2.9 rebuild or not???

[Buddha62]

i have an 88 ranger with a 2.9 . the engine conusmes about 1 qt of oil every 200 miles but i am not seeing any puddles or blowing smoke. the clutch is starting to slip,the oil pressure is low and it sounds like a sewing machine most of the time. power is weak on the hills as well.
i'm not interested in a 4.0 swap cuz i dont want the parts headache and just want to know if the 2.9 can be a decent driving truck????

on the good side i am getting 20 mpg highway and has been dependable.
its paid for!!

i have read the tech articles and some post but my questions are about doing a rebuild
is is worth rebuilding a 2.9 engine???
is it there any updates to fix the oiling problem when you rebuild it???
would the oiling problem in the valve train cause a loss of power due to lifters not getting enough oil???
would you replace the lifters or just clean them???
has anyone had any good luck with these engines or am i just ahead buying a newer truck????

 

[Cyberbeer]

1 Qt to roughly 1 tank of gas is a lot of oil loss. There has to be some sign of it going somewhere. I'd check your local yards for low(er) mile 2.9's before building. My old 2.9 cracked a head and blew up so I bought a junkyard motor for 500 bux and it runs great.

Granted I've only had the motor in for about 10k miles. I also installed new front/rear seals, valve cover gaskets among other things before installing.

 

[jaymegriffiths]

i have an 88 ranger with a 2.9 . the engine conusmes about 1 qt of oil every 200 miles but i am not seeing any puddles or blowing smoke. the clutch is starting to slip,the oil pressure is low and it sounds like a sewing machine most of the time. power is weak on the hills as well.
i'm not interested in a 4.0 swap cuz i dont want the parts headache and just want to know if the 2.9 can be a decent driving truck????

on the good side i am getting 20 mpg highway and has been dependable.
its paid for!!

i have read the tech articles and some post but my questions are about doing a rebuild
is is worth rebuilding a 2.9 engine???
is it there any updates to fix the oiling problem when you rebuild it???
would the oiling problem in the valve train cause a loss of power due to lifters not getting enough oil???
would you replace the lifters or just clean them???
has anyone had any good luck with these engines or am i just ahead buying a newer truck????

most of the guys on here will tell u a 2.9 isnt worth a dime. i disagree. i think keeping a vehicles stock engine is always a good idea. the good side to building a 2.9 is its all new. also, fully dressed heads are available on ebay brand new for 100 bux a pop! rebuild kits ar 450 plus shipping, and machine work, then timing gearset and gasket kit its well over a grand assuming u do all the work yourself. but then u have a brand new engine. if you plan on keepin the truck, go for it. but buyin a new vehicle is probably less hassle

 

[IMenriched]

i have an 88 ranger with a 2.9 . the engine conusmes about 1 qt of oil every 200 miles but i am not seeing any puddles or blowing smoke. the clutch is starting to slip,the oil pressure is low and it sounds like a sewing machine most of the time. power is weak on the hills as well.
i'm not interested in a 4.0 swap cuz i dont want the parts headache and just want to know if the 2.9 can be a decent driving truck????

on the good side i am getting 20 mpg highway and has been dependable.
its paid for!!

i have read the tech articles and some post but my questions are about doing a rebuild
is is worth rebuilding a 2.9 engine???
is it there any updates to fix the oiling problem when you rebuild it???
would the oiling problem in the valve train cause a loss of power due to lifters not getting enough oil???
would you replace the lifters or just clean them???
has anyone had any good luck with these engines or am i just ahead buying a newer truck????

it is not that the 2.9 can't be rebuilt ...they certainly can. and be effective.
With a rebuild, I would definitely get world product heads, they're heavier in all the right places. It would be a shame to get a OH done then loose it due to cracked head.

It is Just that for the dollars spent on the 2.9 would go a bit better on the 4.0. The 4.0 will have a Bigger torque/power band and far more after market bolt on goodies. Shucks, just parts in general are more widely available.

If you're not into bolt on goodies & you're content with the power and just want your truck running again...by all means keep the 2.9.