Under powered 2.9

snoopdoggie · Oct 10, 2012

I have a 1989 B2 with a 2.9 and manual 5 speed and 2WD. Runs geat. Good acceleration. I also have a 1989 Ranger with the same equipment. Same rear axle in both. Acceleration in the Ranger is poor. It has been this way since I bought it 3 to 4 years ago. Did the tune up stuff, plugs-wires-cap-rotor-coil-air filter, right after I got it. Recently it got a new fuel pump-filter-fuel regulator installed due to about a gallon of water in the tank. Had high hopes of improvement after replacing the fuel regulator but acceleration is no better. Any ideas on the next step to take? I have even swapped the throttle postion sensor but it too did not help.

shane96ranger · Oct 10, 2012

We need more info. Are they both the same gear ratios in the differentials? Have you done a fuel pressure test? Any vacuum leaks? Is the converter possibly plugged? Timing set properly? Is there a difference in tire size?

Lots of factors here that could effect the difference.

adsm08 · Oct 10, 2012

Underpowered 2.9.

Isn't that like saying broken Chevy?

snoopdoggie · Oct 11, 2012

adsm08 said:
Underpowered 2.9.

Isn't that like saying broken Chevy?

You are a lot of help.

adsm08 · Oct 11, 2012

Ok, what gears does it have? What tire size?

How about the zip tie mod, have you checked compression? How is the air filter? Have you considered getting the larger TB from the early build engines?

Earl43P · Oct 11, 2012

Add O2 sensor to the list of possibilities.

snoopdoggie · Oct 14, 2012

Earl43P said:
Add O2 sensor to the list of possibilities.

Thanks. A real idea.

snoopdoggie · Oct 14, 2012

shane96ranger said:
We need more info. Are they both the same gear ratios in the differentials? Have you done a fuel pressure test? Any vacuum leaks? Is the converter possibly plugged? Timing set properly? Is there a difference in tire size?

Lots of factors here that could effect the difference.

Original thread states the rear axles are the same and the fuel system is all new so pressure is right. Tune up checked all the usual. Vacuum leaks, timing, air filter. Tire size diffenence would actually favor the Ranger. Don't suspect convertor because truck will run high speed and RPM. Just has no power, torque, at low RPM compared the the same equipment in the B2.

shane96ranger · Oct 14, 2012

snoopdoggie said:
Original thread states........

Precisely why you should stick to one thread. Your problems get solved a lot quicker if we have the info instead of covering it again.

Try an O2 sensor as Earl suggested and let us know how that turns out.

The zip tie mod may be it as well.... check that first.

Sent from a Commodore 64 using a 300 baud modem

snoopdoggie · Oct 22, 2012

shane96ranger said:
Precisely why you should stick to one thread. Your problems get solved a lot quicker if we have the info instead of covering it again.

Try an O2 sensor as Earl suggested and let us know how that turns out.

The zip tie mod may be it as well.... check that first.

Sent from a Commodore 64 using a 300 baud modem

This is the only "thread". I meant that in the first, original, entry in this series that most of the info is included. I will see about doing the sensor. May take a while. Just got one of the sons married off.

n_grimm · Oct 31, 2012

A few more things you could check. Hook up a fuel pressure gauge that you can view while driving to make sure it maintains pressure under a load. Anything blocking air to the filter? Was the timing checked with the SPOUT unplugged? Does the timing advance as the rpms increase (with SPOUT connected?

farmer · Nov 1, 2012

How many miles on it? Its an 89, theres a very good chance its just a tired motor..

PGHFord · Nov 1, 2012

Check vacuum lines from especially one going to the EGR valve. I have a post on here with an issue of a no start and I go about diagnosing a no start issue, but the other night I found some small cracks in the hard plastic line that goes to the EGR valve and fixed it and the truck had a lot more power going up hills and it ran like a total different truck. Sometimes the MAP sensor goes bad without throughing codes had that happen before, the MAP sensor controls underload type condition and shoots more or less gas to the injectors through readings it send to the computer.

Under powered 2.9

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