custombolt
Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2022
- Messages
- 45
- Reaction score
- 14
- Points
- 8
- Vehicle Year
- 1989
- Vehicle
- Bronco II XLT
The purpose of this (my first) post is to hopefully help someone experiencing a "snag in their program" with a reportedly rather common low power and torque on their 2.9. Don't sell it just yet like others have done.
I just bought a 1989 BII in December 2021 and what a dog! Plus, it had erratic readings on the tach and I assumed had a miss or two. It was bit of a challenge to make any headway. Initially, fears of a slipped timing chain, faulty cats and you name it got me on a negative path.
I already knew how strong a 2.9 can be since I had bought 3 new Rangers with that same engine, a 2WD Regular cab 1987, a bright red RC 4wd 1991 and SC 4WD 1993. If those had 140 HP, this one had 40 maybe.
New Motorcraft plug wires, Platinum's and a new distributor cap went on to fix a shaky idle. Smoother idle but same ol' dog. I found one vacuum tube on the driver side where a thin tube fitted into a thicker tube near the vacuum tree near the top of the intake.
All wiring connectors were fine and cleaned if needed.
Dang. Well, instinct is screaming timing. So, off to the internet. 10 BTDC is the norm. Fine. Check the timing, right on at 10. Back to the net, the spout needs to be removed. No spout on my engine and no photos of any 1989 BII anywhere. WTH? Just as I was about to give up on the spout, I told myself I'm just going to go out and climb onto the engine and look around, nothing else. Within 5 minutes I found the corner of the spout exposed under the harness. Someone wrapped it in electrical tape tight against the harness. I'm gaining on it.
Anyway, I went to loosen the dist. and the bolt was already loose. Holy crabp! That's it! Were heading for the end zone! After some observation of how the spout affects timing and adding 8 degrees more advance with the spout connected and snugging up the dist. bolt, the timing with the spout removed went right down to 10. I nudged it up to around 12 and tightened her down re-installed the spout and Wow. When I went to back out of the garage it now surged instead of going bluuuuuuh. Wow. Took ''er for a spin and could spin the tires on the wet pavement. Score!
Sorry to ramble on. Hopefully someone will find this useful.
CB
I just bought a 1989 BII in December 2021 and what a dog! Plus, it had erratic readings on the tach and I assumed had a miss or two. It was bit of a challenge to make any headway. Initially, fears of a slipped timing chain, faulty cats and you name it got me on a negative path.
I already knew how strong a 2.9 can be since I had bought 3 new Rangers with that same engine, a 2WD Regular cab 1987, a bright red RC 4wd 1991 and SC 4WD 1993. If those had 140 HP, this one had 40 maybe.
New Motorcraft plug wires, Platinum's and a new distributor cap went on to fix a shaky idle. Smoother idle but same ol' dog. I found one vacuum tube on the driver side where a thin tube fitted into a thicker tube near the vacuum tree near the top of the intake.
All wiring connectors were fine and cleaned if needed.
Dang. Well, instinct is screaming timing. So, off to the internet. 10 BTDC is the norm. Fine. Check the timing, right on at 10. Back to the net, the spout needs to be removed. No spout on my engine and no photos of any 1989 BII anywhere. WTH? Just as I was about to give up on the spout, I told myself I'm just going to go out and climb onto the engine and look around, nothing else. Within 5 minutes I found the corner of the spout exposed under the harness. Someone wrapped it in electrical tape tight against the harness. I'm gaining on it.
Anyway, I went to loosen the dist. and the bolt was already loose. Holy crabp! That's it! Were heading for the end zone! After some observation of how the spout affects timing and adding 8 degrees more advance with the spout connected and snugging up the dist. bolt, the timing with the spout removed went right down to 10. I nudged it up to around 12 and tightened her down re-installed the spout and Wow. When I went to back out of the garage it now surged instead of going bluuuuuuh. Wow. Took ''er for a spin and could spin the tires on the wet pavement. Score!
Sorry to ramble on. Hopefully someone will find this useful.
CB