Swapping 2.5 into 89 Ranger

dw64 · #1 02-13-2018, 05:27 PM

I have two trucks to work with, a 1989 with a 2.9 and a 5 speed and a 1999 with a 2.5 and a 5 speed. The 2.9 in the 89 is worn out, it burns and leaks a lot of oil, lacks power etc. but the body, frame, and drivetrain are nice. I also have a 1999 ranger with a 2.5 that runs great but the rest of the truck is very rusted. I would like to swap the 2.5/ harness/ computer etc. into the 89 body. I know that this is a very involved project and that these two wiring harnesses and all related electronics are not the same. I am wondering if anyone else has done anything similar. If there is anyone very familiar with these my questions are: Is it possible to run the 2.5 with only the computer and engine harness/related equipment/sensors etc. as a stand alone system and splice it into my 89 chassis harness? If so what parts of the wiring are needed? Or would it be easier to use the entire harness from the 99 and then splice in all the other parts from the 89 for accessories and lighting etc. I have read about people swapping efi 2.5's like the one I'm using into older Jeeps but it was unspecific about what they used from the original wiring/ computer. Any information will help, thanks.

12 Deg North Industries · #2 02-14-2018, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dw64

I have two trucks to work with, a 1989 with a 2.9 and a 5 speed and a 1999 with a 2.5 and a 5 speed. The 2.9 in the 89 is worn out, it burns and leaks a lot of oil, lacks power etc. but the body, frame, and drivetrain are nice. I also have a 1999 ranger with a 2.5 that runs great but the rest of the truck is very rusted. I would like to swap the 2.5/ harness/ computer etc. into the 89 body. I know that this is a very involved project and that these two wiring harnesses and all related electronics are not the same. I am wondering if anyone else has done anything similar. If there is anyone very familiar with these my questions are: Is it possible to run the 2.5 with only the computer and engine harness/related equipment/sensors etc. as a stand alone system and splice it into my 89 chassis harness? If so what parts of the wiring are needed? Or would it be easier to use the entire harness from the 99 and then splice in all the other parts from the 89 for accessories and lighting etc. I have read about people swapping efi 2.5's like the one I'm using into older Jeeps but it was unspecific about what they used from the original wiring/ computer. Any information will help, thanks.

Its an inline 4, I'll assume that it burns oil upon acceleration not so much deceleration to which of course the amount of effort time and energy soaked into it as a project it would be simpler and more than faster just to rebuild the engine in the 89, possibly part out the 99 to re-coupe some losses if nothing else.

Would be very easy to go through the bottom end, replace the rings as that's where your burning issue is, light hone the block, replacing many if not all the gaskets you shouldn't have to worry about too many leaks.

The head can be dropped off and checked/milled if necessary and then have the valve seals replaced, there's the upper end burning oil solution. By the time all was said and done if you went as far as replacing all of the bearings and seals in the lower end too, you would essentially have a zero mile block/engine.

The argument here now becomes price vs. cost overall and I know you'll get a varied amount of opinions here in either direction. But in my personal opinion, it is FAR easier to take a new vehicle and go backwards in technology than to go older to newer in many ways.