My buddys dad just bought a 2.8 liter v6 bronco 2. It is a 85 and has the feedback carb. It also has the 4 speed transmission. He wants to put this in his 93 ranger with the 2.9 and 5 speed. Is this swap a direct swap, bolt in. By the way i will be putting a normal carb on the 2.9. and will the transmission's bolt up.

 

Why on earth would he want to downgrade .... and break the law?* Now, in response to your question: Yes, pretty much a direct swap, however, you'll have to 'downgrade' the fuel system OR consider doing a CFI / TBI mod to the 2.8. The 2.9 is fuel injected, I believe the 93 will have a high-pressure in-tank pump. You would have to swap in a low-pressure pump. Transmission bellhousing patterns are identical between the 2.8, 2.9, and 4.0. I'd consider doing a 4.0 swap before I did a 2.8 OR do a fuel injection mod to the 2.8, personally.

* The 2.8 has lower HP/TQ rating; state and federal law (as applicable) prohibit engine swaps unless they are same or newer model year OR the swap is intended for a off-road use only vehicle.

 

A 93 will have the 2.3 L-4cyl, 3.0, or 4.0 V6........the 2.9 died in 91'
Without a lot of internal upgrades the 2.8 will never equal the 2.9 or 3.0 for power.......Too many troubles to be worth it, just swap in another EFI 3.0 or 4.0 and be done with it.

 

Actually, the 2.9 died in '92, if I am not mistaken. If the '93 in question has a 2.3 or 3.0, then no-go on it being a direct bolt-in without using the motor, motor mounts and transmission at the very least. It's just not worth the trouble. If the '93 in question has a 4.0, it's doable, but it is still a terrible idea and would be a downgrade.

 

I don't remember.............I thought the 2.9 was dropped in 91, I have never seen a 2.9 in a Ranger after the 90 year model, all I have seen in 91s-92s is a 3.0 or 4.0 for v6's......I have been known to be wrong a time or two!

 

No worries. I have seen a few '92s with a 2.9 - but like you, I have seen plenty of 3.0s and 4.0s in the '90-up models... as well as plenty of 2.3/2.5 Lima (Pinto) 4-bangers. I will reiterate that the only reason I'd put a 2.8 in the '93 in question is if the truck is a 2.3L 4-cylinder, and that I would do a fuel injection conversion on the 2.8 if I did it.

Ford Ranger/Bronco II 2.9 liter Engines

The Ford Ranger 3.0L Vulcan V-6

The Ford Ranger 4.0L Engine - The Ranger Station

 

Great info, I stand to be enlightened........I really thought the 2.9 died after 90'......still have yet to see one in a 91 or 92.
Great info at TRS...........thats it though, the age group/mentality of most of the members there seem to be about jr. high level.

 

I usually use their info as a guide and do a little further research if I feel like something isn't 100% correct. I am not a registered forum member over there, but from what I have seen, I'd have to agree with you. There was a period of time that any time I linked any of their info on here that it would have to be approved by a moderator - but I can't speculate as to why, nor will I attempt to I usually avoid confrontation or childish stuff on any forum, but I have seen a few posts on nearly every one I'm on that I usually just have to look past and ignore

 

Maybe the ranger is a 91 then, I know it is that body style in there. But anyways will the full tank out of the bronco work in the ranger. And we really aint worried about any law breaking or power because it is just his to work and back truck. I aint much of a tree hugger so I or him aint worried about that but it cant put out that many more emissions. Also they fly wheel and all that stuff will work with the 2.8 or not?

 

We'll need a little more detail about the transplantee truck: Is it in fact a 92 or older Ranger?

First Gen ('83-'88):


Second Gen ('89-'92):


Third Gen ('93-'97):


If it isn't a first or 2nd gen... then it's not a 2.9-powered Ranger, but could be a 3.0 or 4.0-powered Ranger. 4.0 and 2.8/2.9 share the same transmission bellhousing bolt patterns.

To answer your gas tank question: No, unless you mount the tank between the frame rails at the very back behind the axle and relocated the fuel filler door, as far as I've seen or am aware of. Hope this helps!

 

ok i know for sure from the look that it is a second gen and i know he called it a 90 something.

 

Okay, so he wants to transplant a carb'ed 2.8 into a 2.9 Ranger. Again, I don't understand why, but it is doable whichever way you aspirate it. If he wants to keep it carb'ed, I would do the Duraspark ignition coversion and swap to a non-feedback carb (Motorcraft 2150 w/1.08 jets, IIRC - or a comparable Holley 2-bbl carb). This will also entail swapping out fuel pumps to run at lower pressure for the carb and disconnecting / disabling all of the 2.9 engine management stuff (I believe you can pull fuses and such and just tape everything off and out of the way). It'll still need the dash gauge/idiot light wiring and senders so that the instrument cluster is still functional.

If he might get the notion to keep the fuel injection, it's possible, but you'd need to at least get a CFI or TBI 'carb' off a Ford or GM V6, 'bypass' the engine-mounted fuel pump to use the exisitng hi-pressure EFI fuel system and figure out how to hook it up to the existing 2.9 engine management system or get all the parts needed from a complete donor ('84-'87 Ford Mustang/LTD II or Mercury Capri/Cougar with a 3.8 V6) or get a kit from Affordable Fuel Injection or possibly go with a MegaSquirt ECU setup.

Again, my opinion of swapping in the 2.8 vice repairing the 2.9 or doing a 4.0 swap seems like a downgrade and more work than it's worth. What exactly is wrong with the 2.9 that is currently in the truck?

 

is there any way to make it work with out doing a duraspark upgrade.

 

Only way to keep the stock distributor is to keep the stock carb and everything 'original' that I know of, which would mean you'd have to recondition the carb if it needs it. There are electrical parts on the stock carb that wind up going bad that require replacement, which I am not sure if anyone carries those parts anymore, other than maybe the dealership. You'd have to check into it.

 

is there anyway that the fuel tank out of the bronco will work with the ranger. and what is a good wire under the hood of the ranger to use as hot for the duraspark