Need opinion on a gut feeling - used ford 4.0

[OldSchoolin86]

I'm getting a 4.0 for my BII because the 2.9 is almost dead, like it won't even do highway speeds for 4 miles anymore. I found this 4.0 in the local scrap yard and I'm debating getting it. They don't have much info on it except that it will cost me $400 and it comes with a 3 month warranty. I ran the vin on the van it's sitting in and it came up with 188k miles on it. My probelm here is I've owned a lot of fords and not a singe one of them didn't start leaking oil from the vavle covers or the oil pan once they got past the 100,000 mile mark.

I know it's silly to ask this with these crumby pics but does that look like a 188k motor to you? The whole motor is as dry as these head shots. I'm wondering if it's not a reman.

[Howdy]

I have a 5.4 with 150,000 miles on it in my truck, Don't drip a bit of oil. So I think it's very possible that motor is original.
Howdy

[Tri-ZNate]

We had a ford (and I believe a 4.0) that we beat the **** out of for a good 17 years. The only problem was it wouldn't idle sometimes but never leaked anything.

[darrel632]

The 4.0 in my Ranger is OK at 183 K doesn't leak Poor milage though my 5.4 GM V8 does better by a bunch

[85hondaatc125m]

We got a 3l in our 94 ranger, 290000km and no leaking at all! Ford makes good engines
_125m_

[OldSchoolin86]

Very suprised, I've owned 6 100k + mile fords and they all leaked. I guess from the responce I'll pass on this one a look for another. Thanks guys

[LonesomeTriZ]

I use to run nothing but 4 liter engines. I think they are very fine engines. I was able to get one of my last 4 liters to put out more power than a biult 5 liter. As log as you know how to biuld them, they will last forever. The heads in those photographs appear to be original. That Ford grey is hard to duplicate from a can. I have never known of a machine shop to reman a set of heads and leave the paint on them. The price you were quoted is a hell of a deal. Most people have no idea what kind of potention those engines have. You can get them to put out a lot of power and torque with simple bolt on improvements. This is my last Ranger project. The 4 liter it has is stock interenally. However, it went any where in the hell I pointed it.

[OldSchoolin86]

I use to run nothing but 4 liter engines. I think they are very fine engines. I was able to get one of my last 4 liters to put out more power than a biult 5 liter. As log as you know how to biuld them, they will last forever. The heads in those photographs appear to be original. That Ford grey is hard to duplicate from a can. I have never known of a machine shop to reman a set of heads and leave the paint on them. The price you were quoted is a hell of a deal. Most people have no idea what kind of potention those engines have. You can get them to put out a lot of power and torque with simple bolt on improvements. This is my last Ranger project. The 4 liter it has is stock interenally. However, it went any where in the hell I pointed it.

Nice ranger! Well now you have me thinking again about it. I hate the 2.9 so one of those won't be going back in for sure. If I had the money I'd just buy a new reman 4.0 and the used ones aren't growing on trees here. I guess for $400 it's worth a try. After all I do get 3 months to test it out.

Great point on the paint, it probably is original. I'll look around this week some more and if I can't find some thing else I'll pick it up. Thanks for the help.

[250rAL]

It looks like the valve cover gasket has been replaced; you can see gasket sealer running down the head. Not a big deal though. The cork gaskets don't last forever.

[LonesomeTriZ]

Before I got into the four liters I biult a couple of 2.9's. one was in an 87 Ranger XLT the other was in an 88 STX. A 2.9 is hard to kill and fun to biuld. I am willing to bet you could pull that stock 2.9 and freshen it up with a lot less effort than swapping in the four liter. If I had a scanner I could show you my 88 STX. That truck has been torn apart for years now, but it still as one hell of a reputaion. I was able to reach speeds of 110 MPH on the interstate and still have the gearing to go through the deep holes the big trucks were getting stuck in. Think about what is involved in swapping different engines before you start the task. The eletrical portion is a nightmare, trust me.

[OldSchoolin86]

Before I got into the four liters I biult a couple of 2.9's. one was in an 87 Ranger XLT the other was in an 88 STX. A 2.9 is hard to kill and fun to biuld. I am willing to bet you could pull that stock 2.9 and freshen it up with a lot less effort than swapping in the four liter. If I had a scanner I could show you my 88 STX. That truck has been torn apart for years now, but it still as one hell of a reputaion. I was able to reach speeds of 110 MPH on the interstate and still have the gearing to go through the deep holes the big trucks were getting stuck in. Think about what is involved in swapping different engines before you start the task. The eletrical portion is a nightmare, trust me.

LOL, nah that 2.9 is beat! She needs more work then I'm going to put into it. Now for the 4.0 I already got the eletrical covered, it's not too bad. I just found a 4.0, 71,000 miles for $825 with a 6 month parts and labor warranty. What do you think of that deal?

[LonesomeTriZ]

That is the kind of price range I would expect. That is a pretty good deal. Especaily with that kind of warrenty. Is the engine out of the vehicle so you can inspect it? Will the wiring harness go with it. Keep in mind Ford likes to re-engnineer everything every two weeks in seems. It is best to get the harness from the same vehicle the engine is from. 9 out of 10 times, problems from a four liter is eletrical. I have seen good engines get torn down because of a bad sensor. some people do not take the time to check that sort of thing before they start to assume.

[OldSchoolin86]

That is the kind of price range I would expect. That is a pretty good deal. Especaily with that kind of warrenty. Is the engine out of the vehicle so you can inspect it? Will the wiring harness go with it. Keep in mind Ford likes to re-engnineer everything every two weeks in seems. It is best to get the harness from the same vehicle the engine is from. 9 out of 10 times, problems from a four liter is eletrical. I have seen good engines get torn down because of a bad sensor. some people do not take the time to check that sort of thing before they start to assume.

I agree, the original harness would be best. They claim everything comes with it but the ECU (harness, accessories) so I'll have to see what kind of deal they want to do on one of those. I'll call them in the morning and get the details. I'll post an update tomorrow on that.

I keep reading that the 2.9 B2 trans will have a short life once bolted up to a 4.0l. What's your opinion on that? I'll be honest, this B2 will see more commuting then dirt. Thanks again Lonesome.

[LonesomeTriZ]

Go with an EOD. That is what I had in my silver truck. I biult it for trail use, but it was also my daily driver. I had specific goodies installed in it so it did very well for what I used it for. Even when I put in on the interstate for long hauls it did great. It does not cost a lot to up grade those over drives to perform better on and off road. But then again, it comes down to what you want to spend. You get what you pay for so keep that in mind.

[LonesomeTriZ]

From what I found, this site had the best prices on ECU's. I had to buy a couple of module's from them for my eletronic four wheel drive. They seem to beat every ones elses prices. I may also be able to find all the after market companies I use to deal with that makes performance products for the engine a drive train. I even found a kick ass after market transfer case made for the 90 and up rangers.

http://www.fordpartsnetwork.com/