Lpannell25
New member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2011
- Messages
- 61
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Vehicle Year
- 1989
- Vehicle
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 2.9L
Havent posted here in a few years... my 89 has been sitting in a drive way for atleast 3 years 
looking to get it back on the road.
History.
Bough my uncles 89 bronco 2.
Turns out the heads were cracked.
Did a complete top end rebuild used heads (sent to a shop no cracks everything seemed ok with them)
"New heads" didnt last long... maybe 300 miles before i had the same symptoms as before.
was parked and not touched since then so technically im not 100% that the heads are cracked because i never had the time or money to tear into it again but im 99% sure that is the problem.
Now that history is out of the way im tired of seeing this beauty sit in the drive way... I want to avoid repeating my last mistake and look into just replacing the whole engine... This time i will take my time and spend a little coin and get the new casted heads that dont tend to crack like the older ones.
im no mechanic but am able to get help from a few people if i need it. The local used auto parts yard has an 88 2.9 engine available for 400 bucks as opposed to a remanufacted 2k dollar long block off rockauto. Time is no issue as it has already been sitting a while its not like i expect to put it on the road next month... Is it going to be to big of a task for a non mechanic if i get the 400 dollar engine with expectations of basically making it like new as in completely taking it apart cleaning all parts and replacing necessary bits along the way? am i possibly going about this all wrong?
Anyway that's where i am at right now... Basically i want to eventually get this thing back on the road with a "like new" engine and i would love to work through it all myself so i know the ins and outs of the engine... am i heading in the right direction or are there other options available? Another advantage im thinking of with taking my time and doing it all myself i have a friend with a lift and would love to possibly pull the body off and clean and have the frame painted... i know it needs new body bushing. The body is in great shape with a beautiful sky blue paintjob the frame... ehhh it could use some attention... With a "like new" engine and a little attention to the frame i would love to put this thing on the road for another 20 years....
Sorry for all the rambling trying to explain a lot and its all clear in my head but obviously a little jumbled as i start to put it down... Thanks for taking the time to read and i look forward to spending plenty of time on here and taking in as much as you all have to offer!
looking to get it back on the road.History.
Bough my uncles 89 bronco 2.
Turns out the heads were cracked.
Did a complete top end rebuild used heads (sent to a shop no cracks everything seemed ok with them)
"New heads" didnt last long... maybe 300 miles before i had the same symptoms as before.
was parked and not touched since then so technically im not 100% that the heads are cracked because i never had the time or money to tear into it again but im 99% sure that is the problem.
Now that history is out of the way im tired of seeing this beauty sit in the drive way... I want to avoid repeating my last mistake and look into just replacing the whole engine... This time i will take my time and spend a little coin and get the new casted heads that dont tend to crack like the older ones.
im no mechanic but am able to get help from a few people if i need it. The local used auto parts yard has an 88 2.9 engine available for 400 bucks as opposed to a remanufacted 2k dollar long block off rockauto. Time is no issue as it has already been sitting a while its not like i expect to put it on the road next month... Is it going to be to big of a task for a non mechanic if i get the 400 dollar engine with expectations of basically making it like new as in completely taking it apart cleaning all parts and replacing necessary bits along the way? am i possibly going about this all wrong?
Anyway that's where i am at right now... Basically i want to eventually get this thing back on the road with a "like new" engine and i would love to work through it all myself so i know the ins and outs of the engine... am i heading in the right direction or are there other options available? Another advantage im thinking of with taking my time and doing it all myself i have a friend with a lift and would love to possibly pull the body off and clean and have the frame painted... i know it needs new body bushing. The body is in great shape with a beautiful sky blue paintjob the frame... ehhh it could use some attention... With a "like new" engine and a little attention to the frame i would love to put this thing on the road for another 20 years....
Sorry for all the rambling trying to explain a lot and its all clear in my head but obviously a little jumbled as i start to put it down... Thanks for taking the time to read and i look forward to spending plenty of time on here and taking in as much as you all have to offer!