So are you running a 4.0L in your b2? If so is the mileage with it better or worse than the 2.8L or 2.9L? I've heard the 4.0's are actually worse. I know the 93 ranger would be lucky to get 18mpg on the highway, I would usually get around 21 in my 84 ranger with the 2.8L. I just don't want to deal with any computer crap, I'm trying to get rid of it in my B2, and putting a 4.0L adds more computer crap that's one reason I won't go there with an engine swap.
4.0 thats not optimal in tune at all, fm146 thats whooped...410 gears 33 in tires sas and spooled 9 in runs 13-15 avg. 15-16 hiway
if i tune it 17-18 hiway pretty easy. in snows with 4x4 hiway 9-14 depending on conditions. the cost of tuning it may not be worth it if i did not have cash to spend.
its the b2 in this pic...used to be 351's
its pretty beat to hell to say the least.
way back when i had my 89 and 90 2.9 bronco 2's, bone stock with a4ld or 5 speeds they could pull 23 if conditions were fair... generally 17-18 plus though. a healthy 4.0 seems to linger in the teens but tuned make 20's in stock suspension and 31 or less tires no problem...and the
power is notably appreciated. on paper it dont look like much, in reality its more then many imagine.(remember i am a v8 guy too)
the 2.8's sucked always. 12-14 town and 20 or so hiway on good days with manual transmissions.. as far as b2's are concerned only owned the one for a few months but worked on it and drove it when my friend bought it. back then in the late 80's-90's i would only consider a v8 swap...and it eventually got totalled before that happened. i hear guys claiming 25 mpg hiway and 18 plus town.
my ranger never got out of teens with the 2.9 and a4ld... mileage fell sub 16 after 220k...so it got a fresh cobra engine back in 95. of couse my diesel in there now is nutless compared to a nice smallblock.
I just don't want to deal with any computer crap, I'm trying to get rid of it in my B2, and putting a 4.0L adds more computer crap that's one reason I won't go there with an engine swap.
I'm sure with some body modifications you can put any engine/transmission in you want, its all about how much money you have to waste, me I don't have any so my vehicles stay as close to stock as I can get them. You start modifying things and unless you have an endless supply of money to deal with the constant problems that non-oem engines/components will have it would surly empty my pockets faster than my income comes in.
Don't get me wrong I'd love to have a different engine, but if I do it will be 100% non-computerized crap, the feedback junk was bad enough. Did I mention I hate computerization in vehicles?
if its running good, for sure leave it if you like it. i dont like the 2.8 or 2.9 as thier powerlevels are below what i find acceptable.. the 4.0 and 6.5 are acceptable and well matched to 33 in tires for me in the rbv. especially the b2.
body mods for the engine swaps i do are usually limited to bfh and bodylifts. nothing exotic
but i am totally on the other side of this. i modify my shit to do what i need so i can rely on it for the long haul. i love efi gas engines. efi on the gas and diesels up to 06 or so is perfect for most of us. and very reliable. for 250k plus.
the idiots like me with ridiculous demands and not allot of cash to blow have to build our junk. i want a tool that will do anything.
my 6.5 cost me nothing but time as it came in a 1 ton van that was payment for working on a different vehicle. i used the van for a few years and eventually i stole that engine and put it in my ranger because 10-14 mpg sux. ranger is not stock and a 4.0 would get worse in that situation.
i dont have 400 bux into the initial swap. most guys could copy it for less then 9-1500 bux in swap costs doing their own labor. or they could spend 30grand i am sure. one guy pm,d me and insists i am a liar because there is no video of it running.....i have google earth pics of it in florida though
i solved the problem of not being able to afford to drive my favorite vehicle for next to nothing... and many would argue i made it a unreliable pos the day i did it because of the engine i used... but well over 200k later its still clattering around. its costly to run it...the tires etc are very expensive, but daily fuel cost is offset with waste oils in the warmer months. the option of alternate fuels makes living with less then ideal power very much an even tradeoff. for now
most of the things i do is for the sole purpose of being able to deal with shit on the run, stepping up to a computer controlled trans for my setup was hard for me to do, i am surprised i dont have a ford aod in this thing. or a manual trans of some sort.
but all of the on the fly fixes do add up. and eventually i will have to rip it all out and clean it up again.
a modern 3.7 v6 or coyote 5.0 from a 150 in a decent b2 would be worth 5 grand to do a junkyard swap... i got the 3.7 figured to less then 2800.
the only reason i like the ls over those is packaging.
your fear of a efi mill has merit, but it is costing you as well.
