Truck has a 2.9 in it with issues, my question is what other engines will bolt up to the 5 speed trans?
Was hoping a 3.0 might work but I hear the bellhousing pattern is different.
I know that other vehicles used this trans but with what engines???

 

The Ranger 2.9l is a Cologne engine block, the 4.0l OHV or 4.0l SOHC were also Cologne blocks so those are the only engines with same bellhousing patterns as 2.9l

Ranger 3.0l is a Vulcan engine with unique bell housing pattern, pretty much doesn't match any thing else, so no it wouldn't bolt to 2.9l transmission

1990 2.9l 2WD would have an M5OD-R1(M5R1) transmission, same transmission was used in Rangers until 2011, end of production

1990 2.9l 4x4 would have a FM-146 transmission, which did have issues, wouldn't be good to put a 4.0l in front of it, it would work but the extra power might cause issues

 

What vehicles would be good donors?
I have some skills to make mounts etc ...
will probably buy a whole vehicle and resell what I dont use for the swap

 

You should either rebuild the 2.9l engine or do a V8 swap

You could do a 1990-1994 4.0l swap but those engines, computers and wiring harnesses are getting pretty old now, 1995-2011 4.0l swap wouldn't be worthwhile

1996-2001 Explorer V8 swap into a Ranger has been done many many times so well documented as to whats needed and you have a V8 Ranger in the end, you can just go out and buy a 4.0l Ranger done at the factory................so why is not an easy peasy swap its the same work as a 1995-2001 4.0l swap with a better outcome, lol

And then there is the carb distributor V8 swap, no computer almost 0 wiring, and you get a V8 Ranger


1994 was the last year Rangers used the older EEC-IV 60-wire computers(like your 1990 has), in 1995 they got the EEC-V 104-wire computers, this makes the swap from 1995 and up into a 1994 or older Ranger harder, wiring wise
For a 4.0l V6 not worth it in my opinion, for a V8, well its a V8!!

 

So my best bang for the buck would be to find a wrecked 96-01 exploder with a v-8 engine and stick trans?

 

Other question , will the 4.0 v-6 handle a decent size turbo charger?

 

Another question can I just use the 4.0 long block with my 2.9 intake etc?
Basically changing out just the block and heads...???

 

Thanks for taking time to help me.

 

No, explorer V8s were all automatics, but you can use an M5OD-R2(M5R2) from a 1997-2003 F-150 with 4.2l V6, 4.2l has same trans bolt pattern as 5.0l Explorer V8

No, the 4.0l was never made to handle boost, might get away with 5-7psi, might, you only know how much boost any engine can take one second after it blows, then you KNOW, lol

No, while 2.9l and 4.0l share similar block thats where it ends, heads and intakes are not swapable

"There is no replacement for displacement"

For turbo charging you want a 4cyl engine with lower compression, like 9.0:1, more bang for your buck, and you still get reasonably good MPG if you can keep your foot out of it

 

the 4.0 will bolt up fine but the 3.0 you would have to change the transmission or just the bell housing (if applicable). Also the 4.0 would offer more power than the 2.9 or the 3.0 but most would say you’re better off with the 2.9