• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

If you could bring back....


rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,397
Reaction score
7,491
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
The bulls, IMO had a much better styling and much cooler interior then the 92-96/7s did. Athough, for some reason, that brick interior gets me everytime.

Technically, yes, you can swap a 80-86 dash into a 92-96, but, the speedo wont work because in 92 they used a VSS instead of a cable. Athough, the medium duty (F650-750s) used the bull dash up till 2000, and IIRC around the mid 90s they used a sensor for the speedo. So it could be done.

You could pry swap a bull body onto a 97-03 truck, but then you would still be stuck with vaccuum hubs and torsion bars, athough, you pry could use a 5.4 superduty...

As far as the 300s toughness, i seen a guy at a mudbog overheat one to the point it was boiling, then nosedive it in a water hole and hydrolock it, he let it cool, pulled the plugs, shot the water out, and drove it on a 200 mile trip the next day.

Your 86 was pry pinging because of the crappy feedback carb stuff. They started that on the I6s in 84 IIRC, the 84-86 300 are really the only bad years unless you want to convert them. But they were produced from 65 untill 96, gained EFI in 87, and in the 70s/80s were used in trucks up to 30,000lb GVWR, as well as in any manner of generators, forklifts, ups trucks, irrigation pumps, they were a helluva engine
 
Last edited:


85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,338
Reaction score
17,827
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
You know the cab and doors are the same from 80-96, so you could put the older interior in.
I don't think the 80's bullnose dash would mesh with the very 90's style exterior.

Technically, yes, you can swap a 80-86 dash into a 92-96, but, the speedo wont work because in 92 they used a VSS instead of a cable. Athough, the medium duty (F650-750s) used the bull dash up till 2000, and IIRC around the mid 90s they used a sensor for the speedo. So it could be done.
If you can swap an interior you can swap a t-case. I even have a 208 that nobody seems to want to buy.:black_eye:

You could pry swap a bull body onto a 97-03 truck, but then you would still be stuck with vaccuum hubs and torsion bars, athough, you pry could use a 5.4 superduty...
That is what started my idea. Way way back when someone posted a new Superduty that had a tree fall on it at the dealer that was on ebay. Totally crushed the body. Still ran and drove IIRC. Thought at the time was how cool would it be to put a bullnose body on a brand new running gear? :icon_idea:
 

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,397
Reaction score
7,491
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
I don't think the 80's bullnose dash would mesh with the very 90's style exterior.



If you can swap an interior you can swap a t-case. I even have a 208 that nobody seems to want to buy.:black_eye:



That is what started my idea. Way way back when someone posted a new Superduty that had a tree fall on it at the dealer that was on ebay. Totally crushed the body. Still ran and drove IIRC. Thought at the time was how cool would it be to put a bullnose body on a brand new running gear? :icon_idea:
:icon_welder:
Didnt even think about swapping the t case lol. But yes a bull running around on superduty parts, even in my book, would be chuck norris level bad ass.

Actually, you could buy a 92-96 and swap the front clip and dash, the body lines would be a bit different around the wheel wells (the 87-96s flare out, 80-86 were creased/indented), but its been done and then you would have the benifits of the newer stuff you want (kinda) with bull styling.
 
Last edited:

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,338
Reaction score
17,827
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Actually, you could buy a 92-96 and swap the front clip and dash, the body lines would be a bit different around the wheel wells (the 87-96s flare out, 80-86 were creased/indented), but its been done and then you would have the benifits of the newer stuff you want (kinda) with bull styling.
There is a guy around town with a later box on his bull that drives me nuts. It is a clean looking truck but the front wheel arches are /---\ (like a first gen Ranger) and the rear arches are half of a circle (like a third gen Ranger). Totally a different shape.

Even at their latest evolutions the old style engines were not that hot.
 

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,397
Reaction score
7,491
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
There is a guy around town with a later box on his bull that drives me nuts. It is a clean looking truck but the front wheel arches are /---\ (like a first gen Ranger) and the rear arches are half of a circle (like a third gen Ranger). Totally a different shape.

Even at their latest evolutions the old style engines were not that hot.
My 460 is pretty potent at 245hp/410ftlbs.

Rips my 32ft travel trailer right on down the road.

A later model 351 is pretty close in power to the 2V 5.4s. Atleast the 97-98 ones.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,338
Reaction score
17,827
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
My 460 is pretty potent at 245hp/410ftlbs.

Rips my 32ft travel trailer right on down the road.

A later model 351 is pretty close in power to the 2V 5.4s. Atleast the 97-98 ones.
Barely double digit mileage though.

While I am dreaming I won't be dreaming of a non-PI one.
 

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,397
Reaction score
7,491
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
Barely double digit mileage though.

While I am dreaming I won't be dreaming of a non-PI one.
Actually, suprisingly, it gets a pretty steady 13mpg empty in mixed driving. Thats a 2wd club cab with an 8ft box and 4.10s.

It does drink it pretty fast towing on the freeway though, pulling it out of O/D dragging a piece of plywood thru the wind at 65mph, itll drop to 8 or so.
 

planeflyer21

Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2013
Messages
192
Reaction score
19
Points
18
Location
Sonoran Desert
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Manual
Wow...he asks about any Ford engine being remade with current technology and nobody has mentioned a Y-block in 3 pages so far?

A 292 Y-block V-8, like was in my first truck, the 1959 F100.

I can only imagine with an aluminum block and heads, EFI, and more. That was a mighty fun engine as is.
 

rangerenthiusiast

New Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
553
Reaction score
2
Points
0
Location
Hudson Valley, NY
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
@Rusty: Figures. I would get one from the three bad years. My sense of timing is crap.
 
Last edited:

Plum Ranger XLT

Active Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2007
Messages
440
Reaction score
29
Points
28
Location
Lawrenceburg, IN
Vehicle Year
2008
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Never had one but the 289 V8 HO.
 

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,397
Reaction score
7,491
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
Wow...he asks about any Ford engine being remade with current technology and nobody has mentioned a Y-block in 3 pages so far?

A 292 Y-block V-8, like was in my first truck, the 1959 F100.

I can only imagine with an aluminum block and heads, EFI, and more. That was a mighty fun engine as is.
Im suprised no one was brought up a 390 yet, or a 351C.

Id like to toss a vote out there for the 400. Even with simple mods they wake right up, i bet with an ecoboost type setup, they'd be a real frickin screamer

@Rusty: Figures. I would get one from the three bad years. My sense of timing is crap.
Lol, the early-mid 80s were dark days for ford, the only bright spot being really, the 2.9 :D
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,338
Reaction score
17,827
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,397
Reaction score
7,491
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
And even that wasn’t very bright. :stirthepot:
It was a damn supernova compared to the other V6 of similar displacement that came out the same year in one very rounded, fore-father beigemobile :)
 

1990RangerinSK

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2016
Messages
2,346
Reaction score
1,312
Points
113
Location
Saskatchewan, Canada
Vehicle Year
1990
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
It was a damn supernova compared to the other V6 of similar displacement that came out the same year in one very rounded, fore-father beigemobile :)
There could only be one other V6 that you're referring to, the 3.0 Vulcan. The 2.8 came out in the 1970's, so even though it's of the same engine family, you wouldn't be referring to it.

I don't know, the 2.9 in my truck seems to have little to no power. I've had three Vulcan powered vehicles (1990 Taurus, 1991 Sable, 1991 Ranger), and compared to the 2.9 in my 1990 Ranger, all three of them seemed to have more than enough power. The 2.8 in my 1985 Ranger seemed to have more power, too.

I'm not saying that the 2.9 is crap. No, not at all. Just that the 3.0 (and I'm assuming it's the engine you're referring to) would be my choice of engine over the 2.9, if I could choose.
 

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,397
Reaction score
7,491
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
There could only be one other V6 that you're referring to, the 3.0 Vulcan. The 2.8 came out in the 1970's, so even though it's of the same engine family, you wouldn't be referring to it.

I don't know, the 2.9 in my truck seems to have little to no power. I've had three Vulcan powered vehicles (1990 Taurus, 1991 Sable, 1991 Ranger), and compared to the 2.9 in my 1990 Ranger, all three of them seemed to have more than enough power. The 2.8 in my 1985 Ranger seemed to have more power, too.

I'm not saying that the 2.9 is crap. No, not at all. Just that the 3.0 (and I'm assuming it's the engine you're referring to) would be my choice of engine over the 2.9, if I could choose.
You have a sick 2.9.

And yes, j was reffering to the vulcan
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Latest posts

Truck of The Month


Shran
April Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top