Question: I'm searching for a little help with my CUCV M1008 1 1/3-ton pickup. I recently bought one from a military surplus auction and have had it in pretty much stock form for a while. My problem is that I want to put on a 6-inch lift from Skyjacker and 35-inch tires. I've already set myself to a set of 35x10.50-16 Boggers, but I'm concerned with my 6.2. I'm a farm boy, so working on a 24-volt diesel is a weekly thing for me. Does that motor have enough-what's the right word?-enough guts to turn those tires? The truck has 135 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. I've added exhaust and built a new intake for it. I looked at the Banks Stinger system and used the Banks Y-pipe and ran 3-inch off it myself, so I'm assuming that it has around the same horsepower as what the kits say, at adding about 32 hp and 48 lb-ft. The truck does seem to be extremely torquey now. You probably know this already, but it has a Dana 60 up front and Corporate 14-bolt in the rear with 4.56:1 gears and a Turbo 400 and an NP208 transfer case. I don't really have the funds for a fuel-injected 350, and would very much like it if the diesel stayed in, so my money could go elsewhere.
Randy Sauget
Millstadt, IL
Answer: The motor should have plenty of power-in fact, the taller tire will greatly help your highway speed. You also might consider going to a wider tire than what you have chosen. The truck is pretty darn heavy, so the more tire you put under it, the better off it will be.
However, my guess is that you want to stay with the stock-width rims, which is why you chose the narrower tire. My advice is to spring for some 10-inch-wide rims and go with the 14.50s. Keep in mind that the Bogger is a great mud tire, but leaves a bit to be desired as a highway tire for both handling and wear. A tire I found that works well in both the mud and the highway is Interco's IROK, but the 16-inch size is a true 36 inches, not a 35.
You will find that the motor is a bit slow in acceleration, especially with the taller tires, which will raise the overall gearing, so in time you might want to consider a turbo kit from Banks. It will really bring the vehicle alive.
Just as a note, I think that it was great that you were able to make the exhaust and intake modifications yourself.
Question: I have an '89 Ford Bronco II with a bad motor. I just picked up a '94 Explorer with a 4.0 and I wanted to know if it can replace the 2.9? Will the computer in the Bronco run the 4.0, or will I need to swap some stuff? They are both automatics, so are they the same transmission or at least the same bolt pattern?
Jeff Schmuch
via fourwheeler.com
Answer: I was pretty sure I knew the answer to this question. but just to be sure I went to Jim Cole, VP of Cage Off Road (866/587-CAGE, www.cageoffroad.com). While Jim's expertise is in suspension design, his background is so extensive that it makes him pretty knowledgeable when it comes to all aspects of Ford vehicles. Here is what Jim had to say:
This is a straightforward swap that nearly anyone with some mechanical aptitude, patience, and time can do, though details are the key to success as there are lots of wiring and small vacuum hoses to deal with. The bellhousing pattern is the same between the 2.9L and the 4.0L-just double check the flywheel and torque-converter patterns, as well as the stick-out length of the trans input shaft for compatibility as occasionally there will be differences. Make sure and get the entire wiring harness, including the computer, for the 4.0L. Truly the easiest way to do this is to swap the transmission and engine together along with the entire donor wiring system, as modern computer systems integrate items so much that it simplifies the swap. It is doable with your stock transmission, but it is more work to ensure compatibility.
Mechanically it is very simple. Basically just bolt it up, with minor hole drilling sometimes necessary to bolt up the 4.0L motor mounts to the 2.9L towers and then mating up the fuel systems. As long as the entire '94-and-older 4.0L engine and accessories are used, it goes fairly easy, though a bit time-consuming. Make sure and retain all the stock emissions components if you have to pass emissions in your area.Just as a side note: It is nearly the same amount of work to drop in a 4.0L as it is to put a 5.0L in the vehicle. It's a bit more expensive to do the 5.0L, and it is more work, but just make sure you understand your power requirements and desires prior to beginning the swap. No fun to do the swap, only to turn around two months later thinking "I could have had a V-8!" If you do decide to do the V-8 swap, a complete later-model Explorer 5.0L motor and trans can be used along with '84-'89 Ford Mustang motor mounts and some slight drilling of the motor-mount towers. Other than that, all the same issues need to be addressed as in the 4.0L swap.