best way to fix it cheap. It sounds like there is nothing mechanically wrong with the truck, it's probably just got a bad sensor, or the ECM is fried. Get a $30 scanner from wally world and check for codes, then throw the reader in a drawer for later (they come in handy). Aside from all this, swapping motors will cost much more than the cost of the engine it's self, if you're going to swap you may as well get a 5.0 and go big! And certainly the headaches you are working with now will be nothing compared to the headaches of swapping in a different motor.
If you are simply stuck on swapping, your best choice would have to be the 4.0l. It will bolt up to your original tranny, I believe it will drop right into the engine bay if you use the 4 liter motor mounts, it's from the same family. The problem is it uses a MAF instead of a MAP, and there are some other differences as well. The short story is you'll need a complete donor vehichle since the wiring harness and ECM would have to be swapped with the motor. A 3 liter isn't an option unless you get the transmission with it, the 2.9l tranny won't work, plus all the other problems you had with swapping in a 4 liter. A 2.8 is the carbureted "little brother" to the 2.9l but you'd have to swap in just about as much junk to make it work, and unless you spend some money upgrading it you'll end up with less HP. The 2.9l is a good motor, and it sounds like you just need to keep diagnosing, there is no "easier fix" for your problem as far as I can see.

 

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I loved this truck. It ended up being the catalytic converter was clogged. When I took off the exhaust, it fired right up. Drove it for at least two years all over the place. Ended up giving it to my mom in 2012. Just got an 87 f150 i6 300. $400 from a guy here. Two new fuel pumps and she runs.