can u guys tell me about 2.9 v6's

[85rx7_93ranger]

hey guys im getting a 90 b2 with 2.9 v6 and 147,000 miles..ive had a 4.0 for a long time and it was good and always started in winters.


what i want to know is first:

i live in bemidji, minnesota so -40 degree winters are not uncommon...will this 2.9 fuel injected engine start every morning if i plug in the block heater?

how good is the 2.9 and 5 speed on gas? right now its 100% stock with i think 3.45 or 3.55 gears and d35. but i am planning on running 33's with that gearing and do alot of highway driving since my parents back home are 5 hours away.

what are some common problems or complaints u guys have with the 2.9s?

how much do headman headers help the proformance of a 2.9?

is this going to be a reliable engine for a daily drive i rely on?

thanks

 

[country0001]

They rattle cause the lifters go bad, they overheat real easy, the tfi module goes bad cause its right next to the firewall. thats the bad that I can think of.

The good. They can take revving up th 5 grand w/out problem. When they run right, they're pretty tuff. When they do go, the 4.0 is a direct bolt in, you have to add the wiring from the donor.

Go to the tech section, there is a lot of info on the 2.9. Some people love em.

 

[85rx7_93ranger]

this motor runs perfectly quiet...she just purrs..no tickng

 

[85rx7_93ranger]

what about cold weather starting?

 

[disciplerocks]

Agreed and you wont like 33s with that gearing.

 

[master hec0]

what about cold weather starting?

mine starts easy in the winter. ticks for a few seconds when cold but the TFI is the biggest downfall i must have done 6 of those in the last 2 years and this truck only has 103000 kilometers.

 

[B2Guy]

mine runs great all year round. I have 33's with 3.73 gearing and its a bit sluggish. youll probably want to address the gearing when going to a bigger tire

 

[85rx7_93ranger]

i did some research on TFI and they seem like a common PITA so since i work at oreilly i can get a new one for 15$ is it worth it to get a new one now??

 

[adsm08]

I wouldn't bother replacing a TFI just for the sake of replacing it. I would run over to Advance and grab me a "Ford Ignition Module Tool". They are about $5 and are so got-dang useful for getting those TFI's in and out that I own two.

Now, even though I wouldn't replace it right off, if you can get a TFI for $15, I would buy one and throw it in the glove box. Just in case. Sometimes they will go without warning. Normally the engine will stall at idle or during neutral coast for a few weeks before the TFI fails.

As for 33's and 3.45 gears, you won't like it. I drive 60 miles of highway on 27's with 3.45s through a hilly areas, and I don't like it. I'd go for 3.73s, at least. 4.10s would be better.

2.9 is a stout little engine though. Mine can be fussy some days, but she still makes a great commuter truck, and there is little that I'd be afraid to tow with it.

 

[Shran]

I ran 32's and 33's with 3.45s and it was terrible. I would advise you not to do it, the truck was a total dog and I probably wasted half my clutch doing it. The 4.10s I eventually put in made a WORLD of difference. I am still pondering doing 4.56s and some point if I find a free D35.

The 2.9s are OK I guess. Figure that you may need to change the valve cover gaskets, they are usually leaking. Don't overheat it and just make sure your cooling system is in excellent condition. The two I've had were alright, worlds better than all my old 2.8s but certainly no 302.

 

[jhammel85]

I wouldn't bother replacing a TFI just for the sake of replacing it. I would run over to Advance and grab me a "Ford Ignition Module Tool". They are about $5 and are so got-dang useful for getting those TFI's in and out that I own two.

Now, even though I wouldn't replace it right off, if you can get a TFI for $15, I would buy one and throw it in the glove box. Just in case. Sometimes they will go without warning. Normally the engine will stall at idle or during neutral coast for a few weeks before the TFI fails.

As for 33's and 3.45 gears, you won't like it. I drive 60 miles of highway on 27's with 3.45s through a hilly areas, and I don't like it. I'd go for 3.73s, at least. 4.10s would be better.

2.9 is a stout little engine though. Mine can be fussy some days, but she still makes a great commuter truck, and there is little that I'd be afraid to tow with it.

Totally agree with this. Especially on the TFI. When mine died it gave no indication. The truck always had a low rpm/under load miss until the TFI died. After that it was all good.

Keep the tool and a spare tfi in the toolbox...It'll save ya one day:icon_thumby:

 

[adsm08]

Figure that you may need to change the valve cover gaskets, they are usually leaking. Don't overheat it and just make sure your cooling system is in excellent condition.

This is good advice too. Napa sells a set of gaskets made from rubber, not cork, and I have had great luck with those. I was doing my cork gaskets every two years or so. These rubber ones have lasted close to 10 now.

The other big thing that makes a world of difference in the way a 2.9 5speed runs is to pull the trans out and throw a 4.0 clutch and flywheel in there. Makes clutch engagement so much nicer, it's not even funny.

 

[master hec0]

yeah i replaced my valve cover gaskets with cork and they blew out almost instantly. i have a set of rubber ones to put in. also i bought a brand new tfi from napa and it died really quick too. personally the oem one is better.

 

[adsm08]

Heco is right about the OEM TFIs, but if you get them from work for $15 that may be the way to go.

I work for a Ford dealer. My price on the OE module is $85. You can buy 5 for that price. Retail price on the OE ones is closer to $120.

 

[master hec0]

Get an oem from junkyard that's where I got my last one better then the napa one so far

 

[85rx7_93ranger]

great info guys! thank you!! ill post pics tomarrow.....

about the TFI im going to the junkyard tomarrow so ill pull one and put it in the glove box just in case....but whats this about a tool for it? for has a special tool for that too? wtf! if i get any more special tools ill need a second "ford drawer" in my box lol

so today i did a full oil change and tune up withh plugs wires cap rotor and air filter

tomarrow im putting in my brand new radiator, hoses, belts, thermostat, fuel filter, my deck, speakers, and sub. and ill sand down and paint the american racing outlaw rims it has on it.

 

[85rx7_93ranger]

hey guys i looked at my axle code and its 44 so that means i have a 7.5 open diff with 3.73s

soo thats good! i wish it were a 8.8 but ill deal with teh 7.5 cuz it has 3.73s ill just get an aussie locker for it since they are only about 200$

 

[disciplerocks]

For $200, you might be able to find a used 8.8 with a locker already in it. Too bad you aren't closer, I know there is a 7.5 at the u-pull here with 3.73s and L/S.

 

[jhammel85]

great info guys! thank you!! ill post pics tomarrow.....

about the TFI im going to the junkyard tomarrow so ill pull one and put it in the glove box just in case....but whats this about a tool for it? for has a special tool for that too? wtf! if i get any more special tools ill need a second "ford drawer" in my box lol

so today i did a full oil change and tune up withh plugs wires cap rotor and air filter

tomarrow im putting in my brand new radiator, hoses, belts, thermostat, fuel filter, my deck, speakers, and sub. and ill sand down and paint the american racing outlaw rims it has on it.

No need for a special tool unless you have a 5.5mm, 6 point, deep well socket. I bought one even though I have the socket because I wanted to keep the tool in the glovebox and keep the socket with the sockets. Its very small and only a few bucks. I think its worth it for convenience sake.

 

[master hec0]

my deep socket fit very snugly in the hole. but also there is some kinda special security torx version too. when i come across those in the junkyard i just leave them because they are too hard to remove. on my bronco i have added longer screws with washers so i don't need a deep socket to remove he bolts anymore.