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Idahome
Joined: Wed May 2nd, 2018
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The 2.8L was a TURD
Only Ford Cosworth made anything cool from the old 2.8 and 2.9L engines, some of the Cosworth 24V OHC 2.9 engines made over 350hp!!!!! But again at high rpm, not really good in a truck.
2.8L and 2.9L engines in my shop become boat anchors
Only the pushrod 4.0 will make it under the hood.
However you can bolt 4.0 transmissions to a 2.8 or 2.9L if you wish.....they will bolt up, no special adapters or parts needed.
Fun facts from 25 years of ranger wrenching:
Now the real gem here is the c5 auto, as you may know the c4 auto can be built up to do anything! They are wicked cool transmissions if you can live without overdrive. The C5 auto was only used in 4x4 rangers and BII from 83-85, the c5 means it has a 4x4 tailhousing. These are getting pretty rare! a C5 tailhousing can fetch gooooood money. Lots of desert racing trucks running in the v6 class will have a displacement limit of 4.0 liters and since the A4LD and 5r55e family of transmissions are so plagued with issues alot of these high horsepower trucks wish to run the old c4 auto or mazda 5 speed, any 4wd dudes will need that c5 tailhousing to make this happen
You will find many 4.0 race trucks are running a SOHC 4.0 engine (many of them with a modified 2.8 Cosworth intake and CARB!!!) and C4 automatic transmission.......that combo can make 350+ HP and with a manual valve body built to the hilt c4 automatic to put the power to the ground.......
Back in the day (like 1994-98) when the internet was new there was a website called Fordrangers.com and a little owners forum had a section called "Kunz Korner" for making power from these v6's. There was a dude names Sven Pruett that knew all about these engines he literally wrote the book, you can still find copies of that book:
https://www.amazon.com/Degrees-Engines-Motorbooks-International-Powerpro/dp/0879389141
The website was shut down by Ford for trademark issues, we all moved on and TRS and the Explorerforum were born........
Good memories from that place, started all of this craziness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some of you may remember that website, I still have screen shots of it on my PC :)
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I build custom RBV, specializing in drivetrain conversions, wiring, suspension and complete custom trucks