It's dead, motor swap? or get rid of it?

[techieman33]

I must have the worst luck on anybody on the planet. I finally got my school loans paid off, paid the parents for the rest of the Bronco, just weeks from finally being able to move out of my parents house. And now of all times my bronco appears to have given up on me.
First a little history, it wouldn't start back up after I killed the motor, so my mechanic had it, did a basic tune up said it was fixed. Last week it started dying at idle, wouldn't start back up. Back to mechanic, he said I would have to take it to the dealership. They thought it was the TPS, after waiting 5 long days for a 15 minute job, it didn't help. So they dug in a little deeper.
It's been drinking oil like crazy, now I know why. It's sending oil back up into the trottle body. They think it's coming up thru the rings, the #2 cylinder is having vacuum problems they said it was fluctuating over 10lbs. back and forth.

So now comes the real question, do I do a 4.0ohv swap, or junk it out or find something else. I don't really see much point in rebuilding the 2.9, if i'm gonna do that much work I might as well just do a little more and put a 4.0 in it. I hate my life :fire:

 

[410Fortune]

4.0L conversion with a 5 speed will remove 90% of your headaches
4.0L is WELL suited for motivating the BII it can be done in a weeks time or so (even less if you are prepared) you can spend less then $1000 total

the 2.9L NEVER should have been asked to move a 3800# 4x4 suv IMO, its a great little V6 but yours is dead, just go 4.0L

All of this depends on your budget and ability
it may very well be the smart choice to just find another truck, but for me I really like projects and I really like my truck so getting rid of it was never an option

 

[techieman33]

I have a 5 speed now, it's the mitsubishi though, will it bolt up to the 4.0?

 

[techieman33]

Anyone know of any good write ups on the swap? I haven't found any yet with to many details.

 

[techieman33]

Well, it looks like it's going to stay dead. The guy we were hoping would help us with the swap is busy and won't be able to. Also my dad didn't want to go thru with the swap without a new or remand short block. Add to that that none of us has ever actually done a motor swap, it's just to much money and risk to put into for a vehicle that I don't have that much love for. Though it does suck to have to get rid of it, it's in pretty good shape otherwise, and I'm not going to get much for it. Now starts the hunt for what will hopefully be a 2nd gen with a v8.

 

[410Fortune]

yes you can keep your mitsubishi 5 speed in fact in my experience they hold up better then the Mazda
A friend of mine had a turbo charged 4.0L in front of his original 5 speed mitsu still going as far as I know