Late 80s B2000 Advice

[Josh P]

I still think if it doesn't break free to pull the oil pan and look up her skirt. It might reveal something.

 

[DemonMudder]

I still think if it doesn't break free to pull the oil pan and look up her skirt. It might reveal something.

Oh I plan to later either way cause it's making me curious for sure.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Coolio! Good luckhope it works out!

 

[DemonMudder]

Coolio! Good luckhope it works out!

Appreciate it, hope so too. If all this don't work then I'll be taking the pop it route I guess, if that doesn't, well then she sits till a 350 gets thrown in

 

[DemonMudder]

Possible light setup I'm thinking of going with, first being as is, which I'll keep as a backup since 99% of it works and works pretty well. But I think I like the look of this, especially once I nab a black bumper for it. Second shot is just the lights in and off, third is the drl (the side marker would normally be lit up too, wasn't editing that much lol), third is the blinker (also the smoked bumper light would like up too, sequential leds too which will be nice!). But what do yall think?

Also, pistons all drain, left 'em while I was on vacation for a week and a half, came back and they were all empty. Filled them and by the next night they were all four 75% emptier than I left them before, so they all drain and drain about equally which is fantastic! Though I tried from the crank and either it's still not enough to move or it's just stripped enough to not get a good enough grip...so I'm going to take the starter off and test that to make sure it works properly, and replace it if it doesn't. I'm guessing it's not since it only tonks and still can't turn things over while they all drain good, so my guess is it pops out but doesn't spin, which wouldn't surprise me for sitting for 20+ years.
(Of the piston shots, first is before the trip, second is after, third is that same night after the trip when I refilled them, and then the last is the very next night)

 

[Fix4Dirt]

halloween specia pistonsl! jk i like the light ideas thise aregood

 

[DemonMudder]

Alright, only tried with one for the sake of time tonight, the only one I was worried about since that was the only starter bolt I was stripping. But the damn torch worked, I got the one bolt out, nearly caused a fire in the process, but got it. In a couple days of more soaking I'll try the other two so I can test it and hopefully the starters busted (weird to hope for, but if it is, then replacing it may be exactly what I need to get the engine rotating), otherwise I got other issues to deal with, starting with pulling the oil pan.

 

[DemonMudder]

Alright, damn starter is out as of last night, finally nabbed a torch and dad gum was that the greatest thing I ever bought! It does spin very well, BUT it doesn't move, and idiot me had almost a crisis trying to decide if it was just an old style and for some reason doesn't move and only spins? Which yeah, thinking now doesn't make real sense anyway, but either way, nabbed a reman today and sure enough, it is supposed to move, so hopefully, HOPEFULLY, tonight that engine will be turning over..!

 

[DemonMudder]

Well, new one in, right back at square one...this is getting on my nerves. Letting it sit a few more days in fluid, along with a breaker bar with constant pressure, and we'll come back, try one more time, then if not, I'm pulling the dang pan and checking there. Also, notice that the starter is longer than mine, which is odd, fits and works fine so oh well.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Well, new one in, right back at square one...this is getting on my nerves. Letting it sit a few more days in fluid, along with a breaker bar with constant pressure, and we'll come back, try one more time, then if not, I'm pulling the dang pan and checking there. Also, notice that the starter is longer than mine, which is odd, fits and works fine so oh well.

View attachment 454872

View attachment 454873

good work!

 

[DintDobbs]

Eh, at least you're ruling out possibilities, right? Keep the parts cannon on standby!

 

[DemonMudder]

Alright, so let's hear some opinions on options here. So: rebuild the current 2.0l with a measly 85hp at best, rebuild the 2.0 but add a turbo kit for at least extra hp, swap the engine for a 5.3l, or just fully body swap the truck onto like a 5.0 explorer?
Keep in mind, the explorer technically is shorter, 3" shorter overall (not sure frame wise yet), and like 6" shorter in wheelbase, which is my biggest concern, so I'm not sure how well that would work out, but an idea that occurred to me.

 

[DintDobbs]

350 small block!

In seriousness, I don't know which would be the best option. 5.3 would be fun; basically the sky's the limit as long as you can fit all the drivetrain pieces together.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

depends on what youre after! a turbo 2.0 would certainly get great fuel economy, as would an NA 2.0, but a 5.3 would rip (aka bad fuel economy since youll love the skinny pedal). imo NA vs turbo on retrofits i dont see much boost until about 3k when it spools up... so depends on how hard you push it is how much youll liek the turbo haha!

frame swaps are hard, but can be done! check the mounts on yours vs the b2k and see how they compare.

 

[410Fortune]

Pull the engine and put it on a stand have a look inside… then decide the fate of the truck

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Small diesel would get best of both worlds too power & economy!

 

[410Fortune]

I would seriously consider a ford duratec 4 banger from an escape or focus mated to a ranger rwd stick shift (m5od) those little Mazda speed engines kick ass

 

[Josh P]

I would seriously consider a ford duratec 4 banger from an escape or focus mated to a ranger rwd stick shift (m5od) those little Mazda speed engines kick ass

This is solid advice. They can be had cheap and can make decent power.

 

[DemonMudder]

Alright, found a new idea recently, well, a couple of ideas actually. So one is that the mazda has a 117.5" wheelbase, and a single cab short bed 90s k1500 had a 117" wheelbase, so now I'm tempted to try and body swap the mazda onto that frame and drivetrain. But, keep in mind the main reason for the mazda was for a fuel efficient daily driver, which that frame swap would probably not aid in so much, cool as that would be. So, another idea was found, maybe looking for a 2.5l or 2.9l five cylinder Mercedes turbo diesel engine as a possible swap. Pretty efficient, decently tough and upgradable from what I can find.
Thoughts?

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Alright, found a new idea recently, well, a couple of ideas actually. So one is that the mazda has a 117.5" wheelbase, and a single cab short bed 90s k1500 had a 117" wheelbase, so now I'm tempted to try and body swap the mazda onto that frame and drivetrain. But, keep in mind the main reason for the mazda was for a fuel efficient daily driver, which that frame swap would probably not aid in so much, cool as that would be. So, another idea was found, maybe looking for a 2.5l or 2.9l five cylinder Mercedes turbo diesel engine as a possible swap. Pretty efficient, decently tough and upgradable from what I can find.
Thoughts?

I think those VW 1.something or was it 2.something diesels show great promise, not familiar with a Merc... but if theyre the ones in those cars, they always seem reliable!!!