engine problem please help!

lukesb2 · Post by **lukesb2** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:32 pm

i have a 89 ford bronco eddie edition with a stock 2.9 and its running with barely any power.. it has liquid coming out of the exhuast.. the engine shakes while running, blue smoke comes out the exhuast.. the dipstick is milky brown but it smells like pure gas. im 14 and my dad said it could be a cracked head.. But from another guy it might be a blown head gasket... wich was from a mechanical god i know.. i have 2 extra 2.9's for any parts..
please help

BDEUCE · Post by **BDEUCE** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:34 pm

so, what do you want help with? both of what those people told you could be correct. either way, that motor's commin apart. i suggest rebuilding one of the other 2.9's, and swap them. seems the easiest...or you could spend a bunch of time cursing ford engineers while trying to rmove your heads with the motor still in place - not impossible, but i don't enjoy it.

lukesb2 · Post by **lukesb2** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:16 pm

thanks for the advice.. i also have a ford 302 out of a cougar.. do u know if it is easier to swap them than rebuilding the 2.9?

BDEUCE · Post by **BDEUCE** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:17 pm

no i don't. i do know, however, that putting in an identical engine to the one you take out, is easier. i haven't done the v8 swap, but i have done other conversions - i am working on putting a 2400cc nissan four banger into a 1989 suzuki samurai, and turning it into a truggie. way not legal. anyway, an engine rebuild is not hard, i expect to spend up to $1500 cdn on mine this fall, but it's not in terrible shape - top end needs help. the other side of the coin is a bonus - to see what your trans is like, and to not have a leaking rair main, either. head gaskets suck, man. mine is burning coolant like it's good for it, because a piece of paper broke off inside the water jacket. sure would be nice to have insurance of a quality gasket? replace the clutch? i'm going to do a 4.0 clutch swap, way easy if the motor's out. you could take a week to build this engine, and then swap motors /do other work like clutch in a weekend, and drive to work monday.

just my 1.97 cents

BDEUCE · Post by **BDEUCE** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:24 pm

also, if you suspect heads, teardown your other 2.9s and have the heads checked for warpage at an engine and machine shop. this is where i would start.

lukesb2 · Post by **lukesb2** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:49 pm

alright thanks.. well i just took out one of my 2.9's out of its frame.. i'll probably end up cleanin that up and puttin it in my 89' for now.. and im gonna tear down my bad 2.9 and see if it is a cracked head, and if its just a gasket im gonna replace the gasket and all the other ones and put it back together..

lukesb2 · Post by **lukesb2** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:42 pm

also, do u know if u have to replace the bolts on the head, cuz i think i heard that u do... also, wat happens if u dont replace them? is it Required?

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:40 pm

definatly..... do not reuse them they are a torque to yeild bolt, it you try to reuse them they will not seat right, and you will regret it........REPLACING THEM IS REQUIRED ACCORDING TO BOTH HAYNES AND CHILTON MANUALS

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:45 pm

i thought about rebuilding my 2.9 in mine and decided since the cam kit with lifters costed more than the 4.0 swap in mine did to do the 4.0 swap..... and i am very glad i did, the performance difference was well worth saving that money ........ LOL ........ if you wnat the Bronco II to come to life consider the 4.0 or even better the 302 swap,

of course the 4.0 swap being more reasonable in cost out of the 2 since the original t case and tranny will just bolt right in, but in the case of using the bronco in extreme conditions then the 302 wold be better.....

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:53 pm

i would like to note that the 2.9 motor had alot of head problems but in 89 ford redesigned the heads for it and it was supposed to solve alot of those issues, but its said they were never put to use in the Bronco II, so if the 2.9 heads look different around the ports where the valves go through the heads, then be advised, round port old style head, more of a square shape around the valve seats its the new style heads, it is said that they are a direct bolt in change and will not affect seating in any manner, but the new style was supposed to be stronger, so if you have both styles and they are good i would use the new style.

lukesb2 · Post by **lukesb2** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:04 pm

Thanks.. i appreciate your help.. wat are the common vehicles that the 4.0 comes out of... and u said that the 4.0 bolts right in, do you also mean that the 4.0 uses the same motor mount as the 2.9? or do i have to use different motor mounts.. Also, did you change alot in the engine capartment when it comes to wiring, radaitor, hoses, firewall etc...

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:43 am

First of all you want a 4.0 DOHC type motor so would be before a motor made before 97 .................yes i used the same mounts, just unbolt one motor and bolt the other in same place with the same mounts...... tranny, T case, drive shaft from your truck just reuse...... just drop and bolt ...... the only difference is the wiring, the 2.9 runs with a distributor,( 4.0 DOHC )uses EDIS module electric distributorless ignition system)...... you would have to have the wiring harness from the 4.0 motor including the EDIS module which is located on the radiator support behind the battery on an explorer and says right on it EDIS... and a chiltons manual then cut and splice according to colors for each motor.... its probably the easiest and cheapest of the motor swaps for the BII .... DONOR VEHICLES>>>explorer 91-94 is good for the swap, 94-97 maybe but in 94 they went 2 using 2 oxygen sensors so would be more difficult to wire, but in 97 they went to SOHC, i have heard it wont work, the aerostar van runs 4.0 DOHC v6 i hear it works....and there might be a couple of others vehiclesbut im unsure what year on the aerostars, and rangers, but you might ask ranger5.0 on the rangeer years, and i think Dbrown did one from the aerostar, i did mine from a 1991 explorer and it runs beautifully, more power, and not much heavier than the 2.9 mnotor was its like an extra 60 - 80 HP jump... to go with the 4.0 and it wont kill the stock front end or rear end..... you might want to try to grab the 4.0 radiator as its a duel element and the 2.9 is a single but the 2.9 and 4.0 will interchange on the radiator, other than the 4.0 has 2x the cooling capacity.

i used my 2.9 starter, tranny, flywheel, clutch, t case, and just pulled motor only, and reinstalled with the rest still in the truck.... well removed starter and reinstalled it after the motor was in...... if you have trouble with the edis wiring it in let me know ....... paulbelden1@sbcglobal.net ....
ill try to help with it i have an 1989 BII XLT..... so i have a pretty good idea the wire colors from the 2.9 distributor for that year when your ready to do it and can help with the locating of them and how they match the to the EDIS module.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:45 am

here check this link its pretty good and quite informative.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:46 am

ok the damn thing didnt post last time

http://www.broncoii4x4.com/4.0L-swap/4.0L-swap.php

lukesb2 · Post by **lukesb2** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:20 pm

alright.. thanks right now me and my freind took off the valve covers, upper and lower manifolds and pressure washed that extra 2.9 i got.. then were gonna put all that crap off the block i got in my b2 right now and switch... later i guess that sounds like a good idea to put that mazda in it.. i just gotta find one.. lol

BroncoII4x4.com

engine problem please help!

engine problem please help!

also, do u know if u have to replace the bolts on the head,

donor vehicles.....

4.0 swap link

link